Ferndale Boys Fall to Troy 72-65 on Road

TROY - The last time the Ferndale and Troy boys varsity basketball teams faced each other it was the James Young show.

The sophomore scored 32 points for the Colts on Jan. 4 and helped his team knock off the Eagles at home 60-53. On Tuesday night, Ferndale tried to make sure Young didn’t beat them again.

Young still had 28 points, but it was his teammates that helped deliver the fatal blow. Troy senior John Stibich hit two of his five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help send Ferndale home with a tough 72-65 loss.

“I thought we contained Young when he went to work in the second half, I thought we played well against him,” Ferndale coach Tom Staton said. “He (Young) didn’t beat us like he did in the first game, but their other role players stepped up with some big threes.”

The Eagles (9-6; 6-5 Oakland Activities Association White) needed a win over Troy, the division’s top team, in order to realistically keep their division title chances alive. 

“Division is out of the question now,” Staton said. “I told them, this was our chance to run the table and maybe end up first or second in the division depending on what they (Troy) did. It’s tough to beat them at home.”

Ferndale had chances though. Late in the game, the Eagles were down 69-65 with Troy inbounding the ball out of a timeout. Ferndale's Jordan Guinn had just hit a 3-pointer with 52 seconds left and a steal on the inbounds pass could’ve made it a one-possession game.

Ferndale's Tavion Bowers was almost able to grab the pass at midcourt. Young and Bowers both leaped for the ball and the 6-foot-5 Young had a few inches on Ferndale’s guard. He escaped with it and the Colts went up six points with less than 30 seconds to go. 

The Eagles couldn’t come up with anymore clutch 3-pointers. Ferndale finished the game with two more 3-pointers than Troy (11 to 9), but it was the Colts who were able to come through with the right shot at the right time.

“We were pretty much as hot as we could be in first half and then cooled off,” Ferndale guard Joe Baker said. “Once we cooled off they took over.”

Baker finished the game with a team-high 19 points (five 3-pointers) along with four rebounds and three steals. The senior, a transfer from Clawson, has only played in five games this season and seemed to be in a real rhythm until the fourth quarter.

“I’m feeling like I’m getting it all back,” Baker said. “Just starting to take a lot more shots that I took last year. As long as it’s in the flow of the offense it’s a good shot.”

The other problem for the Eagles offense was the free throw discrepancy. The Colts attempted 23 free throws in the game to Ferndale’s six. The Eagles didn’t even have one attempt until nearly halfway through the third quarter. 

It wasn’t for lack of trying, however. Both Willie Harvey and Jalen Reid were aggressive on offensive boards for Ferndale and drew a lot of contact on some put back attempts.

In the final two minutes, Harvey missed two inside shots off offensive rebounds and had two Colts defenders particularly on top of him with no call.

“You know I mentioned that to the referees and you know, they said I was crazy,” Staton said, shaking his head. “But we were inside battling, getting knocked down, getting knocked out of bounds, getting grabbed and going over our backs. They’re telling me, 'No coach,' and down at the other end they’re going to the line. Can’t say anymore than that.”

Ferndale’s next game is at home against Berkley. The night will be the Eagles annual alumni game and the school will recognize former players in attendance at half time. Last year, players from the 1963 and 1966 Ferndale state championship teams came out for the game.

Notes – Two other Eagles players reached double digits scoring. Jordan Guinn had 15 points (three 3-pointers) and Willie Harvey had 11 points.  Jordan Ellis was the leading scorer off the bench with seven points.