LBI Preview: Best of Michigan Holiday Classic

Detroit, MI - The Best of Michigan Holiday Classic brings together many of the state’s top teams and players. For the 6th year of this it event, the games will be held at Detroit Martin Luther King High School on Friday, December 11th and Saturday, December 12th, 2015. The Best of Michigan historically has presented fans with an early season preview of eventual state champions, runner-ups, Miss Basketball finalists, along with many future college bound basketball players. This year, the talent and field of teams is as strong as it’s ever been and a strong contingency of the state’s top players from every class will help lead their teams to great performances while entertaining the crowd with their on the court abilities.

This year’s line-up features a number of college committed players that includes: Southfield Lathrup senior trio of Taiye Bello (Minnesota), Kehinde Bello (Minnesota) and Antoinette Miller (Cincinnati). Toledo Rogers seniors Keaja Peace (Michigan), Sydney Petty (Cincinnati), Akienreh Johnson (Michigan) and Tanaya Beachum (Toledo). Bay City John Glenn Cassidy Boensch (Grand Valley State), Jenai LaPointe (Grand Valley State) and junior Kalle Martinez (Central Michigan). Detroit Renaissance Siyeh Frazier (Penn State). Grosse Pointe South Benna Ames (Emory). Grand Rapids Catholic Central junior duo Kyra Bussell (Central Michigan) and Sophia Karasinski (Central Michigan) and Detroit King Mikaela Kelly (DePaul).

THE HEADLINER!

The evening’s marquee game pits top ranked Detroit Country Day against Toledo Rogers for an 8:40pm tip-off time. Country Day roster features some of the state’s top talent with highly acclaimed juniors Destiny Pitts and Tylar Bennett and sophomores Kaela Webb and Maxine Moore, against a loaded Rogers squad that features four Division I senior signees, plus the nationally ranked 2019-point guard Zia Cooke. This matchup will be quite a contest! At least 10 of these young ladies will eventually play at a high level university. Don’t miss the chance to see them all compete on the court at the same time.

HISTORIC MATCH-UPS!

The 7pm matchup will feature Southfield Lathrup vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Lathrup, who is coming off of a loss to Bay City John Glenn last Saturday at the Ice Breaker Classic, will look to get things rolling against the Cougars who are well coached and very talented.  Look for 2017 Deja Church to step up for the challenge along with her all-state senior teammates, the Bello Twins and Antoinette Miller.

The 5:20 pm tip-off is led by an East-West Michigan battle as Dearborn Heights Robichaud will take on Muskegon Mona Shores. This matchup will feature three of the top point guards in the state of Michigan in Robichaud’s Kayla Brown and Muskegon Mona Shores’ junior Jordan Walker (Western Michigan) commit and freshman standout Alyza Winston.

4:00 PM game puts Midland Dow, who lost a heartbreaker to Detroit Country Day last weekend, up against Ann Arbor Huron who is coming off an impressive 18-point victory over Arbor Prep. Kaylee Wasco and Ellie Taylor (St. Louis) will lead the Chargers against a good Huron squad who will be playing its second straight top opponent on consecutive weekends.

Coming off a huge victory over nationally ranked Southfield Lathrup, Bay City John Glenn will battle at 2:20pm with one of the best teams in the Detroit PSL Renaissance. The Phoenix, who are led by Penn State signee Siyeh Frazier, will look to slow down the Bobcats 6’3” post Cassidy Boesnch (Grand Valley State) and junior sniper Kalle Martinez (Central Michigan).

Flat Rock will have a huge test in the 12:20pm matchup when the Rams will take on Detroit PSL favorite the Crusaders of Detroit King.  This matchup that will feature Flat Rock’s 6’1” post Morgan Villemure (Lake Superior State) and 5’9” Mikaela Kelly (DePaul) of Detroit King.

Arbor Prep will be looking to avenge last week’s defeat to Ann Arbor Huron when they face the Hartland Eagles at 10:40am. This will be very good game for the Eagles, who are led by junior Lexey Tobel and sophomore Graysen Cockerham, to see if they are ready to battle with the state’s best teams. Arbor Prep is not used to losing this early on in the season so expect head coach Rod Wells to have Gators squad ready for this matchup.

The Best of Michigan Holiday Classic will start the morning off with program powers Grosse Pointe South taking on Flint Powers at 9am. The Chargers are led by junior point guard Anna Ruhstorfer (Wayne State commit) and backcourt mate Francesca Coury (Saginaw Valley State), while the Blue Devils are led by 6’3” post Benna Ames (Emory).

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