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Rockets Earn Team, Player and Coach of Year Honors at the Annual Macomb County Sports Banquet

3/31/2015

It was a rewarding night for our New Haven Rockets players and coaches at the annual Macomb County Basketball sports banquet receiving post season honors. The Rockets sweep the big awards of Team of the Year, Player of the Year and Coach of the Year to go along with many Rockets earning All-Macomb County Honors.

Team of the Year New Haven Rockets

Player of the Year Dmonta Harris

Coach of the Year Tedaro France

All Macomb County Players

Dmonta Harris 1st Team All-Star
Austin Sherrell 1st Team All-Star
Josh Harris 3rd Team All-Star
John Galloway 1st Team All Defense

Tedaro & Tanya France

Team of the Year

Austin Sherrell

New Haven stars 'blessed' despite loss to Henry Ford

3/25/2015

By George Pohly
@GPohly

MARYSVILLE >> In the end, they felt blessed.

Austin Sherrell and Dmonta Harris won’t get the state basketball championship they coveted, but they wouldn’t trade the experience of playing for a New Haven team that went to a Class B boys quarterfinal game after a perfect regular season.

“I feel blessed,” Sherrell, a 6-foot-6 senior, said after Detroit Henry Ford defeated the Rockets 61-55 at Marysville on Tuesday night.

“I’m so thankful,” Sherrell said. “Even though we lost today, I can say we had the best team. I believe we had the best team. We played hard, but they came out on top.

“I’m not going to say they wanted it more than we did. We played hard.”

Sherrell and Harris transferred to New Haven from Waterford Mott.

Each played one season for the Rockets, who were 25-0 with league, district and regional championships to their credit before the loss to Henry Ford.

“I was thinking state title, state championship,” the 6-4 Harris, who scored 21 points against the Trojans, said. “That didn’t happen, but on the flip side, I never thought 25-0, either.

“There’s still something good about this season. I was really blessed. God has blessed me. I am thankful for the opportunity.”

New Haven led by as many as seven points in the third quarter, but Henry Ford closed the period on a 10-0 run and took a 40-37 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Rockets’ Marquis Perkins created a 50-all tie with a 3-point field goal with about four minutes to play in the game.

But Henry Ford then made seven of eight free throws as the Trojans took control and advanced to a state semifinal game that will be played Friday night at the Breslin Center.

“Our goal was to get to Michigan State,” Sherrell, who had 12 points, said. “We were this close.

“A lot of people say we can’t beat certain teams, but we gave them a run for their money.

“There’s not a better feeling than winning with my friends. I appreciate every little moment.”

Sherrell credited New Haven coach Tedaro France II with changing the outlook of his career.

“At Waterford Mott, I was a center,” Sherrell said. “Now I’m playing guard. Colleges are calling me.

“I believe it was the great coaching. He made me into a better player.”

New Haven set a school record with its 25 victories.

The Rockets won a regional championship for only the third time in school history, and the first time in Class B after capturing two in Class C.

“This will always be home,” Sherrell said. “Even though this is my first year here, this will always be home.”

Henry Ford plays Cadillac at the Breslin Center on Friday.

Ford puts it in gear to defeat New Haven

3/24/2015

By Chuck Pleiness
@MIPrepZoneMD

MARYSVILLE >> New Haven’s boys basketball team had a chance to put Detroit Henry Ford away Tuesday night at Marysville.

The Rockets did not and in the end suffered their first loss of the season.

Behind 20 points from Western Michigan University-bound Josh Davis, Henry Ford handed New Haven a 61-55 defeat in a Class B state quarterfinal.

“I think we were believing that the game was already over, but you have to realize as a team the game isn’t over until the final buzzer goes,” said New Haven’s Dmonta Harris, who led the Rockets with 21 points. “That was our mistake. We were up and I believe we gave it our best shot. It wasn’t that complete game, but we gave it our best shot.”

New Haven, which became just the seventh team in Macomb County to go 20-0 during the regular season, led 37-30 after Harris knocked down a pair of technical free throws and then a layup with three minutes left in the third quarter.

However, the Trojans (20-5) put together a 10-0 run to close out the quarter. The final bucket came from Davis by way of a dunk as the final seconds ticked off to give his team a 40-37 lead heading to the fourth.

New Haven wasn’t out of it as Marquis Perkins opened the final eight minutes with a triple to tie things after Davis had picked up his fourth quarter just seven seconds in.

“The same thing happened last game,” Henry Ford coach Kenneth Flowers said of Davis getting into foul trouble. “He was down on himself. He knows one game and it could be over, but the team told him we weren’t going to lose. That’s been happening all tournament and the guys didn’t quit.”

The Trojans were solid at the free-throw line down the stretch, going 10-for-12 over the final six minutes to reach a state semifinal game, Friday at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University at 7:50 p.m.

“We shot free throws for a half hour (Monday),” said Flowers, whose squad will meet Cadillac on Friday after the Vikings beat Essexville Garber, 59-50, to advance. “I told them that’s how this game was going to be won down the stretch and that’s what happened.”

Davis knocked down four straight free throws when he checked back in midway through the fourth quarter to put the Trojans up 52-50.

“Getting in foul trouble and being out of the game, but then he came back and knocked down four free throws,” said New Haven coach Tedaro France II, who guided the school to a school record 25 wins. “Great player, but overall I thought we held him in check.”

Henry Ford, which will be playing in its first semifinal in school history, was 22-for-30 from the free-throw line, compared to 10-of-12 from New Haven (25-1).

