 George Pohly, The Macomb Daily
Romeo Weems is headed to a second consecutive Final Four. The 6-foot-7 New Haven junior was named to the 24-player USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Select Team that will take part in the NCAA Next Generation at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio this weekend. Weems last week led the Rockets into the state high school final four at the Breslin Center, where Grand Rapids Catholic Central handed New Haven its first loss of the season. “I think it is a great honor for him to not only be invited this weekend as one of the top 24 players in his class to participate in events at the Final Four, but also for him to be a part of the USA Basketball program is truly special,” New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. “He has the opportunity to compete against and play with some of the best players in the country. For him to work hard to put himself in position and then to get there, perform and stand out shows that all of the hard work, training and coaching he is getting is paying great dividends for him.” Weems averaged 23.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 4.8 steals per game to help the Rockets to a 26-1 record. The 2017 state Class B champions won 52 consecutive games overall before taking on Grand Rapids CC. “Romeo is a great character kid that is a pleasure to coach,” France said. “He is one of the most coachable, humble and respectful kids I have had the honor to coach.” The NCAA Next Generation program makes its debut at the Final Four that features Michigan, Loyola (Ill.), Kansas and Villanvoa. The Next Generation program will include seminars on college eligibility, recruiting, health and safety, according to Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. The prep players will attend the Final Four games Saturday and Monday, and they’ll participate in closed scrimmages against NBA Academy teams Sunday. Weems was one of five players from the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 championship team named to the Junior National Select squad. Others were Vern Carey Jr. (Florida), De’Vion Harmon (Texas), Wendell Moore Jr. (N.C.) and James Wiseman (Tenn.). Mark Watts Jr. of Old Redford Academy in Detroit also was named to the team. Weems has been part of three regional championship teams in three seasons at New Haven. He has 1,497 career points as a Rocket, 343 shy of the school record. Steve Bell, www.bankhoops.com
Bank Hoops 2018 All-State A second straight state title for Clarkston, and second straight Bank Hoops MVP accolades for Foster Loyer. MVP Foster Loyer 5-10 Sr Clarkston: A decade after Draymond Green led Saginaw to consecutive Class A state titles, a future Spartan did the same for Clarkston. Loyer averaged 26.8 points per game including 42 in the Class A seminfinals and 40 in the final, and did it as the picture of efficiency shooting 50 percent from the field, 47 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the foul line. He also chipped in 6 assists and 3 steals per game. Foster is a repeat winner as Bank Hoops’ state MVP and will be remembered as one of the most accomplished players in Michigan high school basketball history. Romeo Weems 6-7 Jr New Haven: He led the defending Class B state champion to a semifinal appearance this time around. The state’s top junior averaged 23.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 5.1 steals and 2.5 blocked shots per game, while shooting 51 percent from the field. Marcus Bingham 6-11 Sr Grand Rapids Catholic Central: What a rise for Bingham, from being a second semester-eligible transfer last season to leading Catholic Central to the Class B state final as a senior. The future Spartan averaged 16.8 points, 10 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 59 percent from the field. David DeJulius 6-0 Sr Detroit East English Village: This future Wolverine was largely responsible for state champion Clarkston’s lone loss, scoring 42 points in his showdown with Foster Loyer. DeJulius averaged 28 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals per game. Brandon Johns 6-8 Sr East Lansing: Another one headed to Michigan, somewhat ironically given Johns’ hometown. He averaged 29 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2.4 assists per game. Brandon Wade 6-2 Sr Ann Arbor Skyline: He led Skyline to a 20-0 regular season averaging 23.2 points and 7.1 assists per game. Wade signed with Duquesne. MAC Awards: New Haven junior Romeo Weems and St. Clair senior Ben Davidson take home MVP honors3/27/2018  Joseph Hayes, The Time Herald It came and