By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – It was a hot shooting Indiana East boys basketball team that came away with a big 112-78 Sports Fest championship win Friday night at the Weikamp Center on the campus of Bethel College.
Five East players scored 14 or more points in the contest with Derek Johnson hitting a team high 16, Justin Yoder, the games MVP, along with Steve Tillman, and Josh Robinson each dropped in 15 and Aaron McDowell added 14.
Michigan was 24 points down, 58-24, at the half and couldn't cut into the lead as the red-hot shooting East team would not be denied the championship title.
"I thought that they (Indiana) were the more aggressive team in the first half," Michigan coach Josh Hood of Cassopolis said of the Michigan teams play. "We kind of settled for jump shots like we did at the start and we made one in the first half you're not going to win many games hitting just one jump shot. Give them credit they were bigger and more physical and played a good game."
Brad Guinane (St. Joseph) scored a team and game high 19 points for Michigan but could only get one other player, Ryan Ross (11 points), to tally double digits in the game.
"This was only the second time (Wednesday) that a Michigan has won here in the five years. It's an accomplishment for us to come in here and win a game. I'm pretty proud of the kids and thought they did a good job competing and I thought our kids came out and gave them all they wanted," Hood said.
MICHIGAN 78
Tyler Nichols 2 1-2 5, Jordan Parks 1 0-0 3, Ryan Ross 3 5-5 11, Brad Guinane 8 2-2 19, Marquis Hall 1 2-2 4, Kris Morgan 2 0-0 5, Matt Demler 4 1-3 9, Billy Bussey 3 0-0 6, Troy Peter 2 1-2 7, Randolph Shaw 4 1-2 9. Totals: 30 13-18 78
INDIANA EAST 112
ustin Yoder 6 0-0 15, Cam Snyder 2 2-2 6, Josh Robinson 4 6-7 15, Aaron Griffey 3 1-2 7, Shane Salyer 3 2-4 8, Derrick Troyer 3 1-2 7, Aaron McDowell 7 0-0 14, Steve Tillman 6 2-4 15, Derek Johnson 8 0-0 16, Taylor Aspy 2 5-5 9. Totals: 44 19-26 112
Halftime score: East 58, Michigan 34. 3-point goals: Michigan 5 (Peter 2, Parks, Guinane, Morgan), East 5 (Yoder 3, Robinson, Tillman). Total fouls: Michigan 17, East 15. Shooting: Michigan 30-of-72 (42 percent), East 44-of-83 (53 percent). Rebounds: Michigan 32 (Shaw 7), East 48 (Tillman 8). Assists: Michigan 23 (Peter 7), East 29 (Troyer 5). Steals: Michigan 8 (Peter 3), East 28 (Robinson 5, Troyer 5). Turnovers: Michigan 24, East 17. Officials: Mark Berger, Rod Creech, Jeff Nix.