Saginaw Heritage boys basketball team survives late push in 66-63 victory over Saginaw Arthur Hill

The Saginaw Heritage H.S. (4-4) boys basketball team withstood a late fourth quarter push by visiting Saginaw Arthur Hill H.S. (0-5) before eventually holding off the Lumberjacks for a 66-63 victory inside the Heritage gym tonight. 

 

Trailing Heritage the entire night, Arthur Hill made a late run when junior guard Reggie Williams drained two free throws, cutting the Hawks' lead to 55-53 with 3:18 left in the game, before the Lumberjacks quickly regained possession, as senior Aaron Collins drained a three-pointer, and was fouled on the shot, however, the referee awarded Collins an additional two free throw attempts on the play, and Collins drained both for a 5-point swing, giving the Lumberjacks a 58-55 lead. 

 

The Hawks responded with a 3-pointer from senior Jacoby McLaurin and Heritage stole the ensuing inbound pass, leading to a quick basket from HHS junior Brian Booker, completing a 5-point swing for the Hawks, who took a 60-58 lead with just under 3-minutes left in the game. 

 

Heritage had managed to set the tone in the first quarter, led by 6-foot-2 senior Justin McMurren, who dominated the boards with 7-early rebounds and 6-first quarter points, along with junior guard Luke Telder who was 4 of 6 from the free throw line, helping the Hawks to a 15-11 first quarter lead. 

 

Arthur Hill senior guard Freddy Johnson III kept the Lumberjacks close in the second quarter, draining two 3-pointers, however, Heritage would hold serve, thanks to 6-foot-5 junior big man Keith McGregor, who poured in 6-second quarter points for the Hawks to take a 29-27 lead into halftime.

 

Heritage 6-foot-3 swingman Alex Day came off the bench to score 7-third quarter points for the Hawks, who continued to hold a slim lead (45-41) after three quarters of play, heading into an exciting fourth quarter finish.  

 

Williams led the Lumberjacks with 16-points, including 9-points in the fourth quarter, where he also made all four of his free throws, while Johnson III followed with 15-points for the Lumberjacks. Collins had 12-points, including 8 in the fourth quarter, where he was also 5 of 6 from the free throw line, while senior Bert Brown Jr. added 9-points and 6-rebounds for the Hill. 

 

Ten different players scored for Heritage tonight, led by McMurren, who finished with a double-double, scoring 11-points, while grabbing 14-rebounds, followed by Booker Jr. with 13-points, who was 3 for 4 from the free throw line, and (Alex) Day, who finished with 9-points off the bench for the Hawks. 

 

Telder scored all 8 of his points from the free throw line, going 8 of 12 from the charity stripe, followed by McGregor, who also finished with 8-points, while grabbing 5-rebounds, along with sophomore Cade Beall, who came off the bench to score 6-points. 

 

Heritage senior Majestik Dudley scored 3-points, adding 3-rebounds and 3-assists, while McLaurin and senior Kelan Johnson each finished with 3-points apiece respectively. Freshman Parker Day, chipped in with 2-points and grabbed 6-rebounds to round out the Hawks' scoring. 

 

Arthur Hill will head to Bay City John Glenn on Jan. 12, for a 7 pm tip-off inside the John Glenn gym this Friday, while Heritage prepares for a road game on the same night against Flint Powers H.S., which is also set to tip-off at 7 pm this weekend.