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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Varsity Braves face Willow Run in rivalry matches

Team routs River Rouge

By Bruce Mason, Special Writer

PUBLISHED: February 15, 2007

A mere four and a half miles separate Ypsilanti and Willow Run high schools.

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Two glass backboards, 84 feet apart, will be all that separates these schools Thursday and again Saturday, in two match ups featuring the cross-town and Mega Red conference rival teams.

Both the Braves and Flyers will be entering Thursday's tilt on a good note.

Ypsilanti, 9-5 overall and 5-1 Mega Red, defeated River Rouge, 70-29, Friday.

Senior guard L.J. Frazier led the way with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Terry Lopez had 16 points and seven rebounds, while Marvon Sanders and Torren Burns had 10 points and four steals each.

Willow Run, meanwhile, enters the game coming off a Friday win against Belle-ville.

Willow Run played a game on Tuesday, while Ypsilanti was idle. Ypsilanti coach Steve Brooks didn't believe that the extra game will leave Flyers players winded coming into Thursday's Ypsilanti contest.

"I doubt (they will be tired)," he said. "It's a rivalry game. They're coming off a great win against Belleville, so they're going to be on a high."

Willow Run is 10-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

They have lost to Romulus, Belleville and Truman while taking wins from Monroe, Belleville and River Rouge in the Mega Red division.

"They're real tough," Brooks said, adding that Willow Run had a down year last season while adjusting with a new coach.

"They've got it turned around this year and they're playing great," he said.

Ypsilanti is on a roll itself, but Brooks said his team hasn't reached its full potential.

"I think we haven't peaked yet," he said.

"We kind of peaked a little bit defensively the other night — Rouge isn't as bad as the score (indicated).

"We're still dealing with a different starting lineup every couple of games, moving a couple of kids in and out of the number four spot."

Brooks said he has been working a rotation of eight players, but would like to play as many as 10.

Regardless of the rotation, this was supposed to be a rebuilding season Brooks said, considering L.J. Fraser is the only senior in the entire program, but so far the team chemistry has been great.

"The kids really like each other, really get along with one another," he said.

The varsity Braves face off against Willow Run 7 p.m. Thursday at Willow Run High School. Ypsilanti then faces Monroe at home Tuesday and Belleville Feb. 23 at Belleville.

Bruce Mason is a freelance sports writer for View/Courier publications. He can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.