skip navigation

LBI Event Recap: MLK Classic (Ypsilanti, MI)

By R.Simone @R_SimoneP, 01/19/19, 9:00PM EST

Share

LBI Event Recap: MLK Classic

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Arbor Prep High School

Ypsilanti, MI

 
Ann Arbor Skyline 54 Saginaw Arthur Hill  42
Due to the inclement weather, coverage of this game was delayed. Congrats to the Lady Ballers on both squads for a hard fought game!
Scoring Leaders: Arthur Hill-Burton & E. Williams 12 / Skyline – Batalonga 17, Faulkner 10 
 
Southfield A&T  79 Dearborn Henry Ford Academy 56
From start to finish, the game belonged to Southfield A&T. Henry Ford started the game of sluggish and cold and Southfield took advantage of it. They were aggressive on defense and patient on offense. In the second half, Henry Ford tried to find some energy and fire to fight and get back in the game; however, they were plagued by turnovers and missed shot opportunities. They were not able to turn the heat all the way up, and Southfield runs away with the win.
Scoring Leaders: Southfield – Johnson 27, Barnes & McEvans 16 / Henry Ford – Austin 29, Bridgewater 10
 
Flint Carman-Ainsworth 67 River Rouge 39
Despite both Carman and Rouge getting off to a slow start, Carman played well enough to get things going in the second quarter and go into halftime with a 20 point lead. Rouge’s short bench proved to be one of many factors towards the end of the game. As fatigue and tired legs set in, it became more and more difficult for them to score. In the fourth quarter, Carman sat their starters early and let their reserves get some run. This did not have much of an impact on the outcome. Carman rolls their way to an easy victory.
Scoring Leaders: Carman Ainsworth – Strother 25, Harrison 10 / River Rouge – Hall 25, C. Williams 12
 
Detroit Cass Tech 54 Ypsilanti Arbor Prep 44
Cass Tech demonstrated why every coach stresses to their team to not stop playing until the final buzzer sounds. Cass Tech held the lead for a little over half of the first half, until turnovers and great execution on offense from Arbor Prep shifted the momentum. Arbor Prep continued to keep control of the game for the beginning of the second half, and then the tables started to turn. Cass Tech was able to get some big stops and began to play more aggressively on offense, tying the game. From that point, Cass Tech’s energy, sparked by guards Ariah Powell ’19 and Desiree Jackson ’21, went to another level and they regained the lead. Turnovers and fouls kept Arbor Prep from getting back in the game, and Cass Tech gets the “W.”
Scoring Leaders: Cass Tech – Powell 16, Jackson 12 / Arbor Prep – Petree 14, Waddell 12, Chupp 10
 
Saginaw Heritage 68 Harper Woods Chandler Park 61
From the opening tip, these teams went to war. Heritage jumped out to a small but steady lead early in the first, but after seven consecutive points from Kaylyn Pendleton, the score was tied at the end of the quarter. The two teams traded baskets for most of the second quarter until Heritage went on a small run and led by nine at the end of the half. Both teams were on fire in the third quarter, combining for a total of 8 three-pointers (5 for Chandler Park, 3 for Heritage) and three lead changes. In the fourth quarter, ’19 Moriah Joiner puts her team on her back, scoring six consecutive points and giving her team the lead. The Lady Hawks guarded that lead with all that they had, and they left the court victorious.

Scoring Leaders: Heritage – Joiner 27, Strickland-Gills 13, McCartney 12  / Chandler Park – O’Brien 15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

MLK Classic Top Performers
 
Blessing Batalonga  2021  5’6”  SG Ann Arbor Skyline 
Blessing gave her team everything they needed from her throughout the game. She held her composure in tight situations and hit big baskets when they counted the most. She was an energy source for her squad. She finished with a game-high 17 points.
 
Erynn Williams  2020  5’5”  SG Saginaw Arthur Hill
A hustle player with a lot of energy, Williams played tough and aggressive. She fought for loose balls and was a vocal leader for her team. She did a good job of seeing the court and advancing the ball. Erynn gave her team 12 points.
 
Alexis Johnson  2019  5’10”  SF  Southfield A&T  (Committed to Marshall University)
Johnson showcased that she is a very versatile player that is capable of playing multiple positions and staying effective. At many times throughout the game, her
positon changed on consecutive possessions. She finished with a team-high 27 points.
 
Lachelle Austin  2021  5’8”  PG Dearborn Henry Ford Academy
Austin was literally the only player on either team that was consistent throughout the game. Her motor is high, and she was able to play hard on both ends from start to finish. She made some nice moves to the rim and knocked down shots from deep. Lachelle had a game-high 29 points.
 
Destiny Strother  2019  5’9”  SG Flint Carman-Ainsworth (committed to Marquette University)
Scoring from literally all over the court, Destiny often found herself in the right place at the right time. She took advantage of it. She moved well without the ball and consistently hit deep three-point shots. She also played solid defense, creating steals and easy buckets. She finished with 25 points, a team high.
 
Keona Hall  2019  5’8”  SG  River Rouge
Hall worked hard to give her team some type of spark offensively. She created shots for herself and others and was a threat around the perimeter and in the paint. Keonna fought hard the entire game, even when she obviously was exhausted. She ends the game with 25 points.
 
Desiree Jackson  2021  5’9” SF Detroit Cass Tech
Jackson is a solid combo guard that showed just how tough and scrappy she can be. She did a great job of running the offense when she ran the point. Jackson also did a good job of getting to the rim and drawing the foul. She has a very high motor and worked hard every possession. She finished with 12 points.
 
Mahri Petree  2019  5’11”  CG  Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (committed to Bradley University)
Mahri’s fight, leadership, and maturity
was on full display. After losing the lead, she stepped up and attempted to put her team on her back. She hustled, fought and offered encouragement. Although her team fell short, Petree’s demeanor held her team together until the end. She had a team-high 14 points.
 
Moriah Joiner 2019  5’9” PG  Saginaw Heritage
Leadership and tenacity were the two things Moriah demonstrated from beginning to end. When it counted the most, she set fire to the rim scoring from all over the court, and stepped up on defense, getting some very critical stops. She kept her composure in a very tough game and led her to
team to victory. Moriah finished with a game-high 27 points.
 
Emaia O’Brien  2021  5’2”  PG  Harper Woods Chandler Park
Her small stature does not measure up to her toughness and heart. O’Brien had no problem getting in the paint for easy shots or putting her body on the line to fight for loose balls. She played great defense creating problems and helping her team get easy transition buckets.
Emaia also hit some big three’s down the stretch. She finished with a team-high 15 points.