Local Sports Journal
Though it’s good to get contributions from all sorts of places on the roster, Muskegon boys head coach Keith Guy has said that you have to get production, well, where you can get it.
He got plenty of production from junior center Deyonta Davis, who ruled the floor, putting up an incredible stat line with 17 points, 16 blocks and, get this, 27 rebounds.
Amazingly, Muskegon senior guard Deshaun Thrower also finished with a triple-double with 17 points, 10 boards and 10 assists.
Junior forward Joeviair Kennedy added 15 points in the victory.
The game was a test Guy designed himself.
Friday night, his Big Red boys team traveled to rival Mona Shores to faceoff on the Sailors’ home floor.
Muskegon came away with a decisive 69-39 victory.
Then Saturday awaited mighty Mt. Clemens, the top-ranked team in Class C that’s rated third in all classes.
It was a tough test Guy intended to familiarize his team with the state tournament’s back-to-back game format.
“We try to set these games where, if we’re talking about making a tournament run, if we’re fortunate enough to make a tournament run and fortunate enough to make it to the semifinals, we’d play semifinals on Friday and finals on Saturday,” he explained. “This will be a similar set up. I’m not saying we will get there. I just want put us in different situations just in case it happens.”
You could probably say the Big Reds passed the test with flying colors versus the Battling Bathers (yes, that’s really their mascot), posting a 19-11 second quarter which proved to be enough for the win.
Tied 16-all after one, the Big Reds did damage in the second quarter and led 35-27 at the break.
From there, the Big Reds held off Mt. Clemens to get the win.
Senior guards William Roberson and Jordan Waire added seven apiece for Muskegon.
Josh McFolley led Mt. Clemens with 13 points and teammate Davonte Brando added 11 for the Battling Bathers.
Congratulations Big Reds!
Now about that nickname…
The mineral baths of Mt. Clemens were once world famous. According to period advertisements, the area’s sulphur-rich waters could cure a host of ailments, and over the years the city’s bathhouses attracted a variety of celebrities and sports luminaries including Hollywood stars Clark Gable, Mae West and Eddie Cantor, boxing’s Jack Dempsey and baseball’s Babe Ruth.
According to former athletic director Richard Chapman, the school’s nickname, "Battling Bathers" dates to the 1920s. "It started when we played a Bay City school in football," Chapman was quoted as saying in an Associated Press article in 1974. "They were ranked No. 1 in the State and we weren’t supposed to have a chance, but we lost only 6-0. The Bay City coach said, ‘Those battling bathers put up quite a fight.’ The quote was publicized, and the name stuck."
For more on Michigan High School team nicknames, check out the following:
http://peschstats.blogspot.com/2009/11/whats-in-nickname-best-of-michigan-prep.html
^ Coolest thing ever!