By By JEFF FISHER / Dowagiac Daily News
MISHAWAKA, Ind. - Benton Harbor's Wilson Chandler, Michigan's Mr. Basketball, set the stage Wednesday night with a devastating slam dunk to open the boys' basketball game at Sports Fest.
Chandler followed that up with a turn around basket which gave the Michigan All-Stars a 4-0 lead which they eventually turned into a 112-105 victory at Bethel College.
Indiana West's Cody Mounts (West Central) nailed a "three", followed by a jumper by Kyle Benge (Plymouth), who finished second in the state (Indiana) in scoring, and led his team to the state finals this year, tied the game up at 8-8 early in the first half.
Edwardsburg's Nick Roth, who was the area scoring leader, scored a basket to give Michigan a 21-16 lead at the 13:49 mark.
Roth, again forced a steal that led to a fast break bucket. Michigan continued to pour it on as it took a commanding lead of 38-22 at the 7:51 mark.
Indiana West began its comeback. Eric Fornelli (Knox) hit a "three" to narrow Michigan's lead to 40-31, followed by another three-pointer by Cory McClarnon (Triton). A Benge basket late in the half narrowed the lead to only five points.
Michigan took a 53-49 lead into intermission.
Chandler led all scorers at halftime with 14 points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots. Teammate Rodney Alexander had 12 points, nine rebounds, and Roth had seven points.
Benge led the West with 11 points, and Eric Fornelli with 10 points.
The second half began the same as the first did with Chandler slamming home the first bucket.
Indiana's William Walker (Michigan City) broke out of his scoring slump in the second half by narrowing Michigan's lead to only nine points, 69-60.
Michigan maintained at 10-point lead throughout the second half, until a Chandler basket opened up a 107-87 lead at the 2:45 mark.
Indiana West fought back to narrow the lead down to 10 points, and then to six points, 111-105, with 24 seconds left in the game.
Michigan was able to hang on the ball and secure a spot in the championship game Friday night.
Chandler led all scoring with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocked shots. Alexander scored 18 points, along with 13 boards. Roth with 12 points, and Simon Cholometes (White Pigeon) chipped in 10 points, all in the second half.
Benge led West with 29 points, while Walker had 28 points and 18 rebounds. Fornelli finished with 13 points.