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 George Pohly, The Macomb Daily
New Haven has won 38 consecutive boys basketball games, a Macomb County record. The streak began in the second game of the 2016-17 season. Here are scores of Rockets games since the start of 2016-17: 2016-17 SEASON MAC Blue Division (10-0, 27-1) Dec. 13 Grosse Pointe South W, 90-74 Dec. 16 at Dakota L, 66-72 Dec. 18 Detroit Loyola (Calihan Hall) W, 88-66 Dec. 28 South Lake W, 63-29 Dec. 29 Michigan Collegiate W, 79-59 Jan. 6 at Anchor Bay W, 75-53 Jan. 11 Fitzgerald W, 92-57 Jan. 12 at Cousino W, 72-35 Jan. 18 at East Detroit W, 74-29 Jan. 20 L’Anse Creuse W, 80-35 Jan. 23 Anchor Bay (Palace) W, 73-35 Jan. 27 at Fitzgerald W, 83-51 Jan. 31 Cousino W, 78-36 Feb. 3 East Detroit W, 77-38 Feb. 7 at L’Anse Creuse W, 74-40 Feb. 10 Detroit Renaissance W, 78-48 Feb. 16 (m) Fraser W, 94-41 Feb. 21 (m) Warren Woods-Tower W, 84-51 Feb. 25 (m) Lake Shore (Anchor Bay) W, 84-56 Feb. 28 at Flint Beecher W, 108-104 (3OT) March 6 (d) Marine City W, 94-43 March 8 (d) St. Clair (Marysville) W, 53-17 March 10 (d) at Marysville W, 71-42 March 13 (r) Flint Northwestern (North Branch) W, 97-66 March 15 (r) Notre Dame Prep (North Branch) W, 71-44 March 21 (q) Detroit Osborn (Marysville) W, 73-66 March 24 (s) Benton Harbor (Breslin Center) W, 78-49 March 25 (c) Ludington (Breslin Center) W, 45-36 (m) MAC tournament (d) District (r) Regional (q) State quarterfinal (s) State semifinal (c) State Class B championship game 2017-18 SEASON MAC Blue Division (7-0, 12-0) Dec. 10 De La Salle (Calihan Hall) W, 82-62 Dec. 12 at Grosse Pointe South W, 77-45 Dec. 15 Dakota W, 92-55 Dec. 19 Anchor Bay W, 74-37 Dec. 27 Mount Clemens W, 81-45 Dec. 28 South Lake W, 74-57 Jan. 9 at Fitzgerald W, 81-58 (Game report) Jan. 11 Cousino W, 75-48 Jan. 16 Eastpointe W, 82-38 Jan. 19 at L’Anse Creuse W, 72-29 (Game story) Jan. 23 at Anchor Bay W, 59-25 Jan. 25 Fitzgerald W, 83-41  David Goricki, The Detroit News
New Haven — Romeo Weems was greeted by Ohio State assistant coach Terry Johnson after he got out of film room Friday afternoon at New Haven High School and took the floor to take some shots. It’s just another day at the office for Weems, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound junior who is one of the top players in the country. Weems earned a gold medal while starting on the U.S. Junior National team this summer, playing in Argentina, working on his game while having a lot of fun along the way. Weems is having even more fun during his junior year, averaging 26.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 4.4 steals to help defending Class B state champion New Haven to a 12-0 start (6-0 Macomb Area Conference Blue Division). It’s safe to say New Haven 10th-year coach Tedaro France has done an excellent job of developing talent. After all, Eric Williams Jr. — who played on the state championship team — is one of the premier freshmen in the country, averaging 15.1 points and 9.7 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range (50-of-124) to help Duquesne to a 14-8 record in Keith Dambrot’s first year following the Dukes’ 10-22 record (3-15 Atlantic 10) last season. France feels he has another player similar to Williams in 6-7 senior Ashton Sherrell, who is averaging 17.5 points to help New Haven’s winning streak reach 38 games, a Macomb County record. “He can shoot the 3, handle the ball,” France said of Sherrell, who is being recruited by St. Bonaventure and several Mid-American Conference teams. “He’s a 4, so he can post up and he’s physically gifted where he can block shots defensively.” France also has 6-0 senior guard Tavares Oliver and 6-1 junior Ronald Jeffery to give Weems and Sherrell a strong supporting cast. Oliver scored 29 Thursday in a win over Warren Fitzgerald, making six 3-pointers. France said New Haven’s enrollment is 360, qualifying it as a Class C school, but added he wants to remain playing in Class B to face better competition. New Haven already owns victories over multiple Class A schools in non-conference play, including three-time MAC Red champion Macomb Dakota, Catholic League power Warren De La Salle and Grosse Pointe South. But, back to Weems. “Romeo has such a high IQ of the game,” France said. “(He) has