Clarkston Coach Compliments Fenton Seniors

Eric Mowery's game has never translated specifically into the boxscore, but those who have watched basketball closely over the last four years know that Mowery's ability to control the game, take care of the ball, find open teammates and score when necessary are the main reasons Fenton has been the top team in the Metro League for three straight seasons.

And after Monday's , Mowery has a new believer in his game: longtime Clarkston coach Dan Fife, one of the top basketball coaches in the history of Michigan high school basketball.

"He's honestly as good a guard as we've played against all year," said Fife. "He understands how to get everyone involved and can still score, but doesn't shoot until he needs to shoot. And when he shoots, he makes it."

With Ryan Hickoff out of the lineup, Mowery looked for his own offense more often, as he's done in the past when Fenton needed more scoring. Mowery led the Tigers with 11 points, and his shooting and passing in the second quarter keyed a Fenton run to cut the lead to four at one point, the closest the Tigers got in the game.

It was Mowery's last career game at Fenton, and his success and growth as a player have been in conjunction with the growth of the Fenton program.

"It's been great, three years, building the program up and winning, it's just been a great feeling to be a part of it," Mowery said.

Mowery said that he's heard from a couple of small colleges about playing basketball next year, but he's still undecided if he'll continue playing at the college level. Fife, who has coached many players who have went on to solid college careers during his tenure at Clarkston, believes Mowery has what it takes.

"I think that kid could be a player," Fife said. "He'd just need to build his body up, but he's really a good player."

Mowery, however, wasn't the only player who stood out to Fife. With a bevy of perimeter shooters and a good big man in 6-foot-7 Marcus Hardy, Clarkston likes to work the ball inside first to set up its perimeter game.

Hardy got off to a good start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter, but Fenton's Charlie Herzog used his height in the middle of Fenton's zone to help limit Hardy's touches in the second quarter. Hardy only scored two points in the quarter, and Herzog, who was aggressive at the offensive end, made Clarkston work defensively against him.

"That kid (Herzog) played really well," Fife said. "When I watched him on tape, he wasn't as active, but he seemed to be really active offensively for them."