EAST LANSING, Mich.---From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the North Central High School boys basketball team was in complete control of its Class D state semifinal game against the Fulton-Middleton Pirates at Michigan State University.
The NCA Jets jumped off to a 21-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and led by as many as 35 points before settling for a 71-46 win at the Breslin Center. North Central stayed undefeated with a 26-0 record and will try to win its first state title since 1984.
"As we drove down here, we talked about being the aggressor," NCA Coach Adam Mercier said. "We didn't want to come out soft. We wanted to take some shots, get the ball in the paint, and see what happens. Our guys responded early."
Sophomore Jason Whitens led the Jets with 16 points and nine rebounds, while senior Rob Granquist added 14 points and seven boards. Morgan Cox came off the bench to chip in 12 points, six rebounds, and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line for the Jets.
Caleb Martin had eight points, and Dawson Bilski had seven points and seven rebounds.
"With Robby and Caleb (Martin) and Morgan and Dawson (Bilski) and Bobby (Kleiman) all really stepping up, and playing phenominal, it really does get me going as a player," Whitens said. "It's nice to play with this group of guys."
"That's what we expect out of him," Mercier said of Whitens. "More importantly, that's what he expects out of himself. I know he's a sophomore, but he's a very confident player. But at the same time, he's very humble. He could score mid-20's every game, but he makes other players around him better."
Granquist played in his 100th career game for the Jets.
"It was a great team win out there," Granquist said. "I'm getting kind of old with the 100th game. These guys make fun of me, and call me an old man because I can't stretch very good. These guys are a lot of fun to be around and we have a good time."
Fulton Coach Todd Walden admitted that his team was overwhelmed.
"This is obviously not what we intended," he said. "We ran into a buzzsaw in the first half. I don't think we played our best game tonight, but a lot of that is what Powers did to us."
Mercier says that his team's perimeter defense was a key to the win.
"We knew they were a great outside-shooting team, 200 or some three-pointers on the season," Mercier said. "We play some teams by us that are similar, so, we had a decent scouting report on how to defend teams like that. Their guards can shoot it! I thought we forced them out, and they took some 23, 24 footers."
Mercier was able to get all eleven of his guys into the game. Two guys who have been unable to play, Troy Ekberg and Marcus Krachinski, got into the scoring column with six points and three points, respectively. Ekberg was returning from an injury while Krachinski just became eligible after transferring from Bark River-Harris. Those were Krachinski's first NCA points.
"I made a mistake two years ago by not getting some of those kids in the game for the first time at the Breslin," Mercier said. "I learned from that. This game was an opportunity to get those guys in, but also to get these guys (starters) some rest."
The Pirates finished their season 21-5. They were led by Colton Antes' 15 points.
North Central will face Morenci in the state championship game on Saturday. The Bulldogs upset previously-undefeated Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 53-52, in Thursday's first semifinal. Morenci is 25-2 on the season.
The NCA-Morenci game tops off at 9:00 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET) on Saturday in East Lansing. The Jets will try to win the Upper Peninsula's third basketball state championship in as many weeks, as the St. Ignace and Calumet girls both won state titles last Saturday. The Jets' game will be televised live on Fox Sports Detroit.
The NCA Jets jumped off to a 21-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and led by as many as 35 points before settling for a 71-46 win at the Breslin Center. North Central stayed undefeated with a 26-0 record and will try to win its first state title since 1984.
Adam Mercier post-game comments
Sophomore Jason Whitens led the Jets with 16 points and nine rebounds, while senior Rob Granquist added 14 points and seven boards. Morgan Cox came off the bench to chip in 12 points, six rebounds, and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line for the Jets.
Caleb Martin had eight points, and Dawson Bilski had seven points and seven rebounds.
"With Robby and Caleb (Martin) and Morgan and Dawson (Bilski) and Bobby (Kleiman) all really stepping up, and playing phenominal, it really does get me going as a player," Whitens said. "It's nice to play with this group of guys."
"That's what we expect out of him," Mercier said of Whitens. "More importantly, that's what he expects out of himself. I know he's a sophomore, but he's a very confident player. But at the same time, he's very humble. He could score mid-20's every game, but he makes other players around him better."
Rob Granquist post-game comments
"It was a great team win out there," Granquist said. "I'm getting kind of old with the 100th game. These guys make fun of me, and call me an old man because I can't stretch very good. These guys are a lot of fun to be around and we have a good time."
Fulton Coach Todd Walden admitted that his team was overwhelmed.
"This is obviously not what we intended," he said. "We ran into a buzzsaw in the first half. I don't think we played our best game tonight, but a lot of that is what Powers did to us."
"We knew they were a great outside-shooting team, 200 or some three-pointers on the season," Mercier said. "We play some teams by us that are similar, so, we had a decent scouting report on how to defend teams like that. Their guards can shoot it! I thought we forced them out, and they took some 23, 24 footers."
Mercier was able to get all eleven of his guys into the game. Two guys who have been unable to play, Troy Ekberg and Marcus Krachinski, got into the scoring column with six points and three points, respectively. Ekberg was returning from an injury while Krachinski just became eligible after transferring from Bark River-Harris. Those were Krachinski's first NCA points.
"I made a mistake two years ago by not getting some of those kids in the game for the first time at the Breslin," Mercier said. "I learned from that. This game was an opportunity to get those guys in, but also to get these guys (starters) some rest."
Jason Whitens post-game comments
North Central will face Morenci in the state championship game on Saturday. The Bulldogs upset previously-undefeated Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 53-52, in Thursday's first semifinal. Morenci is 25-2 on the season.
The NCA-Morenci game tops off at 9:00 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET) on Saturday in East Lansing. The Jets will try to win the Upper Peninsula's third basketball state championship in as many weeks, as the St. Ignace and Calumet girls both won state titles last Saturday. The Jets' game will be televised live on Fox Sports Detroit.
