Waterford Kettering vs. Walled Lake Northern recap

<p>With this game being each teams first Lakes Valley Conference game, a lot was at stake. Walled Lake Northern comes into this game hot with a record of 5-0 while Waterford Kettering was recently handed their first loss to Oxford. Kettering sits at 4-1. This game features two studs in the 2021 class. Waterford Kettering and North Oakland Wolfpack guard, <strong>Bennie Crenshaw Jr.</strong> against Walled Lake Northern and REACH forward <strong>Kevyn Robertson</strong>. Also playing big roles for Walled Lake Northern is senior bigs <strong>Andre Price</strong> and <strong>Jack McGuire</strong>. Both have the ability to play at the college level. Walled Lake Northern is also without their transfer senior guard, <strong>Troy Lattimore</strong>.</p> <p>Northern started the contest in a high 1-3-1 zone which flustered Kettering early on. The first half was filled with sloppy basketball and poor shooting from both sides. All offense was coming from fast break layups off turnovers and getting the ball inside on the occasion. Crenshaw Jr. had a strong first quarter with 6 of his teams 9 points but his squad held a 3 point deficit after the first.</p> <p>Crenshaw hit senior guard, <strong>Travis Frazier</strong> for a midrange jumper to start the second quarter but it was later answered by a lay on the right block coming from McGuire. Sloppy play continued as teams traded turnovers midway through the second. A pair of buckets from Crenshaw gave Kettering their first lead of the game with a minute remaining in the half. In the final minute before the break, Frazier gave it his all. Crashing the offense glass and applying strong pressure on D leading to an easy fast break layup. At the break, Kettering held a 23-22 advantage and Crenshaw Jr. led with 12.</p> <p>Kettering started the half right where they finished as Crenshaw Jr. dished it off to senior big, <strong>Nolan Waugh</strong> down low. A McGuire right hook tied the game up at 25 but a Kettering trey gave them back the lead. Back to back buckets from McGuire down low gave Northern the lead back. Kettering continued to struggle on the glass but an offensive spark from Crenshaw and Frazier gave Kettering a one point lead going into the final quarter.</p> <p>The final quarter began with a bucket down low from Robertson. A 5-0 run from Price gave Northern back the lead. He could not be stopped down low. Kettering was struggling to find offense as they faced a 7 point deficit midway through the fourth. But a trio of Kettering buckets from Frazier, fast break from <strong>Ryan Nolan</strong> and lay on the block <strong>Andre Daniels</strong> brought the Northern lead to 1. This game was gonna come down to it. Rebounding woes continued in the final two minutes and Walled Lake Northern free throws fell. Walled Lake Northern won the contest 55-50. Price ended with 29 and McGuire chipped in 13 for Northern. For the away team. Crenshaw Jr. had 14 while Frazier added 12. In conclusion, Kettering had no answer for Price down the stretch however, Crenshaw Jr. is an extremely talented player which shows that Kettering has a nice future.</p>