went in a flash. The 2017-18 boys basketball season featured a little bit of everything. There were intense rivalries, plenty of close calls and overall outstanding play. In the Macomb Area Conference, a pair of local teams won conference championships and now are being honored for their accomplishments. St. Clair coach Shawn Sharrow was named MAC Gold Division Coach of the Year, and senior Ben Davidson was named conference MVP for a third consecutive year. Davidson averaged 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game for the Saints, who were 9-1 in league play. "It's just an honor to represent such a tough league and it's an honor to represent our school," Davidson said. "I definitely couldn't have done it without my teammates. But it's an awesome achievement to win it three straight years." Davidson's teammate Mario Mattson was named first-team all-conference, and Sean Donaldson and Logan Pietrykowski were named honorable mention. New Haven won the Blue Division with a perfect 10-0 conference record and a 20-0 regular season before eventually falling in the state semifinals. Junior Romeo Weems was named conference MVP after averaging 23.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 4.8 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. New Haven's Tedaro France II was named Coach of the Year. "I'm proud of these kids for how far they have come and how hard they work," France said. "We weren't playing well in November and we got better every day. We were the true definition of a team. "When one person was down or going through something, we were there to pick each other up and that's what it's all about." In addition to Weems, teammates Ashton Sherrell, Tavaras OIiver Jr. and Ronald Jeffrey III were also named first-team all-conference. Jamir Farrior and Ascuan Johnson were named honorable mention. Port Huron's leading scorer and rebounder, senior Tyler Balon, was named first-team all-conference in the MAC Gold Division. De'Ovion Price and Shamon Andrews were named honorable mention for Port Huron. "It's a great honor any time other coaches vote for your player," Port Huron coach Marion Stewart said. "Tyler was a mismatch for many of the teams we faced in our league in a pick-and-pop situation. "He's also one of the best shooters in our league and every time he'd shoot, we thought it was going in." Dan Vos of Port Huron Northern was also on the MAC Gold Division first team. His teammates James DeLong and Tre Kidd were named honorable mention. In the MAC Silver Division, Marysville's Cade Perrin, Chris Moran and Brian Butler were each named honorable mention all-conference. JMarine City brothers William and Angelo Patsalis were each named first-team all-conference in the MAC Bronze. John Mistretta was named honorable mention. "It was impressive for two sophomores like Angelo and (Mistretta) to play so well," Marine City coach Ron Glodich said. "We moved Angelo to our point guard position at the beginning of the season and he did a great job distributing the ball. The beautiful thing is he can score off the drive and from 3-point range as well. (Mistretta) has a scorers mentality and he can hit 3s and get to the hole. As sophomores, their play was very encouraging. "William was our go-to guy. Anytime we needed something we tried to give him the ball. He would rebound the ball and take it from one end to the other. He has excellent speed. It was amazing how many times he got the rebound and went from one end to the other." Contact Joseph Hayes at (810) 989-6268 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Joseph_Hayes11.  Macomb Area Conference (MAC Blue)
10-0, Blue/Gold Tournament Champs MVP Romeo Weems Coach of the Year Tedaro France II 1st Team
Honorable Mention
 George Pohly, The Macomb Daily
A popular notion this season was that boys basketball was “down” in Macomb County. Nonetheless, New Haven and De La Salle helped make it a historically significant campaign. The Rockets, who won a county-record fourth consecutive regional championship, lost to Grand Rapids Catholic Central in a state Class B semifinal game at the Breslin Center in East Lansing on Friday night. Earlier in the day, De La Salle was defeated by Clarkston in a Class A semifinal. It was the first time since 2007, and only the second time ever, that two county teams made semifinal appearances in the same year. Parkway Christian (Class D) and De La Salle were semifinalists in 2007. New Haven has had a historical impact on county basketball regardless of how weekend games play out. The Rockets became the first county team since Lake Shore in 1993 and 