Jackson Christian Falls to St. Philip Tigers

 

 Royal Alexis Hannewald 

 

The Jackson Christian girls basketball team hosted the St. Philip Fighting Tigers on Friday night and were looking to pick up another victory on the season. But the Fighting Tigers had other plans for the Royals as they dominated early and took a 13-0 lead en route to a 76-42 victory.

The Royals couldn’t get any offense going early on as it took them almost four minutes to erase the zero on the scoreboard. The Fighting Tigers cruised to a big 36-14 halftime lead.

After adjustments at the half, the Royals came out on fire to try to erase a 31 point deficit. Junior Alexis Hannewald kept driving hard to the basket and when she didn’t score, she got trips to the charity stripe. But in the fourth quarter, the Royals started to tire as the Fighting Tigers kept them at bay on their way to their 8th victory of the season against 4 losses.

The royals were led by Hannewald with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Senior Sierra Chevalier finished the night with 10 points while Cassidy McNeil, who turned 18 on gameday, finished with 8 points. One of the bright spots for the Royals on the evening was a surprise party for McNeil after the game in the school cafeteria attended by her family and friends.

The Royals look to get on the winning track at East Jackson at 7 p.m.

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Jackson Christian’s Drew Blackgrove Getting His Due

Readers vote Jackson Christian’s Drew Blackgrove as Jackson-area MVP of 2015-16 boys basketball season

Jackson Christian’s Drew Blackgrove (Photo courtesy of Al Wright)

JACKSON – We asked readers to select the Jackson-area MVP of the 2015-16 boys basketball season and, after more than 7,000 votes, Jackson Christian’s Drew Blackgrove was selected.

Blackgrove finished in first place with 2,383 votes when the poll closed at 10 a.m. on Friday. Concord’s Kamron McDonald was second with 1,843 votes and Concord’s Montez Brewer finished with 372 votes to round out the top three.

Blackgrove, a 6-foot-3 junior forward, averaged 16.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for the Royals.

Keep in mind that the results of this poll will have no bearing on the Citizen Patriot Player of the Year or Dream Team honors.

Who is the Jackson-area boys basketball MVP for 2015-16? (Poll Closed)

Drew Blackgrove, Jackson Christian 33.78%  (2,383 votes) 

 

Kamron McDonald, Concord 26.13%  (1,843 votes) 

 

Montez Brewer, Concord 5.27%  (372 votes) 

 

Preston Laketa, Hanover-Horton 4.58%  (323 votes) 

 

Charlie Young, Stockbridge 4.54%  (320 votes) 

 

Zac Latter, Leslie 3.7%  (261 votes) 

 

Jay McMiller, Hanover-Horton 3.59%  (253 votes) 

 

Dylan Patton, Leslie 2.95%  (208 votes) 

 

Shonte’ Suddeth, Jackson 2.89%  (204 votes) 

 

Caleb Drumm, Homer 2.79%  (197 votes) 

 

Daniel Poole, East Jackson 2.45%  (173 votes) 

 

Martin Petersen, Hillsdale 1.86%  (131 votes) 

 

Brock Ridgeway, Homer 1.6%  (113 votes) 

 

Kylen Brown, Michigan Center 1.53%  (108 votes) 

 

Tavian Gaddy, Michigan Center 0.84%  (59 votes) 

 

Jake Wilson, Jonesville 0.64%  (45 votes) 

 

Paul Zysk, Addison 0.61%  (43 votes) 

 

R’Mand Brown, Jackson 0.25%  (18 votes) 

 

 

Total Votes: 7,054

Jackson Christian defeated by #1 team in State, Pittsford

Sierra Chevalier puts it up for the Royals

 

The Jackson Christian Royals were on a two-game skid and coming off a tough loss to East Jackson and thing weren’t looking any easier for them, as the top rated school in the state, the Pittsford Wildcats, were coming to town. The Royals started off very well holding the Wildcats defensively and when the Wildcats hit their first three point basket, the Royals Sophomore Guard Cassidy McNeil answered right back with one of her own. But after that it was all Pittsford.

Pittsford dominated the game forcing turnovers and bad shot choices and not allowing the Royals to break down deep in the post. The Royals got in foul trouble early on also, as they attempted to block shots. The Royals fought hard up until the end though as the game was dominated by Pittsford. Wildcats coach Chris Hodos emptied his bench to rest his starters and avoid injuries and to give many players much-needed experience and playing time for the young team.

The Wildcats were led in scoring by Junior Maddie Clark with 22 points and Junior Jaycie Burger with 16. Burger has already accepted a full scholarship in basketball at Hillsdale College while Clark has been approached with several offers of her own but is hoping for a volleyball one. The Wildcats remain undefeated on the season.

The Royals drop to 4-9 on the season and will face off at Hillsdale on February 1st. The Royals were led in scoring by McNeil who hit 2 three point shots, and Sierra Chevalier.

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