“This is the worst feeling I’ve felt all year,” Harris said. “As much as we fought together, as much as we worked to get ready for this game for us to lose, and it’s not like we lost to a bad team, Henry Ford had what it takes to beat us. It’s hard to watch another team play at Michigan State, but it’s something we have to deal with.”

The Rockets are now 0-3 in state quarterfinal appearances, also losing in 1990 and 2012.

“Other guys made plays,” France said. “It’s a tough game. I could have gone either way.

“We had some bad turnovers here and there,” France continued. “We just didn’t take care of the ball in key situations and forced some shots.”

Austin Sherrell chipped in 12 points and Perkins finished with eight.

James Towns added 14 points for the Trojans and Jamal Edwards followed with 10.

“It was just one of those games and say, ‘If we made that play, if we made that play, it was ours,’” France said. “And it was. It came down to some small plays. We just didn’t take care of the ball at key points.”

Undefeated New Haven still seeks perfect game

3/23/2015

Rockets face Detroit Henry Ford Tuesday night

By Chuck Pleiness
@MIPrepZoneMD

New Haven’s boys basketball coach Tedaro France II emerged from film session Monday evening and immediately went into to the keys of what the Rockets need to do to reach the state semifinals.

1. Take care of the ball.

2. Rebound the ball.

3. Play great team defense.

“If we do those three things right and have a few more things go our way we’re going to be successful,” France said. “It’s going to be another tough game, another dogfight.”

The Rockets (25-0) will face Detroit Henry Ford at Marysville at 7 p.m., Tuesday in a Class B state quarterfinal with a trip to East Lansing on the line.

“They’re not here by accident,” France said of Henry Ford. “They’re a tough team and it’s March now. We can’t play this game and get things fixed. We have to get them fixed now. We can’t afford to make those mistakes. We’ve had 25 games to fail. Now let’s learn from those mistakes for games like this.”

The Trojans (18-5), who topped Detroit Consortium 70-52 in a regional final, are led by wingman Josh Davis and point guard James Towns. Davis, who’s committed to Western Michigan, scored 23 points against Consortium, while Towns netted 17.

“Tough team, quick, athletic and scrappy,” France said. “They’ve got two great players and 12 good players. Davis can shoot and drive the ball. Towns is probably one of the best point guards I’ve seen play this year. They’re a solid team. They’ll press you and get up in your face.”

New Haven, which became just the seventh team from Macomb County to finish the regular season 20-0, has not advanced past the quarters it its previous two trips.

“With all the hoopla, I’m just trying to keep our guys focused, stay within themselves,” France said. “Sometimes when a kid gets in a big game they want to do more. I’ve just kept telling them to keep doing what they’re doing. Do their job and don’t do the next player’s job. If we stay within our game plan and be ourselves we should be alright.

“We have to do the smart things for 32 minutes to get there,” France added. “That’s going to be the key.”

The Rockets trailed Detroit Osborn by seven with under a minute to go in their regional final, but came back to win in overtime, 68-66.

Dmonta Harris hit a triple with three seconds left in regulation that sent the game into OT and from that point New Haven outscored Osborn 7-5 at the free-throw line.

“We’re not worried about our offense because we can get that by playing great defense,” France said. “The offense will come. One thing we can’t do is have a bad game defensively.

“I tell them to be still within, but be still outside,” France continued. “So be calm within, but outside don’t show signs of weakness, just be solid the whole game.”

Harris has totaled 45 points over the Rockets’ last two wins.

“They’re very similar to Osborn,” Harris said. “We haven’t put together that complete game, like I know we can do. We’ve been victorious without it.”

France can’t wait to see that first perfect game from his team.

“This would be a great time to do it,” France said. “We’ve shown signs. I think this team is on the verge of doing something special.”

The winner will face the winner of the game between Essexville Garber (21-4) and Cadillac (17-8) in a semifinal, Friday at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University at 7:50 p.m.

“There’s no time to be nervous,” Harris said. “We have to be ready and prepared. And I think we’ve prepared ourselves.”

France has Rockets in state quarters for third time in school history

3/21/2015

By Chuck Pleiness
@MIPrepZoneMD

New Haven’s boys basketball resurgence didn’t just happen overnight.

It began when Tedaro France II was given the job prior to the 2008-09 season and he started his tenure off with getting back to the basics.

“The program was good then we went through some gray times,” France said. “The kids just didn’t know how to win. They didn’t know how to work hard. I came here and it was almost like rebuilding.

“Kids didn’t understand the stuff we were doing or it was too hard,” France continued. “They were used to coming in, having a ball rolled out and just playing. They weren’t used to the structure, the hard work and all the prep work in the film room. They had no idea what that was. It was something new to them.”

New Haven went 6-15 in his first season.

“We came to practice, worked on jump stopping, working on left hand and they were like, ‘Coach what’s this,’ but that’s a big part of the game,” France recalled. “Games are won by doing the small things well.”

France started his first season with 15 kids. By the end of the season there were seven.

“I had to cut kids because they didn’t get what we were trying to do, four of them were starters,” France said. “It’s tough for kids to adjust to change. They didn’t want to do it so we started young.”

The Rockets went 10-12 his second season.

In season three, France had guided New Haven to a district championship, the Rockets’ first since the 2006-07 season.

“They started buying into it and we started having success,” France said. “So maybe they finally figured out coach wasn’t nuts. Sometimes it’s hard to get that across to kids, but once they start seeing results they start getting it.

