Macomb Township

LCN boys hoops wins MAC Red in atypical fashion

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Macomb L’Anse Creuse North junior Tyler Conklin drives past an opponent during a game earlier this season. The Crusaders recently locked up their second MAC Red title in three years. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Macomb L’Anse Creuse North junior Tyler Conklin drives past an opponent during a game earlier this season. The Crusaders recently locked up their second MAC Red title in three years.

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The recipe for success in the Macomb Area Conference Red Division come boys basketball season has been passed around and used up plenty the past few seasons.

Teams with veteran experience and a couple of go-to guys normally win the championship.

Leave it to L’Anse Creuse North to buck the trend.

The Crusaders clinched the outright division title Feb. 17 after a 67-51 home win against Macomb Dakota.

But there are several differences about this team compared with past champions.

“Overall, we were a little (cautious) to start the season,” LCN coach Jay Seletsky said. “We thought we had some good pieces. We were a little unsure on how it would jell together with only, really Tyler (Conklin) back from last year’s team.”

“The teams that are successful, generally, have that experience and kids that have gone through that grind before. So we were nervous coming in because we didn’t know how that would pan out.”

The Crusaders learned, and won, on the fly in the rough and tumble division. With one game remaining in league action, to be played after press time, the team sported a 10-1 record in the MAC Red and a 14-3 mark overall.

“We joke a lot about these pressure games that we’ve been in, and our kids are too young to know that they are pressure games,” Seletsky said.

The coach noted that team’s early success at passing the trials by fire — on the road, no less — set them up for league success.

“Right now, it’s gotten a lot tougher, but to win those early games on the road was huge,” he said. “Now our kids have developed that confidence in the tight games. I think that is what really separated us.”

Another key to the Crusaders’ latest league crown is their “diverse scoring,” according to Seletsky.

“We have a different kid step up each night,” the coach said.

Through 10 league games, the team’s most consistent leaders were a junior guard Tyler Conklin (12.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game), sophomore forward Frank DeVos (8.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game), junior guard Rob Hopkins (8.1 points and 4.1 assists per game) and junior forward Ramone Griffin (6.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game).

But, as Seletsky said, anyone on the Crusaders’ roster can be a danger to the opposition on any night. For example, he noted that junior reserve guard John Allen came off the bench to score 13 points in a crucial 54-52 win against Romeo High Feb. 14.

“He’s probably not on many scouting reports,” the coach said. “I think it’s been nice, because these guys pick each other up when the ball is not falling for our leading scorers. They do what they have to do to carry the load.”

“We’re balanced, very balanced in every category,” Seletsky continued. “I think that’s kind of what makes us a little dangerous for other teams is because you can’t really key in on one or two guys.”

DeVos said that balance gives the Crusaders an advantage “because we’re all so talented.”

“We share the ball with each other,” he said. “When we all work together, it’s really difficult to stop.”

Conklin described the team as “scrappy.”

“Nobody gives up,” he said. “We’ve had close games. We’ve been down in the fourth quarter. We’ve always found a way to fight back and win.”

Catch the Crusaders in action in their regular-season home finale at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 against Grosse Pointe North. Check out next week’s edition of the Macomb Chronicle for a boys basketball state playoff preview.

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