In a game that boasted two of the four finalists for the Mr. Michigan award. The Operation Friendship game featured the Eaglets of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, who are winners of the Catholic League and the Detroit Renaissance Phoenix, the winners of the Detroit Public School League, and the game was just as advertised as a hard-nosed, gritty battle that went back and forth and ended in an overtime thriller that saw Orchard Lake St. Mary’s win 76-73
Battle of the Stars
The stars were shining bright in this one as Lance Stone and Trey McKenney went toe-to-toe in the game. While Mckenney would shine bright in the first quarter, it was Stone that made the second quarter his. The two stars would head to the locker room at the half as the second-leading scorers for their teams. After starting the game 0-4 from the field, Stone would go 4-6 to end the first half with two of those coming from distance. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that we saw the two-stars matchup on the defensive side of the ball, and that helped Renaissance get back into the game and force an overtime period. The two stars would go at it in overtime until the clock hit 0. McKenney, a Michigan Commit, finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. Stone, committed to the University of Detroit Mercy, finished with 26 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Savoring the Day
Jayden Savoury may be the big name on the football field, but he asserted his dominance on the basketball court during the win over the Detroit Renaissance. While Savoury would be a dominating force in the game as he had a double-double, he would score 15 and get 14 rebounds, with 10 of them coming on the defensive end of the court. Savoury was the main reason they were in the game until his teammate Trey McKenney put the finishing touches on the win.
Renaissance
Miller Time
Jayden Miller was the biggest beneficiary of Lance Stone’s slow start in this game. In the first half, Miller scored 15 he would also add a steal and two rebounds before the half. While he would finish the game with 17 points, he was able to give his team a lead at the end of the first half, and it was that lead that allowed them to stay in the game when Orchard Lake went to make their run because they knew that they had the other members of their big three that still needed to make their runs in the game.
Teacher Sigmon
At the break, Sigmon was 0-3 from the field, but that didn’t stop him from putting on a master class in the second half of the game. When the game got tough, Sigmon got going, and he would finish the night with 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Sigmon, who won Mr. PSL last week, showed that he is a player who, even if the shots don’t fall the right way at first, keep on going, and they will eventually fall.