“Sometimes the hardest thing is to teach kids how to win that have never won,” France continued. “We had to show them what it takes to win.”

France guided New Haven to a 20-0 regular season this year, becoming just the seventh Macomb County team to do so.

The last to do it was Romeo in 2002-03, but the Bulldogs lost to Eisenhower in their first district game to finish 20-1. Ford and Memphis were the first to do it in 1991-92.

Lake Shore went 20-0 in 1992-93 and 1993-94 and the Shorians became the county’s only boys basketball state champion in 1994.

New Haven was undefeated in 1996-97 and France was a player on that team.

“I tell them a lot that these memories will last with you forever,” France said. “I want them to enjoy it and if we lose let’s do it the right way. I want everyone to be able to look at themselves in the mirror and say that they gave it their all.”

Now France has gotten the Rockets’ program to a state quarterfinal game for a third time in school history and for the second time under his tenure.

New Haven lost in the previous two appearances – 2012 (61-40 to Shelby) and 1990 (56-47 to Bishop Gallagher.

“I don’t want anyone looking back and thinking about something they could have done different,” France said. “Let’s give it 100 percent all the way.”

The Rockets (25-0) will face Detroit Henry Ford, which topped Detroit Consortium 70-52 in a regional final at Marysville at 7 p.m. Tuesday with a trip to East Lansing on the line. The Trojans are 18-5.

New Haven remains the only team without a loss in the Class B state tournament.

A win Tuesday gets the Rockets to a state semifinal Friday at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University at 7:30 p.m.

“We have a hardworking group of kids that know how to win and what it takes to win,” France said. “They’ve had success. They know what it takes to be successful.”

New Haven faces another Detroit team in the quarterfinals

3/19/2015

Austin Sherrell

By Chuck Pleiness
@MIPrepZoneMD

Winning basketball games becomes more difficult as the state tournament progresses.

Just ask New Haven boys coach Tedaro France II and his team, who advanced Wednesday night to the Class B state quarterfinals, escaping from Yale High School with a 68-66 win in overtime over Detroit Osborn.

“That game is always tough,” France said. “It’s never easy. We wouldn’t want it any other way. It takes a lot of hard work. Only so many teams are blessed enough to make it that far and to play in that game.”

The other two Macomb County boys teams that were left in the state tournament – Dakota (Class A) and De La Salle (Class A) – both had their seasons end Wednesday as both fell to undefeated teams. The Cougars were knocked out by Clarkston, 63-58, while the Pilots were sidelined by Detroit Western, 51-35.

“To be able to win it, it’s just special for our kids and our home town,” France said.

As a New Haven player, France lost in each of his regional final appearances in his last two seasons at the school.

He’s led New Haven to two regional titles in three regional final appearances.

In all, the Rockets have won just three regional titles in 13 tries.

They also won titles in 2012 and 1990. Both of those were in Class C.

“I don’t know why we’ve had such difficulty winning that game, but I’m just happy we’ve been able to win in two out of the last three years,” France said. “I hope we can continue to have this success and continue to get past this game.”

New Haven also needed overtime to reach the quarterfinals in 2012, topping Saginaw Nouvel.

It wasn’t easy for the Rockets, who trailed a majority of the game Wednesday against the Knights and found themselves in a seven-point hole with under a minute to play in the fourth quarter.

But a triple from Dmonta Harris with three seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime. From that point, New Haven outscored Osborn 7-5 at the free-throw line to keep its unblemished record intact heading to the state quarterfinals.

Austin Sherrell started the comeback with a triple with 31.3 seconds to play and then Harris got an offensive rebound and a converted a layup to get New Haven to within two, 60-58.

After Osborn made 1-of-2 free throws, Marquis Perkins got the ball into Harris’ hands and he sent the game into OT.

Comebacks have been the norm for the Rockets this season.

In their second game against Chandler Park they trailed by 19 with three minutes left in the third quarter and came back to win, 60-57.

“That game showed we had a team with heart and set the tempo for the rest of the year,” France said. “We stayed composed and never got down. We didn’t force anything. We continued to stick with our game plan.”

New Haven (25-0) will face Detroit Henry Ford, which topped Detroit Consortium 70-52, at Marysville at 7 p.m. Tuesday with a trip to East Lansing on the line. The Trojans are 18-5.

The Rockets, who remain the only team without a loss in the Class B state tournament, are 0-2 in the state quarterfinals.

“We’re looking to take another step with this program,” France said. “It’s going to take a lot of preparation, a lot of hard work and it’s going to require us to play our best game in order to move to the next step.”

That would be a week from Friday at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University at 7:50 p.m.

“If we’re down late we know have a chance to win,” France said. “We still haven’t played that complete game that I know we can play. People that have scouted us and come to our games haven’t seen the true us. I hope it happens this year. I’m so excited to see us put together a full four quarters. That’ll be fun for me as a coach to watch.”

Send comments to chuck.pleiness@macombdaily.com.

'Miracle' victory brings New Haven a regional championship

3/19/2015

By George Pohly
@MIPrepZoneMD on Twitter

YALE >> Austin Sherrell couldn’t bear the thought of New Haven’s basketball season ending.

So he did something about it.

Sherrell’s 3-point field goal with 31.3 seconds left gave the Rockets hope in regulation time, and New Haven outscored Detroit Osborn 7-5 in overtime on the way to a 68-66 victory over the Knights in a boys Class B regional championship game at Yale High School on Wednesday night.

