- Michigan
FIVE FOR FIGHTING: Burney’s top 5 MHSAA scoring efforts of the modern era on the boys hardwood
In honor of the recent high-scoring games by Houghton’s Brad Simonsen (63 in OT loss vs. Ishpeming on Feb. 4), Mt. Clemens’ Javaughn Hannah (60 vs. Pontiac A&T on Feb. 4) and Ypsilanti Lincoln’s Emoni Bates, Burney gives you his top five scoring performances of the modern era of boys basketball in Michigan:
1 Larry Fogle (Detroit Cooley) — Hit for 73 points in February 1972 in a PSL showdown vs. Detroit Cody.
Greatest scorer in PSL history, led the NCAA in scoring at Canisius
2 Emoni Bates (Ypsilanti Lincoln) — Busted loose for 63 points and 21 boards in an overtime dub verses Chelsea last Tuesday.
Could end up being the best player in the state has ever seen.
3 Anton Phillips (Glen Arbor-Leelanau) — Had a mind-blowing 84 points in a game against Freesoil in February 1989.
Crazy small-school scoring machine.
4 Malik Ellison (Flint Beecher) — Dotted the scorebook for 63 points against New Haven in February 2017.
Flintstone FIRE!!
5 (tie) Sam Vincent (Lansing Eastern) — Went into the zone and torched the nets for 61 points versus Lansing Waverly in December 1980.
Future NBA stalwart who is the only Mr. Basketball winner on this list.
5 (tie) Greg Grays (Southfield-Lathrup) — Went across the border to Buckeyeland in January 1997 and tore up Toledo Scott for 60 points.
Brought the pain every time he stepped foot on the court, played in the Big Ten at Penn State.
HONORABLE MENTION: Detroit Pershing all-time great Keith Appling wowed the Breslin Center by going for a 49 ball in the 2009 Class A state finals and taking the Doughboys to the crown.
