Hoops Rivalry Renewed for Divine Child, Dearborn

Welcome to the first installment of a weekly column known simply as Patch's Pick of the Week, the must-see sporting event in the community.

Each week I have the pleasure of pouring over  schedules for each local sports team, analyzing the matchups, breaking down the players and coaches and teams. Then, with the help of my crew of assistants and experts (OK, there is no actual crew – just my three dogs), I'll select what I believe to be the most compelling, most dynamic and most worthwhile sporting event of the week.

Along with this selection, I'll add the reasons I came to this conclusion, why I feel it's a great way to spend an afternoon or evening and, of course, I'll add other informative and entertaining tidbits, like comments, suggestions and advice from folks throughout the community.

Now that I've told you what I'm going to do, here's what you have to do (don't worry, it'll be fun).

First and foremost, I want to hear from you.

I want suggestions and comments about what you believe would be a great upcoming Patch's Pick of the Week. I want to hear about sports stories you believe are interesting and need to be told in your community.

E-mail me, call me, send up smoke signals, shout it loudly out the window — whatever gets the job done. Just let me know what you're thinking.

Remember, local sports are about community — you're the community.

Secondly, toss on the parka, load up the car with fellow sports fans, and head out to these games, meets and contests!

These kids bust their rumps day after day to represent their school, their community, you. They could be your neighbor's kid, your friend's kid or just some kid you see working at the grocery store. Either way, come to a game this season. It's cheaper than a movie, it's perfect for the family and it's a good time.

Now, I highly doubt this column will win me a Pulitzer Prize for journalism, but this little space on your local Dearborn.Patch.com site is meant to be fun and entertaining — as well as informative.

So, without further ado, I present to you the premier of Patch's Pick of the Week, Dearborn-style.

Divine Child vs. Dearborn High Boys Basketball

• When: Tuesday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m.
• Where:

This is as good as it gets in terms of early-season rivalry games.

Both teams are off to hot starts and play a similar kind of game — meaning something will have to give.

"They play a very good quarter-court man-to-man defense," Dearborn coach Kevin Barkoff said. "That's what we pride ourselves on, too. It should be a really good defensive battle — a really good one."

The play of senior point guard Josh Hamet is undoubtedly a key for the Pioneers. Hamet, a three-year varsity player, is the team's primary ball handler and decision maker, Barkoff said.

"We want to get the ball in his hands as much as possible," the coach said. "He directs this offense and is really good at making the right decision with the ball."

Dearborn's size and ability to rebound the ball effectively also figures to play an important role in the outcome.

"We play man-to-man defense, and press occasionally, but on offense we like to rebound then get out and push the ball up the floor," Barkoff said. "To do that effectively, we've got to rebound. We have that ability though."

Don't discount , however, who are undefeated this season. Their team defeated Dearborn Heights' Crestwood 56-36 on Dec. 17, Brother Rice 51-45 on Dec. 14 and New Boston's Huron High School 59-43 on Dec. 10.

"This is going to be a really good game," Barkoff said. "Both teams are playing well, and I expect a really close game and one that comes down to the end."