always been our hardest worker, and when your best player is also your hardest worker others just follow. He’s in the gym with them before school and they stay in the gym after practice. “His work ethic is unreal. He’s improved every year, like now his shot has improved, his 3-point shot is really good. He’s 6-foot-7 and can defend. He’s athletic, can pass like a point guard and shoot like a shooting guard. His vision is great. His ceiling is so high because of his size and he can play 1-through-5, and the thing about him is he’s so unselfish, where he’d rather set up his teammates than score, but he can score when he wants to score.” Weems is a humble, respectful, coachable young man, a reason college coaches can’t wait to bring him into their programs. He isn’t close to making a decision on his future, just enjoying being around France and his teammates. “Sometimes coaches stop by to watch practice, just see how we’re doing; it’s fun,” Weems said. “I’ve been offered by Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, DePaul, Creighton, Oakland, VCU, Missouri and Iowa. I’ve been looking at colleges, but I’m just going to wait and see where I’ll fit in at. I’ve taken some unofficial visits to Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and DePaul. I watched a game at Michigan when they played Rutgers, went to the Michigan-Michigan State game, too.” What area does Weems feel he’s improved the most? “I’ve been scoring the ball better offensively,” said Weems of his average, up from 18.3 points a year ago. “The team has been playing good, we just have to do a little bit of stuff to keep working on to become a great team, another state championship team, so things are going well. “I’ve always been in the gym a lot, but I’ve been in the gym even more, just working on my jumper, working on my dribbling, moves to get to the basket, really just working on everything to get better. I feel like I’m stronger too, more athletic, more bouncy so that’s helped, too. “We’ve just been playing, taking it game by game and we continue to improve on that win streak. We watch film every day, work hard in practice every day so we’re ready for games. I feel we can repeat if we continue playing hard and playing together, just play the way we have now and continue to get better.” No doubt, France will have New Haven ready to play hard-nose defense. After all, France got after it when he played defensive back at Central Michigan in the late ‘90s. “We’re in great shape, and when teams get tired we get going,” France said. “We play great defense. We’re limiting teams to 45 points a game. We get out and run, press and trap a lot. We pressure you, play tough man-to-man defense and we do it without fouling. We want to make more free throws than other teams attempt. “We watch film, study the scouting report and then practice. I tell the kids these days here are my game day. The kids know what to expect from me and then they can execute. When game day comes, that’s their day.” France’s plan has been a recipe for success at New Haven. ROUNDUP: ‘Great shooter’ Tavares Oliver Jr follows former New Haven basketball teammate’s lead1/28/2018  George Pohly, The Macomb Daily
Tavares Oliver Jr. has a role model in Eric Williams Jr. As basketball blueprints go, Williams’ is a stellar one to follow. Williams was not a widely sought recruit last basketball season while he led New Haven on a magical journey. After he helped the Rockets win the state Class B championship, Williams got an 11th-hour offer from Duquesne, and he has made the most of that opportunity with nine double-doubles in 21 games as a freshman for the Pittsburgh school. “I try to do everything he did,” Oliver said. “He’s a good role model for me.” Like Williams a year ago, Oliver is a senior guard at New Haven who’s trying to impress Division I recruiters. He scored 29 points Thursday as the Rockets extended their county-record winning streak to 38 games with an 83-41 victory over Fitzgerald. “I was just trying to be aggressive,” said Oliver, who also had five assists. “I wanted to knock down my shots and get my teammates involved.” Oliver has consistently filled his stat line this season. He scores. He runs the point. He makes steals and is on the front line for a defense