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The first quarter
was the most
competitive in terms
of scoring.
Both heavyweights
went blow for blow
and halfway through
the quarter, Arthur
Hill held a 1 point
advantage at 8-7.
At the 4:23 mark,
Mike Green picked up
his 2nd foul, this
would be a huge
factor as the game
un-folded.
Arthur Hill pushed
the lead to 12-7 on
two consecutive Webb
baskets, then the
High answered with a
10-4 run to end the
quarter with Malcom
Shaw and Tommy
McCune cashing in
down low, several
off of offensive
rebounds. The
duo had all 10
points during the
run. After the
first quarter, the
Trojans were up a
point at 17-16.
Early in the 2nd,
Jimmy Davis's three
ball pushed the lead
to 22-18. On
the other end, Davis
picked up his 3rd
foul, fouling Jones.
Maurice nailed the
first but never got
a chance to shoot
the 2nd. The
Jacks were whistled
for a technical foul
with Arthur Hill
having 6 guys on the
court at once.
This took away the
2nd shot. On
the other end,
Demetrius Simmons
nailed two free
throws.
Saginaw then would
get the ball as well
because of the Tech.
With 6 and a half
minutes left, a
Malcolm Shaw basket
gave Saginaw High a
7 point lead.
It was this kind of
luck, bad luck, that
has plagued Arthur
Hill over the last
several years when
going up against
their rival.
This was a different
day however, the
Jacks not only
answered, but
answered with a 12
run. Back to
back three balls by
Dwyer and Schaaf
gave Arthur Hill a
27-26 lead with 4:48
to go. Webb
and Jones added 4
more points and just
like that, the Jacks
were up 5.
McCune ended the
drought but was
answered with a
Dwyer free throw and
another three ball
by Schaaf.
Both teams traded
baskets with Mike
Green doing his best
to keep pace.
With 6 seconds to go
in the half, Jones
nailed another
bucket, giving the
Jacks an 8 point
lead at 41-33.
DeAnthony Arnette
missed a three ball
attempt as time
expired. I
don't think anyone
felt safe with an 8
point lead, and the
2nd half proved
that.
The lead ballooned
to 14 early in the
2nd half on a basket
from Jones, and 6
straight points from
Schaaf, two coming
from the line.
Then Green struck
again, answering the
Jacks' charge.
'Money' hit for 4
straight points,
cutting the lead
back down to 10.
Jones and Green
traded baskets after
that. Then
came a huge run in
the game, with
Arthur Hill going on
a 16-6, pushing the
lead all the way up
to 20 points at
67-47. Webb
and Pookie (Maurice
Jones) account for
10 points during the
run, which was
capped off by a
Cameron Boli make,
which he followed
his own miss to make
the put back.
Arthur Hill held on
defense but couldn't
get it past
halfcourt and the
mistake proved
deadly. Mike
Green nailed a three
ball with 2 seconds
to go in the
quarter, dropping
the lead under 20,
to 17. It
sounds like a lot
but again, those
familiar with the
rivalry know that a
17 point lead, even
with a few minutes
to go isn't safe.
Again, this was
proven in the
fourth.
After another Jones
basket to open the
fourth, Green
answered with a
three ball.
That was the start
of an 11-2 Trojan
run that trimmed the
lead down to 10 at
71-61. During
the run however,
something major
happened, the
Trojans lost their
floor general and
top scorer.
Mike Green was
whistled for a
charge with 4:33
remaining the game,
his 5th and final.
It was an emotional
exit for Green, it
would be the last
time he would play
for the Trojans, a
run that included 2
straight State
Titles and 3
conference
championships.
Green was embraced
by Coach Lou
Dawkins, gesturing
to him, to keep his
head up. It
was an emotional
moment for all fans
of basketball in the
city of Saginaw.
Meanwhile, the Jacks
pushed the lead back
up to 15, with under
three minutes to
play. Jimmy
Davis started the
charge back for
Saginaw High with a
three ball.
This would be the
start to the
heart-pounding last
stand from Saginaw
High that put
everyone on the edge
of their seats.
After two Dell Simon
free throws from
Arthur Hill,
Marquavous Ford
nailed a three
pointer. Greg
Hayes added to that
another basket and
the lead was just 9
at 81-72, then came
another steal.
The ball was kicked
out to Hayes for
three but it missed,
Omari Humes battled
for the rebound,
only for the ball to
be squirted ahead.
As the ball rolled
on the ground, you
know who came up
with it. The
'biggest' young man
on the court, Pookie
raced for the loose
ball, picked it up,
pushed it ahead to
Webb, who was then
fouled.
Saginaw High
actually got
whistled for an
Intentional Foul,
which effectively
sealed the deal.
Webb hit both shots
from the line.
Saginaw High went
cold after that.
The Jacks rattled
off 5 more, which
was capped off by a
fast break by a
missed layup that
was immediatly
followed by Humes,
who then laid it off
the glass for two.
It looked almost
like a planned
sequence as Humes
was in air as the
trailer when the
miss came off of the
rim, and put it back
in one swoop.
The game would not
be complete without
one more dazzling
Jones dribble and
score. On the
break, Jones drove
to the hoop but was
guarded nicely
underneath, so he
went up with the
fake, dribbled back
about 4 feet while
the defender was
grasping for air and
put in the short
jumper. Webb
finished the
Lumberjack scoring
with 2 more free
throws.
Saginaw High never
quit though as Davis
hit for a basket and
a three ball to end
the game with 5
seconds to go.
As the final horn
sounded, the Jacks
breathed a sigh of
relief and rushed to
the court to
congratulate each
other. The
post-game handshake
was classy as
always. Most
of these guys have
been playing either
with or against each
other their entire
lives. Once
the game ends, these
guys know how to
shed their
competitive edge
aside for at the
very least a few
moments to converse.
Arthur Hill's Coach,
Greg McMath and
Coach Dawkins
exchanged a hug and
went on their way to
speak to their
teams. Coach
McMath couldn't say
enough about his
team and how they
responded to each
Trojan comeback,
while Coach Dawkins
touched on the same
things on how his
team fought back.
Both talked about
what their floor
generals meant to
them, for Arthur
Hill it was Maurice
and for Saginaw
High, Green.
You will be hard
pressed to find
better ambassadors
for the game.
For now the torch
has been passed, the
last three years
have had a Saginaw
team win the whole
thing, the past two
from Saginaw High, 3
years ago from
Arthur Hill.
The rivalry runs
deep but City pride
runs deeper.
If you asked the
Trojans a week from
now they might say,
the torch has a
condition, you must
take it to East
Lansing on the
weekend of the 28th
and bring that
Trophy back to
Saginaw again,
something the Jacks
will give 110% to
honor.
Arthur Hill will
take on Flushing
this Friday.
Maurice Jones
finished with 35
while Webb added 18,
Schaaf with 16/7
rebounds, while
Humes had 7 boards.
Saginaw High was led
by Green's 24 in
limited action,
Davis's 17 and 10
from both McCune and
Shaw. |
