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Top games: King-Cass Tech to play for more than the PSL championship; coaches, players must display good sportsmanship
Detroit – Few games have had more distractions in the days leading up to it than Friday’s Detroit Public School League championship game.
Detroit King (8-0) will play Detroit Cass Tech (7-1) for the second time this season at Ford Field at 7 p.m.
No need to rehash what took place last Friday after the King-Detroit Cody game or the decision to cancel the title game only to have that decision overturned.
Whatever one’s opinion is on whether the game should be played or not, or whether Cody should be allowed to play or not, focusing on the game that will be played, the important question to be answered now is what players from King will receive a one-game suspension for fighting.
Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher addressed this on Tuesday with this remark to State Champs.
“I hope that Detroit Public Schools makes the right decision on who’s going to play and who’s not going to play (as a result of the fight),” Wilcher said.
A number of high-profile players from King were involved. Most of the players from King were not directly involved in the fight. Many of these, let’s call them bystanders, watched and followed the numerous outbreaks that took place, perhaps supporting their teammates or maybe they were just curious.
An added twist to Friday’s game is how the game will be officiated. Will we see more penalties called? With what took place during and after the King-Cody game will there be a ripple effect? To avoid any more altercations coaches from both teams must address what is potentially a volatile situation and implore their players to contain their emotions and play a clean game. Pick: Cass Tech by 2.
Dearborn Fordson (5-3) at Monroe (4-4): Monroe has not played a team more times than it has Fordson. Fordson leads the series 42-24. These teams were once rivals in the Border Cities, the Great Lakes 8, the Wolverine-A and the Mega Red Division. Pick: Monroe by 2.
Hudsonville (6-2) at Rockford (5-3): These teams have played four times in the previous two seasons. Rockford won during the regular season, Hudsonville in the playoffs. Go with the trend. Pick: Rockford by 1.
Lansing Catholic Central (7-1) at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (8-0): Here are teams that reached a state final last season. St. Mary C.C. won Division 6, Lansing C.C. lost in the Division 5. St. Mary C.C. has played one close game this season (14-12 over Riverview). Lansing C.C. has played one bad game (28-6 loss to Portland). Pick: St. Mary C.C. by 3.
Lincoln Park (5-3) at Gibraltar Carlson (5-3): Carlson has won eight straight in this series and hasn’t lost to Lincoln Park since 1992. Lincoln Park has found a way to win games in the fourth quarter this season. Pick: Lincoln Park by 4.
Marine City (5-3) at Warren Cousino (5-3): Three times this season Cousino has scored fewer than 28 points and it lost all three. Marine City’s losses have come by one, five and six points. The last time marine City didn’t make the playoffs (1997) it finished 5-4. Pick: Marine City by 3.
Novi (4-4) at Howell (5-3): Novi’s playoff chances appeared hopeless after its 0-3 start. Howell appeared to be a lock after a 5-1 start. Fortunes have changed since. The Wildcats have the second highest playoff point average (54.500) of any 4-4 team and appear to playoff team if they can win here. Pick: Novi by 3.
Ortonville Brandon (5-3) at Holly (5-3): Brandon could concentrate on its spread offense or the wing-T, depending on what Holly does defensively. What will likely decide this game is how well Brandon defends Holly’s rushing attack. Holly has won three of the last five in this series. Pick: Holly by 2.
Southfield (5-3) at Troy Athens (5-3): Southfield took a beating last week as Oak Park wore the Bluejays down (50-14). Athens has played well defensively but the Red Hawks’ victories have all come against teams with sub.-500 records. Pick: Southfield by 6.
Saturday’s game
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (6-1) vs. Warren De La Salle (6-2) at Ford Field, 7: De La Salle won the first game, at St. Mary’s, 31-8. De La Salle shut down the running game then and if it can do it once, it can do it again. Pick: De La Salle by 7.
Last week’s record: 7-3.
Season record: 56-24.