“I wasn’t ready to leave,” Sherrell, a 6-foot-6 senior, said. “We weren’t ready to go home. Osborn is a very scrappy team, very quick, but I feel we wanted it more.”

Undefeated New Haven trailed by seven points with less than a minute to play, but Sherrell hit his 3-pointer from the right wing to cut Osborn’s lead to 60-56 with 31 seconds to play.

Dmonta Harris got New Haven two points closer with a basket with 17.3 seconds left, and then the teams traded turnovers.

Senior guard Joseph Thomas, who led the Knights with 14 points, split a pair of free throws with 13.4 seconds left.

That opened the door for New Haven, and Harris pulled the Rockets through it with a triple that tied the score at 61-all with three seconds to play.

“It’s a miracle,” New Haven senior sixth man Josh Harris said after the Rockets improved to 25-0. “I knew we had a chance. We just had to figure it out.

“I’m so proud of my team.”

Dmonta Harris finished with 23 points and Sherrell had 15 points and five rebounds.

Regional championship games have tripped up New Haven more times than Rockets fans care to remember.

Since 1959, New Haven had lost 10 of 12 regional finals.

It looked like Osborn, a middling Detroit Public School team that entered the regional final with 14 wins, would be the latest to sideline the Rockets at the step before the state quarterfinals.

But looks were deceiving.

“We’ve been working for so long,” Sherrell said. “We’re ready for these moments. Since summer, we’ve been doing this.

“Just get after it, that’s what we did. I was confident in my shot. I had to put some points on the board for my team.”

New Haven, which was winning league championships before anyone outside the South had heard of Elvis Presley, didn’t win a regional title until 1990.

Now the Rockets have three of them, including one achieved in 2012.

“This means so much to our town,” Rockets coach Tedaro France II said. “We fell here so many times.”

Since winning a district championship last week, the Rockets, France said, have gotten letters from outside of Michigan, from alumni, former players and former teachers who follow the team online.

“People I’ve never met have written letters,” France said. “It’s unreal how much they support these kids.

“The fan support, the school support, the community support is a blessing. It’s amazing.”

New Haven, which lost its previous two state quarterfinal appearances, which were in Class C, plays Detroit Henry Ford at Marysville next Tuesday.

“People see our record, 25-0 now, but they don’t know what we’ve been through, how hard we’ve worked to get here,” France said. “These kids take everything in stride.”

Winning Rockets exhibit icy demeanor to Claim 3rd Regional Championship in School History.

3/18/2015

By Chuck Pleiness
@MIPrepZoneMD

'Miracle' victory brings New Haven a regional championship

YALE >> Dmonta Harris says he has ice water in his veins.

Wednesday night the New Haven senior proved it.

Harris knocked down a triple with three seconds left to play in the fourth quarter that sent the Rockets’ Class B regional final with Detroit Osborn into overtime.

From that point, New Haven outscored the Knights 7-5 at the free-throw line to escape with a 68-66 win and keep its unblemished record intact heading to the state quarterfinals.

“I did say I had ice in my veins,” a relived Harris said. “I was nervous, but I knew I had to pull it off.”

New Haven (25-0) will face Detroit Henry Ford, which topped Detroit Consortium 70-52, at Marysville on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with a trip to East Lansing on the line.

“I’m only 17 years old and this is the best feeling I’ve had in the life,” said Harris, who finished with 23 points. “There’s nothing better than this right now.”

It’s just the third regional title in school history for the Rockets, who remain the only team without a loss in the Class B state tournament.

This one wasn’t easy for New Haven, which trailed by seven, 60-53 with under a minute to play.

But as a few of the Rocket fans were leaving the gym, the team began the comeback.

It started with a triple from Austin Sherrell (15 points, five rebounds) with 31.3 seconds to play.

After a missed Osborn free throw, Harris got an offensive board and a layup to get New Haven to within two, 60-58.

The Rockets then got the turnover they were looking for on the inbounds pass, but then gave the ball right back to Osborn (14-9) with a turnover of their own and wound up having to send the Knights back to the free-throw line.

After making 1-of-2, Marquis Perkins (six assists) got the ball into Harris’ hands and he did the rest, draining the triple with three seconds to play in regulation.

“He had a real slow, slow first half,” New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. “He turned the ball over a few times so I had a quick chat with him during the break. I told him he’s a leader on this team. If he took off we’d take off. He played a great second half, made some big shots only a kid like him could make.

“He’s made plays for us all year, but tonight shows just what kind of player he is,” France continued. “He never put his head down. He stayed strong and stayed confident. His teammates picked him up and told him it was his game and he looked and me and said, ‘I’ve got you coach.’”

Harris had 22 points in the Rockets’ regional semifinal win over Yale.

“I saw people get up and leave because they thought the game was over,” France said. “This team has so much heart and resilience. They never quit.

“This year has been a special year and it shows how much they’ve grown,” France continued. “There’s no quit. The kids were saying on the sideline that we weren’t going to lose this game. To have that kind of confidence in their teammates is unreal. To get past this game right here with this group of kids is truly special.”

In overtime, New Haven went 7-for-10 at the free-throw line compared to 5-for-8 for Osborn.

“People see our record and they don’t know how much we’ve been through,” France said. “Each day is a struggle, but these kids take it in stride.”

Jerry Benn and Innocent Nwoko each had three blocks, while John Galloway finished with five assists.

The Rockets have won three regional titles in 13 tries. They also won in a title in 2012 and 1990.

