Second-half explosion lifts Jesuit past Clarkston at The D Zone Invitational

CLARKSTON - UD Jesuit propelled past Clarkston Saturday at The D Zone Invitational 65-52 after a second-half surge.

The Cubs are ranked No. 1 in our rankings for a reason. They have the best starting lineup in the state and have some intriguing players off the bench.

This game was neck-and-neck at halftime, but UD Jesuit surged in the second half to run away with things.

UD Jesuit MVP: Xavier Johnson (6-4)

Extremely versatile, Johnson has worked hard to round out his offensive game. He can hit 3-pointers, drive to the rim and he does a great job finding seams in a zone. Johnson is also active on defense both on the press and in the halfcourt. His offers might start coming in fast and furious. He finished Saturday’s game with 23 points, continuing his breakout season.

Clarkston MVP: Cole Charter (6-4)

Charter, still just a junior, needs offers. He’s a tall, strong point guard who excels at getting to the basket and finishing through traffic. He’s acrobatic around the rim and solid in possession, rarely turning the ball over. If he develops an outside shot, and gains a little more speed, he could be a real force over the next two years. He scored a team-high 17 points against Jesuit - a tough matchup.

Team Analysis:

UD Jesuit

The scoring trio of Johnson, Leroy Blyden Jr. (6-1) and David Herron III (6-2) is nearly unguardable for their speed, strength and versatility. Blyden is the latest Cubs-to-Toledo pipeline, and he lived up to the hype with 18 points and a couple monstrous dunks. Herron is a knockdown 3-point shooter who scored 20 points and looked smooth on both ends of the court. Center Sebastian Randolph fought hard on the glass and worked hard to be an option on offense. This team is special. The only small knock is a potential lack of depth.

Clarkston

Charter is a special talent and seems to get better every time I see him. John Kaul (6-2) is a senior guard with a nice outside shot and creativity around the rim. Hayden Flavin (6-8) still has some football weight on him, but he’s a solid post presence on both ends of the court. Quinn Rosenberg (6-5) is a versatile wing who can be a bit inconsistent, but has all the tools to become a major contributor. Ace Walters (6-0) is a sophomore with tremendous upside as a shooter and floor general. I really like his game.