Third-quarter surge leads Linden past Eisenhower at The D Zone Playoff Tune-up

GROSSE POINTE - Linden edged Utica Eisenhower 73-68 in overtime Saturday for the fourth game of the inaugural The D Zone Playoff Tune-up.

The teams traded baskets throughout much of the first half, but Linden lived up to their record in the third quarter, draining 3-pointers and forcing turnovers to cruise to victory.

Eisenhower wasn't finished, though, as they rallied back in the fourth quarter only to come up just short in overtime.

Linden MVP: Jace Becher, 6-8, Sr.

Tall and strong, Becher brings a lot of positives to the court. He scored xx points while dominating Eisenhower’s under-sized frontcourt. He’s also a good passer out of the post and patient with his post moves. He’s not the most athletic player, but he works hard and knows where to be when battling for the ball. He poured in a game-high 25 points.

Eisenhower MVP: Trey Richardson, 6-2, Jr.

A bright spot for a team struggling this season. Eisenhower has a couple young players who could definitely emerge as college prospects, and Richardson is one of them. Shifty combo guard with a nice outside shot and length on defense. Wants the ball and looks comfortable scoring in a variety of ways. He will be a potential breakout player next season as a senior. He scored a team-high 24 points Saturday.

Team Analysis

Linden

The Eagles have a nice blend of physicality and outside shooting. Becher is the headliner as a 6-8 center and college offers, but Landon Jones (6-0), Landon Gerszewski (6-3) and Jalen Babcock (6-1) offer other scoring options for this team. Linden has broken some trends this year like beating Fenton twice and winning in a big showcase, so they are definitely a program on the rise.