By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

A year older, a year wiser.

Such is the fortune of the Shamrocks.

Facing the final third of the regular season with a target on its back, Eastpointe East Detroit’s boys basketball team knows what it has to do.

The veteran Shamrocks held a half-game lead in the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division at press time, sitting atop the league with a 5-1 record.

But they know there’s plenty of work left to do to remain in first, especially with four squads within two games in the standings.

“We’ve talked to the guys — they’re really excited about where they’re at,” East Detroit coach Dave Zauner said. “We’ve been talking about who’s going to be the most improved team, and they’ve been working hard in practice.”

Four out of the Shamrocks’ final six division games are on the road, making their task even tougher. They’re unbeaten at home, posting an 8-2 overall record at press time.

“We’ve lost a couple on the road, but I don’t put too much pressure on that,” Zauner said. “We have to focus a little bit more, have to take care of the ball a little bit better.”

Before they returned to division action, the Shamrocks got the opportunity to smooth things out with a pair of MAC crossover games against Clinton Township Chippewa Valley and Warren Lincoln. Zauner said his squad was taking full advantage of the mid-league break, especially since their crossover opponents offered up similar competition and style of play to East Detroit’s MAC Blue foes.

“We’re working on things for league play — staying with pressure — and we’re probably going to see more zone in league, so we’re working on how to beat that,” the coach said. “These teams (Chippewa Valley and Lincoln) are playing us how are our league opponents will — which is good.”

Most crucial of all, Zauner said his experienced team knows how key it will be to save a little something in the tank for the postseason while wrapping up the race for a regular-season crown.

“It’s really important,” Zauner said. “These guys were young last year; our nucleus was sophomores; and they had a good sophomore year. This year, they’re pacing themselves. They know what’s ahead of them.”

The Shamrocks were scheduled to resume MAC Blue play with a Feb. 9 contest at Warren Fitzgerald.

East Detroit is then scheduled to host Fair Haven Anchor Bay at 7 pm. Feb. 11 before setting out on the road. The Shamrocks’ first stop will be for another MAC crossover game at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Utica Stevenson. From there, the team will travel to Madison Heights Madison (7 p.m. Feb. 17), Fraser High (7:30 p.m. Feb. 19) and St. Clair Shores South Lake (7:30 p.m. Feb. 23). East Detroit is scheduled to close out league action with a 7 p.m. Feb. 25 home game against Port Huron, which handed the Shamrocks their lone loss in the first half of MAC Blue play.

While each game will prove vital in deciding the league champion, the game at Madison may carry the most weight. The Eagles, winners of the division last year while East Detroit finished second, were in second place at 4-1 after the Shamrocks dealt them their only loss in the division this season.

Photo by Philip Southern
Eastpointe East Detroit junior Charles Baskin attempts to drive by an opposing player during a game earlier this season. The Shamrocks are hoping to maintain their winning ways as the season continues.

You can reach Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1040.