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Rockets defeat Osborn at Marysville, 73-66
By Chuck Pleiness @MIPrepZoneMD MARYSVILLE >> Romeo Weems was not going to leave a boys state quarterfinal basketball game disappointed for a second consecutive season. And the highly sought sophomore guard did not. Weems finished with a double-double – 15 points, 13 rebounds – to go along with eight assists, three blocks and three steals to lead New Haven over Detroit Osborn, 73-66, in a Class B quarterfinal final Tuesday at Marysville High School. “We’ve seen this before and I just got on my guys hard and we came out and performed well,” Weems said of his post-timeout huddle with his teammates and the game tied at 52 to begin the fourth quarter. “We played really hard. We didn’t perform all that well, but I think this is the hardest game we’ve played all year. Now that I know we can play that hard, our shots are going to fall and with all that hard work we’re going to be tough to stop.” New Haven had lost four previous trips to the quarters, including each of the last two seasons to Detroit Henry Ford. “I’ve been thinking about last year forever,” Weems said. “That’s been my chip on my shoulder. We can’t lose like that anymore. Fourth quarter came and something just clicked and I just had to do whatever it took to keep us playing.” The Rockets (25-1) will meet Benton Harbor, which advanced past Spring Lake 46-44, in a Class B state semifinal on Friday at 6 p.m. at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University. “Everyone that is back from last year remembers what it felt like,” Weems said. “We were just that much more experienced and wanted it that much more.” New Haven has won 24 games in a row. Its only loss was to Dakota. “It’s big,” said Weems, who left Lake Shore High School in tears last season after the loss to Henry Ford. “We finally got over the hump. I hated that feeling. I hate to lose at all. I just didn’t want to lose. To me this is more than a game. I just go out and play my heart out like it’s my last game because I don’t want to lose. “We just played real hard,” Weems added. “Those balls that I couldn’t get before I got in the fourth quarter. I wanted it that bad.” AJ Crawford III led New Haven with 20 points and grabbed 11 boards. Eric Williams Jr. followed with 16 points, 13 rebounds and three assists, while Ronald Jeffery II added 10 points. “We came in with a plan and a goal and we achieved it,” Williams said. “Last year I think we came in a little timid and inexperienced. This year was different.” The Rockets outscored Detroit Osborn 21-14 in the fourth quarter to snap a 52-52 tie. It wasn’t the prettiest of New Haven’s performances this season, which was highlighted by going 16-of-34 from the free-throw line. “I don’t know what it was,” Williams said. “We couldn’t hit free throws. We couldn’t hit shots. It was an off night for us, but we played with heart and we played hard and that’s what got us the win.” Ashton Sherrell tossed in eight points to go along with 11 rebounds and four assists. “To take this next step and be the first team in school history to reach this just shows how hard these kids have worked all year,” New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. “We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs. They know that through failure comes success. We’ve failed a lot. “I just tell them to win the day,” France continued. “I’m so proud of them because they never folded. We got down, but they stayed as a group and kept fighting.” Armonee Felder led the Knights, who were 5-of-10 from the free-throw line, with 21 points. Kenneth Holloway added 18 and James Lloyd added 17. “Good teams find ways to win,” France said. “We missed our free throws and yet still be a great team to accomplish a goal and did something that has never been done before.” River Rouge and Ludington will meet in the other semifinal at 7:50 p.m. The Class B state championship is Saturday at 6:30 p.m. “You can’t teach experience,” France said. “They kept fighting. It’s not our best game by far, but we never quit. That’s all you can ask for.” Joseph Hayes
www.thetimesherald.com MARYSVILLE - They made history. Throughout the season, the New Haven High School basketball team has been on a mission. The Rockets desperately want to win a Class B state title. But first things first, New Haven had to get out of the state quarterfinal round, where it had fallen victim the past three years. On Tuesday, New Haven finally took that step with a 73-66 victory over Detroit Osborn at Marysville High School. It is the first time in school history New Haven (25-1) has advanced to the state semifinal round. New Haven (25-1) will face the winner of the Benton Harbor-Spring Lake contest at 6 p.m. Friday at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. "I take my hat off to them, they played a great game," New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. "We didn't play our best game. But in March, it's win and advance. We can learn from that. I'm proud of this group of kids because they never got down. They stayed strong." AJ Crawford scored 20 points to go along with 11 rebounds to lead New Haven. Eric Williams added 16 points, 13 rebounds and three assists. Romeo Weems had 15 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and three steals, and Ronald Jeffrey had 10 points. Armonee Felter had 21 points on five 3-pointers to lead Detroit Osborn and James Loyd added 17 points. "We came out and wanted to win so bad," Weems said. "I'm just happy. All of this hard work we have done. The 5 a.m. workouts we've had until now. I'm just so happy for my fellas. Everyone stepped up big. Everyone played hard. This is history for this school. We're over the hump now." It wasn't easy. Detroit Osborn gave New Haven its best shot and the game remained up for grabs late. But after struggling to make is free throws for much of the fourth quarter, New Haven was able to hold the Knights off. "It was a close game but I thought we defended well," Williams said. "It's an honor to play here. Me coming in two years ago, it's been great. It's been great to be successful." After a back-and-forth first quarter, New Haven led 12-9. That lead grew in the second quarter and New Haven was able to take a 34-26 halftime advantage. The intensity really began to increase as the second half started. New Haven clung to its advantage, while Detroit Osborn desperately tried to keep pace. Then, Armonee Felter caught fire. The Osborn senior guard took over the game, making three consecutive 3-pointers while pulling the Knights back into the game. When the dust settled, the teams were right back where they started, deadlocked at 52-52 entering the final quarter. Once there, New Haven quickly entered the bonus and shortly thereafter, the double bonus. But the Rockets struggled to make their free throws and the Knights were able to remain in the game as their fouls piled up. With 3:55 left, New Haven had the ball leading 60-57. They had the same three-point advantage a minute later when Tavares Oliver Jr. split a pair of free throws to give New Haven a 66-62 lead with 2:30 left in the game. Despite their best efforts, Detroit Osborn couldn't find a way to come all the way back once again and New Haven made a few key free throws to keep the Knights at bay. "I'm so proud of how far they came," France II said. "It's our fifth time here in school history and to be able to take this next step and be the first team in school history to do this shows how hard they worked all year." Guard scores 20 as Rockets post first quarterfinal victory
By George Pohly @MIPrepZoneMD MARYSVILLE >> A.J. Crawford III has been a New Haven Rocket for one season.It has felt like much longer to the former Cousino basketball player. “From the start, when I came here, I saw how upset people were over losing in the quarterfinals, of being so close to a state championship game,” Crawford said Tuesday. “You could hear the hurt in their voices.” The hurt is gone. Crawford scored a team-high 20 points to lead the Rockets to a 73-66 victory over Detroit Osborn that gave New Haven the first boys quarterfinal victory in program history and sent the northern Macomb County team into a state Class B semifinal that will be played Friday night at the Breslin Center. New Haven had been 0-4 in quarterfinal games, including losses to Detroit Henry Ford each of the last two years, since winning its first regional championship in 1990. “Finally,” Crawford said when asked his thoughts as the clock hit zero and the Rockets began to celebrate at center court. “Even though I’ve been here only one year – finally,” Crawford said. “I felt all those years. I feel like I've been here for four years. Finally, we did it, but we’re not finished. “One of our goals is to get to the Breslin, but our ultimate goal is to win that state championship.” Crawford, a senior guard, joined a New Haven a program that had won consecutive league and regional championships and had established stars in sophomore Romeo Weems and Eric Williams. A veteran of AAU teams as well as Cousino squads, Crawford quickly learned something upon his arrival in New Haven. “Playing with other teams,” he said, “I had teammates who liked to play basketball, but they weren’t ball players. These boys here, they work it. They’re in the gym in the morning before school, after school; before practice and after practice. “It’s been a grind since the fall.” But a “grind” was what Crawford wanted when he enrolled at New Haven. “That’s what I was doing before I came here,” he said. “To come here and find out that’s what these people do, it was a blessing. “I needed to put my effort in. I had to give my all to make this happen.” Added New Haven coach Tedaro France II, “He was able to pick up the vibe of who we are and what we’re about.” Crawford had 11 rebounds against Osborn. On a night when the Rockets struggled from the free throw line, making only 16 of 34 for the game, and missing 11 free throws in the fourth quarter, Crawford sank two foul shots to give New Haven a 69-66 lead with 33.8 seconds to play. “I just attacked,” Crawford said of his approach to the game against the Detroit Public School League Knights. “I was confident. My dad says the tighter the game, the more relaxed and confident I am. “I just played my role. