Follow us on Twitter                                                                                                                                                                                                                             @Rocketcountry
NEW HAVEN BASKETBALL
  • Home
  • Coaches
  • Rosters
    • Varsity (2021-2022)
    • Varsity (2020-2021)
    • Varsity (2019-2020)
    • Varsity (2018-2019)
    • Varsity (2017-2018)
    • Varsity (2016-2017)
    • Junior Varsity (2016-2017)
  • Schedule/Results
  • Rocket News
  • Championships
  • Player Honors
    • Mr Basketball
    • All-State Players
    • All-County Players
    • All-League Players
    • Program Awards
    • Team Awards
    • Coach Awards
  • Photos
    • 2022-2023 Season
    • 2021-2022 Season
    • 2020-2021 Season
    • 2019-2020 Season
    • 2018-2019 Season
    • 2017-2018 Season
    • 2016-2017 Season
    • 2015-2016 Season
    • 2014-2015 Season
    • 2008-2014 Seasons
  • Video
  • Next Level Alumni
  • Youth Camps/Leagues/Training
  • Community Service
  • Sponsors
  • Philosophy
  • Contact Form

Regional Basketball: New Haven claims fifth straight title

3/7/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Joseph Hayes, The Times Herald

IMLAY CITY They are right where they belong. 

For the fifth consecutive year, the New Haven High School boys basketball team has played its way into the regional finals. And for five consecutive years, the Rockets have left with a regional championship to celebrate. 

New Haven defeated Pontiac High School, 55-38, Thursday at Imlay City High School to capture its latest Division 2 regional title. 

"Everybody got locked in and started turning up," New Haven senior Romeo Weems said after scoring 13 points. "The crowd got into it. My bench got into it. Everyone got into it and we went on a run. We have one of the best defenses in the the state.

"We can never have a bad defensive night. Our offensive shot might not be falling, but defensively we know we can always come out and play. I hate losing, so I'm going to do everything I can for my team and my coach." 

The Rockets (24-1) advance to face Harper Woods Chandler Park (20-0) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Ortonville-Brandon High School in the state quarterfinals. 

Ronald Jeffrey III banked in a buzzer beater as the first half concluded en route to a game-high 19 points for New Haven. Trenell Payne added seven points for the Rockets. D'Quarion Cole led Pontiac with 16 points and DeShawn Owens added 12 points. 

"All of the credit goes to them," Pontiac coach Joel Schroeder said. "New Haven, they are a storied program for a few years. We saw it the other day, their half-court defense, they play at a high level.

"We handled their full-court pressure great. It was just the half-court. Their secondary guys play at a high level, too, and Romeo can clean up all of the mistakes." 

New Haven won its 23rd straight game behind another strong defensive effort. Pontiac took a 9-8 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.

But it was short-lived as the Rockets turned up their defensive intensity. 

They would hold Pontiac scoreless the next six minutes, while engineering a 15-0 run to take complete control.
By the time Jeffrey III banked in a 3-pointer from half-court as the second quarter ended, New Haven had a 27-15 lead and was in command.

The Rockets extended the lead in the third quarter, and led 42-23 entering the fourth quarter. They were never really challenged there and had plenty of time to celebrate.

Jeffrey III threw a pass off the backboard, which was slammed home by Weems, and nearly everyone in the Imlay City gym was back on their feet cheering for the Rockets once more. 

"They had players that could dribble the ball," Jeffrey III said. "We went into halftime and Romeo got us together and said we had to sit down and play defense. That's how we play." 

Now the Rockets will face their biggest test of the season against a Harper Woods team that has also rarely been challenged. 

"I'm just so happy for the kids," New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. "I work them so hard. The joy on their faces now shows the hard work that they put in daily to be here. It's great to see them smile from all of the hard work.

"I'm so proud of them and how they learn. It's great because they know we will win games from playing defense." 
​
Contact Joseph Hayes at (810) 989-6268 or at jahayes@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Joseph_Hayes11. 

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    New Haven Basketball

    Rocket Country

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2008

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.