Titans Hold On Over Cardinals To Advance

Photos by Karson Durocher, JTV Sports

David Rice | JTV Sports

Wednesday, February 28th

(2-28-2024, 9:10PM): This matchup was as good as advertised as Michigan Center and Lumen Christi (two of the top teams in the area) battled it out at East Jackson High School on Wednesday night for a chance to play in the District Final.

Both teams came out on fire to open the game, as it was back-and-forth from the jump. Luke Tropea nailed back-to-back three pointers for the Titans to start. Four different Titans scored in the first quarter and five different Cardinals scored for Michigan Center. 

Tropea continued to stay hot, scoring 14 points for LC and Tre Collins added seven points for Michigan Center after one with a Lumen Christi 20-19 lead.

It was a low-scoring affair in the second quarter. With the Cardinals only outscoring Lumen Christi 10-9 but forcing the red-hot Luke Tropea to zero second quarter points. Tre Collins scored nine in the first half to tie the game at 29-29 heading into the locker room.

The Cardinals took their first lead of the night (since the first score) thanks to back-to-back three pointers from Hunter Clemons to make it 42-38 with three minutes left in the third. Michigan Center maintained the lead after three quarters 44-41.

They continued to keep the lead, making it as large as seven (50-43) on a 6-2 run with 5:21 left in the game. 

Lumen Christi rallied late and scored nine straight including a three by Freshman Amarion Clay to take a 52-50 lead with 1:45 left. Free throws from Kasen Burgess and Timmy Crowley helped the Titans pull away and win 59-55 and advance to Friday’s District Final versus Napoleon.

Luke Tropea finished with 21 points and Kasen Burgess added 16 for the Titans. Michigan Center was led by Tre Collins with 15 points along with 12 from both Hunter Clemons and Jayden Watson.

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