that averages a MAC-low 45 points per game, one whose key players say is capable of improving. “Overall, we’re playing hard and playing tough,” Oliver said, “but I feel like we can be a better defensive team.” Oliver, who canned six 3-pointers against Fitzgerald, scores in a variety of ways. He shoots. He slashes. He drives. “He’s a great shooter, one of the best shooters in the state of Michigan,” teammate Romeo Weems said. “He’s been getting tougher and tougher every year.” New Haven lost to graduation A.J. Crawford III, the lead guard on the championship team. Crawford’s role has been filled by multiple players, including Oliver, guard Ronald Jeffery II and Weems, a 6-foot-7 wing. “I worked hard on my game all summer,” Oliver said. “I want to get some Division I offers.” New Haven is at Cousino on Tuesday and at Eastpointe on Friday. A 2-0 week would push the Rockets’ winning streak to 40.  George Pohly, www.macombdaily.com
NEW HAVEN 83, FITZGERALD 41 Tavares Oliver made six 3-point field goals and scored 29 points, and Romeo Weems had a triple-double with 19 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists to lead New Haven to the MAC Blue victory. Ashton Sherrell scored 20 points and took seven rebounds as the Rockets improved to 7-0 in the division and 12-0 overall with their 38th straight victory that extended their county record. JaQuan Coleman led Fitzgerald with 16 points and Carl Pettway had 15. The Spartans, who had nine players in uniform, fell to 2-5 and 4-5. New Haven honored Eli Sims prior to the game. Sims led New Haven to three consecutive Southern Thumb Association championships and three district titles beginning in the 1968-69 season. He was the first two-time winner of the Macomb County Player of the Year award, capturing the honor in 1970 and 1971. “Going undefeated (at home) for three years,” Sims said when asked about more significant memories of his career with the Rockets. He also complimented Joe Barnett, the Rockets’ coach during his sophomore and junior seasons when New Haven reached regional championship games. “Joe Barnett was a great coach and a great man,” Sims said. “He helped me in the classroom. I had people like him in front of me that took care of me, kept me on the right track, kept me from doing stupid stuff.” Sims, a sprinter on Rocket track teams, is New Haven’s career scoring leader with 1,849 points. “It brings back a lot of memories being here,” he said. “When I played, we couldn’t dunk; we didn’t have the 3-point shot. They’ve got an up-level game now, but I had a good time here.”  1
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(Joel Bissell | MLive.com) By The Associated Press The top 10 teams in the Michigan Associated Press high school basketball poll, with records in parentheses. Totals are based on 15 points for a first-place vote, 14 for second, etc. The votes are based on the polling of a select committee of media members from around the state. CLASS A School (First-place votes) (Record) Points 1. Clarkston (5) (10-1) 89 2. Hazel Park (1) (10-0) 84 3. Ann Arbor Skyline (10-0) 79 4. Canton (10-0) 71 5. Detroit East English (9-2) 67 6. Ypsilanti (7-0) 58 7. Flint Carman-Ainsworth (6-1) 48 8. Holland West Ottawa (8-1) 44 9. Detroit Cass Tech (9-2) 41 10. Detroit U-D Jesuit (8-2) 32 Others receiving 12 or more votes: East Lansing (8-2) 26, Grand Ledge (9-1) 22, Petoskey (9-1) 13. Class B: Trio of 10-0 teams take top spots School (First-place votes) (Record) Points 1. New Haven (3) (10-0) 73 2. Benton Harbor (2) (10-0) 72 3. River Rouge (10-0) 64 4. Wyoming Godwin Heights (9-1) 58 5. Frankenmuth (9-1) 44 6. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (8-1) 42 7. Bridgeport (6-1) 32 8. Detroit Old Redford (6-1) 31 9. Williamston (10-2) 30 10. Olivet (9-0) 27 Others receiving 12 or more votes: Coloma (9-0) 25, Detroit Henry Ford Academy for Creative Studies (8-3) 17, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood (9-0) 14. Class C: McBain grabs three first-place votes School (First-place votes) (Record) Points 1. McBain (3) (9-0) 68 2. Kalamazoo Christian (9-0) 64 3. Iron Mountain (9-0) 61 4. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Cent. (1) (7-0) 60 5. Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (10-2) 55 6. Dansville (8-1) 44 7. Flint Beecher (1) (5-5) 41 8. Kent City (10-0) 39 9. Grandville Calvin Christian (7-1) 35 10. Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central (9-2) 24 Others receiving votes: Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (7-1) 20, Maple City Glen Lake (7-1) 12. Class D: Southfield Christian takes all first-place votes School (First-place votes) (Record) Points 1. Southfield Christian (5) (8-2) 75 T-2. Ewen-Trout Creek (10-0) 61 T-2. Fowler (7-1) 61 4. Hillman (8-0) 55 5. Frankfort-Elberta (7-1) 50 6. Dollar Bay (8-0) 48 7. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (7-2) 47 T-8. Marine City Cardinal Mooney Catholic (8-1) 39 T-8. Bellevue (10-0) 39 10. Rapid River (7-1) 30 Others receiving 12 or more votes: Kingston (10-1) 22, Powers North Central (7-1) 17.   By Evan Petzold cm-life
Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, Innocent Nwoko had no intention to play basketball. “I played soccer a lot in Nigeria,” Nwoko said. “I came to Michigan and had the opportunity to play in high school too. Growing up in Nigeria, nobody had to teach me to play soccer. It’s just what every kid does.” When Nwoko arrived at New Haven High School in Michigan, head coach Tedaro France handed him a basketball. He could not shoot or dribble and didn't understand the rules. Nwoko had no plans of finding a passion for basketball. Instead, he wanted to develop his soccer career while recieving a good education. Playing professional soccer was Nwoko's dream for as long as he could remember, but as he grew, he quickly realized it would not be an option. “When I was playing (soccer) in high school, I was too tall playing with kids that were small,” Nwoko said. “Sometimes I couldn’t keep the ball on my feet because they could steal it easier than when I used to be smaller.” During his two years as a basketball player in for New Haven, Nwoko stuck to his soccer roots and used his footwork to lead his team. The 6-foot-11, 232-pound redshirt freshman center led New Haven basketball to a 25-1 record in the 2015-16 season, which included a Macomb Area Conference Gold, district, and regional championship. He also played AAU basketball for the Spiece Indy Heat. CMU head coach Keno Davis runs an offense that pushes the ball in the fastbreak, which fits perfectly for a big man like Nwoko due to his former speed on the soccer field. “We’ve always liked the versatility of players to be able to stretch the floor,” Davis said. “Even though Innocent’s not a stretch player, he has the speed we want to play with. We had something special in him with his ability to be able to run up and down the floor. “Sometimes it takes bigger guys a little longer to develop, but he’s coming along and will be an impact player here sooner than later. " In Nigeria, basketball is not a popular sport. In the NBA, there are only two current players of Nigerian nationality but were not born in Nigeria – Al-Farouq Aminu and Giannis Antetokounmpo. "Recently, (Nigerian) people have started to try playing basketball more," Nwoko said. Even though he spends most of his time on the hardwood, the center still follows professional soccer. Nwoko's favorite player is Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and he watches Arsenal of the English Premier League. His favorite basketball player is Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors. With basketball and soccer under his belt, Nwoko plans to expand his sporting abilities this summer with sophomore guard David DiLeo, who has always been interested in tennis. “I haven’t played before, but yeah, (I’ll beat him),” Nwoko said. “I’m excited to play with him sometime this summer.” In the eyes of DiLeo, playing multiples sports in high school is something all athletes should attempt to do in their career. “Tennis helps with footwork and I think there are other sports that complement each other,” DiLeo said. “With tennis, you are working individually and with basketball, you are working with a group of five. Playing multiple sports can help with both aspects.” Nwoko averages over three minutes per game. He has 13 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks and three steals this season. |
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