Port Huron Northern upends short-handed AA Skyline at The D Zone Invitational

CLARKSTON - Port Huron Northern cruised to a 56-48 win Saturday at Clarkston for The D Zone Invitational.

Skyline has dealt with injuries this season, with Noah Silkworth (6-5) and Alex Brabec (6-2) out with injury. But they fought hard, showcasing their depth and a solid junior class.

Port Huron Northern still seems to be finding their footing, but they have a great blend of guards and forwards with versatile skill sets.

Port Huron Northern MVP: Cam Harju (6-2)

Harju, now a junior, has developed into more than just a dangerous 3-point shooter. He’s still great at that, but he’s much more physical and aggressive getting to the basket. Harju is a bona-fide college prospect who seemingly has worked hard on becoming a more well-rounded player. That work has paid off, especially on defense. He scored 15 points in Saturday’s game.

Ann Arbor Skyline: Ben Solomon (5-11)

Solomon stepped up as the go-to guy and excelled as a scorer and playmaker, leading the team with 17 points and playing almost the entire game. Solomon is one of the five-headed monster that usually makes up the starting lineup and he’s certainly worth a look for D3 schools in need of another recruit. He’s poised, plays with great balance and has a consistent mid-range shot.

Team Analysis:

Port Huron Northern

The Huskies have a phenomenal junior class with Harju starting to lead the team. Amir Morelan (6-1) is a solid lead guard with scoring ability off the bounce. He’s also a fierce defender. Alex Jamison (6-2) is a solid shooter and rarely makes mistakes. He could probably get a little more aggressive offensively, but he has a really solid all-around game. Narrell Jordan (6-3) is an up-and-coming sophomore with a nice physical profile and versatile skill set. Kaiden Cantrell (6-5) is an athletic wing who can block shots and step out to shoot. This is a very intriguing team this season and next.

AA Skyline

Silkworth is the team’s best post player and Brabec is the team’s best 3-point shooter, so they were missed. But Skyline still has some of the best team chemistry in the state, which should come in handy if everyone can get healthy come March. Braylan Brown (6-5) faced some double teams, which was a good experience for him moving forward. Solomon was great running the show, and Jake Rademacher (6-0) always plays hard on both ends of the court. Two straight losses is never fun, but don’t count this team out. They are still a threat when everyone is on the court.