Rochester Adams Captures Division Title, Beating Stoney Creek, 59-53

OXFORD – Rochester Adams defeated Stoney Creek 59-53 Friday at Oxford High School to capture the division title in boys high school basketball and earn a trip to the regional semifinals next week.

They'll play Pontiac at 7 p.m. Monday in Southfield; Pontiac defeated Avondale High School 63-60 on Friday night.

Here's how the Stoney Creek-Adams showdown went: 

7 p.m.: Tipoff, Adams vs. Stoney Creek for the division championship. 

7:10 p.m.: Adams up 8-2 halfway through the first quarter, Matt Nestor has two 3-pointers for the Highlanders.

7:18 p.m.: Stoney Creek hits a 3-pointer, taking the Cougars to within one point near the end of the first quarter.  Adams' Akhemji Williams misses a jump shot at the buzzer; Highlanders lead 16-15 after one quarter.

7:19 p.m.: Highlanders' Andrew Hammett hits a 3-pointer to open the second quarter; Adams leads 19-15  with 7:30 left in the half.

7:24 p.m.: Akhemji Williams hits two free throws to give Adams a 21-17 lead with 5:13 remaining in the half.  Williams has four points. Timeout Highlanders.

7:31 p.m.: Adams' Nick Zekaj fouled behind the three-point line, goes 2-for-3 from the free throw line;  30-22 Highlanders.

7:33 p.m.: Nick Zekaj fouled again, makes both free throws with 1:19 left in the half.  He is 4-for-5 in the game and has six points. Score: 32-22; Adams stretches its lead.

7:38 p.m.: Stoney Creek's Blake Wiessmann hits a 3-pointer at the end of the half to cut the Cougars' deficit to six;  33-27 Highlanders at halftime.

7:53 p.m.: Adams' Mario Roveda gets fouled making a basket, then misses the free throw.   Highlanders  lead 38-31 with 5:02 left in the third quarter.

7:54 p.m.: Adams' Andrew Hammett takes the ball down the court and is fouled while making the basket; he converts the three-point play.  Highlanders lead 41-31 with 4:47 to play in the third quarter.  Timeout, Cougars.

7:59 p.m.: Mario Roveda fouls Austin Jones behind the 3-point line.  Jones makes 2-of-3 for the Cougars.  The lead is 44-35, Highlanders, with 3:05 to play in the third quarter.

8:06 p.m.: Stoney Creek's Joe Stephan pulls down a rebound and makes a layup for the Cougars after a missed free throw by Alex Jones of Adams. The third quarter ends with some momentum for Stoney Creek, and the Highlanders' lead cut to one point, 44-43, going into the fourth quarter. 

8:12 p.m.: Mario Roveda sent to the free throw line, goes 1-for-2 for Adams.  Highlanders up 51-45 with 5:06 left in the game.

8:14 p.m.: Andrew Hammett's shot is swatted by Cougar Taylor Rawlings, only to send the ball for an easy layup by Adams' James Berger.   Highlanders lead is back to 10, 55-45, with 3:55 left to play.

8:19 p.m.: A block by Stoney Creek's Blake Wiesemann leads to a bucket on the other end by Taylor Rawlings.  Lead is cut to 55-49 for Highlanders with 1:21 to play in the game.

8:21 p.m.: Cougars' Taylor Rawlings makes two free throws after a foul; 55-51 Highlanders with a minute to play.

8:24 p.m.: Stoney Creek's Taylor Rawlings makes another bucket, 56-53 Adams. Timeout, Highlanders with 31.3 seconds to play.

8:26 p.m.: Taylor Rawlings fouls out with 28.8 seconds left, sending Andrew Hammett to the line for the Highlanders.  Hammett goes 1-for-2; 57-53 Adams with 25 seconds left.

8:27 p.m.: Adams' Akhemji Williams is sent to the free throw line with a four-point lead and 16 seconds left to play.  Williams makes both shots, 59-53 Highlanders.

8:30 p.m. Highlanders win, 59-53, to go to the a regional semifinal next week. Highlanders fans clad in togas flood the court and surround the team at half court.