Eagles brush off rust to upend Lutheran South, clinch division

Feb. 26, 2010, 11:20 a.m.

  Playing just its third game in three weeks, Plymouth Christian Academy's boys basketball team clinched the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Red Division title Tuesday night when it knocked off Lutheran South, 71-53.

  "We came out flat in all aspects of the game," noted head coach Mike Doyle, whose team improved to 11-4 overall and 10-1 in the Red. "It was just our second game in three weeks, and it showed. Our defense was slow, our offense was dead and the kids did not play with energy until the fourth quarter.

  "Until the fourth quarter, I had to read the names on the front of the jerseys because I felt like we were in the twilight zone. That certainly was not PCA basketball until then."

  Eric Jipping had a big night in the paint for the Eagles, scoring 21 points. Ethan Walker added 11 and Don Mullett contributed 10 points and eight assists.

  In the annual "Senior Night" game, the Eagles' starting contingent included five of their six seniors.

  PCA trailed 29-27 at the half and 46-43 after three quarters. But Doyle's crew put it all together in the fourth quarter, outscoring South, 28-7.

  "Lutheran South played great," said Doyle. "They were patient and drove the ball aggressively at the basket, resulting in 15 for 20 from the free throw line. We were just 12 of 26 from the line."

  After picking up three quick first-quarter fouls, Riley Groenwald settled down and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Eagles. Mullett added five steals to his impressive stat line.

  South dropped to 7-8 overall and 5-8 in the Red.