Consortium Closes In on Fantastic Finish
March 20, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
EAST LANSING – The memory of coach Al Anderson is not far from Detroit Consortium as it attempts to win its first MHSAA boys basketball championship this weekend.
The Cougars just missed making it to Breslin Center in 2013, falling to eventual Class C champion Flint Beecher by two in their Quarterfinal. But Consortium is now one more win from finishing the quest it began when Anderson died unexpectedly last February.
Three players scored 18 or more points as the Cougars downed Negaunee 69-54 in Thursday’s Semifinal to advance to Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. championship game against Pewamo-Westphalia.
Consortium, ranked No. 2 at the end of the regular season, has now beaten the rest of the top three this week, having downed top-ranked Mount Clemens on Tuesday before eliminating the No. 3 Miners.
“We knew we had to win for (Anderson last year). We came back playing harder, with more intensity, just playing as a team,” Consortium senior Ronald Booth said. “We were heart-broken last year not getting it done. But we’re here this year, and we plan on finishing it.”
“We’ve been fighting for this state championship for the last four years,” senior Malik Dawson added, “and we’re going to win it.”
Although Consortium (24-2) is playing in its first MHSAA Final on Saturday, the Semifinal was its second in four seasons and followed its third Quarterfinal over the last four years.
Former Deaborn Edsel Ford standout Tobias Tuomi took over the Consortium program this winter and inherited not only arguably the state’s best player – 6-foot-8 sophomore wing Joshua Jackson – but a group of scorers around him that have made the Cougars even tougher to stop.
Jackson had 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals Thursday. But sophomore guard Luster Johnson added 20 points and senior Rudy Smith scored a game-high 22 points with five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
“We needed to really keep the other guys down. You look at Rudy Smith, Luster Johnson, that killed us,” Negaunee coach Michael O’Donnell said. “We needed to keep everybody else (but Jackson) under 10. When they got up to 20 plus, that was a big hurt for us.”
Consortium led only 12-11 after the first quarter. But the Cougars turned that lead into nine points halfway through the second quarter and 14 by halftime.
They shot 54 percent from the floor for the game, with an incredible 65 percent success rate during the second half.
It matched with what Consortium has done all season. Booth, Smith and Johnson also average at least 10 points per game, and eight players have had high games of at least that many points.
“We’ve had six or seven guys all year, pretty consistently,” Tuomi said of his team’s scoring balance. “Josh will be up there as one of our leading scorers, but we’ve got seven or eight really talented guys, and all of them have had a game where they’ve been the leading or second-leading scorers. It’s something you expect.”
Negaunee (24-2) has been a picture of consistency as well over the last four seasons, making the Quarterfinals at the end of all of them and the Semifinals the last two.
Senior guard Tyler Jandron was a constant on those teams and finished his four-year varsity career with 12 points. Senior Eric Lori, another top scorer on the last couple Miners teams, had 11 points. Sophomore forward Jay Lori led with 14 points and seven rebounds.
“We started something. Just getting here, making it twice, is unbelievable,” Jandron said. “But it’s tough losing this. I want to push myself to the limit, and tonight we came up short.
“We talked to our underclassmen about what these seniors did for us, and we’re going to miss them,” O’Donnell added. “At the same time, we wanted to take the time to thank them and make sure they understand we appreciate what they did for us.”
Click for the full box score and video from the press conference.
PHOTO: (Top) Detroit Consortium’s Joshua Jackson (11) dunks as Negaunee’s Robert Loy gives chase Thursday. (Middle) Negaunee's Tyler Jandron looks for an opening while defended by Consortium's Rudy Smith.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Joshua Jackson blocks the shot, Detroit Consortium goes on the fast break and Kenneth Turner lobs to Jackson for the dunk to finish the play late in the first half. (2) Jay Lori of Negaunee takes a pass from Zane Radloff and powers to the basket for two to pull the Miners to within a point at the end of the first quarter.
Breslin Bound: 2023-24 Boys Report Week 11
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 12, 2024
Anticipation and prognostication are among themes this week all over Michigan, whether your favorite team is one of the best around or hasn’t had much success but is looking to finish this winter on a higher note.
