Breslin Contenders D1: OLSM in search of repeat state championship

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

Record: 13-6

Starters

Trey McKenney, 6-4, Sr.
Sharod Barnes, 6-2, Sr.
Zip Hines, 5-11, Sr.
Jayden Savoury, 6-6, Sr.
Luke Crighton, 6-4, Jr.

McKenney is a virtual lock to win Mr. Basketball. The U of M commit seemingly never misses jump shots no matter how many people are guarding him. He’s also great at getting to the basket. He can play any position in the backcourt. Barnes, a Western Michigan signee, has been a bit quiet offensively this season, but he’s a great slasher and lockdown defender. Hines has enjoyed a breakout as the Eaglets’ main point guard. He has a penchant for making mid-range jumpers off the dribble. Savoury, a Michigan State football commit, has the size and skill Tom Izzo usually looks for in a two-sport college athlete.

Bench

Quincy Wright, 6-8, So.
Peyton Kemp, 6-1, So.
Mateen Cleaves, 6-3, Fr.

Three young, D1 prospects off the bench is a luxury most teams just don’t have in Michigan. Kemp has started to come around, slowly gaining confidence after a litany of injuries. He could be a key player down the stretch.

Injured

NA

Key Wins

Avondale, Rockford, Wayne Memorial, Brother Rice

Road to the Breslin

OLSM has a relatively soft road to the Breslin. They should breeze through the district, where a matchup against Grand Blanc or Oxford awaits in the regional semifinal. Next, the Eaglets would likely face Avondale, Clarkston or Waterford Mott in the regional final. The quarterfinal would likely pit the defending state champs against Port Huron Northern, underachieving conference foe Warren De La Salle or Chippewa Valley. In short, if McKenney is on the court, this team will almost certainly be in East Lansing next month for the third straight year.