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.” Williams had 16 points and 13 rebounds, Ashton Sherrell had 11 rebounds, and Weems collected 15 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals. The New Haven victory gave the county a state semifinalist for the second consecutive season. Dakota advanced to the Class A semifinals in 2016. New Haven plays Benton Harbor at 6 p.m. Friday. By George Pohly @GPohly on Twitter A team with a strong post player and three "really good" guards stands between New Haven and boys basketball history. Detroit Osborn will provide the opposition at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Marysville when the Rockets try for a third consecutive year to win a state Class B quarterfinal game. The Knights of the Detroit Public School League feature senior post player Kenneth Holloway, who has led Osborn to 16-9 record with district and regional championships. “Those losses can be deceiving,” New Haven coach Tedaro France II said Monday. “They’ve won some big games, and they’ve had some tough losses. “Records don’t matter. It’s March. You’ve got to play the game.” Losses to Detroit Henry Ford the last two years dropped New Haven to 0-4 all-time in quarterfinal games. This time, the Rockets seek to clear the quarterfinal hurdle with a team that has posted a 24-1 record and is carrying a 23-game winning streak. “We are experienced, smart and we’ve got a great group of guys to lead us where we need to get,” 6-foot-5 senior guard Eric Williams said. “If we defend and execute what we’ve practiced, we’ll be fine.” New Haven defeated Osborn 68-66 in overtime in a regional final at Yale two years ago. Holloway was a 10th-grader on that team. “The offense goes through him,” France said. “He’s a tough player. He’s got a good mid-range game. “They also have three really good guards. Armonee Felder, one of the Knights’ standout guards, averages 24 points per game. The brother of former Oakland University star and current Cleveland Cavalier Kay Felder, Armonee was suspended for two games, including the Knights’ district opener against South Lake, for punching a Detroit Cornerstone player late in the regular season. Felder and Holloway scored 21 points apiece in Osborn’s 67-64 victory over Detroit Collegiate Prep in a regional final last week. “It’s a tough team,” France said. “They’re scrappy and quick. They press and trap. We’ve got to take care of the ball. “We’ve got to contain the guards and contain Ken.” With a front line that includes 6-7 junior Ashton Sherrell and 6-6 sophomore Romeo Weems, New Haven has a height advantage, France said. “I think we can attack them inside,” France said. New Haven lost its first quarterfinal game in 1990. The Rockets also bowed in a quarterfinal in 2012 before the consecutive defeats to Detroit Ford. On Sunday, when the Rockets took a team picture that would be used in the state finals program if New Haven gets that far, France had a message for his players. “We’ve been knocking on the door,” France told the Rockets. “Let’s just kick the door down. Let’s break through this game.” Doors open at Marysville at 6 p.m. The Osborn-New Haven winner plays either Benton Harbor or Spring Lake in a state semifinal game at 6 p.m. Friday at the Breslin Center. Eric Williams Jr. just keeps on excelling By Chuck Pleiness @wingsfrontman on Twitter Notre Dame Prep boys basketball coach Whitney Robinson spent an awful long time talking to New Haven's Eric Williams Jr. after the Rockets knocked off the Fighting Irish in a Class B regional championship game last week. "I was just giving him the respect that he deserves," Robinson said. "He's the best player I've seen at the high school level since I've been coaching." And Williams has a teammate, junior Romeo Weems, that's being heavily recruited by numerous Division I schools, including Michigan State University. "Right now, today, he's better than Romeo," Robinson said. "No disrespect to Romeo, he's phenomenal, wonderful and a tremendous player, but right now today he's the best high school basketball player I've seen the last five years." Williams dropped 26 points on NDP, to go along with 10 rebounds and five steals in the Rockets' 71-44 win. "He's just so smooth," Robinson said. "But what impressed me the most was how hard he plays. Obviously, he can shoot it, he's athletic, he can dribble and he can create his own shot, but he works so hard. He's the hardest working guy out there on the floor. "He's relentless on the offensive glass," Robinson continued. "He's running the floor harder than anybody, guarding great. He's just a great phenomenal player and that's a credit to their coach." Williams has been on fire since dropping 50 points on Fraser in the opener of the MAC Blue/Gold Division tournament. He followed that up with a 40-point performance against Warren Woods-Tower. "It's a great compliment, but I'm still working," Williams said of what Robinson told him. In a triple overtime win over Flint Beecher