Flint Carman-Ainsworth wins third game of The D Zone Rising Teams Classic against Mona Shores

AUBURN HILLS - Flint Carman-Ainsworth won the third game of The D Zone Rising Teams Tip-off Classic, coming from behind to defeat Mona Shores 70-64 at Avondale.

The two teams went back and forth trading blows like prized fighters, with Carman-Ainsworth delivering the final blow despite entering the fourth quarter trailing by four points.

Both teams should be fun to watch as the season progresses, and they will ultimately be tough outs in the tournament.

Carman-Ainsworth MVP: Deuce Weston, 5-10 Sr.

The heart and soul of the team leads with fearlessness and poise. He scored 17 points and ran the offense in a physical game. Weston hit some 3-pointers, scored at the basket and knocked down his free throws. It was a near-flawless performance by a player who looks primed to play at the next level.

Mona Shores MVP: Jonathan Pittman, 6-4 Sr.

A physical specimen, Pittman was nearly unstoppable once he reached the second level of the defense. Big and burly, Pittman has nice all-around skills and is tough on defense. He scored 19 points and gave everything he had against some of Flint’s talented front-court players.

Team Analysis:

Carman-Ainsworth

I was pleasantly surprised with this team. They featured great players at every level. Weston was fantastic running the show, but shooting guard Raphael Murphy (6-1) was also hot from beyond the arc, finishing with 22 points. He hit some clutch free throws down the stretch. Forward “Hawk” Hamlin woke up the crowd with a rim-shattering dunk. He fought all game, finishing with 13 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Center Kendreyas White (6-6) flashed tremendous upside with unique versatility and solid post moves. He was reliable in the paint, finishing with 11 points.

Mona Shores

The Sailors are a must-watch. Let’s get that out of the way. The Muskegon area has a ton of basketball talent. Mona Shores has a very balanced scoring attack, often led by future college point guard Jordan Bledose (6-0), who finished the game with 13 points. Junior forward Milo Barangan (6-6) is a superstar. He’s a lanky wing with long arms and a great 3-point shot. He’s crafty around the rim and willing to battle in the paint. He finished with 11 points. Pittman’s physicality makes this team hard to defend. Landyn Smith (6-6) is another long, athletic forward who helps with his versatility on both ends of the court. Ryan Opsommer (6-2) is a junior shooting with upside who battled foul trouble in this game.