Suffocating defense helps Okemos to Regional Final

Stifling defense, Jordan Henry and some unlikely help from the bench.  That's how Okemos knocked off a tough Coldwater team Monday night, 67-46.  The win sends the Chiefs (20-4) into a showdown with CAAC Blue rival East Lansing in the Regional Final Wednesday night.  Okemos opened up with a 10-point lead in the first quarter, with Jordan Henry scoring 12 of the Chiefs' 19 points.  The lead remained double digits at the half, 29-19, as Okemos forced Coldwater (19-4; Interstate 8 Conference champions) into tough shots and kept their leading scorer Gage McGuire in check.  The third quarter started much the same as the opening stanza, with the Chiefs holding the Cardinals without a field goal for the first 5 minutes and opening up a 16-point lead.  But Coldwater kept chipping away, getting offensive rebounds and scoring on those second chance opportunities.  However, the lead remained squarely in favor of Okemos, 43-32.  Foul trouble hadn't been an issue in the first 16 minutes, but things started to get physical in the 2nd half.  Junior Evan Thomas (the main defender on Gage McGuire) was sent to the pine with his third.  Then Junior Mason Kaczmarek got hit with his forth, and a rarely used player received his chance to shine.  Seldom used big man Jacob Richardson hopped up off his chair and coach Jeff Wonch sent the Junior in.  Jacob would help spark his teammates in that final quarter, grabbing an offensive rebound, putting it back up and getting fouled in the process.  Later on, Richardson made a cut to the hoop while Jordan Henry drove and collected 3 defenders.  Henry found Richardson in stride for an easy bucket and the route was on.  Every Chief saw the court as Okemos ran away with the Regional Semifinal and into a date with the East Lansing Trojans for a third time this season.  This is the deepest Okemos has gone in the playoffs since 2012, when the Chiefs lost to Rockford in the Quarterfinals.  Jordan Henry led all scorers with 30 points.  He also grabbed 5 rebounds and dished out 3 assists.  Evan Thomas put in 11 points & pulled down 7 boards.  Jacob Richardson netted 7 points off the bench.  Coldwater was led by Dylan Taggert's 18 points.  Gage McGuire added 16 points & 7 rebounds.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS:

OKEMOS:

Jordan Henry: 30 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl

Evan Thomas: 11 pts, 7 reb, 2 stl

Jacob Richardson: 7 pts

Gerald Sambear III & Fabian Leone: 5 pts each

COLDWATER:

Dylan Taggert: 18 pts, 5 reb

Gage McGuire: 16 pts,  7 reb, 3 ast

Three others with 4 pts each