he had 38 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. He's also had games of 28 points (Marysville) and 27 (Flint Northwestern) in this recent stretch. "I still have to keep working to reach my goals," Williams said. "It's great what he told me, but I still have to work." Williams' upward trajectory has led him to de-commit from Davis & Elkins University. He's already been contacted by a handful of Division I schools that would love to have him dress next season for them. "I'm on a bit of a late season run," Williams said. "I'm just scoring. I've been more focused and locked in. I don't feel different. I'm just playing." Williams said it's not a lucky food he's been eating or anything else he's doing pre-game, but his coach, Tedaro France II, feels he knows why he's put together this kind of run over the last nine games ... a haircut. "Since he got a haircut, about a month ago, he's been putting up these kinds of numbers," France smiled. "He had a high-type fade before. I told him to keep his haircut forever." The haircut occurred prior to his 50-point performance against the Ramblers. "He's a kid that works hard," said France, whose Rockets meet Detroit Osborn at 7 p.m. at Marysville in a Class A state quarterfinal on Tuesday. "He's there before and after school working hard. To see his growth it truly shows if you work hard there's nothing that you can't do. He's a gym rat. "He's a great kid and a great talent," France continued. "And he's having a hell of a year." Joseph Hayes
www.thetimesherald.com NEW HAVEN - They have been here before. The New Haven boys basketball team hasn't done a lot of celebrating this season. Even though the Rockets enjoyed a stellar regular season before claiming district and regional titles, they continue to focus on the road ahead. Now the Rockets (24-1) have arrived at the same place they have previously stumbled. For the past four years, New Haven has played in the Class B state quarterfinals. The Rockets are still searching for their first victory. "We are looking forward to this game and taking the next step that has never been done in our school's history," New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. "To have a chance to be the first in school history is something the kids are excited about. They have worked hard all year and prepared. They are hungry and they want this bad." A victory against Detroit Osborn on Tuesday at Marysville High School would propel the Rockets past the hurdle and one step closer toward the ultimate goal of winning a state championship. "I think the venue we are playing at is a great spot for us," New Haven senior forward Eric Williams said. "Our fan base will be there and we will have a lot of supporters. We are blessed to have people to see us play. We hope to put on a show for them. Right now we are just going to work hard and watch film. "We have more experience this year. This year we can break through because we are all the way tuned in. We just need to come out and start creating and playing our game." If the Rockets can stay focused on the goal at hand, they have a great chance to turn their season into the best in school history. "God keeps me humble," France II said. "Knowing that it’s not me. It’s him. I give him all the praise and glory because he has been great. I've had a great wife that supports me and being a coach's wife is tough. She is behind me 100 percent. I have a great staff and great kids that want to be coached. "My first year we went 6-15. Now after nine years to have 156 wins, five districts and four regionals show how far we have come and how hard the kids work." By Chuck Pleiness @wingsfrontman on Twitter www.miprepzone.com Against a team like New Haven, if you take a minute off you’re going to have 10 points scored on you. At least 10 points, just ask Notre Dame Prep coach Whitney Robinson. “I don’t know what the exact run was, but we came out and dropped our guard,” Robinson said. “We dropped our guard for just a minute and they went on a run. They went on a run.” The Rockets’ run was 27-4 and it went from the end of the second quarter until early in the third and it propelled New Haven to a 71-42 win over the Fighting Irish to capture a Class B boys basketball regional championship on Wednesday night at North Branch. “It’s a game of runs,” said New Haven coach Tedaro France II, who has led the Rockets to three consecutive regional titles. “The whole year we’ve been able to go on good runs and we want to limit teams' runs too.” New Haven’s run to end the first half was 15-2. It was a 12-2 outburst that greeted NDP (15-10) in the second half. “We always want to come out and win the first three minutes of every half,” France II said. “Games can be won right there so we want to have a great start. The kids came out focused and it led to a great start and it carried over for the rest of the game.” Eric Williams Jr. finished with a double-double – 26 points, 10 rebounds – for New Haven (24-1). He also had five steals and four assists. “Once we started to contain Tariq (Derrickson) we went on our run,” Williams Jr. said. “That helped up