Detroit, MI.- The countdown to March 27^th started Monday and with that coaches, players, and fans can expect the roller coaster ride which is known as March Madness. Monday Inside Prep Sports took in the #72 Class C District at Detroit Loyola where a couple of close games had the crowd rocking.

The first of the evening's double header featured Allen Academy and Detroit Loyola. Allen suffered only two losses this season while Loyola proved its worth by winning the Catholic League's C-D Title. Both have solid guard play and 6'8 seniors who can one day be impact players in college.

The initial quarter was tight with Allen leading 13-10 after the buzzer. Loyola went to 6'8 senior center Jevon Harden (Central Michigan University) early but he often came up empty and registered two points for the game. On the other hand, Allen's 6'8 senior small forward Kalen Foreman was a threat on either end of the court and that continued into the second quarter as Allen leapt out to a 33-19 halftime lead. Foreman finished the half with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks.

The crowd was wild in the second half and reminded one coach in attendance of small East Coast gyms where the bleachers only cover one side of the gym and the sound is deafening in the old brick buildings. It was hard to hear the person next to you as Loyola stormed back in the second half as Loyola's 6'4 senior power forward Donte' Franklin got physical with the lanky Foreman. Allen's lead was cut to one at the end of the third quarter, 41-40.

The fourth quarter was everything that you expect playoff basketball as both teams fought tooth and nail for loose balls and rebounds. Loyola's 6'1 senior point guard Scott Jones seemed to have the right block to his own as he had at least four put-backs while his teammate 5'10 junior guard Paul Dunn hit clutch shots from the perimeter. Allen's 5'9 junior point guard Robert Boyd was what any coach would want with the lead, someone who could break traps and handle the ball taking time off the clock.

The last 30 seconds seemed to go on forever as both coaches seemed to lose hair before everyone's eyes. With Allen leading 57-52 Foreman chased down a rebound on the sideline and in front of the Loyola bench when he was bumped by Franklin causing him to fall into his opponents. He retaliated by shoving the stocky power forward and the result of the retaliation was technical foul in which Dunn hit both free-throws. Down by three Loyola's shot attempt was off but Jones was there once again for the put back and the Bulldogs deficit was one, 57-56. Allen's missed free throw was gathered by Loyola and the last second shot missed its mark and Allen escaped with a victory.

This was a great game through and through as both teams went through their offensive sets, played solid defense, and left everything they had on the court.

Foreman finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, nine blocks, and two steals with Muskegon Community College, Central Michigan, and a coach from Southwestern Prep Academy in attendance. His 6'2 senior teammates Marvin Jones and Deandre Richardson finished with a respectable 13 and 10 points. Boyd finished with nine.

Loyola was led in scoring by Franklin's 17, followed by Dunn's 16, and then Scott Jones' nine. Central Michigan was more there for Harden who finished with two points but approached double rebounds and blocked a handful of shots. I expect Harden to red-shirt next year, as he needs to let his offense catch up to his physical attributes.

The second game, Michigan Technical Academy vs. Henry Ford Academy, was as wild as any game I've seen in ten years. My pen ran out of ink trying keep track of the turnovers and missed lay-ups…maybe I should've kept track of the made jump shots because that couldn't have been more than eight.

Michigan Tech held a ten-point lead for much of the game but the wheels (as if there were any to start) started coming off in crunch time and Henry Ford Academy picked away at the lead. The game was tied, 54-54, with 2:43 left in the fourth quarter and the teams exchanged baskets. With eleven seconds remaining Henry Ford Academy's 6'3 senior wing Sterling Jefferson took a hard charge and knocked down the ensuing free-throws to extend the Navigators' lead to three, 61-58. That's where the score ended.

The action continues tomorrow at Loyola where Allen (18-2) faces Henry Ford Academy (13-8) on one side of the bracket and Midtown Academy (18-3) takes on Star International Academy. Inside Prep Sports' crystal ball sees Midtown and Allen in the district final.

By TJ Kelley