Southeastern Makes Final Minute Count
March 22, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
EAST LANSING – Jovone Haynes saw a “weakness,” went after it, and Detroit Southeastern will play Saturday for the MHSAA Class A title.
Simple as that … and not at all.
With his team and reigning champion Saginaw tied and a minute to play in Thursday’s Semifinal, the Jungaleers senior made a steal at halfcourt and found teammate Leonard Harper-Baker for a go-ahead layup on the way to a 51-45 victory.
Four of the Jungaleers’ losses this season – including their 57-56 defeat to Saginaw in December – came down to the game’s final possession. Haynes wouldn’t let this one get to that point.
“I saw he had the ball over his head. I just went at it,” said Haynes of his gutsy last-minute swipe. “I was just confident I could steal the ball.”
But there’s much more to explain why he and his teammates moved on.
Detroit Southeastern (21-5) will face top-ranked Romulus for the Class A title at noon Saturday. Romulus is playing for its first championship since 1986; Southeastern for its first since 1926 and after finishing runner-up in 2011.
The Jungaleers probably weren’t the Detroit Public School League team expected to reach Breslin Center this winter – not with Detroit Pershing and Cass Tech ranked in Class A and Douglass ranked in Class B.
But Southeastern, an honorable mention in the final poll, benefited from facing them all and despite losing to two of the three.
Haynes and senior Kenyatta Singleton didn’t play in that first Saginaw game, but combined for 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight steals Friday. And they brought security to Southeastern’s offensive attack that was missing in the first matchup; the Jungaleers had only 12 turnovers this time.
“You’re not going to win a state championship in December or January, not in basketball. Us losing (those) four games, who cares?” Southeastern coach George Ward, Jr., said.
“We knew when we got these two on the floor, defensively or offensively, we could make something happen.”
For the first 31 minutes, the teams played to a stalemate. Although the Jungaleers jumped to an 8-0 lead off the opening tip, the margin was never more than four points over the 20 minutes prior to final minute, when Southeastern finished on a 6-0 run.
“They got us sleeping, forced a clean turnover,” Saginaw coach Julian Taylor said. “My guy took his eye off, he was trying to pay attention to the ref, and (Haynes) smacked it out of his hand. Then we had to play from behind, and we made another turnover.”
Junior forward Daryl Bigham led the Jungaleers with 14 points and six rebounds, and Haynes had 13 points.
Junior Keyon Addison scored 10 points to lead Saginaw, and 6-foot-6 freshman Algevon Eichelberger had nine blocked shots.
The Trojans entered the postseason ranked No. 6 and finished 23-4.
“It’s just a blessing to be in this position. They fought hard to earn their respect,” said Taylor of his players. “I love all of these guys. They worked their tails off for us. I’m on them to stay humble and stay focused, and I believe they did that. They’ve got nothing to hang their heads for.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Detroit Southeastern's Jovone Haynes (2) drives against Saginaw's Keyon Addison (15) and Algevon Eichelberger (42) on Friday. (Middle) Eichelberger gets one of his nine blocks. (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Flashback 100: Despite Launching Before 3-Point Line, Smith Still Tops Scoring List
January 10, 2025
The list of NBA players who starred for MHSAA member schools is impressive, featuring names like Magic Johnson (Lansing Everett 1977), Dan Majerle (Traverse City 1983), Glen Rice (Flint Northwestern 1985), Rudy Tomjanovich (Hamtramck 1967) and Jason Richardson (Saginaw Arthur Hill 1999).
However, one name stands above the rest in terms of scoring: Jay Smith of Mio.
Remarkably, Smith achieved his legendary point total a decade before the 3-point line was introduced.
During his four years at Mio (1975-76 to 1978-79), Smith scored an astounding 2,841 points. His senior-year total of 952 points ranks fourth all-time, while his junior-year total of 912 points sits in seventh place.
Smith also put up memorable performances, scoring 48 points in a 1978 District game and following up with a 47-point effort the next year — both of which remain in the top 20 for most points scored in a single MHSAA Tournament game. Simply put, no one scored as prolifically as Smith. His extraordinary career earned him the title of “Retro Mr. Basketball 1979,” awarded by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM). (Note: The Mr. Basketball Award was first presented in 1981, with BCAM later recognizing past players with Retro honors).
After high school, Smith played one season at Bowling Green University and three at Saginaw Valley State College. Upon graduating, he transitioned to coaching college basketball, serving as an assistant at Kent State and Michigan before becoming the head coach at Grand Valley State. Smith later guided Central Michigan to the second round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament, before losing to Duke. Currently, Smith is in his 39th season in college basketball, serving as the director of player development at Eastern Michigan.
And the next time you are in Mio, you can drive on Jay Smith Drive, located on the north side of town, off West 8th Street.
The MHSAA added a 3-point line in 1987-88.
MHSAA Career Scoring Leaders
2,841 – Jay Smith, Mio (1976-79)
2,789 – Mark Brown, Hastings (1982-85)
2,782 – Dylan Jergens, Marcellus Howardsville Christian (2016-19)
2,522 – Christopher Haas, Pellston (2009-12)
2,518 – Tory Jackson, Saginaw Buena Vista (2003-06)
2,490 – Mark Macon, Saginaw Buena Vista (1984-87)
2,462 – Drew Neitzel, Wyoming Park (2001-04)
2,449 – Matt Stuck, Manton (1989-92)
2,448 – Marcus Taylor, Lansing Waverly (1997-00)
2,421 – Marcus Matelski, Boyne Falls (2013-16)
Previous "Flashback 100" Features
Jan. 3: Edison's Jackson Earns Place Among State's All-Time Elite - Read
Dec. 20: Future Olympian Piper Leads Grosse Pointe North to Historic Heights - Read
Dec. 13: The Other Mr. Forsythe in Michigan School Sports - Read
Dec. 6: Coleman's Legendary Heroics Carry Harrison Through Repeat - Read
Nov. 29: Harbaugh Brothers' Football Roots Planted in Part at Pioneer - Read
Nov. 22: 8-Player Football Finals Right at Home at Superior Dome - Read
Nov. 15: Leland Career Helps Set Stage for Glass' International Stardom - Read
Nov. 8: Future Baseball Pro Led Escanaba's Legendary Football Title Run - Read
Nov. 1: Michigan High School Baseball Trio Provide World Series Voices - Read
Oct. 25: Before Leading Free World, Ford Starred for Champion GR South - Read
Oct. 18: Mercy Links Legend Becomes World Golf Hall of Famer - Read
Oct. 11: Fisher Races to Finals Stardom on Way to U.S. Olympic First - Read
Oct. 4: Lalas Leaves High School Legacies on Ice & Pitch - Read
Sept. 27: Tamer's History-Making Run Starts in Dexter, Continues to Paris - Read
Sept. 20: Todd Martin’s Road to Greatness Starts at East Lansing - Read
Sept. 13: James Earl Jones, Dickson High Hoops to Hollywood Legend - Read
Sept. 6: Pioneers' Unstoppable Streak Stretches 9 Seasons - Read
Aug. 30: Detroit dePorres Rushes to 1995 Class CC Football Championship - Read
(MHSAA archive photos.)