Sunday morning, the MHSAA will announce this season’s District brackets. The formula for this season’s brackets has been released, making it possible to forecast throughout this week how teams will be placed based on Michigan Power Ratings.
But keep in mind, teams can still move up and down those ratings through their games Saturday night. And there are several notable matchups coming up, including finales to multiple league tournaments and more likely eventual championship deciders in conferences across the state.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. West Bloomfield 60, North Farmington 58 Avenging a 61-46 loss to the Raiders (15-2) on Jan. 4, West Bloomfield joined reigning champ North Farmington as teams with only one loss in Oakland Activities Association Red play – and West Bloomfield (13-5) finishes its league schedule against the bottom three teams in the standings.
2. Muskegon 48, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer 28 Just 10 days after Reeths-Puffer’s 63-45 win over the Big Reds gained statewide attention, Muskegon (13-2) took the rematch in a big way to create a tie with the Rockets (15-2) atop the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green.
3. Menominee 60, Iron Mountain 58 (OT) The Maroons (13-5) made their upcoming Division 3 District even more interesting by handing the Mountaineers (17-1) their only loss. Those two are Nos. 2 and 4 in statewide Division 3 MPR and will be expected to meet again in the District Final at West Iron County.
4. Saginaw Heritage 73, Saginaw 66 The Hawks (13-2) opened a close Saginaw Valley League race even more, downing the former solo leader to join the Trojans (12-6) and Davison as teams with only one conference loss.
5. Painesdale Jeffers 73, Lake Linden Hubbell 49 The Jets (18-1) remain undefeated in Copper Mountain Conference play after handing Lake Linden-Hubbell (15-3) its first league loss and as the overall CMC race draws to a conclusion.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Dearborn (18-0) The Pioneers steadily have climbed toward this run, and they head into this week a win from tying last year’s total (after finishing 19-7) and atop the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East standings after sharing the championship last season with Livonia Franklin. Dearborn is alone on top this time thanks in part to a 78-68 win over Belleville (14-4) on Jan. 19, and those two meet again Friday. An early win over Detroit Catholic Central (12-7) showed what was possible, and only the Shamrocks and Wayne Memorial (13-4) have gotten within single digits of catching the Pioneers.
East Lansing (16-2) The Trojans’ only losses have come to a pair of championship contenders – Division 1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (17-1) and Division 2 Warren Lincoln (16-3) – and despite that 56-37 defeat to the Eaglets two weekends ago, East Lansing has moved into the top spot in statewide Division 1 MPR. A 57-53 win over Lansing Waverly (13-5) on Friday certainly helped, and the Trojans have maintained a half-game lead on Okemos (16-2) in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue with their rematch set for Feb. 23. East Lansing won the first meeting 66-54 and also has defeated East Kentwood, River Rouge, Detroit Martin Luther King, Saline and West Bloomfield among others.
DIVISION 2
Ferndale (11-7) The Eagles graduated all five starters and most of their top subs off last season’s Division 2 championship team, so a few defeats certainly could be expected this winter especially considering they continue to play one of the state’s toughest schedules. That slate has helped Ferndale reach No. 10 in statewide Division 2 MPR, and they’re on the move with a 7-2 record over their last nine games including an 84-62 win Saturday over Port Huron Northern (15-4) and with the two defeats during that time by four to West Bloomfield and five in overtime to North Farmington (see above). The other losses came to those two in their first meetings as well, plus Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (14-5), Muskegon (13-2) and Detroit U-D Jesuit (14-5).
Lansing Sexton (11-4) The J-Dubbs are another team surging, with a 75-54 win over Flint Beecher before holiday break starting a nine-game streak that has Sexton one win from tying last year’s total when it finished 12-10. A 2-4 start included four losses to Division 1 teams – Okemos and Lansing Waverly (see above), plus Holt and Kalamazoo Central. Sexton also is three games ahead of second-place Charlotte and Olivet in the CAAC White and one win from clinching a share of the league title after edging both by three points over the last 10 days.
