Schoolcraft Goes 2-0 In Roundball Classic

FLINT, Mi -  The Schoolcraft Ocelots men's basketball team traveled to Mott Community College to take part in the 2023 Roundball Classic. The Ocelots were scheduled to compete against Muskegon Community College and Alpena Community College.

On Friday, December 15, the Ocelots squared off against the Jayhawks from Muskegon Community College looking to bounce back from a buzzer beater loss a week before. Schoolcraft would come out of the tip hot. Over the first 80 seconds of play, Schoolcraft would jump put to a 7-0 lead before Muskegon would get on the board. The Ocelots would not let that lead falter as Schoolcraft would lead for the whole 40 minutes of play. It was a true bounce back effort for the Ocelots as there were no extended periods of time without a basket that we have seen before to let Muskegon back in the game. 2 made free-throws at the end of the 1^st half by Daniel Lee would let the Ocelots go into halftime leading 43-32. Defense would be key in the 2^nd half to not let the Jayhawks back into the game and the Ocelots were up for the challenge. Muskegon would only score 25 points in the 2^nd half on just 26.5% from the field. Schoolcraft would earn their 3^rd win of the season led by Daniel Lee with 25 points. Mackhi Jackson (16) and Ashton Henderson (13) would join Lee in double figures. Keon Henderson would lead the team with 3 assists and Ashton Henderson would lead the team with 14 rebounds.

Schoolcraft would look to make it a 2-0 record at the Roundball on Saturday, December 16, against Alpena. For the first couple of minutes, it would be a back and fourth contest. Alpena would tie the game at 5 with 17:09 left in the first half, over the next 3 minutes, Schoolcraft would go on a 9-0 run to push their lead to 14-5. Schoolcraft would ride that lead out for the rest of the half going into the break leading 39-27. Alpena would not back down but the Ocelot offense was right there with the Lumberjacks. Alpena would shoot 42.4% from the field on their way to 39 2^nd half points but the Schoolcraft offense would sink 16 free throws on their way to 37 2^nd half points. After the full 40 minutes of play, it was Schoolcraft getting their second win in a row by a score of 76-66. Daniel Lee would lead Schoolcraft in points, again, with 28 points. Mackhi Jackson would be the only other Ocelot in double figures with 17 points. Lee would gather a team high 12 rebounds on his way to a double-double. Jackson and Amare Stevens would tie for the team lead with 3 assists.

Schoolcraft looks to make is 3 wins in a row as they travel to Edison State on Tuesday, December 19, with tip-off at 7:30PM.