Mid-Michigan Lakers

SALINE, Michigan — It was only a matter of time. The U-16 Mid-Michigan Lakers had done everything asked of them this season, save for one: to win a tournament  outright. That hurdle is now behind them after a dramatic 54-52 overtime win over Michigan Select in the Michigan Memorial Classic championship game.

With the game tied and 15 seconds to play, Zeshawn Parker-Jones stole the ball at halfcourt and took it the distance to give the Lakers a two-point lead with eight seconds to go. Select’s last second shot rimmed out; The Lakers earned the hardware they’d been working for all season.

The Lakers’ run to the championship was even more impressive without key reserves Cal Henry and TJ Nichols and Kendrick Wallace. Into the breach stepped guard Raheen Dudley, who led the team from the defensive end all tournament long.

With the victory, the Lakers improved their overall record to 22-6 on the season, easily the best winning percentage of any team in program history.

Our two other teams had impressive performances as well, with both losing in the final four of their respective brackets. Led by Marquavian Stephens, the U-15 team grabbed the number one seed in their pool before falling to the eventual champions, FIST. In the first bracket game, Stephens led the Lakers to a come-from-behind victory over Guelph Phoenix (Canada) with 25 points and 12 rebounds.

The U-17 team fell to All-Michigan in the final four despite a strong opening half performance from Nathan Landsgaard. The Lakers were totally jobbed out of their first undefeated pool this season against FIST, and never bounced back.

All in all, it was a great weekend for MML. At one point on Sunday, the program was 8-0. That has never happened before.

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” — Henry Ford

Download photos from the weekend.

Weekend MVPs:

U-17: Nate Landsgaard (Goodrich): Really tough all weekend going to the basket. Really excels from the PG spot.

U-16: Zeshawn Parker-Jones (Lapeer West): Mr. Big Shot didn’t earn the MVP until the final play of the championship game.

U-15: Mark Cox (Lapeer West): Probably could have gone to a couple different players, but Cox was the tallest player on the team this weekend and played great on both ends of the floor against much bigger opponents.

Five for Fighting (fighting for rebounds, loose balls, stops and playing time)

1.) Raheen Dudley, Beecher (U-16)

2.) Mark Cox, Lapeer West (U-15)

3.) BJ Walker, IAF (U-17)

4.) Rece Visnaw, Kearsley (U-16)

5.) Jaylen Lee, Hamady (U-15)

Any U-16 player who needs a ride should meet Coach Brouwer at the Meijer on Hill Road at no later than 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.

All games are at Saline High School near Ann Arbor.

U-17: Tuesday @ 7:30 p.m. at The Cage

U-16: Monday @ 6 p.m. at Central Church of the Nazarene AND Thursday at 5 p.m. at Mott

U-15: Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Mott

Make sure to bring final payments to your coach.

Also, all three teams will be competing this weekend in Saline. I apologize for the confusion.

DETROIT, Michigan — The U-16 Mid-Michigan Lakers escaped pool play unblemished for the second straight tournament, this time in Metro Detroit. The Lakers won their first game in the gold bracket of the Great Lakes Classic against Common Bond before falling in one of the most exciting AAU games I’ve ever watched.

The Lakers gave All-Michigan everything it could handle and more, leading by as many as 10 in the second half against a bigger, stronger and more athletic team. All-Michigan is the only team in Michigan to have defeated the U-16 Team Detroit, led by future D-1 guards Man-Man Morris and Denzel Watts.

The Lakers ‘J.D. Tisdale was absolutely unstoppable on the offensive end, scoring 28 points and dishing out eight assists. Tisdale, along with fast forwards Zeshawn Parker-Jones and Rayshon Thomas, did the bulk of the heavy lifting on offense for the Lakers aided by outstanding floor games from Cullen Turczyn and Max Cummings.

This was another weekend full of great performances as a team. Speaking for Coach Miller and Coach Brouwer, I can say that this team has been an absolute pleasure to be around. You guys have improved every day as players and as a team. Remember what Coach Miller told you: Make the most of every opportunity to be a part of something special.

Good teammates become good citizens and successful adults. I’m confident that all of you are learning a great life lesson this season. You don’t have to win to be a winner. How you handle defeat, adversity and conflict says more about your character than how you handle success. This principle was expressed to me a long time ago in book, “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”

–Atticus Finch

In your career you may never beat the best; but, when you have the opportunity to play with the best, you better see it through to the end. That’s why your parents and coaches were so proud of you, even in defeat.

