Boys basketball roundup: East Lansing, Sexton among district semifinal winners

MASON — Charlie Baker is excited about the potential the East Lansing boys basketball team has of making a deep state tournament run.

And the senior was among the players to help the Division 1 No. 2-ranked Trojans start their postseason journey on a strong note Wednesday.

East Lansing advanced to a Division 1 district final with its 59-41 victory over Holt at Mason High School.

"We've had a great week of practice," Baker said. "We've been really focused. Since it's playoff time, our feet are on the baseline and we're paying attention to everything. Even if you're not in you're getting mental reps. You get any kind of rep you can just to get better.

"It's playoff time. In March Madness in high school, underdogs have the ability to beat any team possible. You never know what's going to happen so you've got to stay ready."

Cam Hutson had a game-high 18 points and KJ Torbert added 12 points for East Lansing (21-2). Christian Dunn added 11 points to lead the scorers as the Trojans beat Holt for a third time.

"It's always tough to play a team in your conference three times," East Lansing coach Ray Mitchell said. "It's tournament time right now so I expect every game to be tough and no pushovers. We started off slow, but I thought we picked it up each quarter after the start."

Carter Bishop had 13 points and Brandon Mercer had 12 points to lead Holt, which finishes the season 10-14.

More: Collin Alexander's big finish helps Okemos boys basketball put away Mason in district semi

SEXTON 55, LANSING CATHOLIC 37

CHARLOTTE ― Devon Hodges-Smith had 19 points and Keyshawn Summerville added 12 points to lead the J-Dubbs (18-4) in their Division 2 district semifinal win. Joseph Pizzo added 10 points for Sexton, which pushed their win streak to 16. Justin DeVarona led Lansing Catholic with nine points.

More: Charlotte outlasts Olivet behind Brandt, defense down the stretch

DeWITT 52, ST. JOHNS 42

GRAND LEDGE -- Adam Flannery finished with a team-high 17 points and dished out five assists as the Panthers recorded a Division 2 district semifinal win over St. Johns (11-12). Luke Hanselman scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds, Elliott Larner tallied 13 points and Garrett Grewe hauled in eight rebounds and had four blocks for DeWitt. The Panthers (14-8) will take on Waverly (18-5) in the district final Friday at Grand Ledge.

WAVERLY 71, GRAND LEDGE 34

GRAND LEDGE ― Derek Thomas led all scorers with 24 points, scoring 18 in the first half, as the Warriors move on to a Division 1 district final with a victory over Grand Ledge. Deunte Phifer finished with 19 points, Keenan Harris scored eight points and Trey Miller added six points for Waverly. Braden James tallied a team-high 11 points and Jackson Myott and Micah Brown each chipped in seven points for the Comets (9-15). The Warriors (18-5) will face DeWitt in the district final Friday at Grand Ledge.

IONIA 60, ADA FOREST HILLS EASTERN 45

IONIA — The Bulldogs had a 25-9 advantage in the third quarter on their way to a Division 2 district semifinal win over Ada Forest Hills Eastern (12-12). Spencer Tooker finished with a team-high 19 points, Colt Piercefield and Max Doty each picked up 14 points and Henry Castle added nine points for Ionia. The Bulldogs (11-12) will face Portland (14-7) in the district final Friday at Ionia.

WILLIAMSTON 58, ANN ARBOR GABRIEL RICHARD 42

ANN ARBOR ― Ben Smith picked up a team-high 19 points to lead the Hornets to a Division 2 district semifinal victory over Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (9-13). Max McCune and Zach Cribbs each tallied 12 points and Hudson Hunt had eight points for Williamston. The Hornets (12-11) will move on to the district final to take on Chelsea (17-6) on Friday at Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard.

PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA 64, SARANAC 40

POTTERVILLE ― Kash Pohl led the Pirates with a game-high 19 points in their Division 3 semifinal victory over Saranac. Dominic Weber notched 15 points and Trent Piggott tacked on nine points for Pewamo-Westphalia. Sam Sterzick tallied a team-high 18 points, Cody Whipple scored 11 points and Lucas Hetherington chipped in eight points for the Red Hawks (7-17). The Pirates (21-2) will face Maple Valley (10-13) in the district final Friday at Potterville.

PORTLAND ST. PATRICK 57, BELLEVUE 55

BELLEVUE ― Jerryd Scheurer hit the go-ahead 3 with 41 seconds remaining to help the Shamrocks rally to a Division 4 district semifinal win. Brayden Simon had 19 points and Landon Simpson finished with 17 points to lead Portland St. Patrick (12-11). Charlie Thelen added 12 points for the Shamrocks, who advance to face Fowler in Friday’s title game.

MAPLE VALLEY 72, POTTERVILLE 68

POTTERVILLE ― Teegen McDonald notched a team-high 25 points to help the Lions outlast Potterville for the Division 3 district semifinal victory. Ayden Wilkes finished with 24 points, Jakeb McDonald scored nine points and Cam Carpenter chipped in eight points for Maple Valley. Kaleb Batterham led all scorers with 32 points, Reid Jackson tallied 13 points and Isaiah Woloszyn tacked on 10 points for the Vikings (7-16). The Lions (10-13) advance to face Pewamo-Westphalia (21-2) at 7 p.m. Friday at Potterville.

STOCKBRIDGE 66, LESLIE 28

LAINGSBURG ― Shannon Henderson led all scorers with 13 points to help guide the Panthers to a Division 3 semifinal win over Leslie. Kegan Collins and Brock Rochow each picked up 11 points and Joey Ballagh tacked on 10 points for Stockbridge. Conner Marciniak tallied a team-high seven points for the Blackhawks (9-15). The Panthers (17-6) will take on Laingsburg (23-0) in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday at Laingsburg.

FOWLER 56, FULTON 30

BELLEVUE ― Aaron Simon notched a team-high 15 points as the Eagles clinched a spot in a Division 4 district final with a semifinal win over Fulton (17-7). Asher Koenigsknecht secured 14 points, Jacob Halfmann finished with 13 points and Alex Halfmann tacked on 10 points for Fowler. The Eagles (16-7) will face Portland St. Patrick (12-11) in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday at Bellevue.

WEBBERVILLE 72, WEST BLOOMFIELD FRANKEL 35

WEBBERVILLE ― Dominic Driver led the Spartans with a team-high 28 points in their Division 4 district semifinal victory over West Bloomfield Frankel (4-18). Daxton Feguer notched 12 points and seven rebounds, Dylan Rhodes finished with 10 points and Camdyn Bucchanon added eight points for Webberville. The Spartans (10-11) will take on Livingston Christian in the district final Friday in Webberville.

SAGINAW SWAN VALLEY 58, ALMA 44

ALMA ― In the third meeting between the TVC rivals, Alma fell short of completing the season sweep with a Division 2 district semifinal loss. Cade Sutherland and Jacoby Dunlap each had 12 points to lead Alma, which closes the season with a 13-10 record.

LIVINGSTON CHRISTIAN 48, MORRICE 40

WEBBERVILLE ― Logan Smith had 17 points and Oliver Long added 12 points for the Orioles in their Division 4 district semifinal setback.

FLINT HAMADY 46, CORUNNA 37

PORTLAND 42, BELDING 34

LAINGSBURG 69, PERRY 55

OVID-ELSIE 42, NEW LOTHROP 34

ITHACA 50, MORLEY STANWOOD 28

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Boys basketball roundup: East Lansing, Sexton, Waverly among winners