Country Day presses onward

EAST LANSING -- Really, it's a perfect formula.

Two quick guards to harass the opposing ballcarrier. Two disciplined forwards to contain the off-ball offensive players. And an athletic 6-foot-11 center to protect the interior.

When Birmingham Detroit Country Day went that way defensively in the second half, the Yellowjackets took control of the game.

And with the help of clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch, Country Day ousted second-ranked and previously undefeated Stevensville Lakeshore, 49-42, in a Class B semifinal Friday night at the Breslin Center.

Country Day (21-6) trailed 23-22 at the half. Then, the Yellowjackets changed their tactic.

"What's been good for us all year is our press," Yellowjackets coach Kurt Keener said.

What effect did Country Day's press have?

"They took us out of what we wanted offensively," Lakeshore coach Sean Schroeder explained. "We got a little bit rattled. They forced us to dribble drive into their big kid. ... He altered some shots, blocked a couple, and then they were able to get out and run. ..."

Country Day's quick guards were Darnell Brown and James Nelson, who scored 20 and 11 points, respectively, many on fast-break lay-ups.

The disciplined forwards were Darryl Nobles and Clayton Beard, who combined for 12 rebounds.

And the athletic 6-11 center is DaShonte Riley, who blocked five shots and altered many more.

"Turnovers, altered shots, blocked shots, behind-the-back steals -- they lead to our points," said Brown, who shot 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final two minutes to seal the victory.

Country Day, which is unranked, has won 10 in a row following a five-game losing streak. The Yellowjackets will play East Grand Rapids at 8 p.m. today in the Class B title game.

It was the first trip to the semifinals for all the players on both Country Day and Lakeshore (25-1).

Country Day's most recent trip to the state semifinals was in 1997, when it won its third consecutive state title.

On Friday, Lakeshore got 16 points from center Joe Welch and 15 from forward Troy Peter.

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