Tuesday’s preps: Redford Union wins eighth straight

Fresh off clinching its first Western Wayne-Red title since 2007, Redford Union shifted focus to a visiting Melvindale team Thursday night. There was no letdown in the second-to-last regular season game as Redford Union reeled off its eighth consecutive win, 59-40.

Amir Huston led Redford Union (15-4) with 14 points, while Marcus Evans and Nahseer Cossom each scored 10.

Redford Union head coach Randall Taylor knows the importance of heading into the state playoffs with momentum.

“This was a good win for us,” Taylor said. “Our guys have been playing well of late and we just need to prepare for Thursday’s senior night against Warren Mott.”

A year ago, Mott defeated Redford Union in heartbreaking fashion, 72-71. That one-point road loss in the season finale has not been forgotten.

“It was a classic game,” Taylor said. “Our seniors want to take care of home court (on Thursday). I’m expecting our guys to come out and play hard. I think they understand the importance of protecting home court.”

Home-court advantage has been the key to Redford Union’s 15-4 season. In fact, it’s 7-0 at home with one final opportunity to finish the regular season with a perfect record.

The last time Redford Union finished the regular season undefeated was the same year it won its last WWAC-Red title and Taylor was still an assistant at the time. Now in his eighth year, he’s not content with just winning the league.

“Consistency,” Taylor said of what his team must improve. “That’s the No. 1 thing, defensively and offensively. There’s always room for improvement. We need to stay mentally focused.”

Six seniors will play their final home games for Redford Union on Thursday to end the regular season.

MORE BOYS BASKETBALL

Akiva Hebrew Day 53, Austin Catholic 31: Ethan Adler scored 15 and Yehudah Witslovsky 12 for Hebrew Day (9-5). Benjamin Brown led Austin Catholic (2-11) with 10 points.

Belleville 73, Dearborn Heights Robichaud 39: Gabe Brown scored 27, Davion Williams 12 and Kaevon Merriweather had eight points and 10 assists for Belleville (15-5). Robichaud is 5-15.

Birmingham Brother Rice 69, Detroit Denby 64: David Jabiro scored 13 and Luke Newman, James MacKenzie, Cal Ruprich and Brendan Flynn 11 each for Brother Rice (7-12). James Manfield scored 23 for Denby (11-7).

Birmingham Groves 49, Troy Athens 47: Mitchell Pitts scored 20 for Groves (9-10, 5-8 OAA White). Taylor McCaskill scored 18 for Athens (14-5, 9-4).

Clinton Township Clintondale 72, Kimball Landmark Academy 21: Corey Hines scored 16 and Darrell Walker 15 for Clintondale (11-8). Daniel Davidson led Landmark with 15 points.

Detroit Delta Prep 71, Warren Michigan Collegiate 70: Rozell Robinson scored 35 and Tarique Jones 12 for Delta Prep (8-6). Jalen Branch scored 14 and Antonio Simley 14 for Michigan Collegiate (10-8).

Detroit Mumford 86, Detroit Leadership Academy 55: Brandon Green scored 18, Demetrius Johnson 16 and Anthony Taylor Jr. 12 for Mumford (15-1).

Farmington 54, Royal Oak 48: Ray Bryant scored 19 for Farmington (12-7, 10-3 OAA Blue). Toby Adesanya scored 17 for Royal Oak (8-11, 4-9).

Harper Woods 69, Port Huron 52: Joshua Miller had 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Kan Thomas 16 points, 15 rebounds and five steals and Curtis Jackson 10 points, 12 assists and five steals and Terrell Hunter 13 points for Harper Woods (16-4).

Hazel Park 74, Troy 69: Khari Adams scored 23 and David Hearns 20 for Hazel Park (18-1, 10-1 OAA Red). Leon Ayers scored 18 and Danny Sully 15 for Troy (14-5, 7-4).

Henry Ford Academy 66, Jalen Rose Academy 12: Trevion Williams scored 21, Josh Wilson 13 and Chris Frank 11 for HFA.

