Friday, March 1
No. 5 Macomb (24-3) vs. RV Kalamazoo Valley (23-5)
7:00 p.m. | 2001 N Lincoln Rd, Escanaba, MI 49829
Live Stream | Live Stats
Saturday, March 2 (if nec.)
No. 5 Macomb (24-3) at No. 13 Bay (26-3)
1:00 p.m. | 2001 N Lincoln Rd, Escanaba, MI 49829
Live Stream | Live Stats
BY THE NUMBERS: 10
The fifth-ranked Monarchs earned win No.
10 in a row on Tuesday (Feb. 27) when they defeated Jackson on the road, 102-69, to move to 24-3 overall ahead of this weekend's MCCAA Championship. The road victory capped off a league slate that saw the MCCAA East Champions go 13-1, the best conference record by winning percentage in program history.
BY THE NUMBERS: 12
Tuesday's 102-69 victory over Jackson marked the
12th time this season the Monarchs have eclipsed the century mark. Additionally, the 102-point performance marked the seventh time the Monarchs poured in 100 or more points in conference play, doing so in exactly half of their league contests this season (another program record).
BEST ON BEST!
The MCCAA Eastern Conference Champion Monarchs head north...way north...to Escanaba to compete in the 2023-24 MCCAA Championship on Friday and Saturday (March 1 & 2) at Northern Conference Champion, No. 13 Bay College. The host Norse get the bye while the fifth-ranked Monarchs will take on familiar foe, Kalamazoo Valley CC, Friday at 7 p.m. in the semifinals.
BRINGING THE BALANCE
Juwan Maxey leads five in double figures at 15.7 points per game (PPG), followed by
Tymias Williams who nets 14.7 PPG.
Parker Day and
Nate Brown are next at 12.8 and 12.2 PPG, respectively, while
Josh Hines checks in at 11.8 PPG. The balance continues with the following averages:
Kyle Millender (9.1),
Tate MacKenzie (8.4),
Jotham Nweke (8.3),
Justin James (8.0),
DaMaryon Fishburn (5.0) and
Marlon Williams (4.9).
TO ANOTHER LEVEL
Entering the week, the Monarchs have amassed an unblemished 24-0 record when outrebounding the competition and a 22-0 mark when shooting 45% or better this season. Valuing every possession is paramount this time of year and the battle-tested Monarchs know every basket and every rebound is harder to come by as teams lock in for the postseason.
HISTORY ON THE HORIZON
This weekend, the 2023-24 edition of Macomb Basketball can become only the second team in program history to earn the right to be called MCCAA Champions. The Monarchs earned their first MCCAA title in the 2021-22 season.
ANOTHER LOOK AT: KVCC
If the Monarchs want to win the program's second MCCAA Championship, they will first have to get through a red-hot and motivated KVCC team in the semifinals Friday evening. Macomb and KVCC have met twice this season with both games going in the Monarchs favor. The Cougars, winners of 13 in a row, are led in scoring by NCAA D1 transfer, Joe Liedel, at 21.9 PPG.
A LOOK AT: BAY
The No. 13 Bay Norse, back-to-back MCCAA Northern Conference Champions, made it to the association championship with a 13-1 mark in league play and a 26-3 record overall. The Norse, similar to what the KVCC Cougars will present, are a balanced, deep and well-coached unit that features six players averaging double figures scoring. Nic Williams (13.4 PPG) and Ryan Sweeney (13.2 PPG) pace the six Norse netting double digits.
ADDITIONAL STAT LEADERS
Tymias Williams leads four Monarchs averaging six or rebounds per game (RPG) at 7.5 per contest, followed by
Parker Day (7.4),
Juwan Maxey (6.2) and
Tate MacKenzie (6.0).
Justin James has dished out a team-best 98 assists (3.6 APG) and leads the way in steals with 46, while Maxey has drained a team-leading 77 3-pointers at a 41% clip.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore guard
Juwan Maxey earned his second career MCCAA East Player of the Week honor after averaging 20.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.0 APG and 2.5 SPG last week in wins over OCC and Wayne County! Congrats, and well-deserved, Juwan!
