Local Sports Journal

Two of the nation’s best high school basketball players went head-to-head in the Battle of the Best at West Bloomfield High School on Saturday night.

And, when the final buzzer sounded, the Muskegon Big Reds, led by Deyonta Davis, outlasted Saginaw Arthur Hill and its premier player, Eric Davis.

The Big Reds won 65-63 to extend their winning streak to 30 straight games.

In fact, with the game on the line, Deyonta Davis blocked a shot by Eric Davis in the lane with 1 second remaining to preserve Muskegon’s second victory of the young season.

Eric Davis, who will play college basketball at the University of Texas next year, finished with a game-high 36 points.

Deyonta Davis, who is signed to play at Michigan State, had a triple-double with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 10 blocked shots. Joeviair Kennedy added 19 points, including 12 in a pivotal third quarter in which the Big Reds battled back from a six-point halftime deficit.

Muskegon returns to action on Monday, Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame tournament at Reeths-Puffer High School. The Big Reds will take on Lansing Eastern in the second game of the evening.