Tuesday's roundup: Cass Tech rallies past East English

Detroit — Marcus Gibbs made big shot after big shot Tuesday evening to rally Cass Tech back from a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit to earn its 10th straight win with a thrilling 73-71 PSL semifinal victory over defending champion East English at Detroit Renaissance.

Gibbs, a junior guard, came off the bench to score 18, making 6-of-8 3-pointers.  His four long-range shots came during a fourth quarter that featured seven lead changes, the final one coming on his final 3 with 14 seconds left for a 72-71 cushion.

“Dave (DeJulius) played great defense, but Leonard (Silas) and I have been running this play the whole year and I came around, he pitched it me and I knocked it down,” said Gibbs, who averages 16.5 points. “It was a huge game, just a huge game. That’s what Coach (Steve) Hall got me for. He told me to go out there and shoot with confidence and that’s what I did.

“I want to give a lot of respect to (East English's) Greg Elliott and David DeJulius. They’ve been putting on (a show) for the city all year. Dave stayed with me the whole game and he’s a great defender. He’s committed to Michigan. He’s a great basketball player, but I knew I had to come out with confidence.”

While Gibbs is still without an offer, East English (14-4) showcased two Big Ten-caliber players in 6-foot-4 senior Elliott and 6-0 junior point guard DeJulius.

Elliott entered the night averaging 28.2 points and owning offers from Michigan State and Marquette. DeJulius, a Michigan commit, came in averaging 26.3 points with 53 3-pointers.

DeJulius, who scored 33 Friday in a 82-80 quarterfinal win over Pershing, scored 23 (6-of-14 shooting, 2-of-6 3s), but was scoreless in the final three minutes, missing a short jumper in the lane while trailing 72-71 with five seconds left Elliott finished with 22 points, five rebounds and five blocks. He made 4-of-10 shots and 13-of-14 free throws, but made just 1-of-2 with 34 seconds left for a 71-69 lead, leaving the door open for Gibbs’ final three to give Cass Tech (15-3) the lead.

Elliott played great defense early in the fourth, blocking multiple shots and getting a steal to spark a 9-2 run to open up East English’s biggest lead at 63-56 with 6:25 left before Gibbs connected on three 3-pointers to spark an 11-2 run to give Cass Tech a 67-65 advantage.

“We know he can shoot and isn’t going to miss too many and we depended on him this game,” said Silas of Gibbs.

“He’s a game-breaker and a game-changer and just because he doesn’t start is not indicative of how we feel about him,” said Cass Tech coach Steve Hall of Gibbs. “We believe in him. We run stuff for him and we expect him to deliver and that’s what he did.”

Cass Tech was outscored 21-2 at the line, but shot 62.5 percent from the field (30-of-48) and made 11-of-19 3s. Gibbs (6-of-8), 6-6 junior Jalen Tobias (8-of-10, 16 points) and Silas (6-of-9, 14 points) combined for 48 points on 20-of-27 shooting. Junior guard Matthew Richmond scored 12, making three 3-pointers.

“We wanted to get the interior game going and when they honor the interior game it opens it up for the outside game, so I think we had a good balance,” Hall said. “It just so happened in the fourth quarter we got Marcus some open looks and he knocked them down. He’s earned the right to have the green light. He’s embraced his role as a sixth-man, game-changer. We probably get 30 points off the bench a game. We just want a tag team. I think our depth played a big role, too.”

Cass Tech played double-figure players and relied on its perimeter game to keep close in the first half, making 7-of-13 3s to pull within 37-35 at halftime, including 3s by Matt Richmond, Silas and Gibbs to rally back from a 33-26 deficit.

It looked like DeJulius and Elliott were fatigued down the stretch.

So, how does Hall feel of Saturday’s 7 p.m. PSL title game against Detroit King at Calihan Hall? King defeated Northwestern 47-44 in the other semifinal.

“That’s why I came home,” said Hall, who averaged 30.7 points for Cass Tech in 1988, then guided Detroit Rogers to three straight Class D state titles (2003-05) and Detroit Northwestern to the PSL title in 2008 before taking on assistant jobs at Duquesne (2009-11) and Youngstown State (2012-15). “We have high expectations here at Cass Tech.”

Hall said Cass Tech’s last city league title came in 1998.

PSL semifinal

King 47, Northwestern 44: Senior guard Jesse Scarber scored 15 and blocked a potential tying 3-pointer as time expired for King (15-2).

“We had to come out and play hard because we knew Northwestern is a tough team so we had to stay focused and play disciplined,” Scarber said.

And, of his blocked shot in the final seconds, “I was baiting him to throw that pass. It kind of worked to my football skills. I just jumped up and got the block, just used my athleticism. I’ve been waiting to play for the league championship for a long time.”

Scarber was one of the heroes in King’s Division 2 football state championship game, intercepting two passes.