1994 to play in consecutive semifinals. The Shorians, who won the Class B crown in 1994, were the first team from the county to play in back-to-back semifinals. New Haven took a 52-game winning streak into its contest against Grand Rapids CC. That’s a county record. The Rockets improved to 26-0 this season with a quarterfinal victory over Bridgeport on Tuesday. They won their final 26 games of 2016-17, culminating with winning the second state championship in county history. Four county schools have played in state championship games: New Haven, Lake Shore, Eastland (1949) and South Lake (1931). New Haven season ends at 26-1 after Class B semifinal loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central3/23/2018  Joseph Hayes, The Times Herald
EAST LANSING — It was a rare sight. Several New Haven boys basketball players glanced up at the scoreboard as the final seconds ticked off the Breslin Center clock Friday in their Class B state semifinal against Grand Rapids Catholic Central. And for the first time in 53 games, the Rockets were on the wrong side of the score. New Haven's historic season came to an end Friday, as well as its 52-game win streak, after a 69-53 loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central on the campus of Michigan State University. "They continued to play together and we never quit," New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. "We have been on a great journey since last year. We have a lot to be proud of and to hold our heads up for. We had a 52-game win streak, four district and four regional championships, and to get back here two years in a row is tough. "It shows the hard work and dedication they put in to be here. It wasn't the night they wanted but they fought." Rockets struggle with Grand Rapids' size Throughout the season, New Haven has had the size to match up with nearly everyone. But on Friday, it struggled to score throughout the game, as the length of the Grand Rapids Catholic Central defense presented a daunting challenge. Catholic Central featured two players 6-foot-8 or taller in the starting lineup and another off the bench. That caused New Haven to only shoot 19 percent from 3-point range (4 of 21) and 30 percent overall from the field (19 of 63). Catholic Central, meanwhile, shot 45 percent from 3-point range (5 of 11) and 44 percent from the field (19 of 43). "We adjusted our shots," France said. "We wanted to attack them with a jump-stop and pump-fake, but they changed our shot selection a lot with their size. We were right there and couldn't get the loose ball or a shot. "We played our worst first half and were down eight points. We were right there, but we didn't get the loose balls and the small plays. When the game isn't going well, you have to find a way to make the small plays and we didn't do that." Oliver catches fire Romeo Weems led New Haven with a team-high 20 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks, but struggled from the field through 7 of 25 shooting. Tavaras Oliver Jr. added 15 points, including 11 straight points during one stretch of the second half that allowed New Haven to remain in the game. "I was just trying to do whatever I could to help my team win," Oliver said. "When we first came here, I'll remember no one knew New Haven. We helped put it on the map. We are a family on and off the court. I expect them to pick right back up where we left off and get back here and win it next year." Fellow senior Ashton Sherrell added 12 points and seven rebounds for New Haven. "I'll remember transferring to this program and knowing it was a good program and it was a family from the start. Everyone got along and we all clicked." Braun leads Catholic Central With so much talent on the court, it would have been easy to overlook Catholic Central guard Austin Braun. But when the game was said and done, he had enjoyed the most success through four quarters. Braun finished with a game-high 31 points in 31 minutes of action. He was 8 of 9 from the field and 14 of 16 from the free-throw line and helped the Cougars stay ahead. Michigan State signee Marcus Bingham Jr. also added 11 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks. His defense was instrumental in Catholic Central's success before he fouled out late in the game. New Haven looks to the future Next season, the Rockets will once again have a talented group to build with. Weems will return as one of the top players in the entire state and Ronald Jeffrey III will be a player to watch. While Weems is a known commodity, Jeffrey made several big plays throughout the postseason that will surely