Eastpointe

East Detroit boys basketball program doesn’t let up after banner year

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Deb Jacques East Detroit’s boys basketball team gathers around coach Dave Zauner during a game earlier this season. Despite graduating several key seniors from last year’s successful team, this year’s Shamrocks have remained competitive and are seeking titles of their own. Photo by Deb Jacques East Detroit’s boys basketball team gathers around coach Dave Zauner during a game earlier this season. Despite graduating several key seniors from last year’s successful team, this year’s Shamrocks have remained competitive and are seeking titles of their own.

EASTPOINTE — This season was supposed to be a rebuilding effort by the East Detroit boys basketball team.

But somebody forgot to tell the Shamrocks.

A year after a senior-led squad turned in one of the program’s best seasons to date, East Detroit is still winning.

At press time, the Shamrocks were 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the Macomb Area Conference White Division — tied with Utica High for first place in the league it won last year.

A 50-46 road win over Grosse Pointe South Jan. 31 marked the start of the second half of league play. Heading into that game, East Detroit, Utica, Grosse Pointe North and Warren Cousino were all tied atop the standings with equal 4-2 marks. The Shamrocks are hoping to emerge from the logjam with the title.

“We were fortunate to end the first half 4-2,” East Detroit coach Dave Zauner said. “Now it’s like 0-0, and the good thing is we have tape on everybody, so we’ll have a nice game plan going for the second time through.

“So if we prepare ourselves well and do things we’re supposed to do, we should give ourselves a chance.”

Despite graduating the starting lineup and top bench players from the squad that won division, district and regional titles last year, Zauner isn’t stunned by his team’s success this year.

“It did not surprise us, because in the summer I could see some good things,” the coach said. “We knew talent-wise we were going to be good. It was just, are we going to take care of the ball? And so now we’re at a good point right now, where everybody is tied for the lead, and we just have to take care of the ball the second half and execute our stuff.”

Zauner noted he has seen improvement as the season wears on.

“They are learning on the fly, and that’s a good thing,” he said.

Should the Shamrocks continue to improve and rack up the wins, another long postseason run could be in the future.

“It’s nice to get league titles, we do want that, but we had so much fun in the tournament,” Zauner said. “They know that it’s really exciting come state tournament time to advance; that’s been on their mind the whole year. They’re looking forward to it.”

Senior guard Rob Davenport was brought up to varsity last year during the playoffs and couldn’t wait for his chance to shine on the same stage.

“I just pictured myself doing that next year, me and the team,” he said.

Davenport said the squad “expected” a similar level of success.

“We knew we had the same talent as last year,” he said.

Senior forward Dion Thornton said last year’s team inspired this year’s squad.

“They motivated us to do what we’re doing now,” he said. “They gave us some big shoes to fill, which we are trying to fulfill now. They gave us a push.”

Things haven’t been easy, though, in the ultra-competitive MAC White.

“It’s been real tough; we’ve got a lot of real good teams to go against,” Thornton said about the division. “We’re just trying to stay focused and try to come out on top.”

Junior Tyrell Yharbrough said the team is relishing in the fact that it is carrying on the torch in the face of doubters and detractors.

“We knew people doubted us. We just came together as a team, and we tried to overcome the obstacles,” he said. “It’s important to carry on to us. East Detroit is known for basketball, so we’ve got to carry the tradition.”

Catch the Shamrocks in action next when they play at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Warren Woods Tower.

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