Performance: Jesuit's Cassius Winston
March 31, 2016
Cassius Winston
Detroit U-D Jesuit senior - Boys Basketball
Winston said his team's trip last weekend to the Breslin Center was like a final exam for his high school career – and he earned a perfect score. Winston led the Cubs to their first MHSAA basketball championship and the final victories of a 28-0 season to earn the Michigan National Guard Performance of the Week.
The 6-foot-1 guard, who earlier in the week received the state's Mr. Basketball Award as the top senior in Michigan, scored 27 points and dished 12 assists in a Semifinal win over then-undefeated Macomb Dakota to send U-D Jesuit to its first championship game. He had 31 points in the Final, making 14 of 16 shots to go with nine assists in the 69-49 win over North Farmington.
For the season, Winston averaged 21.9 points and 7.5 assists per game and also started on the U-D Jesuit teams that reached the Semifinals his sophomore and junior seasons. He has signed to continue his career at Michigan State University, and as the Detroit Free Press reported earlier this season carries a 3.5 grade-point average while taking a number of honors classes.
Coach Pat Donnelly said: "Nothing Cassius does surprises me. He's been doing this for four years. He was 14 of 16 from the floor, and a lot of that is great shot selection. He's one of the most unselfish players I've ever coached, if not the (most unselfish). The reason he shoots such a high percentage is he's talented, and he also takes great shots; he doesn't force things. If he does get double-teamed or there's help, he finds the open man."
Performance Point: "(Saturday) was definitely one of those days where I knew I had to have my best performance. It was going to be my last high school game, last chance at winning a state championship. I was just kinda zoned in, focused and ready to go. ... We've been working for this moment right here."
Hot hand: "I just do what I can. I was scoring the basketball. My teammates, they kept going to me. They kept ball-screening for me every time. If I was open, I was getting the ball because I was making shots. So they provided for me."
Openings and opportunities: "Last year we didn't have as many dudes that could score the basketball, so everyone would just be waiting in the paint for me. This year, we had Scotty (Nelson) have 13, 14 points - he's been hot from the 3-pointers. We've got Ike (Eke) and Greg (Eboigbodin) down there who would be making plays. The defense couldn't just focus on me. There's a lot out there that they have to focus on. So it was kinda easier for me to get to the basket."
Perfect finish: "Everything that you want in a basketball team, we had. Matt Schearer, I don't think he shot a shot (Saturday), maybe one if that, but he doesn't mind. He's going to play defense, he's going to rebound, he's going to do whatever you need to do. We got Ike and Greg averaging 10 points, 10 rebounds. We've got dudes that come off the bench. Everything that you would like in your basketball team, we had this year, and that's how we became successful."
Green and White: "It's just a good feeling knowing I'm going to step into that huge family that's going to support me. I know there's probably a lot of Spartan fans out there who are coming out to support me and watch me do what I do. I just want to say thank you to the Spartan family."
– Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2015-16 school year, Second Half and the Michigan National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom, or protecting lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Previous 2015-16 honorees
March 23: Kierra Fletcher, Warren Cousino girls basketball - Read
March 16: Jacob Montague, Grosse Pointe South swimming & diving - Read
March 9: Kyle Tuttle, St. Charles boys bowling - Read
March 2: Brittney Schnicke, Caledonia girls bowling - Read
Feb. 24: Kamari Newman, Detroit East English boys basketball - Read
Feb. 17: Jason Whitens, Powers North Central boys basketball - Read
Feb. 10: Rachel Hogan, Grand Ledge gymnastics - Read
Feb. 3: Nehemiah Mork, Midland Dow swimming & diving - Read
Jan. 27: Mardrekia Cook, Muskegon girls basketball - Read
Jan. 20: Sage Castillo, Hartland wrestling - Read
Jan. 13: Rob Zofchak, Dexter swimming & diving - Read
Jan. 6: Tyler Deming, Caro wrestling – Read
Dec. 15: Jordan Weber, East Jordan boys basketball – Read
Dec. 8: Kaitlyn Geers, Kent City girls basketball – Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Detroit U-D Jesuit's Cassius Winston (5) looks for an open lane during Saturday's Class A Final against North Farmington. (Middle) Winston (left) and teammate Matt Schearer join the rest of the Cubs in beginning the title celebration.
GR Christian Withstands Late Chelsea Rally to Book Historic Opportunity
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
March 15, 2024
EAST LANSING – Grand Rapids Christian has never looked at it as courting disaster.
The Eagles admit there have been a handful of games where major trouble has been averted by a strong second half. The latest example was Friday's tight 50-41 win over Chelsea in a Division 2 Semifinal at the Breslin Center.
Instead of fretting about slow starts, the Eagles say they prefer to dwell on what happens during the final two crucial quarters. In the win over Chelsea, for example, the Eagles nearly let a 10-point lead slide away over the final five and a half minutes before hitting some clutch free throws and limiting the Bulldogs to just three points during the final 4:25.
Business as usual, said the Eagles (25-2), who will play Warren Lincoln in Saturday's 6:45 p.m. Final. It’s a matchup of the top two-ranked teams in Division 2 and a rematch of a 49-47 Warren Lincoln win earlier in the season. Grand Rapids Christian will be playing for a first championship since winning the Lower Peninsula Class B title in 1938.
"We get a little excited early sometimes," Eagles senior Jaylan Ouwinga said. "Maybe we move too fast or too slow, but we forget slow starts and just get the job done. We work on coming out strong, but we've had to learn to just let the game come to us."
Such was the case against Chelsea (21-6). Grand Rapids Christian led 40-30 with 5:34 left, but an 8-0 Bulldogs run cut the margin to 40-38 with 4:25 to go. Ouwinga made a basket, Carter Goodyke added a layup and the Eagles managed seven free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Grand Rapids Christian's Tyler Davis said the team is aware of the dangers of slow starts.
"We talk about it, and we know it's not so great," he said. "We've never been here before, but we have confidence. We're not going to get down on each other because of someone's mistake."
Eagles coach Eric Taylor said the key to stronger second halves isn't complicated.
"Guys are focused," he said. "We've never wavered. They made some runs at us and cut the lead. We talked about basketball being a game of runs. We didn't lose focus because another team makes a run, because it happens."
Ouwinga had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Senior guard Nate Johnson added 13 points, and Davis had 10.
Johnson said second-half strength is something the team has capitalized on all season.
"It's something we've acquired," he said. "We stay resilient and keep our heads in the game. We stay strong mentally and stick to the game plan."
Jake Stephens had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Chelsea.
Taylor said experience has been a factor in the team's success. There are nine seniors on the roster, and they benefitted from a schedule that included seven ranked teams.
"We're very battle-tested," Taylor said. "We've proven we're ready for the moment; we know we have to play 32 minutes, not 28. (Slow starts) aren't what we like, but tough players win and we've been tough all year."
Chelsea coach Andrea Cabana said there were chances to win.
"They made enough runs in the second half that we allowed them to get away from us," she said. "We've played a tough schedule; teams similar to who they've played. We're gritty and never give up. We got a couple turnovers late, but couldn't capitalize on them. We were relentless, which is how we play."
PHOTOS (Top) Grand Rapids Christian’s DeClan Winstanley (22) dunks before Chelsea’s Hayden Long (4) can get a hand in to stop the attempt. (Middle) Tyler Davis (11) launches a jumper from the top of the key during the Eagles’ Division 2 Semifinal win. (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)