cause him to be on the radar next season. But the Rockets will also have to replace several quality players, including Oliver and Sherrell. "I'll miss the process, seeing them from November until now and being with them each day and watching them grow," France said. "It's not about the sport. I teach life lessons through basketball and see them grow through sport. The kids love to play the game. But me, I'm in position to teach them more than just the game of basketball. "It's so hard to get here. This is the second time in school history we got here. We have a lot to be proud of. The whole town came out and supported these kids. We got here. You just can't pick here to have one of your worst games of the year." Contact Joseph Hayes at (810) 989-6268 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Joseph_Hayes11.  George Pohly, The Macomb Daily
EAST LANSING >> Marcus Bingham Jr. and Grand Rapids Catholic Central proved to be too tall an order for New Haven. Six-foot-11 Michigan State recruit Bingham scored 11 points and had 13 rebounds Friday night as GRCC snapped the Rockets’ 52-game winning streak with a 69-53 victory in a state Class B semifinal boys basketball game at the Breslin Center. Bingham served notice before the game was two minutes old that he’d be a New Haven problem when he blocked Ronald Jeffery III’s perimeter shot, and Bingham finished the first quarter with four blocks on the way to a game total of seven against the 2017 state champions. “We adjusted our shots,” New Haven coach Tedaro France II said in reference to playing the Cougars, whose lineup included 6-8 forward Jacob Polakovich, who took eight rebounds. “It changed our shot selection a lot. “We picked a bad time to play one of our worst games of the season.” Bingham had all of the Cougars’ blocks. “I don’t know if we got into their heads,” CC coach T.J. Meerman said. “But we’re really long.” Junior point guard Austin Braun scored a career-high 31 points for Grand Rapids Catholic Central (24-2), which plays Benton Harbor at 6:45 p.m. Saturday for the state championship. Junior Romeo Weems scored 20 points, senior Tavares Oliver Jr. 15 and senior Ashton Sherrell 12 for New Haven (26-1), which lost for the first time since the second game of the 2016-17 season. New Haven was in the semifinals for the second consecutive year, a feat accomplished by only one other county school, Lake Shore in 1993 and 1994. On the way to the semifinals, MAC Blue Division-champion New Haven won a county-record fourth consecutive regional championship. “It wasn’t the result we wanted, but the kids fought,” France said. “We never quit. I told the team we have a lot to be proud of. “To get back here a second straight year is tough.” Weems had eight rebounds and Sherrell seven. Weems blocked six shots. Oliver canned a couple of triples to help the Rockets, who trailed by 17 midway through the third quarter, get to within 44-37 late in the third quarter, and a free throw by Ascaun Johnson got the Rockets to within 45-39 with 1:12 left. But when Bingham missed the second of two free throws with 49 seconds left, Polakovich took an offensive rebound and fed a pass to Devon Boyd, whose 3-pointer put CC ahead 49-39, the lead the Chargers carried into the fourth quarter. “There were some tense moments, but we regrouped,” Meerman said. Bingham fouled out in the fourth quarter, when he was called for his second technical foul of the game. New Haven’s Jeffery, Jamir Farrior and Johnson fouled out. Braun made a 3-point goal and had a three-point play as Grand Rapids CC scored the first eight points of the second half for a 37-21 lead with 6:50 left in the third quarter. Weems’ pass from the high post to Sherrell led to a layup that cut CC’s lead to 25-19 late in the first half. It was one of the few set plays the Rockets were able to convert to that point against the CC zone. Sherrell had 12 points in the first half to help New Haven stay within striking distance as Grand Rapids CC held a 29-21 lead at the intermission. Bingham had four blocked shots in the first quarter. He also proved an effective perimeter shooter with a pair of 3-point goals in the first half. Grand Rapids Catholic Central led by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, the largest lead of the first half. Bingham’s only hiccup of the first half came when he was called for a technical foul for swinging an elbow at Weems after the New Haven junior dunked with 6:18 left in the second quarter. Bingham had two fouls in the first half. New Haven’s Sherrell and Johnson also had two apiece.  Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily
