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The high school boys basketball season is quickly entering the stretch run.
The second round of league play has begun and teams are actively jockeying for position to make a run at a conference championship. But the road each team takes will be different.
New Haven (6-0, 10-1) enters the week as the No. 1 team in the Times Herald Boys Basketball Poll. The Rockets are undefeated in the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division and earned a 73-35 victory Monday over Anchor Bay at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Rockets are two games ahead in the division and have to fell confident of their chances of securing the league crown.
Romeo Weems had 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for New Haven Monday. His consistent, paired with that of Eric Williams (13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, Monday) have the Rockets in position to make a state title run.
"We are starting to jell and get that cohesiveness that we need," New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. "Guys are continuing to work hard and get better to win a day. In film session, weight training, our mile run, we want to win each day. That's the only way we can continue to have success."
No. 2 ranked St. Clair however, has some work to do. The Saints (3-1, 8-1) are only a game out of first place in the MAC Gold, but are in a tight battle with Lake Shore (5-0, 9-2) and Warren Woods Tower (3-1, 8-1).
On Tuesday, the Saints will take on Port Huron Northern for a second time. The Saints know it won't be easy facing a motivated Huskies (1-4, 2-7) team.
"It will be tough knowing that we have already played them," St. Clair junior Ben Davidson said. "We just have to play hard to get the job done."
Daniel Everhart has been as consistent as they come during his three years at Marine City Cardinal Mooney. After playing a leading role since he stepped onto the court, Evehart is now only six points shy of 1,000 for his high school career.
"Daniel has been a special talent from the day he walked into our gym he wanted to be the best to play at Mooney. A lot of us guy talk about wanting to be the best but few are willing to put in the endless work to be the best. (Scoring) 1,000 career points faster than anyone in school history doesn't happen by accident. That's a direct result of hours in the gym when nobody is watching."
Cardinal Mooney (2-3, 3-6) has battled through injuries, inexperience and a tough schedule but are still in position to compete in the Catholic League.
"This week we have two games that we feel are winnable in Frankel Jewish Academy and Austin Catholic. We are using this week to gain momentum and confidence and put us back in the league race.
"We also will use it to get minutes for our guys coming back off injury."
Times Herald Top 10
1. New Haven
2. St. Clair
3. Richmond
4. Marysville .
5. Port Huron Northern
6. Port Huron
7. Yale
8. Armada
9. Cardinal Mooney
10. Croswell-Lexington
Contact Joseph Hayes at (810) 989-6268 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Joseph_Hayes11.