“This is such a special moment for our school because we’ve failed at this moment so many times,” France said. “I told them to believe and they did. Not one time did I see a look in their faces of defeat. They knew they were going to win this game.”

Josh Harris chipped in nine points.

The Knights had four in double figure scoring – Christian Little John (13 points), Joseph Thomas (14 points), Dajon Watson (11 points) and DeAndre May (10 points).

“The fourth quarter, free-throw shooting, we just didn’t get it done and gave them opportunities,” said Osborn coach Lonell Williams, whose squad was 1-for-4 in the final minute at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. “We were up seven. I think we started celebrating too soon.”

Shoot, those Rockets are making baskets. Takes on Detroit Osborn for the Regional Championship.

3/17/2015

Undefeated New Haven knocks down shots when it has to

By Chuck Pleiness
@MIPrepZoneMD

Getting an outside jump shot to fall has sometimes been difficult for New Haven’s boys basketball team.

But when the Rockets have needed them to fall they’ve always seemed to find the mark and that proved to be the case once again in a Class B regional semifinal at Yale, Monday, against the host Bulldogs.

Marquis Perkins buried a triple just seconds after New Haven claiming the opening tip. He proceeded to drain another shot from behind the arc and got two more buckets to fall soon after.

“We’re not the best shooting team, but we’ve knocked down shots when we’ve needed to,” New Haven coach Tedaro France II said Tuesday before practice. “It’s gotten much better in March.”

Perkins scored all 10 of his points in that quarter as New Haven raced out to a 14-7 lead, which took Yale completely out of its game plan and led to a 61-39 win for the Rockets.

“I know when he knocks down his first shot we’re going to have a good game,” France said of Perkins. “He’s our motor. He’s been in a slump. His confidence is there now. He’s not just taking shots, he taking shots to make them.

“If we can hit the outside shot it just makes it tougher for teams to defend us,” France added. “Teams know we can drive and score inside so when we’re knocking down our shots that just opens up our offense a lot more.”

Making shots is a confidence thing.

“Sometimes a kid misses two or three shots and that’s all they think about it,” France said. “I tell my kids to just relax. I never get mad if you miss shots. I might get mad if you get beat on defense.

“I want them to have the confidence on the floor to take shots,” France continued. “I think they feel secure. I don’t want them looking at me if they miss a shot and see if they’re coming out. They can shoot knowing that we don’t need them making shots.”

New Haven, which is the last team in the Class B tournament without a loss, faces Detroit Osborn, Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the regional championship.

The Knights, who advanced with a 62-55 win over Notre Dame Prep to improve to 14-8, have a squad that’s a mirror image of New Haven (24-0).

“They’ve got great size,” said France, who squad became just the seventh Macomb County team to finish the regular season 20-0. “They’re a PSL team so of course anytime they play a team north of Eight Mile they’re going to try and pressure us. One key will be us taking care of the ball. We have to rebound well.”

Osborn, which had three players in double figure scoring on Monday, has a pair of 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-6 players, along will skilled guards.

“They play hard,” France said. “We’ve got our hands full. We have to come out and do the smart things. Take charges. box out, but taking care of the ball will be key.”

And after playing two true road games – a district final win over host Marysville and Monday over host Yale in a regional semi – the Rockets finally face a team on a neutral court.

“We feel we’re kind of the home team,” France said. “Yale played in a league with us for so many years so hopefully (those fans) will come out and help some.”

The Rockets last appeared in a regional final in 2012, topping Vassar, in Class C, before falling to Shelby in the quarters. They also won a regional title 1990.

Wednesday’s winner faces the winner of the regional final between Detroit Consortium (17-5) and Detroit Henry Ford (17-5) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Marysville in a state quarterfinal.

New Haven Educates Yale with a 61-39 Victory in the Regional Semi-Final

3/16/2015

Rockets remain undefeated at 24-0

By Chuck Pleiness
@MIPrepZoneMD

YALE >> New Haven’s perfect regular season has translated well into the boys basketball state tournament.

Behind 22 points from Dmonta Harris, the Rockets rolled over host Yale, 61-39, to reach Wednesday’s Class B regional final, improving to 24-0 on the season.

“I just told me team we’ve played two true road games in the state tournament, Marysville at home (Friday) and Yale at home (Monday),” New Haven Tedaro France II said. “They have great crowds.

“(Yale’s) a good team,” France continued. “We watched a lot of film on them and we knew they were going to be tough. We stressed great team defense and we really wanted to keep on number 10 and number 23.”

The Rockets held Cody Kegley and Josh McClelland to a combined 20 points.

“Our guards stepped up and played great team defense,” France said. “That was the key, holding them in check. Not giving up wide open shots and keeping (Kegley) out of the lane. We just knew coming in we had to focus on team defense and we really did that tonight.”

The Rockets held the Bulldogs (21-3) to just 12 points in the first half, while they put up 30.

“We can’t go nine minutes in the game without scoring,” said Yale coach Garnett Kohler, whose squad is 32-5 over the last two seasons. “I thought that was the difference in the game.”

New Haven also blocked nine shots.

“When we saw them back in December they shot the ball well,” said France, who played on the 1997 Rockets team that lost in a regional final. “We knew what we had to do. We’ve got a lot of depth where we can rotate guards to keep them fresh. I think that helped wear them down in the second half.

“They have a great team and had a great year,” France continued. “It’s tough to come here and win with such a great crowd.”