New Haven boys basketball coach Tedaro France II is the first to tell people how skilled Ronald Jeffery III is. The problem is, with a heavily recruited junior on the floor and two seniors playing alongside him, not many people take him seriously. After what Jeffery did Tuesday night in a state Class B quarterfinal game, opposing coaches just might start paying more attention to the Rockets’ junior guard. Jeffery led New Haven offensively with 29 points to lead his squad past Bridgeport, 78-72, and into a semifinal game against Grand Rapids Catholic Central at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center. “We have Romeo (Weems) of course and Ashton (Sherrell) and Tavares (Oliver Jr.) and they sometimes overshadow him, but he does so many things for us,” France said. “He’s just been having great games for us. “He defends, he can knock down his shots and plays really smart,” France continued. “He’s the type of kid that in games like this he comes out and steps up big. I’m just so proud of him because he works so hard. He lives for games like this.” With Weems unable to get anything going offensively in this lose-and-go-home game against the Bearcats, Jeffery scored eight points in each of the first two quarters. “Sometimes you’re not going to have great games, that’s why we have teammates,” France said. “It’s an ultimate team game so we have to pick each other up. You’re not going to have your best night each night, but as a group you keep on going and pick each other up.” Most of Jeffery’s buckets in the first half came on the fastbreak. “He stepped up in the right time,” Weems said. “Ronald just kept playing well, hitting shots and attacking. He was real aggressive the whole game. “He was something,” Weems continued. “I could pass the ball to him and take it off my shoulders. He kept me in the game and kept me going.” Weems finished with 13 points. “He just came out jumping and attacking,” said Weems, who also had 10 rebounds, five blocks, four assists and three steals. “He was in go-mode, attack-mode. He wanted it just like everyone wanted it in here.” The Rockets figured after watching film they could run on Bridgeport. “We got the rebounds and I got out and ran,” Jeffery said. In the third quarter, Jeffery then stepped back and drained three triples. Bridgeport coach Kevin Marshall Sr. admitted his team’s focus was shutting down Weems and not limiting Jeffery. “Our focus was shut down the big fella (Weems) and make him work,” Marshall said. “We got a little lackadaisical on (Jeffery) and he hit us with some big shots. He’s a good shooter.” He finished with four points in the fourth quarter. “They doubled (Weems) the whole game so someone had to step up and make shots,” Jeffery said. “I knocked down my first few shots so I kept shooting.” But there is room for improvement for Jeffery. “No it was not,” France said when asked if this was one of Jeffery’s better games. “It was a great game for him, but he’s played a lot better.” Jeffery agreed. “It wasn’t my best game defensively that’s for sure,” Jeffery said. “I don’t think it’s OK. I have to step up.” Jeffery also finished with seven boards, five assists and four steals. “If I’m not playing good defense I try to find a way to impact the game in a positive way,” Jeffery said. “I was scoring and kept trying to rebound. I boxed out better than I usually do.” The Rockets (26-0) are the defending state champs and have won 52 games in a row. “Everyone is going at our necks now because we’re undefeated and state champions,” Jeffery said. “We have to come out and play every team the same way. We can’t let down against anyone.” Benton Harbor (25-1) meets River Rouge (23-1) at 5:30 p.m. in the other semifinal. The championship game is Saturday at 6:45 p.m.  George Pohly, The Macomb Daily
Romeo Weems bent over, slapped the palms of both hands on the floor and then walked to the New Haven bench. The 6-foot-7 all-stater and everyone else in the crowded Corunna gymnasium knew that a key moment, perhaps the defining moment, of a state Class B quarterfinal boys basketball game had arrived. The Rockets led Bridgeport 43-37 when Weems was called for his fourth personal foul with 3:46 left in the third quarter Tuesday. What moments earlier had been a 40-28 New Haven lead was dwindling, and the Bridgeport side was in an uproar at the prospect of the Tri-Valley Conference champions completing a comeback and ending the Rockets’ bid for a second consecutive trip to the Breslin Center and the state semifinals. “We’re everybody’s championship game,” Weems said later. “They want it just as much