Muskegon wins overtime thriller over East Lansing at The D Zone Invitational

CLARKSTON - Muskegon survived an overtime thriller between two top-10 teams Saturday at The D Zone Invitational, defeating East Lansing 69-65 at Clarkston.

The game was chippy. Both teams were physical on both ends of the court. I thought Muskegon was going to have to put head coach Keith Guy in the game the way free throws were flying for East Lansing, but the Big Reds persevered.

Matchups like this early in the season are what make Michigan high school basketball so special.

East Lansing MVP: K.J Torbert (6-2)

Torbert is a high-major D1 recruit as a point guard with elite scoring ability. He’s a smooth athlete who plays well above the rim and knocks down 3-pointers with regularity. Still just a junior, he should be nationally ranked by the time he graduates high school and might be in a fierce battle with Northview’s Cam Ryans for Mr. Basketball next year.

Muskegon MVP: Darryl Thompkins Jr. (5-10)

Thompkins looks like he’s found his home - now in his third school. The patient point guard has the ball on a string and has shown an increased ability to score off the bounce and hit 3-pointers. Thompkins hit a clutch 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. He finished with 12 points, but made an impact in so many ways it’s impossible to count.

Team Analysis:

East Lansing

We all know East Lansing by now. Torbert is a star, Cam Hutson (6-5) a Saint Louis recruit, has a busted flipper (a heavily-taped shooting hand/wrist) but he still poured in 17 points. JL Branson returned to the lineup and made an immediate impact with his athleticism and defense. Sophomore Kingston Thomas (6-4) is a superstar in the making as a long wing with a nice shot and great athleticism. This team has the pieces to win a state title, but they need to get better at winning close games against top teams.

Muskegon

Always well coached, this Muskegon team has a lot of fight in it. The Big Reds are deep, talented and hungry to make another Breslin Center run. Keashawn Johnson (6-4), a Ferris State commit, led the team with 22 points, showcasing an impressive array of skills. He is among the most versatile scorers in the state. Elija Langston (6-7), another Ferris State commit, battled foul trouble, and needs to be a little more aggressive on offense. He’s someone who could make this team elite. James Young (6-2) is a great shooter, and Arquez Petty (5-9) is a junior guard who can be counted on both ends of the court. Muskegon hasn’t played many games, yet, but they already look like state-title contenders.