Mr. Basketball Drills Mr. Basketball-Level Shot To Keep East Lansing Repeat Drive Alive
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
March 13, 2026
EAST LANSING – The only surprise would've been if it hadn't been East Lansing's KJ Torbert lining up the final shot.
The Trojans' senior star added another thrilling chapter to a storybook season when he nailed a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left to give East Lansing a wild 55-52 win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in Friday's packed Division 1 Semifinal at the Breslin Center.
After the Warriors' Jordan McDaniel converted a clutch three-point play with 15.8 seconds left to tie the game 52-52, the Trojans took a timeout to devise a strategy that certainly revolved around getting the ball into the hands of Torbert, named the state's Mr. Basketball Award winner earlier this week after averaging 25 points per game and accepting a scholarship from Bowling Green.
"What do you think?" East Lansing coach Ray Mitchell said when asked who would be tasked with attempting the last shot.
Torbert's game-winner kept East Lansing's hopes of successfully defending its state title alive. The Trojans (27-1), who won their 10th straight game, will play Rockford in Saturday's 12:15 p.m. Final.
Torbert, who finished with 23 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, said he saw an open spot on the floor about 25 feet from the basket and took advantage of getting off a quality shot.
"It's the kinda stuff you dream about, hitting a 3-pointer to win a game," he said. "It's an exciting feeling; I can't stop smiling. It's exciting to hit a shot like that on the big stage."
Trojans teammate Kingston Thomas said it's no surprise to him who was pegged with taking the shot – or the final result.
"He's a great teammate who's been doing that all year," Thomas said. "I have 100-percent confidence in him in taking that shot. I knew he'd make it."
In the midst of a fourth-straight one-loss season, East Lansing led 23-19 at the half, but the Warriors, behind a sensational effort from McDaniel, rallied to lead 45-43 as late as 3:56 left in the game. Torbert's layup with three minutes left snapped a 45-45 tie, and the Trojans never trailed again.
McDaniel scored 12 of his 31 points during a torrid five-minute stretch late in the third quarter and the first three minutes of the fourth. His layup and free throw tied the game 52-52 with 15.8 seconds left.
Mitchell said there were actually any number of other players capable of attempting a last shot. And all were needed at some point in the game, he said.
"We've got capable shooters; we need everyone to step up, and all of them will step up," he said. "They've all had their moments. We've got guys who can knock down shots and make the right play. We're capable of that, and I hope we do it tomorrow. Passing and knocking down shots – that's how it's supposed to work."
East Lansing's Tyree Anthony said there's little doubt that the attempt at winning a repeat Division 1 title has been tougher than winning a year ago.
"We get everyone's best shot, everyone comes after us," he said. "We prepare for that."
Brother Rice coach Rick Palmer, whose team was playing in its first Semifinal in 14 years, said hats off to Torbert, who hit 8 of 18 shots, for coming up huge.
"We guarded the whole game," he said. "We just didn't make one more stop. He's a great player who made a great shot."
PHOTOS (Top) East Lansing’s KJ Torbert pulls up for the game-winning shot during the final seconds of his team’s Semifinal victory Friday. (Middle) Brother Rice’s Jordan McDaniel (1) makes his move to the basket. (Top photo by John Castine; middle photo by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Breslin Bound: Boys Report Week 11
February 12, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
If games are played as scheduled, this week will be a great appetizer for what’s on the way for Michigan high school basketball fans.
The weather isn’t exactly making it easy for the state’s boys teams to finish up their regular-season schedules. But the rewards are in full view now – league championships for some, league tournament titles as well, and for everyone a fresh start with the beginning of District play in two weeks.
Breslin Bound is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com. To offer corrections or fill in scores we’re missing, email me at [email protected].
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Sterling Heights Stevenson 54, Roseville 45 – In the final game before the league tournament, the Titans avenged an earlier 10-point loss to Roseville and in doing so earned a shared Macomb Area Conference Red championship with the Panthers.
2. Mattawan 48, Kalamazoo Central 47 (OT) – This matched up the first-place teams from the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West and East, respectively, after Central finished first and Mattawan second in the former East configuration last season.
3. Belleville 89, Westland John Glenn 86 – A three-team race in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East might be down to just two with this Belleville win, setting up one of this week’s top matchups discussed below.
4. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills 76, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer 71 (3OT) – Kenowa Hills likely fell out of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black title mix by losing to Jenison in its next game, but this win over Reeths-Puffer reset the top of the standings for another of this week’s most anticipated games.
