Saginaw - It was the main event, I'll be it a delayed event.  The game actually took play about a half hour after its slated start because one of the teams from an earlier game got lost on the way to the school.  It was well worth the wait however as we got to see some of the state's best athletes and two of the state's best squads.  As expected Dar Tucker from the Hill and OLSM's Kalin Lucas led their teams in scoring and gave us a show, especially with Dar throwing home a few highlight reel dunks in the process.  The difference in this game was the play of Arthur Hill on the glass and their ability to finish from the floor and at the stripe.  When it came to free throws at the end, the Jacks proved their championship poise by putting the game away and winning 61-52.

The game got off to an odd start as the Jacks were whistled for a technical foul before the game even began.  Taurian Washington hit the free throw to put the Eaglets up 1-0.  Down 3-0, Dar took the ball straight to the hoop, powered it in and was fouled in the process after the 3 point play it was all tied up.  Up 9-7, the Jacks went on a 12-6 run to finish the quarter and take a 21-13 lead.  Dar put in 11 points off of 2 three pointers and a three point play in addition to that. 

As much as the Jacks had dominated the opening quarter, it was the Eaglets that turned the tables in the 2nd, holding Arthur Hill to 7 points in the 2nd quarter and sending the game into halftime at 28 a piece.  Lucas did his part scoring 6 of his team's 15 2nd quarter points, 4 of them coming at the line.  The Jacks were held to just 2 field goals.

The third quarter was yet another lopsided quarter, the most lopsided in the game and it was Arthur Hill's turn in the rotation to dominate, outscoring the Eaglets 18-8 in the 3rd.  Everybody had their hand in the scoring for the Jacks, with Jonathan Townsend, Tyree Wooten, Latreze Mushatt and of course Dar Tucker putting home buckets for Arthur Hill. After tying the game at 32, the Jacks went out to a 14-4 run.  It would be the last time the Eaglets would be square with the Lumberjacks.

The fourth and final period was the most exciting because it was close throughout the quarter.  The Eaglets would just not go away and started to crank up the defensive pressure.  After going back down by 10, Orchard Lake answered with a 6-2 run to cut the lead to 6.  A Jon Tassin bucket cut the lead to 5 at 57-52 but that is when the Jacks iced it from the line with two Jonathan Townsend free throws and a final basket by Tucker.  It was a close game throughout but you just had a feeling that the Lumberjacks were on cruise control for a good part of it.  Their athleticism was none more evident then on the boards, especially the offensive boards.  They didn't have size advantage over the Eaglets but those Jacks can jump. 

Arthur Hill's brutal schedule continues before the turn of the New Year with Detroit Pershing on the docket for December 29th at Oakland University.  If you think the stretch has been difficult so far, think again.  They start New Year conference schedule by hosting Flint Southwestern and then traveling to Saginaw High four days later for what might be the state's most anticipated game.  It will be fun to get a little madness in January.