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Winston takes charges, U-D runs past East English, 92-76
Detroit – Operation Friendship was another game where Cassius Winston was able to showcase his and his team’s dominance.
The Cubs (20-0) ended the regular season where they started – at the top.
Winston, the leading candidate for the Mr. Basketball award, had 30 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as U-D Jesuit won the city championship by defeating Detroit Public School League champion Detroit East English Village Prep, 92-76, at the Matthaei Center on the campus of Wayne State University.
“I was just able to calm down and get into a rhythm as the game went on,” Winston said.
The game started off at a high paced as both teams turned the ball over frequently. Winston was held to four points after the first quarter and Karmari Newman had five points for East English (16-4).
East English came into this game wanting to make Winston work and keep the ball out of his hands.
It didn’t work. The Cubs took a 21-14 lead after the first quarter.
Winston said that they knew what East English’s game plan was going to be coming into this game.
“We knew that East English was going to come out the gate pressing and we wanted to do our best to break it,” Winston said.
An intense defense and key baskets for East English allowed the Bulldogs to tie the game multiple times during the second quarter.
The Cubs led 34-30 at halftime with Winston leading the way with nine points, five rebounds and five assists. East English center Cedrick Lattimore had 10 points and five rebounds in the first 16 minutes.
East English started to show some life in the second half as Lattimore and Newman delivered and the Bulldogs took their first lead, 37-36.
The game was back in forth as both teams traded baskets in the third before Newman went to the bench with four fouls.
U-D’s Scott Nelson helped the Cubs go on a 10-0 run late in the third with back-to-back 3-pointers.
“I was getting open looks and my teammates were able to find me,” Nelson said. “I was feeling confident in my shot.”
East English was in foul trouble during the second half as Jaylin McFadden picked up his fourth foul in the third.
The Cubs (20-0) ended the third on a 12-0 run and didn’t look back.
The Cubs started the fourth on a 17-0 run and Scott Nelson continued to shoot well from behind the arc.
“Our offense stepped it up especially during the second half and that really boosted our confidence,” said Winston.
The Cubs were able to capture Operation Friendship after to losing to Detroit Western in the championship game last year.
Nelson scored 20 points, Gregory Eboigbodin added 11 points and Ike Eke had 10.
Greg Elliott scored 22 points for East English and Newman, a Mr. Basketball candidate, scored 17 points and Lattimore added 16 points.
