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ON TAP: Meijer Holiday Hoops Invitational * FREE STORY
Game 1: 12:00 Noon Pewamo-Westphalia vs. Hanover-Horton
The battle of the hyphenated school names. Hanover-Horton’s Nick Zieman will lead the charge as the Comets look to defeat a solid Pewamo-Westphalia club led by Nathan Klein. Both teams are 2-1 on the year.
Game 2: 2:00 PM East Lansing vs. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
East Lansing is 2-1 this and is two points from being undefeated as they fell to defending state champ Holt, 42-40. The Trojans are anchored by improving big man, 6’8 Gerald Busby, whose father played at Michigan State. Alex Schmidt has also player dwell for the Trojans.
Loy Norrix is 0-6 on the year and looking for its first win. They’re still feeling the effects of guard KD Bell who transferred to Kalamazoo Central this past summer. Niquay Evans and Rob Buchanan will look to put Norrix in the win column.
Game 3: 4:00 PM Okemos vs. Saginaw Buena Vista
Perhaps the most compelling match-up the day in terms of watching two individuals match up. Okemos point guard Johnathon Jones (pictured) and Buena Vista’s Tory Jackson are two of the state’s best point guards and they’ll have a chance to go at it.
Okemos, a Class A school, has the much better supporting case with the likes of returning starter Dan Hess, 6’7 Denny Means and budding 6’10 jr. Anthony Ianni in the fold. Buena Vista, a Class C school, doesn’t have nearly the size, but will likely have the best player on the floor in Jackson. Even still, Jones will make his case for being one of the best point guards in the state as battles the future Notre Dame floor general.
Game 4: 6:00 PM Mattawan vs. Detroit Country Day
 Mattawan and Country Day are making their second-consecutive appearances in the Invitational. Both teams dropped their games last year -- Mattawan to Okemos and Country Day to Benton Harbor -- but they will look to make their mark this year.
Michigan commitment Alex Legion (6’4 jr.) is arguably the state’s top player regardless of class. He, along with Western Carolina commit Omar Thomas (6’6 sr.), will provide a big challenge for Mattawan’s 6’8 bookend power forwards Marc Larson and Wilber Ampey, who have committed to Bowling Green and Grand Valley State, respectively. Mattawan will also need sniper Korey Wagonmaker to knock down the perimeter jump shot with regularity.
Game 5: 8:00 PM Belleville vs. East Grand Rapids
 Few players are as gifted, as tough and as dominant as Belleville’s 6’4 senior Leon Freeman (right). He’s coming off of a 43-point effort in an overtime loss to Sexton, but don’t think that’ll keep Freeman from competing. Freeman gives max effort whenever he’s on the court. He and 6’6 sr. Mike Gibson give Belleville a solid one-two combination.
East Grand Rapids has its own spark plug in 5’10 junior Kelvin Grady. He’s a tenacious defender and a solid playmaker. He might be the younger brother of U-M running back Kevin Grady, but Kelvin has made a name for himself as he has football scholarship offers from both Michigan and Michigan State. But Grady is also on the radar for basketball. He and his cousin, 6’2 junior Demarcus Grady, give EGR one of the better backcourts in the state. Improving big man Justin Anyijong (6’8 jr.) gives them an excellent inside presence especially on the defensive end.
Should be an excellent day of action. Prep Spotlight President Vince Baldwin will be on hand all day.
Photo on the front courtesy of Michele Hoffman www.picturelady.photoreflect.com.
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DaChairman
Date: 12/29/2005 9:28 am
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