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BOYS BASKETBALL: Pershing and Cass Tech both cruise to easy wins in the first round of districts
DETROIT – Martez Walker hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in last year’s district finals to defeat Cass Tech, 78-76;sending the Doughboys on to the next round, instead of the Technicians.
Many are predicting the two teams to meet up again in this year’s district final on Friday at Western High, but first they had to take care of business on Monday night.
Cody arrived late for its game against Pershing and it seemed like the Doughboys made them pay for it, cruising to an 88-63 win.
Pershing (19-2) never trailed in this one, jumping off to a ll aaas 24-9 lead after one. Justin Tillman had just as many points by himself in the first, with 8.
He finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks.
The story of this game was Pershing bench. Head coach Wydell Henry played 14 of his players, something he rarely, if ever does. The starters combined for 42 points, with Mory Diane chipping in 8.
The Doughboys bench poured in 46 points, led by freshman Patrick Hatcher’s 11. Junior Kharon Dorsey added 9 of his own.
Eric Hayes led Cody with 18, who saw there season come to an end.
Cass Tech (15-5) got off to a bit of a slow start against Hamtramck, scoring only 13 points in the first. But they soon picked things up in the second.
Rob Edwards’ basket with 4:24 left in the second made it 21-13 Cass Tech, then a 3-pointer by Edwards just a few minutes later made it 28-16.
Edwards finished with 15 points off the bench. Seniors Mike Laster and Kenny Carpenter also dropped 15 points a piece to lead Cass Tech.
Like Pershing’s bench, Cass Tech’s reserves also saw significant time in their 88-63 win;scoring 31 of the team’s total points.
Aaron Boyer got off to a fast start for Hamtramck with 11 points at the half, but only finished with 2 in the second half to lead the Cosmos.
Pershing and Cass Tech will move on to the next round of districts on Wednesday. Pershing plays Western at 4 pm, and Cass Tech has King at 6 pm.
If they both get past those teams, there will be a rematch of last year’s district final on Friday.
