2/24/10

Detroit, MI.- Wednesday’s semi-final match ups at the University of Detroit-Jesuit in the Detroit’s Catholic League Playoffs featured quality games, seniors that will continue to play basketball in college next year, and very promising players in the 2011 and 2012 classes.

The first game of the evening was the second half of the League’s C-D semi-final Division and Detroit Loyola got off to sizeable 52-31 halftime lead over Royal Oak Shrine. While the game looked like it could be a route the Knights had other thoughts as they fought back eventually cutting the Bulldogs’ lead to single digits halfway through the fourth quarter.

Shrine’s 6’2 2011 guard Blake Washington’s three-pointer from the corner trimmed the lead to eight, 71-63 and 6’4 2010 forward Brian Witters followed with a bucket cutting the lead to six, 71-65. Shrine were on a 13-4 run highlighted by 5’10 2010 point guard Alex Cavazos’s three-pointers and Loyola’s lead was cot to two, 75-73. Despite Shrine’s run, Loyola’s 6’ 2010 point guard Scott Jones and 6’1 2012 point guard Devonte Jones were successful from the free-throw line on all eight of their attempts to seal the deal, 79-75.

Devonte Jones finished with 19 points and Scott Jones added 13. 5’10 2011 guard Paul Dunn was steady with 18-points. All three should find college rosters in the years to come and Devonte Jones is a sound Division 1 prospect to keep an eye on. Loyola’s 6’8 2010 center Jevon Harden was a solid post presence for the Bulldogs as he was able to convert baskets off catch and step lay-ups that might have been a traveling violation a year ago. He was hampered by a tweaked ankle and saw limited playing time in the second half. Harden has committed to Central Michigan University.

Shrine’s Cavazos had a great game and led all scorer’s with 25 points. He fought through what looked to be a cramp or tweaked ankle in the second half to bring the crowd to life with his scoring. Washington finished with 14 and Witters added 10.

Loyola will face Madison Heights Bishop Foley Sunday, February 28, 1pm at the University of Detroit-Mercy’s Calihan Hall. Bishop Foley defeated Allen Park Cabrini on Tuesday night.

In the A-B semi-final Warren De La Salle improved to 15-3 with a 61-50 win over a sophomore led-Novi Catholic Central team. De La Salle has been in this position many times over the last handful of seasons and the experience showed as they led 27-17 at the half.

While Catholic Central was able to keep the game from getting out of hand it was De La Salle’s juniors (6’3 point guard Vaughn Avecilla, 6’ guard Sterling Johnson, and 6’5 forward Bryan Mitzer) that made it tough to believe that De La Salle won’t be in the same place next year. Avecilla’s has a lot of point guard skill as he keeps teammates involved and his head up on the break.. He’s not Kalin Lucas fast but he does a great job of keeping defenders off-balance with his deceptive quickness. Johnson is a solid player who can knock down the three-pointer, attack the hoop with efficiency, and provide solid perimeter defense. Mitzner has a nice face up jumper from 18-19’ and in but will also hit the boards. Avecilla scored 14 and Mitzner 12.

De La Salle was led in scoring by 5’9 guard Jim Novak who sucked the life out of the Shamrocks with a couple of three late in the fourth quarter. Novak scored 15 and should be a player that D3 programs keep an eye on.

De La Salle also got a great game from 6’5 2012 forward Connar Tava who finished with 10-points but his overall game and toughness should be very intriguing to Division 2 coaches down the road. Perhaps a possible Division 1 walk-on.

While De La Salle has a nice sophomore in Tava, Catholic Central has a solid pair in 6’6 small forward Kyle Cooper and 6’5 power forward Matt Doneth. Cooper led all scorers with 20-points including a couple of three-pointers as well as showing a knack to get to the rim and finish with either hand. Cooper is long, athletic and a solid player in the CHSL’s 2012 class. Doneth provides muscle in the paint but can also step out and shoot the three. He shows great leadership and is possibly the leader for the Shamrocks as a sophomore. Both are also standouts in other sports, Cooper is one of the state’s best sophomore baseball players and Doneth is the tight end for Catholic Central’s championship team.

De La Salle faces Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard on Sunday, February 28, 3pm, at Calihan Hall. Gabriel Richard defeated Birmingham Brother Rice on Tuesday night to earn their right to Sunday’s A-B Championship game.

The winner of the A-B Championship will play Detroit Public School League Champion, Detroit Pershing, Saturday, March 6 at Calihan Hall in an Operation Friendship game. The A-B Runner-up will face Detroit P.S.L. Runner-up, Detroit Cody, on the same day and prior to the match up between Champions.