Tough Tests Await Fenton as Regular Season Closes

At 16-2 and owners of a third straight Metro League title, 's basketball team would seem to have little to prove when it comes to Flint area basketball.

The Tigers have clearly been among the top teams in the area over the last three years, but because the Metro League doesn't have the most imposing reputation when it comes to basketball, Metro dominance is often met with a familiar refrain: "But what have you done against non-Metro competition?"

Fenton's final two games, however, give the Tigers a chance to show that the league has improved and that winning another league title was no easy task this season.

"Us, Holly, Swartz Creek, those teams can compete with anybody," said Fenton coach Tim Olszewski. "This is a very tough league, and Fenton, because we've won league titles, we have tough games every night from teams that give their best effort because they always want to beat the team that's in first place."

That should prepare Fenton for non-conference games against two quality Big Nine opponents, Flushing in a makeup game on Saturday and Powers Catholic, which has been ranked as high as No. 2 in Class B this season, March 1.

"Powers and Flushing are both very good opponents," Olszewski said. "This should be a good test for us."

Fenton, and really the Metro League as a whole, has shown that its top teams can play opponents from leagues that are more traditional basketball powerhouses all season.

Fenton beat Flint Southwestern and Davison earlier this season. Swartz Creek played both Powers (held a lead against the Chargers in the third quarter) and Carman-Ainsworth (were within five midway through the fourth quarter) tough before losing late. Holly picked up a win against Bay City Central of the Saginaw Valley League earlier this season. And even Lapeer East, which finished last in the Metro, upset Flushing.

Both opponents are offensively potent squads that feature multiple big-time scorers. Flushing, currently 9-7 on the season, is led by Brent Myers, who averages 19.5 points per game. Andrew Kujat and Tyler Walters also average double figures for the Raiders.

Powers, 15-2 on the season, is led by junior Javontae Hawkins, the most highly recruited player in the Flint area in several years. Hawkins, a wing, leads Powers in scoring at just under 18 points per game. Point guard Patrick Lucas-Perry is scoring 17.2 points per game and guard Vince Adams averages 14.9 per game.

"We've scouted them (Powers and Flushing), and they're very tough," Olszewski said.

Olszewski expects tough games and is hoping the team can shore up a few things as the season winds down.

"We've gotta shore up our rebounding a little bit," he said. "That allows our transition game to get going and our transition game is where it's at for us."