Monroe, SMCC, Jefferson, Airport, Whiteford, Flat Rock boys win

CARLETON – Monroe’s boys basketball team has a home away from home.

The Trojans secured their first victory of the season at Airport Friday for the second year in a row.

More: Friday's Monroe County Region high school basketball summaries

Both times coach Larry Middleton’s team was 0-5 heading into the Airport Basketball Showcase.

South Lyon became Monroe’s first victim this season by a 64-60 margin.

“It’s such a struggle every year to get that first win,” Middleton said.

This is the third straight season Monroe has started 0-5, before than they limped out of the gate at 0-9 and 0-18.

In Middleton’s first season of 2018-19, his Trojans won their third game, but then lost three in a row for a 1-5 start.

It took a trip to Airport to end the skid for the second year in a row.

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“I’m tempted to ask them if we can play all our games there,” Middleton joked.

The Trojans trailed 31-28 at the half Friday, but took charge by controlling the third quarter 17-7.

“In the second half, we started getting the ball to Lukas Johnson inside and they hard a hard time guarding him,” Middleton said.

South Lyon fouled Johnson often. The 6-4 senior, who came into the game shooting under 50-percent from the line this season, made them pay by canning 15 of-17 shots from the free-throw line all in the second half.

He finished with 21 points.

Fellow senior Lucis Rzepa led the Trojans with 23 points, including four 3-pointers.

“Lucis hit a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter,” Middleton said. “We’ve been needing a second guy to score. We made an effort to get him more shots.”

Adam Nabozny also had a strong game.

“This is huge, huge,” Middleton said. “We’ve been so close. … Maybe this will get the snowball rolling downhill.”

BOYS BASKETBALL

SMCC starts fast

CARLETON – St. Mary Catholic Central bolted out to a 22-8 lead in the first quarter of the opening game of the Airport Showcase Friday and cruised to a 63-45 victory over Detroit Lincoln King.

After that, the Falcons spread the wealth. Ten players scored.

“We played really well,” SMCC coach Randy Windham said. “We shared the ball really well.”

Ian Foster logged 7 assists to go along with his game-high 16 points. Brady Hines, Brock Cousino and Drew Vuich all scored 8 points for the 3-2 Falcons.

“Brady Hines played a really good game,” Windham said. “He had 8 rebounds.”

Jets hand Dundee first loss

CARLETON – Airport and Dundee put on a great show to wrap up two days of basketball at Airport High School, handing Dundee its first loss of the season with a 69-65 overtime win.

“Down the stretch, we had our best free-throw effort of the season,” said Airport coach Jason Ruhlig. “I couldn’t be prouder of our team effort. We had five guys in double figures.”

Colin Nowak hit 5-of-6 free throws in the extra session and finished with 17 points. Brett Moore (13 points), Cooper Nye (12), Dillon Byrd (11) and Aidyn Stahr (10) also reached double digits. Nye had 10 rebounds as well.

Dundee’s Braiden Whitaker scored 35 points to lead all scorers. Ethan Layton added 18 for the 8-1 Vikings, including 8 points in overtime.

Oldenburg leads Bears

CARLETON – Sophomore Trey Oldenburg led a balanced scoring attack with 24 points to lead Jefferson to a 73-64 triumph over Livonia Churchill in the Airport Showcase Friday.

Gabe Gelson (18), Luke Beaudrie (12) and Ben Merkel (10) joined Oldenburg in double figures for the 4-2 Bears.

“We overcame a very poor performance on the defensive boards today,” Jefferson coach Corey Wiley said.

Flat Rock pulls away

CARLETON – Flat Rock scored the last 6 points of the first quarter to take a 14-8 lead, then expanded its advantage to 34-17 at halftime on the way to a 64-54 victory over Brighton Friday in the Airport Showcase.

“It was good to come out against a bigger school like Brighton and hold them to 17 points in a half,” Flat Rock coach Rick Smith said.

Graham Junge led the 6-1 Rams with 20 points. Cyrus Goins added 16 points off the bench and Alex Gillum logged a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Whiteford wears crown

QUINCY – Whiteford completed a dominating performance in the Quincy Holiday Tournament by routing the host team 67-48 in the finals Friday.

Kolby Masserant scored 17 of his career-high 26 points in the middle two quarters.

Evan Parker added 13 points and Hunter DeBarr 10 as the Bobcats completed the 2023 portion of its schedule with a 7-2 record.

Huron takes a beating

SANDUSKY, Ohio – New Boston Huron was able to get some good team bonding during a trip to the Cedar Point Sports Complex Friday night, but the business end of the trip did not go very well.

The Chiefs fell 77-47 to Perkins from Ohio.

“We went against a team we probably shouldn’t have,” Huron coach Ted Tackett said.

Chad Martin scored 12 points and Kyle Kantola 10 for 4-3 Huron.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

SMCC defense stingy

MONROE – St. Mary Catholic Central held Summerfield to just 4 points in the middle two quarters and 7 field goals for the game in a 47-26 victory Friday that clinched the championship of its own tournament.

“Good team win and contributions from multiple players,” SMCC coach John Durbin said.

Madeline Hamilton led SMCC with 11 points while Natalie LaPrad and Macy Carlton scored 8 points apiece.

Summerfield (2-4) got 10 points from Mayley Mannenbach.

PREP WRESTLING

Taylor, Lyle champions

PLYMOUTH – Zachary Taylor (175) and Gabrial Lyle (190) were champions for Gibraltar Carlson in the 39-team Salem Elks Christmas Tournament Friday.

Carter Simota (157) placed second and Anthony Cousino (215) third to highlight Jefferson’s third-place finish.

Ryder Mulherin (138), Carson Petit (144) and Martre Pearson (165) took fourth and Vladimir Uhlik (150) and Gabe Hall (190) were fifth for the Bears, who scored 167.5 points.

Clinton won the tournament with 223.5 points. Carlson was ninth with 97.

Hall unbeaten for Huron

MONTROSE – Braydon Hall won all five of his matches Thursday in the Jack Clark Memorial Tournament for New Boston Huron, which finished with a 2-3 record.

The Chiefs beat Flint Carman Ainsworth 60-15 and Alma 51-29 and lost to Montrose 39-38 and Crosswell-Lexington 39-35 before falling to Lakeville in the third-place match.

Carson Gemmel, Daniel Gemmel, Nate Matsos, Drew Ladach and Daniel Hubbard all went 4-1.

Alahna Taylor second second, Cami Krzciuk third and Hailey Wisler fourth for Huron’s girls in the Lady Mat Cat Invitational at Montague.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe, SMCC, Jefferson, Airport, Whiteford, Flat Rock boys win