Madison Heights

Local boys basketball squads fall in postseason

By Christian Davis and Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writers

» click to enlarge « File photo by David Schreiber Madison Heights Bishop Foley senior Michael Oravetz rises for a shot in a game earlier this season. The Ventures’ season came to a close after losing to Detroit Consortium in a regional semifinal. File photo by David Schreiber Madison Heights Bishop Foley senior Michael Oravetz rises for a shot in a game earlier this season. The Ventures’ season came to a close after losing to Detroit Consortium in a regional semifinal.

All in all, Madison Heights Bishop Foley boys basketball coach Marc West called it a successful year.

The Ventures finished 20-4 overall, with their fifth Class C district title in a row and back-to-back Catholic High School League C-D tournament championships.

Foley’s season came to a close with a 64-28 loss against Detroit Consortium March 12 in a regional semifinal.

“You have to look at the big picture. Sometimes the state championship is played on the first Monday of the MHSAA tournament depending on draws,” West said. “With everyone looking at us and chasing us, it’s a whole lot tougher to defend a title. So to defend the district title and win back-to-back tournament titles, I think when the guys look back, they’ll definitely see the success of the season.”

Against Consortium, West said his squad struggled with the Cougars tempo and size.

“The speed that they come out is unlike the speed that we’re used to playing night in and night out. You have to withstand that initial blitz,” he said.

Foley trailed by 15 points at the half and cut it to 12 before the Cougars went into a zone, using four players over 6 feet 6 inches to keep the Ventures at bay.

“You don’t have the normal space you’re used to working with,” West said.

The Ventures kept battling, something they’ve done all season, coming back in several games from double-digit deficits, but Consortium proved to be too much.

Foley says goodbye to seniors Joseph Oster, Scott Gwisdalla, Ryan McMahon, Michael Oravetz, Corey Green, Max Aleshire, Darius Glover and Craigen Oster.

“Any time you have a special team, you look at the talent that was there, and there was a whole lot of talent,” West said. “The group definitely came together and realized the challenge that was before them and stepped up.”

Eagles grounded
Madison Heights Madison fell in regional semifinal action at Oakland Christian. The Eagles lost 63-49 to Flint Beecher. Madison earlier won its district at Mount Clemens High by defeating Grosse Pointe University Liggett 69-61 March 9. The Eagles also defeated Hamtramck Frontier International and Mount Clemens in district action.

Madison, the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division champion, finished the season 22-2 overall.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.

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