Wednesday’s roundup: Detroit CMA girls topple Central
Vantane Garrett had 19 points as Detroit CMA defeated host Detroit Central, 50-23, in girls basketball Wednesday, in the first of three games for CMA in consecutive days, and four in less than a week.
Wednesday’s game was originally scheduled for Monday afternoon, but Sunday’s snowstorm that moved through the Metro Detroit area closed schools and forced the cancellation of several area games.
“They haven’t had a lot of practice,” CMA coach Stefan Waits said. “I was the one who was fearful of that. We weren’t able to prepare for each team individually. We had to prepare for all of them verbally.”
CMA improved to 2-2 (1-0 PSL West Division 2).
“Before, she had to do all the scoring,” Waits said of Garrett, a 5-foot-7 junior point guard. “Now, she’s trusting her teammates. She listens and she wants to learn.”
Sophomore Ishameer Smelley added 15 points.
“She’s learning,” Waits said of the 5-foot-6 guard, who is in her first year on varsity after transferring to CMA last year. “She goes hard to the basket. She loves contact. She’s a real good team player. Everyone likes her.”
Waits, who is in his first year coaching girls basketball after a 15-year career for several schools — most recently West Bloomfield — on the boys side, said there have been growing pains with his up-tempo offense and man-to-man defense.
“We’re playing better defense,” he said. “They’re still learning my system, but they’re doing well.”
CMA hosts Detroit Denby (2-1) today before traveling to Southfield Bradford Academy on Friday.
Then on Monday, CMA plays at Detroit Cody in its fourth game in six days — three of them on the road.
“These four games are going to be tough,” Waits said. “I’ll see how we are after the Cody game. That’s going to be a tough stretch. That’ll either break us or make us.”
Central is 2-2, 0-1.
More girls basketball
Bloomfield Hills 57, North Farmington 27: Victorie Franklin had 27 points and Imanni Wright 12 for Bloomfield Hills (4-1). Kierra Crockett scored 11 for North Farmington (2-2).
Detroit Cody 47, Detroit West Side Christian Academy 23: Courtney Stone had 12 points for Cody (3-2, 1-0 PSL West Division 2). Diamond Johnson scored five for West Side (1-4, 0-1).
Detroit Collegiate Prep 50, Detroit Delta Prep 10: Ajanae Horton had 13 points, Ericka Smith had 11 and Kennedy Harris had 12 steals and 11 assists for Collegiate Prep (3-1, 1-0 PSL). Delta Prep is 0-3, 0-1.
Detroit East English 67, Detroit Pershing 13: Jayla Smith had 15 points and 10 assists, C’Erra Maholmes had 15 points and Diamond Massey had 13 points and 10 rebounds for East English (4-1).
Detroit Henry Ford 55, Detroit Public Safety Academy 44: Karisma Matthews had 20 points for Henry Ford (3-1). Ariyana Boden scored 10 for Public Safety (1-3).
Detroit King 67, Detroit Osborn 3: Tia Tedford had 21 points, Del-Janae Williams had 13 and Alicia Norman 11 for King (3-0). Osborn is 1-2.
Detroit Mumford 70, Detroit Cass Tech 36: Shardaye Yharborugh had 11 points, while Tiarra Earnest and Christian Anderson had 10 each for Mumford (3-1). Kennedy Kearney scored 13 for Cass Tech (1-3).
Detroit Renaissance 63, Detroit Western 7: Victoria Wright had 14 points and Nina Reynolds had 12 for Renaissance (3-0). Western is 2-1.
Detroit Southeastern 46, Detroit International Academy 32: Erica Pruitt had 22 points and Kianna Howse 15 for Southeastern (2-2). Marcya Ware scored 13 for DIA (0-5).
St. Clair Shores Lakeview 68, Warren Lincoln 29: LaShana Young had 14 points and 16 rebounds,while Lauren Wynn and Alicia Bullaro had 10 points each for Lakeview (5-0). Lincoln is 2-2.
Ypsilanti Arbor Prep 70, Dearborn Henry Ford Academy 30: Rozhane Wells had 21 points and Lasha Petree 19 for Arbor Prep (6-0).
Boys basketball
Detroit University Prep Science & Math 66, Detroit Universal Academy 27: Michael Bryant had 18 points and seven rebounds, Damond Jefferson had six points and 11 rebounds and Darnell Bragg scored 10 for Science & Math (1-2). Universal Academy is 0-3.
Al Willman is a freelance writer; News staff contributed