“When I got here three years ago I told Jesse Scarber that if he stayed he would become a champion,” said King coach George Ward of Scarber. “He’s a winner. I got on his behind the last 2½ years like you couldn’t believe. He’s the MVP of the Division 2 state championship football game. The guys a bona-fide winner and I knew at the end of the game he was going to have to make a play and in the fourth quarter he proved who he was. He’s tough as nails and I’m glad he’s on my team.”

Ward was proud of King’s second-half defensive effort, limiting Northwestern to 14 points.

“We prevailed and I think our ability to play in the half court, we probably do that better than anybody around and I figured at some point our defense would make it tough on them and that’s what happened. They scored 14 points in the second half.”

Freshman Steve Pearson scored 12 and Kylan Shipp had 12 for Northwestern (12-4).

Jordan Whitford scored five for King, making a free-throw jumper for a 46-44 lead with 1:35 left, then coming up with a steal in the final minute.

Boys

Belleville 69, Romulus 66: Davion Williams had 21 points, Gabe Brown had 18 and Kmare Carey 10 for Belleville (14-2, 8-1 Western Wayne-Blue). Kavon Merriweather scored 17 for Romulus (12-3, 8-1).

BirminghamRoeper 41,Westland Huron Valley Lutheran 38: Evan Akkashian and Jacob Gladney had 13 points for Roeper (4-8). Nick Doletzky scored 15 for Huron Valley (6-8).

Clarkston 66, NorthFarmington 41: Dylan Alderson had 22 points and Foster Loyer 21 for Clarkston (16-0, 6-0 OAA Red). Amauri Hardy scored 20 and Nate Brooks 15 for North Farmington (7-8, 3-3).

Dearborn 57,Dearborn Heights Annapolis 42: Shane Moran had 20 points, Hassan Beydoun 13 for Dearborn (11-4, 7-2 Western Wayne-Red). Alex Ismail scored 21 for Annapolis (8-7, 5-4).

Dearborn HeightsCrestwood 61, RedfordThurston 51: Malik Rogers had 28 points, Tavion Dowell had 12 and Asa Robertson 10 for Crestwood (12-4, 5-4 Western Wayne-Blue). Dorian Naylor scored 10 for Thurston (6-10, 2-7).

Dearborn HeightsRobichaud 54, Redford Union 50: Jasir Poole had 24 points and Jaylen Favor had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Robichaud (12-3, 8-1 Western Wayne-Red). Jacob Gaynon scored 12 for Union (9-7, 5-4).

Detroit Country Day 62, Detroit Central 40: Cole Bearden and Wendell Green each had 10 points for Country Day (7-10).

Detroit Loyola 66, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 40: Myron Gardner scored 16 and Jaylen Hill scored 13 to go with 10 rebounds for Loyola (7-7, 5-1 Catholic League-AA). Brad Scano had 10 points for Gabriel Richard (4-12, 0-6).

Farmington 64,Berkley 43: Jordan Graham had 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Ray Bryant had 19 points for Farmington (12-4, 4-1 OAA Gold). Jordan Cobb scored 17 for Berkley (3-11, 1-4).

Garden City 72, LivoniaClarenceville 31: Cameron Walter scored 12 and Darius Benson 11 for Garden City (4-11, 2-7 Western Wayne-Red). Ricky Scott had 21 points for Clarenceville (0-16, 0-9).

Melvindale 71, Taylor Kennedy 64: Antonio Peeples had 20 points and Montrez Fuster 19 for Melvindale (13-3, 10-1 Downriver), putting him at 1,000 for his career. Reginald Broaden scored 26 for Kennedy (6-9, 6-5).

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 38, Walled Lake Western 27: CJ Wilson had 16 points for St. Mary’s (11-5). Delano Smith scored 17 for Western (12-4).

Richmond 75, Armada 69: D’Sean Hamilton scored 27 for Richmond (14-2, 9-1 Blue Water Area Conference). Adam Job had 29 points for Armada (7-8, 5-5).

River Rouge 74, Ann Arbor Huron 63: Jairus Grissom had 21 points, while Delante Peterson (10 rebounds) and Darian Owens-White each had 14 points for River Rouge (15-1).

Rochester Hills Stony Creek 60, Lake Orion 55: Nate Davis had 18 points and Evan Becker 16 for Stony Creek (13-3, 5-1 OAA Blue) . Kayce Strionek had 17 for Lake Orion (8-8, 2-4)

Troy 67, Oak Park 55: Leon Ayers had 25 points and Danny Sully 16 for Troy (11-4, 4-2 OAA White). Roderick Gillison scored 14 for Oak Park (8-8, 3-3).

Troy Athens 58, Pontiac 48: Nick Cotten had 18 points and Taylor McCaskill 14 for Troy Athens (7-8, 3-3 OAA White). Cleontai Brown had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Dorian Kellam scored 10 for Pontiac (3-11, 0-6).