Lincoln Park 59, Dearborn Edsel Ford 54: Khalid Fleming scored 19 and David Espita 14 for Lincoln Park (12-8). Jalal Baydoun had 15 points and five assists for Edsel Ford (12-8).

Macomb Dakota 69, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore 64: Ryan Rollins had 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists, Courtez Gordon 12 points and 17 rebounds and Joshua Hines 17 points for Dakota (13-6). Caleb Bates scored 28 for Lake Shore.

Marlette 48, Peck 36: Shawn Quade scored 22 and Bryce George added 12 for Marlette (9-10, 7-2 GTC East). Zac Dudley scored 17 and Cole Henley added 11 for Peck (15-4, 10-0 NCTL).

New Haven 81, Flint Beecher 70: Romeo Weems had 26 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, Ashton Sherrell 22 points and 10 rebounds, Ronald Jefferey III had 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Tavares Oliver Jr. 10 points for New Haven (20-0, 10-0 MAC Blue).

Oak Park 73, Oxford 52: Maliq Carr had 22 points and 16 rebounds, Lamont Mason 12 points and seven assists and Jeremiah Pettiway 12 points for Oak Park (16-2, 10-1 OAA White) to win the league championship. Michael Raienisch scored 19 for Oxford.

South Lyon 46, Walled Lake Northern 40: Ben Call led South Lyon (10-10, 7-9 Lakes Valley) with 21 points. Andy Millikan led Northern (12-8, 10-6) with 20 points.

Sterling Heights 42, Madison Heights Lamphere 34: Trenel Payne had 13 points and nine rebounds and Seth Ochoa 11 points for Sterling Heights (9-10).

Taylor Trillium 67, Detroit Collegiate Prep 50: Derrell Woods scored 17 and Nassan Applewhite 14 for Trillium (5-9).

BOYS HOCKEY

Birmingham Brother Rice 6, Bloomfield Hills 2: Ethan Nystrom led Brother Rice (13-12-1) with three goals and two assists in a Division 2 playoff game. Bloomfield Hills finished 12-11-2.

Division 1

Detroit U-D Jesuit 5, St. Clair Shores Lakeview 0

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 15, Waterford Mott 0

Traverse City West 5, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer 4 (OT)

More Division 2

Ada Forest Hills Eastern 9, Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills 1

Escanaba 9, Negaunee 1

Grosse Pointe South 8, Utica 0

Hartland 9, White Lake Lakeland 0

Kingsford 4, Marquette 3 (OT)

Livonia Stevenson 3, Plymouth 2

Midland Dow 5, Essexville Garber 0

Muskegon Mona Shores 5, Grand Rapids West Catholic 1

Port Huron Northern 4, New Baltimore Anchor Bay 2

South Lyon 4, Novi 3

Trenton 8, Carleton Airport 0

Division 3

Alpena 4, Gaylord 1

Big Rapids 8, Gladwin 2

Cadillac 3, Mt. Pleasant 2

Chelsea 3, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel 2

Dexter 6, Pinckney 3

East Grand Rapids 5, Grand Rapids Forest Hills 4 (OT)

Grosse Ile 3, Riverview 0

Hancock 3, Houghton 2

Jackson Lumen Christi 6, Okemos 3

Royal Oak 8, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic 0

Sault Ste Marie 8, Cheboygan 3

BOYS SKIING

At Boyne, Marquette won the Division 1 championship, followed by Traverse City Central, Rochester Adams Stoney Creek, Lakeland, Brighton, Clarkston, Forest Hills Northern Eastern, Hartland and Bloomfield Hills.

GIRLS SKIING

At Boyne, Marqutte won the Division 1 title, followed by Traverse City West, Traverse City Central, Milford, Clarkston, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Birmingham Unified, Lakeland and Walled Lake Central.

Detroit News staff contributed;

Connor Muldowney is a freelance writer.