Weekend MVPs:

U-17: Nic Stoll (Holly)

U-16: J.D. Tisdale (Flint Northern) and Zeshawn Parker-Jones (Lapeer West)

U-15: Marquavian Stephens, (Swartz Creek)

Five for Fighting (fighting for rebounds, loose balls, stops and playing time)

1.) Max Cummings, Swartz Creek (U-16)

2.) Cullen Turcyzn, Lapeer West (U-16)

3.) Jarod Jones, Swartz Creek (U-17)

4.) Rayshon Thomas, IAF (U-16)

5.) Mark Cox, Lapeer West (U-15)

Schedule for Great Lakes Classic in Metro Detroit

Troy Athens High School, courts 1-4
Lawrence Technological University 5-6
Southfield Bradford Academy 7-8
Ferndale High School 9-12
Madonna University 13
St. Mark’s Missionary Baptist 14
Beech Woods Recreation Facility 15-16

Click here for Map

Map of gyms in Southfield

Map of Lawrence Tech University
#2 building is Ridler Field House

One of the most memorable Lakers of the past, Demetrius “Meechie” Miller, signed today with Metro State University, a strong NCAA D-II program in Denver, Colorado.

Miller played two seasons with the Lakers before earning a scholarship to Mott Community College, one of the top JUCOs in the country. Meechie and his teammates won numerous conference, state and regional titles at Mott. He was the starting point guard for the Bears and was an all-conference player as a sophomore and among the top perimeter defenders in the state.

Meechie graduated in the final class of Flint Central High School.

As a Laker, Meechie was coached by Jim Pope and Andrew Bolton.

You can access photos of all three MML teams through our Flickr photostream. I will try to get as many photos on there as I can. If there’s a  particular image you want in high-resolution format, please let me know.

Photostream: MML on Flickr

I know this is a lot easier to use than Facebook.

LANSING, Michigan— The U-16 Mid-Michigan Lakers put together THE best run of any team in program history this weekend. The Lakers went 6-0 before falling by 12 to ACB in the championship final at the CDBA Classic in Lansing.

Led by Zeshawn Parker-Jones and J.D. Tisdale, the 16s finally exorcised their biggest demon by beating Parallel 45. They also beat the GR Storm twice, including an 87-point outburst at Lansing Sexton High School Sunday afternoon. Parker-Jones had 27 points in the game to lead all scorers.

ZPJ: On Beast Mode in Lansing

It’s clear that the 16s are a different team when they have the full-time services of guard Cullen Turcyzn. The shifty sharpshooter played hard on both ends of the floor alongside guard Max Cummings all weekend. The pair will be among the top players in the Flint Metro League next season.

This team has in spades what every team needs to win games of significance: Synergy. Don’t go running for the dictionary. Synergy, in essence, is several things functioning together to produce a result not independently obtainable. That’s what this team is all about. Every single player on our roster is a shareholder in our success. You should have pride in ownership.

The U-17 team finished the tournament with a 3-2 record, finally losing to the tournament’s runner-up by 15. The U-17 team beat a pair of teams on Saturday by 20-plus points and appear to be coming into their own.

The U-15 team continues to show improvement despite a poor second half performance in their playoff game. The team was once again led by the Swartz Creek twosome of Marquavian Stephens and Kelvin Weston. The team also had solid performances from big man Trenton Morell and swingman Mark Cox.

A special thanks to all the parents and friends who stayed to cheer on the U-16 team during its run to the championship final. I know the coaching staff and all the players really appreciate it. Also, a special thanks to our “cookie queen.” You know who you are.

Weekend MVPs:

U-17: Nic Stoll (Holly)

U-16: Zeshawn Parker-Jones (Lapeer West)

U-15: Marquavian Stephens, Swartz Creek

Five for Fighting (fighting for rebounds, loose balls, stops and playing time)

1.) BJ Walker, IAF (U-17)

2.) Cullen Turcyzn, Lapeer West (U-16)

3.) David Withey, Swartz Creek (U-17)

4.) Shawn Brouwer, Swartz Creek (U-16)

5.) Mark Cox, Lapeer West (U-15)