New Haven will face Detroit Osborn for the regional title. The Knights topped Notre Dame Prep, 62-55.

The Rockets, who became just the seventh team from Macomb County to finish the regular season 20-0, last appeared in a regional final in 2012, winning the regional at Vassar. The Rockets eventually fell to Shelby in the quarters.

Harris also grabbed 13 rebounds, while Austin Sherrell (five rebounds, five assists, six steals) followed with 13 points and Marquis Perkins (10 assists) netted 10. Jerry Ben added eight points to go with five blocks.

New Haven, which is the only undefeated team left in the Class B tournament, also won a regional title in 1990.

Perkins was red hot in the first quarter, knocking down a pair of triples and two more buckets to finish with 10 of the Rockets’ 14 points in the opening eight minutes.

The second quarter saw some tenacious New Haven defense, holding the Bulldogs to just two field goals, both of which came with under three minutes before halftime.

“I thought going in we could pack it in and force them to knock down shots,” Kohler said. “We watched a lot of film and they didn’t do it in the films. Give them credit and they hit 3 after 3 and if they’re going to do that it’s a tough matchup for us.”

McClelland and Austen Gentner scored 12 points apiece for the Bulldogs, whose other two losses this season were against Imlay City.

New Haven clinches Class B district championship

3/13/2015

Number two-ranked Rockets headed to regionals

By Jim Whymer
@MIPrepZoneMD

The New Haven basketball players, coaches and spectators were in no hurry to leave the Marysville High School gym Friday night.

The unbeaten Rockets posed for pictures and chatted with family and friends following their 46-39 victory over the host Vikings in the Class B district championship game.

And New Haven would love nothing better than to play at Marysville one more time this season. The Class B quarterfinals are scheduled for March 24 at Marysville.

"Our crowd is great. They are like our sixth man," New Haven Coach Tedaro France II said. "We've had a great following all season and tonight they really supported us. It's neat how the whole town comes out.

"I'm so happy and proud of the players. They have worked hard all season for this. Our goal this year was to come here and win a district. We've accomplished that."

The No. 2-ranked Rockets, who were knocked out of the Class C districts the past two seasons by Mount Clemens, improved to 23-0 on the season. They advance to the regionals Monday at Yale High School.

Marysville , the Macomb Area Conference Silver Division co-champion, finishes the season at 18-5.

"We wanted to win a league title this season, and also compete for the district championship," Marysville coach Ryan Biewer said. "We hadn't won a district games in three years and we made a great run at a district title.

"The players executed the game plan to perfection. We just had some turnovers and missed free throws at critical times. We haven't seen a team as athletic and with that size all season."

Senior Dmonta Harris led the Rockets' balanced scoring attack with 10 points. Senior Marquis Perkins and 6-foot-11 junior center Innocent Nwoko each finished with nine points, while senior Austin Sherrell added eight.

For Marysville, senior center Brady Beedon tossed in 14 points and senior guard Deshaun Kelley had nine.

The Vikings gave the Rockets fits early on with their 2-3 zone. They made nine free throws in the first quarter for a 15-7 lead. Sophomore Dylan Kiger drove the baseline for a layup to put the Vikings up 19-11 with four minutes left in the first half.

Marysville held a 26-21 halftime lead.

"We were lucky to get within five points at halftime," France said. "Marysville did a good job in their zone defense. They move well and close out on the shooters. They are a well-coached team.

"We did a good job of staying composed, especially at the start of the second half. There is no quit in this team. We've been behind in games throughout the season and keep fighting."

Beedon put in a shot off the glass to open the third quarter for a 28-21 Marysville lead. The Vikings wouldn't score again in the quarter as the Rockets put up 11 unanswered points.

France ordered the Rockets to hold the ball for the final three minutes of the third quarter and first four minutes of the fourth as the Vikings sat back in their zone.

New Haven pulled away by controlling the offensive glass and hitting 12 free throws down the stretch.

New Haven advances to district final with a 57-20 Victory over Algonac

3/11/2015

Jerry Ben

By Brian Marshall
@MIPrepZoneMD

The New Haven Rockets, as expected, took care of business Wednesday to assure their spot in the Class B boys district basketball final Friday.

New Haven owned Algonac Wednesday in a semifinal game at Marysville, coasting to a 57-20 victory.

The Rockets led 34-7 at one point of the first half and the teams played under a running clock in the fourth quarter.

And New Haven coach Tedaro France II doesn’t think the Rockets are close to playing their best.

“We have not put together a complete game yet and we are hoping we will soon, France said. “I’m hoping that Friday we can come together and play that complete game. It’s March; it’s time.”

New Haven will face Marysville in Friday’s district final at 7 p.m. at Marysville, which beat Clintondale to advance.

France went into his serious game mode when dissecting the clash with Marysville.

“We need to take care of the ball well and play great team defense, but they’re going to bring their best,” France said. “They’re a great-coached team, they had a great season.

“They have a couple real good players. Their point guard and their post players are good. They’re a tough team. We have to take care of the ball, be patient against their zone and play great team defense. It’s going to be a great game.”

France was able to get several reserves playing time. John Galloway led the Rockets with 13 points, while Josh Harris had 11.

The Rockets finished the regular season 20-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class B.

Marysville tied for the MAC Silver title at 12-2 and went 17-4 in the regular season. Clintondale was 10-4 and 16-5.

The winner of Friday’s game advances to the regional at Yale beginning on Monday.

