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Flint
- For a game
that totaled
just 85
points, it
provided an
action
packed 32
minute
contest
filled with
excitement
and shifts
in momentum
and a
surprise
talent show
from Reggie
Stallings
who busted
out a few
back flips
in the
fourth
quarter.
The first
game between
the two back
on January
15th ended
with Grand
Blanc
pulling off
a 47-46
stunner to
re-enter the
Big 9 race
and solidify
themselves
as a force
to be
reckoned
with.
Before the
win, the
Bobcats had
lost three
of four and
whispers
could be
heard
amongst the
faithful.
With
seemingly
the world
and their
youth
against
them, Grand
Blanc used
the chip on
their
shoulders to
reel off 5
straight
wins and
move to
within a
game of
first place
behind
Carman-Ainsworth,
thus
creating the
super
matchup on
Friday night
which could
have very
well decided
the champ.
It so
happens, it
did, just
not the
result that
the Bobcats
would have
hoped for.
Carman-Ainsworth
weathered an
early storm
and
dominated
the fourth
to pull out
a 45-40 win,
to clinch a
share of the
Big Nine
title.
The
Cavaliers
can claim
the title
outright
with a win
over
Flushing on
February
21st or
another loss
from Grand
Blanc and
Powers.
The
resurgent
Bobcats
played
patiently
from the get
go against
Carman's
vaunted
zone.
They didn't
force things
and cashed
in on their
opportunities
as they
appeared.
Tied at 9
with just
over 2
minutes
remaining in
the opening
quarter,
Grand
Blanc's
Adrian
Hunter and
Corice
Parlor
scored
consecutive
baskets to
push the
lead to 4
for the
Bobcats.
Demondre
Chapman and
Jon Lee
answered
with two
buckets for
the Cavs to
tie it back
up.
With 35
seconds to
go, Hunter
nailed a
three to
give the
Cats a three
point lead
but on the
Cavs next
possession,
they found a
wide open
Chapman
under the
basket for a
two handed
monster jam
that brought
the hometown
faithful to
their feet.
Sophomore
Tony Jones
provided the
final
fireworks
for the
opening
quarter as
he hit a
long range
three from
up top as
time expired
to push his
Cats up by 4
at 19-15.
Hunter
pushed the
lead to 7 on
a three
pointer to
start the
second.
The lead
ballooned to
8 points at
26-18 before
Carman-Ainsworth
began their
march back
to tighten
things up.
Grand Blanc
went cold
and wouldn't
score again
with nearly
4 minutes
left in the
half.
The Cavs
closed the
half with a
6-0, capped
off by a Lee
basket to
cut the lead
to 2 at
26-24 at the
break.
The second
half would
continue to
be a
struggle to
score for
both teams
but
especially
for Grand
Blanc who
managed just
14 points in
the 2nd
half.
They just
could not
find enough
holes in the
zone and
weren't
hitting on a
lot of their
jumpshots.
A minute
into the 2nd
half,
Chapman tied
the game up
again for
the Cavs.
The 3rd
quarter
would be a
slow tempo
waiting game
with each
team seeing
who would
blink first.
Two baskets
from Hunter
and Parlor
put the Cats
up by 4 and
pushed the
lead back up
to 5 at
32-27 with
3:41 to go
in the
quarter.
Chapman
answered for
the Cavs
with a
basket and 2
free throws
to cut the
lead to 1.
The lead
would stand
at 1 after
three with
Grand Blanc
up 34-33.
The fourth
quarter
belonged to
the Cavs as
they would
hold Grand
Blanc to
just 6
points and
double them
up with 12
of their
own.
With about 4
and a half
minutes to
go, Reggie
Stallings
finally put
CA over the
hump with a
basket to
give them
the lead at
37-36.
Jones
answered
right away
for the
Bobcats but
it would be
there last
lead as
Carman-AInsworth
went on a
8-2 run to
close out
the game.
With 4:01 to
go in the
game,
Chapman put
the Cavs up
for good and
with 3:19 to
go, Kieon
Arkwright
put them up
by 3 at
41-38.
Jones cut it
down to 1
with a pair
of free
throws, with
1:13 go but
that's the
closest them
came.
With 45
seconds to
go,
Stallings
put
Carman-Ainsworth
up 43-40 on
a layin and
added to 2
more free
throws in
the in the
final 32
seconds,
making it
final at
45-40.
Just as they
had in the
2nd, Grand
Blanc went
cold for the
final four
minutes of
the quarter,
with their
only scoring
coming from
the two free
throws.
Give credit
to
Carman-Ainsworth.
The
Cavaliers
have had
their
troubles
this year
but they
still needed
to be
considered a
contender to
the throne
come March.
Grand Blanc
may have
taken a
small step
back on
Friday night
but it
wasn't for
lack of
effort.
This team
proved they
belong up
there with
Carman-Ainsworth
near the top
of the
standings.
You have to
give a lot
of credit to
first year
head coach,
Chris
Belcher, the
coach has
righted the
ship and
built a team
that will be
better for
not only the
present but
the future
as well. What had
gone for
them right
in the 2nd
half of the
last meeting
didn't this
time around.
It's hard to
beat a
pretty good
team, twice
in a season.
Carman-Ainsworth
is a veteran
laden team,
with senior
leaders like Arkwright,
Lee and
Stallings.
That was the
difference
tonight.
In the next
two years
expect to
see Grand
Blanc rise
to the cream
of the crop
with the
likes their
Sophomore
trio of
Jones,
Williams
Sams and
Mitchel
Vallie.
Who knows,
we may not
have to wait
for next
year to see
how good
this team
can be.
The Bobcats
will be one
of the
favorites in
their
district
come tourney
time with
Fenton,
Holly,
Brandon,
Swartz Creek
and Flint
SWA.
Carman-Ainsworth
will no
doubt be the
team to beat
in their
district
with the
likes of
Davison,
Kearsley,
Flint
Central,
Flint
Northern and
Lapeer West.
We are just
two weeks
away from
the 2nd
season the
season that
matters
most.
In the
regular
season,
there is
always
tomorrow, no
matter what
your record
is.
Come late
February,
there will
be no room
for error, a
win allows
you to fight
another day
while a loss
moves up the
team
banquet.
Carman-Ainsworth
Leading
Scorers
Demondre
Chapman - 15
Points
Reggie
Stallings -
11 Points
Jon Lee - 6
Points
Kieon
Arkwright -
5 Points
Grand
Blanc
Leading
Scorers
Adrian
Jones - 14
Points
Tony Jones -
13 Points
Mitchell
Vallie - 6
Points |
