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Top games January 11, 2005

I hope everyone has been enjoying the return of MichiganPreps.com. We have been working extremely hard to give you the most comprehensive coverage of high school basketball. Here are some of Tuesday's Top Games.
Saginaw (5-2) at Saginaw Arthur Hill (3-2)
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Man, do I like it when it gets personal. As the cliché goes, always with bitter rivals you can throw the records out. This installment of the battle of Saginaw goes real deep, into the neighborhood where the players and coaches are playing for bragging rights. This is a pivotal game for both programs. After the comeback victory over Ann Arbor Pioneer Saginaw wants to keep their momentum building. Whereas for Arthur Hill, a preseason top-ten team, another loss will drop them to .500 for the season and more importantly they will not be able to walk around proud in the "Sag-Nasty".
Saginaw really brings a lot to the table with 6'1 senior guards the Hibler twins Jameer and Jamar, 6'8 sophomore center Joshua Southern and his big brother 6'5 jr. forward Emanuel and the high flying slick shooting 6'3 jr. Larry Wright. I like Saginaw a lot this season but I think next year they are going to be a serious contender for the Class A State Championship.
Arthur Hill is missing a lot not having 6'1 pg Ed "Boomer" Tucker throwing alley-oops to his brother 6'4 sophomore forward and the teams leading scorer, Darquavis Tucker. Darquavis does get help from 5'10 jr. guard DeMarcus Carroll and 5'8 sophomore guard Greg Lawson. But in the end I think too much team basketball and talent from Saginaw gives them the victory.
Clawson (7-0) at Harper Woods (3-2)
This is the first test for Metro Conference newcomer Clawson, previously of the OAA. Harper Woods didn't have the start many people imagined but they lost those two games to ranked Class A opponents, Grosse Pointe North and Warren De La Salle. Head Coach Loren Ristovski told me, "I really wanted to load our schedule up against top competition to prepare us for the State Tournament". Over the last 5 seasons Harper Woods is 40-4 in the Metro Conference winning three regular season titles and two conference tournaments. Harper Woods is currently on a thirteen game Metro Conference winning streak, their last lost came at the hands of University Liggett in February/2003. Clawson is lead by seniors Steve Feeman, Dave Koening and junior Zach Olinger. Clawson's (7-0) is a little distorted because they have only played two teams with a .500 record. Many people in the Metro Conference are waiting to see how well they hold up to Harper Woods onslaught of 6'2 sr. guard Justin Popov, 6'1 sr. guard Dan Harris and 6'2 sr. guard Jerome Douglas. You will see me write this every time I discuss Harper Woods. When those three share the basketball and don't care who scores Harper Woods is unbeatable! Harper Woods goes from a good team to a great team when they contributions from sophomores 6'5 Dexter Jackson and 6'3 Xavier Fowler. Harper Woods puts a lot of defensive pressure on the perimeter players and I don't think Clawson has seen anything like that so I look for Harper Woods to win this one going away.
Detroit Redford (7-0) at Detroit Henry Ford (1-6)
Talk about a team firing on all cylinders, Redford has scored 89 and 81 points in their last two games and is averaging 77 points a game. This is amazing when you realize that the strength of Derrick McDowell's teams is defense. Coach McDowell, a former college assistant at Central Michigan, has his team execute college style defensive principles that keep them in any game. The recent scoring surge is even more impressive when you consider that Redford is without two starters from last season's team, Ramon Pettus (injury) and Derrick Reynolds (transfer to Detroit Crockett).
6'3 sophomore guard Coprayale Harris has been on a tear the last 3 games averaging 23 points. I caught up with Coach McDowell at the Motor City Roundball Classic after they defeated Saginaw Buena Vista and Harris led them in scoring with 22 points and 9 rebounds. I asked McDowell about his prized sophomore. He said, "Coprayale was playing at about 60% effort against Buena Vista." I said come on coach 60%! McDowell went on further to say, " when he makes his mind to play as hard as he can, he can do some special things out there". Redford gets a lot scoring and rebounding from the Wolfe brothers; 6'8 sr. center Brandon and 6'6 jr. forward Deshawn. Redford also has a freshman gem in 6'3 guard Terence Hopkins.
Henry Ford has been struggling so far this season with their lone win coming against East Catholic at the Highland Park Christmas tournament. Anthony Grandberry and Darren Gay lead Henry Ford. People this game looks like it could get ugly early. Redford should win in a route.
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