In what would act as one of the last tuneups for each team before the state playoffs began, the Technicians of Cass Tech would welcome the Chargers of Inter-City Baptist. While the two schools are high-end basketball schools, the Chargers have 85 students in the entire school, while the Technicians have 2470 students. Although the number of students is vastly different, the game was highly competitive; however, the Technicians would come out on top by a final of 61-54.
Allen Park Inter-City Baptist
Not Afraid
The Chargers of Inter-City Baptist weren’t afraid to go into Cass Tech and take on a top team in the state. They came out firing in the first quarter, winning it 12-9. While Ethan Esse wasn’t much of a factor in the first half of the game, he came alive in the second half, and that helped the Chargers stay in the game while the Technicians made their charge. Another player that came up big and helped his team was Josh Hamilton. Hamilton scored 11 in the loss and might have been the biggest beneficiary to Cass Tech doubling up on Esse.
The biggest issue that faced the Chargers was on the offensive and defensive glass as they were outrebounded 27-15, with them not being able to come away with one offensive rebound.
Even though they lost, this game showed that the Chargers will be able to make a deep run in the playoffs and hold their own. This was a perfect tuneup for them, with the playoffs getting ready to start.
Cass Tech
Feeling Out
The Technicians of Cass Tech felt out the Chargers of Inter-City Baptist like a good boxer does of his opponent. While they were down at the end of the first quarter, the Technicians made their first move to get ahead in the second quarter, going up 25-24 and heading to the break. They took the second big punch right out of the half as Darian Smith-Gervin came out hot en route to a 19-point night. Stevie Hall was the other player who felt out of the competition; he was the leader for his team at the half, and he was why they got back into the game in that first half.