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.
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.
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