as we do.” Weems is by any estimation the Rockets’ top player, his stature underscored by the frequent presence of big-time college coaches who turn out to watch him play. (Michigan State’s Tom Izzo arrived early and stayed for the duration of the quarterfinal.) But on this night, with the defense of their 2017 state crown and a 51-game winning streak hanging in the balance, the Rockets showed there is more than Weems that makes up their championship-caliber pedigree. Ronald Jeffery Jr., a junior guard who gave the full house a preview of his evening by scoring the Rockets’ first eight points, including four after he had snatched a couple of offensive rebounds, sank a 3-point shot for a 46-39 lead. And then Ascaun Johnson, a former starter who now comes off the bench, made a basket, and Ashton Sherrell, the Rockets’ steady center, who like Weems had to contend with foul trouble against the quick-handed Bearcats, sank a pair of free throws that gave New Haven a 50-41 lead as the third quarter wound down. “Ascaun really gave us a lift in that stretch,” coach Tedaro France II said. And Jeffery wasn’t done. His 3-pointer with 24 seconds left gave the MAC Blue Division champions the 53-43 lead they took into the fourth quarter. So what looked like a desperate moment for the Rockets turned into a 10-6 run and a 10-point lead. Bridgeport would be heard from in the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats’ 10-point deficit and their inability to capitalize on Weems’ absence gained significance as the clock melted. “When you can win games in March and not play your best, it shows the grit and toughness of your kids,” France said after a 78-72 victory was in the books. “Tonight we got out-scrapped, but found a way to win. Every time we walk into a gym, we get the other team’s best shot.” New Haven didn’t set out this season to win league, district and regional championships. It’s the big trophy the Rockets want, the one that’ll be handed to the winner of the state final Saturday night. “We haven’t won anything yet,” France said. As they make way for a second consecutive trip to the Breslin Center and a state semifinal game, the Rockets know it’s possible to push on without Weems. “My teammates had my back,” Weems said. “When I was on the bench, they told me to keep my head up.” New Haven (26-0) plays Grand Rapids Catholic Central (23-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The winner takes on either Benton Harbor or River Rouge in the championship game. CLASS A: De La Salle takes on Clarkston in semifinals.  Joseph Hayes, The Times Herald CORUNNA — Everywhere he goes, attention seems to follow him. Romeo Weems is a marked man. It's impossible for him to go unnoticed. And yes, he knows you're watching. It seems like everyone is, as Weems continues to ascend higher and higher in the basketball world. The New Haven junior has become the talk of the state, with a following that makes him one of the more prominent high school athletes in the nation. "I want to go to the league," Weems said of his goal to play in the NBA. "Right now, this experience is making me tougher and I'm getting used to adversity. "It's flattering when people come and watch us play. I just play hard and do what I do every day. I'm trying to feed my family the one way I know how. This is the way to have fun and the way out for me. I appreciate everyone that comes out. I'm just doing this for my family." On Tuesday, basketball fans traveled from all across Michigan to Corunna High School to watch Weems and his teammates defeat Bridgeport, 78-72, in a Class B state quarterfinal. With the victory, New Haven advanced to Friday's state semifinal against Grand Rapids Catholic Central at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. For a person living with so much attention being placed on him, Weems seems to be handling it all in stride as he continues to focus on the task at hand — winning his second state title. He wasn't his dominant self Tuesday, beset with foul trouble for much of the second half. But he continued to showcase his vast ability while stuffing the stat sheet with 13 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, four assists and three steals. "My teammates played well and they had my back," Weems said. "I was on the sideline with the fouls and Ronald (Jeffrey III) kept us going. I had to give him the ball. He was going. He kept me going. I could look and say where's Ronald at. "I felt like I had to impact the game some way. I look at the bigger picture." That bigger picture includes a list of goals ranging from winning another high school