carry momentum into the second half and that was it from there.” Williams Jr. had 10 of those 27 points in that run. “We could have defended better, but we picked it up from that surge to end the half and kept it going to start the third,” Williams Jr. said. “The first five minutes of the third took care of it.” Romeo Weems followed with 15 points, eight boards and five assists, while AJ Crawford III tossed in 12 points. Ashton Sherrell added seven points. “They work hard and play hard and that’s why they’re in the position that they’re in,” Robinson said. “We didn’t need to play perfect, but needed to make those shots that we usually make. We missed a few. Credit them. Those were shots we’ve been making all year long, but they had a guy always coming at us and they had to alter shots a little bit. “They’re long and athletic,” Robinson continued. “Need to play near perfect, but if we make shots we typically make it’s a little closer, but they were better than us in every facet of the game than us and that’s why the score was the way it was.” The Fighting Irish got 22 points from Derrickson and 10 out of Kyle Sassack. Nicholas Dueweke chipped in six. “The stage was really big for us,” Robinson said. “This was the first time we’ve made it to the regional finals in the 20 years. We were a little shell-shocked just by their speed and athleticism.” The Rockets, who won their first regional title in 1990 and also captured one in 2012, will meet the Detroit Osborn (16-9) in a state quarterfinal Tuesday at Marysville. By Eric Woodyard | MLive.com NORTH BRANCH – New Haven coach Tedaro France II knows all about the rich basketball tradition at Flint Northwestern High School. The Wildcats were looking to continue a magical run in their final season, but the Rockets spoiled the day with a 97-66 win Monday in the Class B regional semifinals at North Branch High School. “I knew coming into it that they were playing for a lot more than just themselves, more than just this game,” France said. “They were playing for a school that has a history of great basketball.” After falling behind 8-2 in the first quarter, Northwestern trimmed the deficit to 13-11 after a layup by Manuel Wood but turned the ball over three times and was called for an administrative technical foul in the final minute. By halftime, New Haven used its length and athleticism to boost the lead to 54-34. The Rockets led by as many as 37 points in the fourth quarter. Four-star recruit Romeo Weems finished with a triple double. He posted 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists plus two blocks and two steals. Weems currently holds at least six offers from Division I schools, including Michigan State. “We didn’t play our best defensive game but we stepped up when we needed to and went on some runs,” Weems said. “We came in ready to play. We prepped and knew their best players.” Eric Williams led New Haven with a game-high 27 points and Ashton Sherrell finished with 22 points. Darious Young was Northwestern’s top scorer with 17 points. Jakelveon Jackson added 16 points and Theatrice King ended with 11 points. New Haven (23-1) is looking to capture its third straight regional title at 7 p.m. Wednesday versus Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. “I feel more experienced,” Weems said. “If things got out of hand, I’ll slow it down more. I’m still young, though, but I just try to play smart.” For Northwestern, Monday was likely the last basketball game as the sports program will merge with Flint Southwestern next season. Coach Napoleon Petteway said it hadn’t hit him yet. He compared this season to a roller coaster ride, with numerous ups and downs. “We exceeded all expectations,” Petteway said. “And it paid off for use, especially in districts and up to this point. We just ran into a team that was better than us. New Haven is a good team. A solid ball club.” Petteway said he will take some time away from basketball to relax then explore his options for next season. “For me, it’s been a pleasure to coach Northwestern these four years,” Petteway said. “I accomplished a lot as a coach from my first year, starting off 6-16 all the way up to my second year, being ranked in the state, and my third and fourth year winning district titles.” The Flint Community Schools have yet to confirm anything officially about next year’s merger, but former Northwestern athletic director Michael Thompson told MLive-The Flint Journal that the school is eliminating all athletics after this season. “At this time, nothing has been finalized with regard to academics or athletics,” said Flint Schools Superintendent Bilal Tawwab. “Once we have finalized plans for the 2017-18 school year, we will communicate accordingly to our parents and the community.” Young was one of two seniors on this year’s Wildcats team that finished 11-12. Even in defeat, he was proud to be a Wildcat. “The school and just the environment in the city will be missed,” Young said. “It’s gonna sink in sooner or later but it hasn’t right now. They will combine the schools.” |
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