Sidelines: Libbey, Scott face tough foes in MLK Classic at Owens

1/15/2009

The top-ranked, big-school boys team from Michigan will be part of the four-team field for this year s Martin Luther King Jr.Basketball Classic set for Monday at Owens Community College.

Two-time defending City League champion Libbey (2-2), Ohio s Division II state runner-up last season, will take on Detroit Pershing (8-0) at 3 p.m., following the 1 p.m. battle between Scott and Akron Buchtel.

Both games will be at theStudent Health and Activities Center.

Pershing, rated No. 1 in the latest Michigan Class A poll, was the state runner-up last year, losing 90-71 in the Class A title game against Saginaw. It was Saginaw that defeated Libbey in the 2008 MLK Classic at Owens. That Libbey squad was led by 2008 Ohio Mr. Basketball William Buford, who is now playing at Ohio State.

First-year Libbey coach Keith McClure s sophomore-dominated Cowboys will have their hands full against the powerhouse Doughboys, who are led by a trio of standout players.

That threesome includes 6-9 Michigan State recruit Derrick Nix, guard Keith Appling andJuwan Howard Jr., the son of the former University of Michigan Fab Five member and NBA player.

Scott (2-6) also has a difficult task at hand with Buchtel sGriffins, who are led by 6-6Tiondre Johnson and guard Steve Hargrove.

The Classic was founded in 1996 by members of the Northwest Ohio Black Media Association.

Hockey

Benefit for Cannon

Another benefit for Clay freshman Kyle Cannon will be held in conjunction with the Toledo Cherokee Junior A hockey team tomorrow.

The Cherokee will host the Chicago Force at the Ice House starting at 8 p.m. The doors will open at 6 p.m., and proceeds from ticket sales, drawings, and a silent auction will go directly to help with Cannon s medical expenses.

Cannon was paralyzed Nov. 30 while playing in a tournament in southwest Ohio. The 14-year-old Cannon is undergoing rehab at the University of Michigan s Mott Children s Hospital.

Titan Invitational

St. John s Jesuit will host the Titan Invitational tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday at Tam O Shanter.

The host Titans and the St. Francis de Sales Knights are two of the eight teams that will play in the tournament, which begins tomorrow at 7 p.m. and continues Saturday and Sunday.

The finals begin at 9 a.m. Sunday, with the championship at 3 p.m.

Wrestling

PIT takes place this weekend

The 33rd annual Perrysburg Invitational Tournament will take place this weekend.

First-round action at The PIT begins at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Action continues Saturday at 10 a.m., with the third through eighth-place matches starting at 4 p.m.

At 6 p.m. the championship matches occur on a single mat under a spotlight.

Oak Harbor has won the last two team titles at the event. Last season the Rockets had eight individual champs, including returning sophomores Jake Cramer (103 pounds), tournament MVP Ian Miller (119) and Konner Witt (125), to beat second-place Delta by almost 100 points.

SLL Duals

The Suburban Lakes League Duals will be at Otsego this weekend.

Dual matches between the eight-league schools begin today at 6 p.m. and continue Saturday at 10 a.m.