The Benton Harbor Tigers will play for a spot in the Class B state championship game as it takes on New Haven in the semifinal at the Breslin Center in East Lansing today.

The Tigers (22-3) defeated Spring Lake (19-7) 46-44 in Tuesday’s quarterfinals at Caledonia.

Benton Harbor will face New Haven (25-1) at 6 p.m. at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.

The other semifinal will follow and will pit River Rouge (24-1) against Ludgington (24-2).

The finals will be played at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Tigers got off to a slow start against Spring Lake, trailing 10-13 at halftime.

Benton Harbor came out and outscored Spring Lake 18-15 in the third quarter to cut the Lakers’ lead to 35-31 heading into the final quarter.

Tigers’ senior Roy Anderson led the charge, scoring 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half.

His layup with six seconds remaining gave Benton Harbor the victory.

The Tigers are back at the Breslin Center for the second time in four years.

Benton Harbor reached the state finals in 2014, losing to Milan 78-59.

During the regular season, the Tigers defeated Dowagiac 57-36 in the season opener and knocked off former SMAC West Division foe Niles 67-47 in a non-conference decision Jan. 27.

Benton Harbor freshman Carlos Johnson scored 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds against the Vikings.

Walker played just two minutes in that contest and did not score. No other Tiger starter was a member of that squad.

New Haven, which defeated Detroit Osborn 73-66, will be playing in the school’s first state semifinal.

The Rockets led 34-26 at halftime, but thanks to five 3-pointers in the second half by Armonee Felder, brother of Cleveland Cavelier Kay Felder, Detroit Osborn rallied and led twice in the final 16 minutes.

A.J. Crawford led New Haven with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Eric Williams finished with 16 and Romeo Weems 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.

BENTON HARBOR 46, SPRING LAKE 44

At Caledonia

SPRING LAKE 44

Isaiah Pierce 4, Jack VanWingen 10, Cameron Ball 9, Sam Johnson 14, Griffin Lorimer 2, Craig Whittaker 5. Totals: 17 9-13 44.

BENTON HARBOR 46

Roy Anderson 19, Elijah Baxter 4, George Walker 5, Shawn Hopkins 6, Carlos Johnson 12. Totals: 17 9-16 46.

 

 

Spring Lake                10       20       35       44

Benton Harbor          6          13       31       46

3-point baskets: Spring Lake 1 (Whittaker), Benton Harbor 3 (Anderson 3). Total fouls (fouled out): Spring Lake 11 (none), Benton Harbor 17 (none). Varsity records: Benton Harbor 22-3, Spring Lake 19-7.