HOOPS: Sexton vs. Cass Tech

**Denzel Valentine gets ready to throw down a dunk**
**Cass Tech's Shannon Williams**
**Sexton's Nate Duhon**

**Daniel Bellany pulls down a rebound**

Southfield- Lansing Sexton and Detroit Cass Tech hooked up for the third game of the Mr. Basketball Holiday Classic at Southfield High School. This game turned into a low scoring defensive battle between two physical teams. Cass Tech held a 8-6 lead after one quarter and a 22-10 edge at halftime.

Sexton went on a 7-0 run midway through the third quarter and a 3-pointer from Denzel Valentine trimmed the lead to 23-21. Cass Tech's Shannon Williams responded with a dunk to keep the lead with his team. The two teams went back and fourth for the remainder of the game and Sexton stayed within two to three points down the stretch.

Two free throws from Jordan Howenstine made the score 45-46 with 27 seconds to play. Chris George made a free throw on the other end leaving Sexton with only 0.2 on the clock to take a 49-47 win.

BREAKDOWN: this was a slug fest especially in the final minutes, neither team could get into any kind of rhythm which made it a low scoring game.

PLAYER OF GAME: Chris George, Cass, 6-1 guard- led Cass with 16 points and 8 assist. Was clutch down the stretch at the free throw line.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Shannon Williams, Cass, 6-7 fwd- one of the top forwards for his class, plays hard on both ends and has some nice moves with the ball. Chipped in with 9 points and 10 rebounds.

Denzel Valentine, Sexton, 6-4 wing- stepped up for his team and didn't play like a freshman, had 14 points to go with 7 rebounds. Also had the play of the day went he split a double team and went right into the paint for a one handed slam that blew the roof off of the gym.

Nate Duhon, Sexton, 6-0 guard- Duhon is lightning quick and gets up and down the floor in a blink of an eye. He struggled to get shots to fall against Cass but had 28 points in Sexton's first win.