Host Lutheran Westland needed to rally late against Sterling Heights Parkway for an 82-74 victory Tuesday night.
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Westland started hot in the first 4 minutes, but Parkway Christian’s Micah McClain took over afterward, carrying his squad to an eight-point lead at halftime.
However, the second half — and the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Red Division crown — belonged to Westland (18-0).
The Warriors started the third quarter with a 9-0 run, the spark beginning with Zachary Burk’s hustle, including multiple put-back baskets. Burk finished with 41 points and 19 rebounds.
McClain ended the run after 3 minutes, but his 33-point effort on the night ended up not being enough for Parkway (12-5).
“We gotta rebound better and keep our heads,” McClain said. “Watch the fouls and get boards.”
Parkway coach Joe Kalczynski said his team lost its composure in the second half. “A couple calls didn’t go our way, and our boys didn’t respond with enough mental toughness to combat the spiral,” he said. “Credit to Westland, though, they played tougher than we did, and their interior defense was better than ours.”
Two technical fouls late in the third quarter shifted the momentum to the Warriors.
Westland coach Jim Hoeft said his team was struggling in transition in the first half.
“This is almost a microcosm of how we played them the first time in January,” he said, “our defense-to-offense transition had trouble getting going.”
Westland outscored Parkway, 48-32, in the second. Senior Brent Croft hit a three-pointer with 3:53 left to put the Warriors up seven, and they never looked back.
“They pulled off their press in the second half, and that helped us a lot,” Hoeft said.
Hoeft noted that he was happiest with his team’s resolve and maturity. “They have their lulls, but they tend to come back and show me that they want it,” he said.
Lutheran Westland continues its run for an undefeated season at Warren Macomb Christian on Friday. The Warriors beat Macomb by 51 last Friday.