Birmingham Groves vs. Waterford Kettering Recap

<p class="p1">This game<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>has a lot of personal meaning to me as I was able to check out two players that I coach on the AAU circuit, <strong>Bennie Crenshaw</strong> (Waterford Kettering) and <strong>Mark Watson</strong> (Birmingham Groves) both juniors who got the start. Groves went into this ball game with a 3-1 record while Kettering came in with a record of 0-3.</p> <p class="p1">Right off the tip the game started off with high intensity but not a lot of buckets. Kettering started the game off with a tough zone defense not allowing the home team any buckets. Shots weren’t falling early on for either teams to start as the score was 2-0 Kettering halfway through the first quarter. The scoring started to pick up throughout the quarter as junior wing <strong>Tyler Delrosario</strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>junior big <strong>Caleb Roux</strong>, and junior guard Crenshaw each contributed 4 points. After the first quarter, the score was 12-1.</p> <p class="p1">The first bucket of the second quarter was a layup from senior guard, <strong>Dominick Phifer</strong> assisted by Crenshaw. That bucket was answered on the other side with a triple from senior guard <strong>Devin White</strong>. Halfway through the quarter a Groves 11-0 clawed the Falcons back in the contest to make it a 2 point game. The teams traded buckets as the quarter progressed. At the break the score was 24-20 in favor of Kettering. White led Groves with 7 and Crenshaw led Kettering with a perfect 8/8 from the free throw line.</p> <p class="p1">Groves came out the break with a lot of heart and energy as they started the half on a 11-3 run to earn their first lead of the game. The constant ball pressure and traps on Crenshaw kept Groves lead in the third. Groves impressive third quarter was led by senior guard Adolphus Cast as his team outscored Kettering 18-6. As the teams entered the final quarter with a score of 38-30.</p> <p class="p1">The players intensity continued but fatigue started to set in early on in the 4th. A Crenshaw jumper sparked me much needed life in Kettering. Roux finished down low a couple possessions later as the deficit was brought to one possession but the next time down Crenshaw had to be checked out of the contest with an injury. Immediately after that Groves went on a quick 8-0 run including a White and-1 and a triple from junior Groves big, <strong>Daniel Lee.</strong> Crenshaw came back in the ball game and contributed some scoring but it was too little too late. The final score was 60-49 Groves. Groves was led by White with 19 and Lee with 17. Kettering was led by Crenshaw with 18 and Roux with 15.</p>