LBI: Inside the Game Summary

2016 MHSAA Class A State Quarterfinals

“King Outlasts Huron”

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Southfield High School

Tuesday night featured a double header at Southfield High School for the MHSAA Class A quarterfinals with the winners earning a trip to the Breslin Center in East Lansing on Friday.  First up was Detroit Martin Luther King, winners of the Dearborn Fordson Regional, against Ann Arbor Huron, winners of the Belleville Regional.  The winner in this one takes on the winner of Port Huron Northern and St. Johns.

The first quarter saw a great start for the Huron River Rats.  Junior Katlyn Brownlee started things off with a triple on offense and about a minute later she would deny King a fast break attempt on defense.  Senior Cheah Rael-Whitsitt would also have a big layup as part of a 7-0 run.  King meanwhile would answer back late in the 1st.  This would come thanks to a big basket and a foul from Sophomore Jordan Lewis, she would turn that into a three-point play.  After 1, Huron lead 12-8.

The 2nd quarter was pretty back and forth as King would catch up.  Lewis would help things out for the Crusaders as she puts up a layup midway through, one of many lead changes throughout the quarter.  Huron would get two baskets and a foul in the 2nd but unfortunately could not capitalize on the free throws.  The score at half time would come down to the final 15 seconds.  For King, Junior Tia Tedford would get a triple but right before the buzzer, Huron would answer with a layup from Sophomore Shamim Wambere.  At the half, King would have a slight lead at 25-21.

The 3rd quarter got off to a slow start as neither team scored for nearly three minutes.  Lewis would end that with a triple for King, one of three triples from the Crusaders in the quarter.  Fouls would become an issue however as King would commit eight in the 3rd alone.  Huron would get the ball rolling on a three-pointer as well from Junior Kara Wilson.  Late in the quarter Wambere would get a layup and foul, she would add the “and one” to help her team keep up with King.  After 3, King still led 38-35.

Things would really get interesting in the final quarter.  Huron quickly ties it with a triple from Brownlee.  Moments later they would get the lead off a pick and roll by Senior Mia Long.  The final minute would see plenty of lead changes but Huron thought they had this wrapped up.  Rael-Whitsitt would take the lead with 15 seconds off a layup but Lewis for King would tie it at the very last minute and send this one to overtime.

Just like the 2nd and 4th quarters, overtime was decided in the final moments.  With just under 90 seconds to go, Long misses a big opportunity at the free throw line by going 0 for 2.   Afterward, King would tie it at 54 with a layup by Lewis.  Almost 20 seconds later Junior Alicia Norman would be the hero, as she makes a diving layup to put King on top and they would stay on top.  Crusaders punch their ticket to East Lansing with a thrilling 58-54 overtime win.

“We made some key plays,” said Crusaders Head Coach William Winfield. “I thought we weren’t really good hitting threes but we hit them in a timely matter and then I think that was the difference.”

Leading scorers of the night: Detroit Martin Luther King: Micaela Kelly 16, Tia Tedford 10, Del’Janae Williams 7.  Ann Arbor Huron: Cheah Rael-Whitsitt 18, Mia Long 12, Katlyn Brownlee and Shamim Wambere 7.

Game and Team Highlights

Detroit Martin Luther King:

• Despite fighting an injury and coming off the bench, Tia Tedford was still a factor in this game as she would put up 10 points, the second highest for her team.

• King made every opportunity count in overtime.They would score points however they could and with Huron 0 for 4 from the line, that would end up being the difference.

Ann Arbor Huron:

• Huron helped themselves comeback in this game by drawing the foul.They would draw 8 in the 3rd quarter alone and made the most of those free throws to stay in it.

• Cheah Rael-Whitsitt made a valiant effort in what would be her final game for Huron.  She led her team with 18 points including a clutch layup