New Haven remains undefeated with a 60-45 decision over Lutheran North

3/9/2015

By George Pohly
@GPohly

New Haven won the basketball game, and Jamesen McHale won the Rockets’ respect.

Dmonta Harris scored 21 points Monday night to lead New Haven to a 60-45 victory over upset-minded Lutheran North, which was paced by McHale’s 17 points in a Class B boys district tournament quarterfinal game on the undefeated Rockets’ court.

McHale’s 3-pointer drew the Mustangs to within 49-43 with about six minutes left in the fourth quarter, but Harris scored three points and Josh Harris made a basket off a spin move in the lane as New Haven closed the game on an 11-2 run to advance in the district hosted by Marysville.

“Nobody expected us to get the victory tonight, but we gave it our all,” said McHale, a senior guard who was hugged by Rockets coach Tedaro France and almost every New Haven player as the teams shook hands afterward.

“We tried our best,” McHale said. “We played probably our best game of the season and we fought to the very end. I’m proud of everybody.”

Lutheran North made nine 3-point field goals and New Haven missed 10 free throws in the game that featured both teams taking leads in the second quarter.

“My hat’s off to them; they played a great game,” New Haven coach Tedaro France said. “They shot the ball extremely well.

“It’s March. It doesn’t matter what your record is. It a new year, a new season. We’ve got to keep on fighting.”

Austin Sherrell had 10 points, Josh Harris finished with nine and John Galloway and Marquis Perkins had seven apiece for the Rockets (21-0). Dmonta Harris and Sherrell had 11 rebounds apiece, and Galloway had seven.

Austin Conn, a 6-foot-6 senior, scored 13 points for Lutheran North (10-11).

Conn’s 3-pointer gave Lutheran North a 22-19 lead and junior Jake Schinkai’s triple tied the game 25-all in the second quarter, which ended with New Haven leading 33-27.

McHale’s step-back shot over the defense at the third-quarter buzzer cut New Haven’s lead to 42-38.

Lutheran North focused for about three weeks on preparing for the Rockets, Mustangs coach Kevin Murawski said.

“We put in a new offense and an all new defense, and tonight I thought we executed it,” Murawski said.

“They’re a great team. There are no weaknesses. Everyone that gets into the game for them is ready to go, and they know what’s going on.

“But my guys gave me everything I asked. We knew it was going to be a challenge.”

New Haven, France said, tried to force the Mustangs to create offense off the dribble rather than spotting up for perimeter shots.

“In the second half, we did a better job of that,” France said.

Sherrell’s coast-to-coast dunk followed baskets by Josh Harris and Dmonta Harris and gave the Rockets a 41-30 lead with 3:12 left in the third quarter.

Lutheran North answered with consecutive 3-pointers by Conn.

The fourth quarter began with Dmonta Harris and Sherrell converting steals for baskets that put the Rockets ahead 46-38.

McHale then sandwiched a 2-point basket and a 3-pointer around Dmonta Harris’ triple as Lutheran North pulled to within 49-43 before the Rockets went on their game-deciding run.

“It was all about trying to slow down the tempo,” McHale said. “We knew they were going to (try to) run us out of the gym. We wanted to slow it down a little bit, waste some time and get our shots on the perimeter.”

New Haven plays Algonac in a district semifinal game at Marysville on Wednesday.

“We’ve got to get back to work,” France said. “We’ve got to continue to work hard and play great defense. We’ve got to rebound the ball better, too.”

Clintondale plays Marysville in the other district semifinal.

New Haven flourishes after 'rough summer'

3/7/2015

New Haven coach Tedaro France led the Rockets to a 20-0 regular-season record. France also played for a New Haven team that went 20-0.

Rockets enter district tournament after 20-0 regular season

By Chuck Klonke
@MIPrepZoneMD on Twitter

MADISON HEIGHTS >> If someone had told New Haven coach Tedaro France II last summer that his basketball team was going to have an undefeated regular season, France might have questioned their sanity.

“We had a rough summer. We got beat bad by some teams this summer,” France said Thursday after the Rockets defeated Madison 61-52 to complete a 20-0 regular season. “I didn’t think we’d be this good, but I knew if the kids would continue to work hard and develop we’d win some games. I didn’t expect us to be No. 2 in the state and go undefeated.

“There were some nights when I’d come home and say, ‘we’re going to have a long year.’ That just shows how hard these kids have worked and how much they want to learn.”

Point guard Marquis Perkins, who has been on New Haven’s team for three years, wasn’t planning on a perfect season either.

“No, you never see that,” he said. “But it’s pretty exciting to get it.”

New Haven is the seventh Macomb County team to have a 20-0 regular season. The last to do it was Romeo in 2002-03, but the Bulldogs lost to Eisenhower in their first district game to finish 20-1. Ford and Memphis were the first to do it in 1991-92. Lake Shore went 20-0 in 1992-93 and 1993-94 and the Shorians became the county’s only boys basketball state champion in 1994. New Haven was undefeated in 1996-97 and France was a player on that team.

He remembers it well.

“It was a long time ago,” he said. “We had a special team. We lost in the regional final and that still hurts. I tell my kids that they will have the memories from this season for the rest of their lives. Don’t make this the most special moment of your lives because you’re going to become dads and husbands but the time you share with your friends will stay with you forever.

“I tell them, ‘when you play, don’t have any regrets. If we get beat, let’s say that we gave our complete all. Don’t feel that you could have made that play or dove on the floor or took a charge. Let’s make those plays now so you know you gave 100 percent effort.’”

