Macomb County

Eagles edge Cougars in OT

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Dakota sophomore D.J. Lazarus, pictured earlier this season, scored 18 points to lead the Cougars in a losing effort. Eisenhower topped Dakota 53-52 in overtime Feb. 3 at Ike. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Dakota sophomore D.J. Lazarus, pictured earlier this season, scored 18 points to lead the Cougars in a losing effort. Eisenhower topped Dakota 53-52 in overtime Feb. 3 at Ike.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The high school football season ended months ago, but apparently someone forgot to tell Utica Eisenhower and Macomb Dakota.

The boys basketball teams from both schools were engaged in such a physical game Feb. 3, at times it appeared the Macomb Area Conference Red Division rivals were fighting for yards on the gridiron, not battling for points on the hardwood.

The host Eagles eventually emerged with a 53-52 victory in overtime, improving to 6-2 in the MAC Red and 7-6 overall.

“The kids showed the amount of toughness (needed),” Ike coach Brandon Lemley said after the game. “We’ve got some football kids out there, and they made some big plays … it was a football game.”

Ike sophomore Alek Frascone led all scorers with 25 points.

“Alek was awesome tonight,” Lemley said.

The Eagles also got 11 points from junior Alex Morck, nine from sophomore Charlie Hayes and eight from sophomore Dan Chmielewski.

While they didn’t end up on the score sheet, a pair of Ike’s top football players, juniors Joey Zerafa and David Curle, contributed significantly in other ways. Zerafa, the quarterback who moonlights at point guard, “played great defensively” according to Lemley. Curle, a 6-4, 270-pound lineman, made his presence known in the paint.

Dakota, meanwhile, was led by sophomore D.J. Lazarus’ 18 points. Sophomore forward Brian Orr added 10 points, while junior Codey Agemy chipped in with seven and senior Lindsay Thomas had six to lead the Cougars, who fell to 4-3 in the division and 7-6 overall.

“It’s disheartening a little bit, but at the same time, we’ll learn how to finish those some day,” Dakota coach Paul Tocco said. “The young guys will figure it out.”

Dakota had one of the back-and-forth game’s biggest leads with just five minutes to play when the Cougars went up 42-35. But Ike scrambled back, forced the extra session and never looked back, leading the entirety of overtime.

The win put the Eagles a half game behind division leaders L’Anse Creuse North (6-1 MAC Red). Romeo High and Chippewa Valley, both sitting at 5-3, were tied for third in the division, with Dakota a half game behind them at 4-3.

Next up, Ike travels to L’Anse Creuse North in a battle for first place in the division at 7 p.m. Feb. 7. Dakota visits Romeo at the same time and day in another league showdown.
 

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040.