state championship to playing college basketball and eventually winding up in the NBA. Those would be lofty goals for anyone. But it doesn't appear the least bit unrealistic for a player as talented as Weems. At 6-foot-6, he is an impactful player on both sides of the court. On offense, he has excelled in the open court and dominated in the paint while improving from 3-point range. He is also a great on-ball defender and a dominant help-side defender who is versatile enough to lead a press or clean up shots in the lane. With 1-2 games remaining in the season, Weems is starring on a team with a 52-game win streak and he holds offers from more schools than there is room to print. Everyone wants Weems and it's hard not to wonder where he will wind up. In the crowd for Tuesday game was Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. The developing relationship has fueled speculation Weems could end up at MSU. But for his part, Weems just seems to be enjoying it all. He is a fan, after all. "I'm a fan, it's March Madness," Weems responded when asked how much attention he gives the tournament. "For the Michigan game, I watched their whole game. It came down to the end and they were playing. That Blue don't stop. He hit that shot and I said let's go. The State game was on when I was at practice. I heard they lost and I was like, dang. We still have Michigan in the tournament, so we good." One day Weems will play for a college like Michigan or Michigan State. But he continues to live in the moment and play for the present. "I have to keep working so I can get there," Weems said. "Anything can happen. I have to keep strong and keep getting better offensively and defensively and get my skills better so I can get there. "I'm staying locked in and working hard. You give it everything you have. It's the last two games." Contact Joseph Hayes at (810) 989-6268 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Joseph_Hayes11. CLASS B STATE SEMIFINALS WHO: New Haven (26-0) vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (23-2) WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., Breslin Center, East Lansing ON THE LINE: A spot in Saturday's state championship game  George Pohly, The Macomb Daily
From Anchor Bay to Benton Harbor to Ludington, New Haven met a variety of challenges on the road to the longest boys basketball winning streak in Macomb County history. The Rockets, who are 26-0 this season, won their 52nd in a row as Ronald Jeffery III scored 29 points in a 78-72 triumph over Bridgeport in a state Class B quarterfinal game at Corunna on Tuesday night. Thirty-one different schools were New Haven victims during the 52 games. The Rockets defeated 15 Macomb Area Conference teams. That list included Dakota, which was the last team to beat New Haven, in the second game of the 2016-17 season, before the Rockets went on the record run. On the way to consecutive MAC Blue championships, the Rockets defeated division opponents Anchor Bay, Cousino, Eastpointe, Fitzgerald and L’Anse Creuse four times each. They knocked off Flint Beecher, Lake Shore, Notre Dame Prep, St. Clair, South Lake and Warren Woods-Tower twice each. Both victories over Notre Dame Prep came in state tournament games. Those triumphs helped defending state champion New Haven build the 14-game tournament winning streak it takes into a semifinal game against Grand Rapids Catholic Central (23-2) at the Breslin Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Flint Beecher, a regular-season home-and-home opponent this year and last, was the only team to take New Haven to overtime. The Rockets won in triple overtime at Beecher last year. Non-conference opponents defeated by the Rockets included Loyola and De La Salle of the Catholic League, Algonac of the Blue Water Area Conference, and Detroit Public School League members Osborn and Renaissance. Other non-MAC teams defeated included Michigan Collegiate, Flint Northwestern, Mount Clemens, Saginaw Arthur Hill, Benton Harbor and Ludington. A victory over Loyola at Calihan Hall in the third game of the 2016-17 season started the streak. The Rockets also defeated De La Salle at Calihan Hall, and one of their victories over Anchor Bay came at The Palace of Auburn Hills. New Haven defeated Benton Harbor and Ludington in 2017 state semifinal and championship games, respectively, at the Breslin Center. Benton Harbor is back in the state semifinals. The Tigers (25-1) play River Rouge (23-1) at 5:30 p.m. Friday. Semifinal winners meet in the state championship game at 6:45 p.m. Saturday. |
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