DIVISION 3
Pewamo-Westphalia (15-2) The Pirates’ only losses this winter have come to undefeated rival Laingsburg (18-0), and while that likely will keep them from a piece of the Central Michigan Athletic Conference title, it also speaks well to P-W’s overall work. The Pirates opened with a 20-point win over Saginaw Nouvel (14-4) and have swept Fowler (12-7) and downed Division 1 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern at the Cornerstone University Holiday Showcase. Another Division 3 contender, Sanford Meridian (15-2), comes to Westphalia on Friday, and a third meeting with Laingsburg is possible – it would be played at Breslin Center in the Division 3 championship game.
Schoolcraft (15-3) The Eagles have clinched a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley title, their fourth-straight league championship, and can make it their first outright since 2020-21 with a win Friday against Parchment. Schoolcraft is only two seasons removed from winning the Division 3 championship and has built on last season’s 16-8 finish with a pair of big wins over Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep – which ended the Eagles’ season a year ago – and 12 straight victories after a .500 start that included losses to Division 2 Flint Powers Catholic (15-3), Hudsonville Unity Christian (14-4) and Olivet (13-5). Wins over Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (13-4), Watervliet (14-4) and Centreville (13-2) have highlighted this run.
DIVISION 4
Crystal Falls Forest Park (15-2) After also winning 15 games last season (in finishing 15-9), the Trojans need just one more victory to guarantee their best season since 2015-16. They’ve also won nine straight, with the lone losses by five to Division 2 Kingsford (16-2) and one to reigning Division 4 champion Munising (14-4) back-to-back in early January. A 27-point win over second-place Powers North Central on Feb. 2 has Forest Park closing in on the Skyline Central Conference Small schools title, and a Feb. 21 trip to Lake Linden-Hubbell (15-3) will give the Trojans another nice test before the postseason.
Rudyard (12-4) The Bulldogs control their league title aspirations with a chance to earn at least shares of both. They avenged a 22-point loss to Pickford from Jan. 4 with a 62-52 win Friday to join the Pirates tied for first in the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference with two league games to play. Rudyard also will face Straits Area Conference leader Sault Ste. Marie this Friday with a win potentially setting up a three-way tie atop that league with one game to go for that trio. Rudyard did lose its first matchup with the Blue Devils, 50-44 on Jan. 11, but has avenged a previous loss to SAC second-place St. Ignace. Rudyard is the reigning champ in the EUPC and finished third in the SAC a year ago.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Grand Rapids Christian (15-2) at Grand Rapids Northview (13-3) – After Christian’s 54-43 win over Northview on Friday, combined with the Eagles’ loss to Byron Center three days before, these two are tied atop the O-K White with five league games to play.
Thursday – Ithaca (11-6) at Saginaw Nouvel (14-4) – Ithaca pulled into a first-place tie with Nouvel in the Tri-Valley Conference White last week with a 43-41 victory, and the winner of the rematch will clinch a share of the championship.
Friday – Saginaw (12-6) vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill (12-4) at Dow Event Center – Barring a possible Regional rematch, this will be the final meeting in the 114-year rivalry between these longtime state powers, as the schools will merge this summer.
Saturday – Detroit Catholic High School League at Detroit Mercy – Warren De La Salle Collegiate (12-6) faces Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (17-1) and Detroit Catholic Central (12-7) takes on Brother Rice (14-5) in Tuesday’s semifinals to reach this Cardinal division championship tipping off at 7 p.m.
Sunday – Detroit Public School League Tournament at Wayne State – Detroit Cass Tech (17-1) faces Detroit Western (10-7) and Renaissance (14-4) takes on King (14-5) in Tuesday’s semifinals to reach this 5 p.m. championship game.
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PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Catholic Central and Davison face off earlier this season. DCC will play in the Catholic High School League Bishop Tournament this week. (Middle) Detroit Renaissance takes on Flint Carman-Ainsworth, also earlier this winter. Renaissance is among contenders for the Detroit Public School League Tournament title. (Photos by Terry Lyons.)