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The game started like a normal heavyweight fight, with the two feeling each other out.  5 minutes into the game, Saginaw High led a slim 6-4 lead but a developing story that started with only a minute in a half into the game, cast a shadow over the Jacks and apparently became a blow that they just never recovered from.  Latreze Mushatt was called for his 2nd foul just over a minute into the opening quarter, his first foul was a touch foul in transition.  The main reason Arthur Hill topped Saginaw High on January 7th was the fact that they had gotten a golden performance from everyone, especially from their leader Mushatt.  With him out of the game and the rest of the squad cold from the floor, the Trojans took advantage and raced out to a 5 point lead at the end of the first.  Arthur Hill did have a 11-8 lead with 2:37 to go in the opening quarter but the Trojans closed the quarter with a 8-0 run and looked to be in total control, up 16-11.  The trio of Mushatt, Maurice 'Pookie' Jones and Tyrie Wooten broke the press in the first meeting.  Tonight the press broke the Lumberjacks.

The Trojans gained control in the first and put a strangle hold on the game in the 2nd.  Jones cut the lead down to 3 but Draymond Green put Saginaw High back up by 7 after two quick baskets.  As much as the Trojans were just making life miserable with the press, they were also dominating on the glass, getting 2nd, 3rd and 4th opportunities.  Daniel West then added three straight baskets, his third a throwdown that sent the SHS faithful into a frenzy.  The dunk capped a 20-3 run and a lead that had balooned to 28-14.  While the starters were doing just fine for Saginaw High, their bench added even more to the domination.  Raymond Stepney scored two quick baskets, putting his team up 32-16.  There was just no answer to the onslaught as the Trojans and Lumberjacks went to the lockers with the score at 36-21. 

The third quarter turned out to be more of the same.  Saginaw High won all four quarters but outscored the Jacks by 20 points alone, in the 2nd and third quarters.  While shell-shocked and taken out of there game, the Lumberjacks fell into a deeper deficit as the game progressed.  With the game in hand, the Trojans did anything but slow down as they kept the pedal to the metal.  When the third quarter was all said and done, it was 57-32. 

The third quarter was as wide open as expected with the game in the bag.  We were able to see lots of bench play and the future of these two teams which looks bright for years to come.  When the final horn sounded, the scoreboard read 82-54, a dominating win for the new #1 team.  Despite Arthur Hill's 28 point loss, I still can't rank them lower than #2.  They have a season full of quality wins over teams such as Clarkston, Saginaw High, and Romulus, who sits right behind the two Saginaw teams in the state rankings.  Draymond Green said it best after the game.  He stated that without a win in late February, this means exactly nothing.  Arthur Hill hosts district play which most likely will see these two teams for their annual single elimination match in the district finals of the tourney.  With the win though, Saginaw High sits atop the Saginaw Valley standings with another conference title within their grasps.  Arthur Hill can now only sit and wait, hoping that 1 of the 4 remaining SVL opponents on the High's schedule can knock them off.  Saginaw High's biggest test will most likely come on February 7th, a trip down to Flint SWA.  That game would have meant a whole lot more with Anthony Crater but with Crater gone to prep school, the task will be a tad bid easier for Saginaw High and their bid for a repeat. 

Saginaw High was led by Daniel West tonight, the Senior Guard and floor general of this team, finished with 25.  West's continued excellence of ball handling and running the floor has the Trojans set for another state title run.  Draymond had 13 points to go along with 17 boards.  Courtney Washington, probably the High's most improved player from a year ago in terms of scoring, had 14.  Washington's role has changed a great deal since last season and he has stepped into about as best as you could imagine.  Raymond Stepney was a firecraker off the bench with 10 points.  His energy and scoring was a big reason for the devastating 2nd quarter.  Will Marlow also had a solid all-around game for the Trojans.

Saginaw High transfer Jonathon Edwards had 11 point to lead the Jacks.  Edwards was playing in his first game for Arthur Hill.  We are at the point in the basketball season now where we will start to see some fresh faces hit the scene with Transfers becoming eligible.  'Pookie' and Wooten had 9 points while one of the biggest stories of the evening was Mushatt's 6 points.  His 6 point performance had virtually nothing to do with his play, more to do with how much he had to sit out.  Mushatt, Wooten and Edwards all had charging calls in the first half which really slowed down the attack for Arthur Hill. 

The district tournament will start on February 25th with the district finals, coming Friday, the 29th, known to many as the date of Round III.  Better get in line for tickets now!