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Making One Last Impression – Current KLAA Cage Scene Looking To Go Out With Bang
(PHOTO CREDIT: David Donoher)
In its last boys basketball season in its current form, the KLAA (Kensington Lakes Activities Association) could be making some serious noise in the Class A state tournament. The KLAA’s overall champ Wayne Memorial (17-3) appears primed for a long run. The Zebras have a doozy of a 1-2 punch in senior wing Keion Epps (Eastern Michigan) and junior guard Rashad Williams. They rallied to top Walled Lake Central for the KLAA title Thursday night on the road 47-44.
Central (14-6) is powered by senior combo guard Nako Ziegler, who emerged as a genuine star this winter, able to drop 25 in the blink of an eye. He pumped in 24 points against a swarming and athletic Wayne Memorial defense Thursday. The Vikings have won two straight districts. In 2015, Central went to the program’s second-ever “elite eight.”
Anchored by Christian Agnew and Joe Moon, Westland John Glenn was probably the second-best team in the KLAA this year. Glenn (17-3) clipped Walled Lake Western 63-58 in the KLAA consolation game Thursday, like arch-rival Memorial, staging a fourth-quarter comeback to come out ahead behind Agnew’s 20 points. Western (14-6) is potentially dangerous in the tourney too – the Warriors have one of the area’s most lethal offensive weapons in Delano Smith, who scored 24 points in the loss to Glenn.
Novi (14-6), Canton (13-7) and Walled Lake Northern (14-6) can’t be overlooked either. Explosive guard
Traveon Maddox makes the grade for Novi. Canton, winners of the KLAA last season under Jimmy “Always Ready” Reddy, are, yeah you guessed it, ALWAYS ready for battle. Northern’s 14 victories is a program record and has junior sparkplug Jalen Kelso at the helm of its offense.
