MIGHTY MOUNTAINEERS
Everest Collegiate rolls over Cranbrook in CHSL tournament opener
CLARKSTON » Once Clarkston Everest Collegiate turned on the spigot Monday, the points flowed freely the rest of the way.
Hosting Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood in a Catholic League Cardinal Tournament quarterfinal game, Everest Collegiate’s offense approached peak performance in a well-rounded 68-41 victory that extended their season win streak to 11 games.
The Mountaineers escalated their lead quickly, going up by 10 points early in the second quarter, by 20 on the first possession of the second half, and by 30 before the third stanza was complete.
“I think we’re really tough to guard because who knows who you have to stop? I’ve said that to the boys from day one. I’m just so impressed with how balanced we are,” Everest Collegiate coach Ann Serra-Lowney said. “When we’re balanced and we’re sharing the ball, then we’re tough to stop.”
True to her belief, the Mountaineers had five players register at least nine points on the night, led by senior Michael McGrath’s game-high 16.
Everest Collegiate did the most of its damage just feet from the basket, as it seemed to find endless paths to the rim for high-percentage shots in tight that left Cranbrook without answers.
Junior Joey Thobodeau notched 14 points and sophomore Luke Walker added 12 for the Mountaineers, who placed ninth in the latest Associated Press rankings for Division 4. Senior Jack Lasceski and junior Lucas Cross chipped in with 10 and nine points, respectively.
After permitting Cranbrook to score 15 points in the opening quarter, Everest Collegiate allowed just 17 points over the next two frames while its lead ballooned at the other end.
“Our defense, to only allow four points in the second quarter was just amazing,” SerraLowney said. “Everything starts on defense and the offense takes care of itself.”
The Mountaineers’ win — their first-ever against Cranbrook — advanced them to Wednesday’s tournament semifinal, which they will host against Madison Heights Bishop Foley at 6:30 p.m.
With its record sitting at 12-1 for the season, Everest Collegiate is well positioned to tend to unfinished business of a year ago when COVID-19 denied the program its best chance at a district title since 2013.
“They’re just such a special group of boys. Last year, we had a really good year and it ended with COVID, so we’re taking it
one day at a time,” SerraLowney said.
The program earned its second straight Catholic League Intersectional II division title last week, but hopes to reach new heights as the postseason wears on.
“We only graduated one senior, so my life was pretty easy,” SerraLowney said of the continuity from last year’s 15-7 squad. “We didn’t have a lot of time to teach and with the football team going so far [to the Division 8 semifinals], we started [basketball] a week after everybody. But it was easier since I had everybody back.
“When they were shut down for COVID, over the summer our boys got stronger. They didn’t sit and play video games. That’s a credit to them.”
Cranbrook dropped to 6-6 with its defeat. The Cranes were led offensively by senior Cam Garner’s 19 points and senior Miles Pistner’s nine.