HOLT — As the East Lansing boys basketball team chases a second straight state title, coach Ray Mitchell knows it will need to play together as a team.
Mitchell didn’t quite see that Friday, Jan. 9, in a CAAC Blue test against Holt.
But the Division 1 top-ranked Trojans managed to prevail to stay unbeaten ahead of a big showdown against Rockford on Jan. 10.
KJ Torbert had 26 points to lead East Lansing to a 61-47 win over Holt. Kingston Thomas had 19 points and Kellen Lott had seven rebounds, six steals and five assists for the Trojans (10-0, 5-0).
“We just have to do a better job as a team of executing and understanding game plan,” Mitchell said. “Holt came out and played hard and played tough and I think they outworked us. We’ve just got to do a better job of playing good team basketball.”
Kaevion Wilson had 13 points and Michael Aimery scored 11 points to lead Holt (7-4, 3-3).
EASTERN 54, ST. JOHNS 51
Down nine at halftime, the Quakers came back strong in the second half to pick up the CAAC Red home victory over St. Johns. Raul Romero scored a team-high 17 points, Ian Curtis finished with 13 points and Isaiah Canty tacked on 12 for Eastern (5-4, 3-1). Hunter Kinkema notched a team-high 17 points and Bryce Pratl added 12 for the Redwings (6-3, 2-2).
WILLIAMSTON 44, HASLETT 40
HASLETT — Tommy Pratt led the Hornets with a team-best 13 points in a CAAC Red win over Haslett (4-5, 1-3). Brett Palmer scored 11 points, Zach Kulesza tallied nine points and Jacob Martin chipped in eight points for Williamston (5-4, 3-1).
MASON 70, FOWLERVILLE 38
MASON — Luke Goss led all scorers with 18 points to help guide the Bulldogs to a CAAC Red home victory over Fowlerville. Layken Johnson tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Mason Dowdy tacked on 10 points for Mason (4-5, 3-1). Tyler Ray scored a team-best 10 points for the Gladiators (2-7, 0-4). JV score: Mason d. Fowlerville
LAINGSBURG 52, LANSING CHRISTIAN 36
A 16-8 run in the third quarter helped the Wolfpack pull away and secure the CMAC road victory over Lansing Christian. Leandro Dolega-Caceres scored a team-high nine points and Everett Rodriquez chipped in eight points for Laingsburg (4-5, 4-3). Noah Bruno led all scorers with 14 points for the Pilgrims (2-6, 0-6). JV score: Laingsburg d. Lansing Christian
PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA 60, DANSVILLE 15
DANSVILLE — Grady Eklund scored a team-high 12 points to lead the Pirates to a CMAC road win over Dansville. Cam Nurenberg tallied 10 points, Luke Martin had eight points and Ty Thelen chipped in seven points for Pewamo-Westphalia (7-1, 7-0). Mayson Burgett finished with a team-best nine points for the Aggies (2-7, 1-5).
ALMA 68, BRIDGEPORT 43
BRIDGEPORT — Penn Seeley had 22 points,, five rebounds and three steals and Koby Shunk had 21 points and eight rebounds to lead the Panthers to a TVC Red win over Bridgeport. Treyshon Oglesby had 12 points and five rebounds for Alma (7-3, 2-1).
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Boys basketball roundup: East Lansing, Eastern, Williamston earn league wins
Reporting by Matthew Pike and Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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