Summit Academy was looking for their fourth straight district title as they took on Flat Rock in a rematch of last year’s district finals. The difference this year is Flat Rock has two-sport athlete stud Graham Junge back, and Summit is under Interim Head Coach Dontez Scott Sr. While it was a much closer game this year, it was still Summit who came away with the 57-43 victory.
Defensive Battle
For the first half of this game, it was a defensive battle as the game ended the first half with a 24-23 score after two late lead changes, the first off a basket from Flat Rock’s Graham Junge and the second one which was at the buzzer for Summit’s Dontez Scott Jr. It was a tight first half and it seemed to take some out of Flat Rock. Summit came out in the third quarter and held Flat Rock to five points, which was the difference in the game. Both sides played a lockdown defense in the first half, but Summit was able to keep it going longer.
Flat Rock
Window Closing?
While the Rams of Flat Rock have a very talented core returning next season led by Graham Junge, who scored his 1000th point this year, they lose six seniors. Of the six players that Flat Rock will be without next season, Tim Murphy and Alex Gillum might hurt the most from the outside looking in. If you want to say that Junge is Flat Rock’s Batman, then Murphy and Gillum are his Robins. Gillum did the dirty work going down low to lead the team in rebounds with 10 per game, and Murphy, while he didn’t lead in any category, he was second in points and rebounds per game two, along with the loss of both Odin Nemeth and Rocco, Breslin who both played starting minutes for the Rams will leave a hole next to Junge that will need to be filled. While Cyrus Goins will elevate to be the next man up after an impressive year, will the rest of the team be able to fill the shoes to keep their window open?
Summit
Experience Pays Off
A key factor for Summit in this game was the experience of their big three: Dontez Scott Jr, Dominic Krzesowiak, and Amir Perryman. All three were members of the team that made it to the State Semifinals a year ago, and it was their composure and leadership that helped their team overcome an early defensive battle. Of the 57 points that Summit scored, the trio combined for 50 points. They kept the energy up on both sides as they scored and played a lockdown defense. On the way to the phenomenal defensive performance, the three players also combined for eight steals and 11 rebounds.