Benton Harbor vs. Saginaw High – 10 Best
#GOTTAGETIT Hoop Classic at Grand Blanc High School: Benton Harbor 79, Saginaw High 70 Game four of the #GOTTAGETIT Hoop Classic was arguably the most anticipated matchup of the night, and it did not disappoint. Benton Harbor and Saginaw High…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading#GOTTAGETIT Hoop Classic at Grand Blanc High School: Benton Harbor 79, Saginaw High 70
Game four of the #GOTTAGETIT Hoop Classic was arguably the most anticipated matchup of the night, and it did not disappoint. Benton Harbor and Saginaw High exchanged blows before the Tigers pulled away late in the fourth quarter for the win. The victory helped the defending Class B State Champs raise their record to 10-0 on the year.
The Trojans flexed their muscles early on, starting the game with an 8-0 run. Freddie McIntosh capped off the opening frame with a deep three as time expired, sending Saginaw into the second with a solid 24-17 lead. McIntosh, with the help of SirReal Smith, was able to maintain that lead heading into the break. McIntosh and Smith had 11 and 10 points in the half, helping their squad to a 35-30 advantage at half.
That first half was all it took to light a fire under Benton Harbor’s Carlos “Scooby” Johnson, the #1 prospect in the state of Michigan for 2020, according to PrepHoops.
Johnson went off, scoring 20 of this teams 24 points in the third – which included four impressive buckets from beyond the arc. He continued to dazzle in the fourth, taking advantage of Saginaw (7-2) turnovers and helping Benton Harbor outscore the Trojans 25-16 in the final frame.
MVP: Carlos Johnson (2021) – Benton Harbor
This one was a no-brainer, considering the fact that Johnson netted a game-high 39 points and earned the game’s MVP honors in the winning effort. He also hauled in 12 rebounds for the night.
Plain and simple – Johnson is a beast. The 6’6 junior proved there isn’t much he can’t do, showcasing his ability to shoot, rebound, score in the paint and handle the rock. His domination in the third quarter had to go down as the most impressive performance of the day, scoring 20 of his 37 and 20 of the teams 24 points.
Best Offensive Performance: Freddie McIntosh (2020) – Saginaw
McIntosh impressed on both ends of the floor Saturday night, helping the Trojans race out to an early lead. The junior guard tallied 21 points and eight assists in the loss, but proved that he’s a triple threat by knocking down several big shots in the second half and tossing up flashy layups after slicing his way into the paint.
Best Intangibles: Quindarius Davis (2020) – Benton Harbor
Make no doubt about it, it was Carlos Johnson’s show on Saturday night. But there were several other Tigers who made lasting impressions on the fans in attendance. Davis was one of those teammates, tallying nine points in the win and picking up the pieces of Benton Harbor’s offense when the Saginaw defense was too much for Johnson. He was also one of the standout players on the defensive end of the floor. However, it was Jamon Walker (2020) who earned the Defensive Player of the Game award. With many eyes turned towards Saginaw’s SirReal Smith, Walker made the Trojan offense look elsewhere, limiting Smith to 11 points. Walker also forced several key turnovers down the stretch that helped end all chances at a Saginaw victory.
Under the Radar: Koby Barnett (2019) – Saginaw
Barnett was one of Saginaw’s leading scorers on Saturday night, hanging 18 points in the loss. But with players like McIntosh and Smith, it came somewhat unexpectedly. Barnett’s ability to knock down the mid-range jumper and score in the paint created a nice fold within the Trojan’s offense. Highlighting Barnett’s well-rounded game is his presence on the defensive end of the floor. He constantly altered shots, snagged big rebounds and created issues at the rim for Benton Harbor attackers.
Name to Know: Chris Conway (2019) – Benton Harbor
Conway and Barnett’s games were near mirror-images of each other on Saturday night. The 6’7 wing perfectly complimented Johnson’s skill-set and kept Benton Harbor’s offense afloat when the Tiger star was being swarmed by Saginaw’s pesky guards. Conway netted 13 points in the win and knocked down crucial buckets in the final minutes of the night, helping put the Trojans away for good.
Star Sighting
Among those inside Grand Blanc’s packed gymnasium were Flint natives Glenn Rice and Mateen Cleaves. The two former college basketball stars spent some time together in between games and also took time to chat with fans in passing.
Rice, a graduate of Flint Northwestern High School, played for the University of Michigan from 1985-1989 where he became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,442 points – a record that still stands. He also led the Wolverines to a 1989 NCAA National Championship before being drafted in the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat. Rice played in the league from 1989 to 2004.
Cleaves was a graduate of Flint Northern High School who led Michigan State University to an NCAA National Championship in 2000 and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four that year. Both Cleaves and Rice have their numbers retired with their respective universities.
Story to Watch
With players like McIntosh and Barnett building names for themselves as the season progresses, how will SirReal Smith’s junior season shake out? Smith was picked by many to lead this year’s squad deep into the playoffs. But, with a target on his back, Saginaw has turned more into a three-headed monster more than a one-man show. Can they continue to co-exist and add marks into the Trojans win column?
Play of the Game
Benton Harbor’s Justin Brown (2019) threw down a rim-rocking dunk that got fans out of their seats with two minutes left in the game. The slam capped off a Tiger rally and put Saginaw away for good, forcing the Trojans to call a timeout down 72-63.
Uniform Watch
Both schools were fitted out nicely – Benton Harbor in their sleek black Nike uniforms with orange highlights and Saginaw fitted in their all-yellow uni’s from Moneyball. Thanks to the talent, the crowd and the uniforms on both sides of the floor – this game provided many of the feelings that come with a college contest.