Although New Haven is 20-0, there’s still business to be taken care of. The Rockets open Class B state tournament play Monday at home against a good Lutheran North team.

“We have to use this season as a stepping stone to get to the spot where we want to be,” France said.

That spot is the Breslin Center, the site of the high school final four.

One of France’s favorite sayings is “win the day.” That means not only win on game day, but improve each day in practice.

“We’re trying to make a push to the Breslin Center. That’s our main goal right now,” Perkins said. “Every day is an individual step that we have to succeed in.”

France said that the Rockets have to keep doing the things they’ve done to achieve the 20-0 record — and get even better.

“We have to keep playing hard. We have to keep playing together. We have to keep growing,” France said. “We played through adversity tonight. We had guys in foul trouble in the first half. (Madison) was intense. Their crowd was intense. We overcame that. If we can win in this type of environment that’s going to prepare us for March.”

Dmonta Harris has been the go-to player for New Haven all season but he got whistled for two fouls in the first half, picked up his third early in the third quarter and got his fourth during the final minute of the third quarter. The Rockets were ahead when he left the game and they maintained the lead while he was on the bench.

“We’ve been playing nine kids all year so every kid on the team has played a key role in getting us to where we are now,” France said. “Dmonta is a great player, but they know that if they’re called upon they can come in with confidence that they’ll get the job done. It was great to see that when he was out, he was the biggest cheerleader. He was just as excited as if he was on the court.

“That shows we’re not just a team, we’re a family. That’s on the back of our shirts. During the season you develop into a family. You see each other every day. We watch film. We cry, we laugh, we fuss but in the end it’s all love. I’m so proud of this group of kids. They won the MAC Gold, which hasn’t been done since we came into the MAC in 2004, and we went undefeated for the first time since 1997.”

PERFECTION ... New Haven ends regular season 20-0

3/5/2015

Head Coach Tedaro France II

By Chuck Klonke
@MIPrepZoneMD

MADISON HEIGHTS >> The dream of a perfect season became reality for New Haven’s basketball team.

The Rockets’ 61-52 victory against upset-minded Madison Thursday in the MAC Gold Division made New Haven the seventh Macomb County team to go 20-0 in the regular season and the first since Romeo in 2002-03. New Haven also did it in 1996-97.

“It’s tough to do,” coach Tedaro France II said. “We had our ups and downs but these kids found a way to win. They know when they have to turn it on and go.”

New Haven turned it on in the last 3 1/2 minutes. The Rockets were leading 46-45 when Josh Harris stole the ball and went in for a two-handed dunk. Moments later, Dmonta Harris, who had been in foul trouble much of the game, hit a 3-pointer from the left baseline and New Haven’s lead had swelled to 51-45.

The Rockets got their biggest lead of the game, 59-48, when Marquis Perkins, who had an important 3-point basket earlier in the quarter, sank four straight free throws.

“We practice too hard for us to come out and play sloppy,” Perkins said. “We started bad in the first half but coach talked to us and we picked up the intensity in the second half. We came out ready to play.”

He said that Josh Harris’ basket got the team fired up even more.

“Josh is an amazing athlete — an all-state track star — and when he got that steal I knew he was going to dunk in hard,” Perkins said. “That got us all excited.”

France knew that Madison, which ended the regular season 15-5, would give the Rockets a battle.

“When you’re in first place you get everybody’s best effort so we have to prepare hard,” France said. “Today (Madison) played a great game. It was a great game before (the state tournament). Now every game is going to be like this.

“I’m glad we’re learning how to win close games. Kids are making plays down the stretch and we’re doing the right things. We still have to get some things fixed. Kids are going to make mistakes but we’re making them at full speed. This is great and we’re going to enjoy it for the moment but Monday is Lutheran North.”

Perkins had praise for Madison’s effort.

“Their guys played hard,” he said. “They’re a very scrappy team. And their fans were amazing. They kept the game exciting. It was a very exciting game. I’m glad we came away with the victory.”

There were six lead changes and three ties in the first half that ended with the teams deadlocked at 24-all. Madison took a 24-22 lead on a five-point possession late in the first half. Marqwen Carruthers hit a 3-point basket and AJ Williams was fouled away from the play. Williams was awarded a free throw in a bonus situation and made both. Josh Harris then tied the game on a layup with 30 seconds remaining in the half.

New Haven led for most of the third quarter but Madison pulled into a tie on a 3-pointer by Carruthers and a basket by Williams after a Rockets turnover. Alante Stevens got a basket for New Haven to send the Rockets into the fourth quarter with a 41-39 lead.

“This was a perfect game going into the district,” said Eagles coach Matt Ferguson. “We have a lot of long, athletic teams in our district so when we set this up (after a weather postponement) we had that in mind. It was good for them, too.”

When the teams met earlier in the season, New Haven won 72-45. Ferguson said his team was ready for the Rockets this time.

“They punched us pretty hard the first game,” he said. “We were a little starry-eyed at how hard they were playing and we were more prepared for it tonight. We made some changes defensively. Our help was much better than in the first game.

“We were pretty hyped up for this game. We missed five baskets from close range early in the game. We played hard for 32 minutes.”

Josh Harris led New Haven with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Dmonta Harris finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Austin Sherrell grabbed 10 rebounds. Perkins had five assists.

Carruthers led a balanced Madison attack with 14 points and Jaylin Golson had 10. Anthony Love led the Eagles with seven rebounds.