5. Kalamazoo Hackett 69, Schoolcraft 61 – Hackett can clinch the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley title with its next win after finishing a sweep of Schoolcraft, which hasn’t lost to anyone else this winter.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
• Detroit Martin Luther King (15-2) – The Crusaders shared the Detroit Public School League Midtown championship with Cass Tech, their only losses this season to the Technicians in their first of two meetings and then a month ago to now-clinched Oakland Activities Association Red champion Clarkston. King could see Cass Tech a third time in this week’s PSL Tournament final – but first faces West-Town champion Renaissance in the semifinal Tuesday.
• Linden (15-1) – From 5-16 to 9-14 to 13-8 and now this season’s success, Linden has been building. Friday’s 48-35 win over 2018 Flint Metro League co-champ Flushing gave the Eagles a share of this season’s league title – its first conference championship since 1996.
DIVISION 2
• Harper Woods Chandler Park (14-0) – The Eagles are among three undefeated teams left in Division 2 and won the Charter School Conference title outright after sharing the championship last season. A 51-37 win over 2018 Class C champion Detroit Edison last week cemented Chandler Park’s status as a team to watch over the next month.
• River Rouge (15-1) – The Panthers have won 14 straight since suffering their only loss, by three to King on Dec. 1. River Rouge has clinched a share of the Michigan Metro Athletic Conference Blue title, its third straight league championship and an anticipated first step as the team looks to build on last season’s Class B Semifinals appearance.
DIVISION 3
• Erie-Mason (12-2) – The Eagles clinched a share of the Lenawee County Athletic Association title Friday with an 80-52 win over reigning champ Hillsdale, and after finishing second to the Hornets last season. Erie-Mason has improved as well on last season’s overall 11-10 record, and with two more wins would tie its most for a season this decade.
• Unionville-Sebewaing (13-0) – The Patriots actually improved to 14-0 with a four-overtime win over Tri-Valley Conference West leader Saginaw Valley Lutheran on Monday. USA is one of six undefeated teams in Division 3 and atop the Greater Thumb Conference West standings as it works for a third straight perfect run through the league schedule.
DIVISION 4
• Adrian Lenawee Christian (11-3) – The Cougars do not play in a league, but should be intriguing once District play begins. Friday’s 13-point loss to Division 2 Michigan Center was a great game for postseason preparation – as were the other defeats against Division 3 contender Quincy and Ohio’s Toledo Christian. Ten of Lenawee Christian’s wins have come by double digits, with the single-digit victory a one-pointer over Division 1 Monroe.
• Pittsford (14-2) – The Wildcats can clinch the Southern Central Athletic Association East title with a win over second-place Camden-Frontier on Thursday, and after defeating two-loss Athens 64-50 on Friday. Since falling to Britton-Deerfield in the season opener, Pittsford’s only other loss came to still-unbeaten Bellevue.
Can't-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Muskegon (12-3) at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (14-2) – This could end up deciding the O-K Black title; Reeths-Puffer won the first meeting 63-59 in overtime, and the Big Reds are 8-0 since that heartbreaker.
Tuesday – Belleville (11-5) at Wayne Memorial (13-3) – The winner will clinch a share of the KLAA East title with only one more league game remaining for both teams.
Tuesday – Detroit Martin Luther King (15-2) vs. Detroit Renaissance (14-3) at Cass Tech – Renaissance finished a perfect run through the PSL West-Town and is seeking to make the league tournament final after falling by two in last season’s semi.
Friday – Williamston (16-1) at Haslett (11-3) – With Williamston arguably the Lansing area’s best boys team, Haslett has been forgotten a bit but can move into a first-place tie in the Capital Area Activities Conference Red if it can avenge a six-point January loss.
Saturday – River Rouge (15-1) at Benton Harbor (16-1) – Division 2 has 12 teams with one or fewer losses this season, and these two certainly are in the mix to meet again next month at Breslin Center with the championship on the line. Benton Harbor beat River Rouge 60-49 during last season’s Semifinals.
Second Half’s weekly “Breslin Bound” reports are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Student Financial Services Bureau located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information, including various student financial assistance programs to help make college more affordable for Michigan students. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 savings programs (MET/MESP) and eight additional aid programs within its Student Scholarships and Grants division. Click for more information and connect with MI Student Aid on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTO: Negaunee's Drew DuShane (23) drives to the basket as Ishpeming's Jacob Kugler (44) defends during Friday's 56-48 Miners win. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)