Utica 68, East Detroit 60: Omaure Miller scored 19 and David Frick 10 for Utica (4-12). Aaron Springfield had 21 points for East Detroit (1-15).

West Bloomfield 65, Bloomfield Hills 57: Kevin McAdoo had 26 points and Tre Harvey 21 for West Bloomfield (11-5, 5-1 OAA Red). Justin Henry scored 19 for Bloomfield Hills ().

Woodhaven 56, Gibraltar Carlson 41: Ryan Wilkinson scored 15 and Deandre Walker 14 for Woodhaven (12-4, 11-1 Downriver). Ian Stewart had eight points for Carlson (9-6, 7-4).

Girls

Allen Park 38,Wyandotte 34: Abbie Slate had 12 points and Graycen Kubik 10 for Allen Park (13-5, 10-3 Downriver). Madison Hamilton scored 14 for Wyandotte (12-4, 10-2).

DearbornFordson 56,Dearborn Heights Annapolis 9: Rana Elhusseini and Sarah Abdallah scored 12 each for Fordson (13-5, 9-0 Western Wayne-Red). Annapolis is 4-10, 2-7.

Dearborn HeightsRobichaud 72,Dearborn HeightsCrestwood 51: Kamaria McDaniel had 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while Kayla Brown had 24 points for Robichaud (10-7, 6-3 Western Wayne-Blue). Maya Barakat scored 14 for Crestwood (11-6, 5-4).

Detroit Country Day 67, Ann Arbor Pioneer 26: Destiny Pitts had 20 points, Kaela Webb had 17 and Jasmine Powell 10 for Country Day (16-0). Asaria Turman scored 13 for Pioneer (12-5).

Detroit Edison Academy 65,Dearborn Henry Ford Academy 39: Gabriell Elliot had 24 points and Rickea Jackson had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Detroit Edison (13-3). Maliaka Washington scored 15 for Dearborn Henry Ford Academy (13-5).

Detroit Voyageur Prep 57,Ecorse 23: Zakeyna Lee had 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Angel Gainey and Brishanna Weeks had 12 points each for Voyageur (9-1). Saquehna Jones scored 10 for Ecorse (6-4).

Garden City 47, LivoniaClarenceville 22: Kayley Hewer had 16 points for Garden City (8-9, 6-3 Western Wayne-Red). Myla Hoskins-King scored 16 for Clarenceville (1-15, 0-9).

GrossePointe South 42, Sterling Heights 35: Sydnie Hall scored 13, Sayanna Roy 12 and Savannah Srebernak 10 for South (4-15). Amanda Kluz had 15 points for Sterling Heights (5-13).

Hartland 58, Walled Lake Northern 33: Lexey Tobel had 16 points for Hartland (16-1, 11-0 KLAA West). Raven Rogers scored 12 for Northern (5-12, 4-7).

Macomb Dakota 54, Sterling Heights Stevenson 28: Emily Langolf had 18 points and Taylor Williams 16 for Dakota (12-6). Dana Vitale scored seven for Sterling Heights Stevenson (8-10).

Madison HeightsLamphere 45, Marine City Cardinal Mooney 33: Morganne Holdreith scored 15 and Allison Berger 11 for Lamphere (9-10). Lily Wolf had 14 poins for Mooney (13-4).

Northville 54, Livonia Churchill 28: Jessica Moorman had nine points for Northville (16-1, 10-0 KLAA South). Ronnie Severin scored 10 for Churchill (6-11, 4-6).

Novi 40, Plymouth 28: Cara Ninkovich scored 15 and Ellie Mackay nine for Novi (13-4). Chantal LeDoux had 10 points for Plymouth (7-10).

Roseville 62, Warren Woods-Tower 30: Nija Collier scored 16, to go with 11 rebounds, while DeBraya Edwards also scored 16 for Roseville (13-5). Samantha Blalock had 14 points for Tower (8-11).

St. Clair ShoresLakeview 54,Marysville 50: LaShana Young had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Nicole Austin had 12 points and nine assists for Lakeview (17-1). Hannah Delor scored 14 and her twin sister Hayley Delor scored 13 for Marysville (13-6).

Trenton 56,Southgate Anderson 39: Therese Hebda scored 21 and McKenna Tanguay 16 for Trenton (15-2, 11-2 Downriver). Julia Bogart had 18 points for Anderson (3-12, 2-8).

Waterford Lakes 51,Wixom St.Catherines 43: Isabelle Kline had 18 points, Kayla Sanders had 14 and and Tiffany Senerius 10 for Lakes (15-3). Grace Gulowski scored 17 for St. Catherines (10-8).

david.goricki@detroitnews.com

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Detroit News staff contributed