Saline’s Sanderson drops 51, Hornets sting Chiefs in OT
Saline’s Lincoln Keyes out-leaps Canton’s Devon Pettus for a rebound Tuesday night.
Not that many years ago, entire boys basketball teams would be satisfied to walk into Canton’s Phase 3 gymnasium and score 50-something points against the Chiefs’ clamp-down defense.
On Tuesday night, Saline sophomore Jonathan Sanderson scored 51 — all by himself.
Locked into offensive attack mode (especially during the fourth quarter and four-minute overtime when he netted 31 of his points) whenever he controlled the ball and playing with a fire in his eyes, Sanderson proved to be just short of invincible while leading the visiting Hornets to a tension-packed 74-72 overtime triumph.
Widely-recruited
The 6-foot-2 Sanderson has already received college scholarship offers from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Detroit, Duquesene, Marshall, Ohio among others, according to 247sports.com — and it was easy to see why Tuesday night.
Saline Head Coach Mike Marek — a former standout basketball player for Salem High School — didn’t hesitate when asked what makes Sanderson special.
“He loves the game, first and foremost,” Marek said. “And he has put in the hours and the work it takes to get to where he is, and it shows. I love that kid.”
The crazy part about Sanderson’s potentially historic night — it is believed his 51-point effort is a Canton Phase 3 record, but couldn’t be confirmed Tuesday night — is that Saline needed every one of his hoops to outlast the Chiefs, who were fueled by a career night from senior Devon Pettus (26 points).
While Sanderson was the winners’ MVP by a long shot, Canton would have won the game in regulation had Saline’s LaDainian Woods not buried a 25-foot three-point shot two seconds before the fourth-quarter buzzer sounded, knotting the game at 58-all.
The bucket was Woods’ only made basket of the night.
Special player
Canton attempted to stop Sanderson with a variety of defenses.
On one overtime possession, two Chiefs met Sanderson just above the top of the key, but he eluded them with three quick right-handed dribbles before getting past a third defender by dribbling the ball between his legs.
Once in the paint, Sanderson switched the ball from his left hand to his right and finished off an and-one layup with a scooping bank shot.
After Saline built a 17-10 first-quarter lead, Canton stormed back behind Pettus to seize a 30-26 halftime advantage.
On four straight second-quarter possessions, the Chiefs fed Pettus on the low block and he bulled his way to the basket for eight quick points.
Canton senior guard Teddy Winstel had a nice first half, too, nailing three of four three-point shots (including a deep-corner three just before the halftime buzzer) and all three of his free throws for 12 points.
After netting just two points in the first 16 minutes, Canton senior Bradley Ezuika came alive with 16 second-half points.
Canton played well in defeat
Chief senior guard Caleb Williams was the fourth Canton player with a double-digit scoring night as he finished with 10.
Ezuika drained a trey as the third-quarter buzzer sounded to give Canton a semi-comfortable 44-36 lead. The Chiefs extended their advantage to 46-36 when Williams converted a slick drive.
However, the resilient Hornets ripped off a 14-3 run to grab a 50-49 lead on a three-point play by Sanderson.
A pair of free throws by Pettus with 26 seconds remaining in regulation put Canton up, 58-55, but Woods extended the game with his dramatic triple.
Saline coach knows Canton well
In the wake of his team’s thrilling victory, Marek reflected on the last high school game he played in Canton’s gym.
“It was my senior year in 2007 and Canton knocked us out of the state tournament in the district,” Marek remembered. “In fact, their assistant coach — (Ryan) Waidmann — played for Canton that year.”
While Sanderson’s performance stole the show, Marek praised his entire team in the moments following the game.
“To come in here and beat a very, very good Canton team — and to win it like we did in overtime — makes me incredibly proud of these guys,” Marek said.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
