Young guns upset NBA players

By Lisa Paine
VIEW Sports Editor

BURTON — If you haven’t caught any of the high-flying hoops action that is taking place at Bentley High School on the weekends, you are missing out on some quality basketball.

Last Saturday, Trent Inc., the team that features many of the area’s top high school graduates, defeated Palm Tree Lounge, Mateen Cleaves’ team, 99-91.

Bentley coach Jeremy Trent says that his squad is now 6-1 after suffering its first loss last Sunday against Jeff Greer Inc. But, in Sat- urday’s meeting with the pros, his boys hung tough, despite trailing by 14 points in the third quarter.

“The game was close the entire way, and we just pulled it out in the end to win after tying the score in the fourth,” Trent said. “It was just a great game.”

Helping Trent Inc. was Grand Blanc grad K’Len Morris and Lapeer West grad Chris Hutton. Morris sailed above the rim and his staunch pro opponents at several times during the game, and Hutton went toe-to-toe with Cleaves and several pros.

“The league is going well, attendance is coming around, and we expect that to keep building as we enter into the final weeks,” Trent added.

This upcoming weekend will be one not to miss as several more NBA pros will join in the action, including Morris Peterson, another former Flintstone in town for his annual basketball clinic, and Detroit Piston Lindsey Hunter has been confirmed to be in town.

“Players can’t add to the rosters with the exception of the pros,” Trent pointed out. “More and more of the NBA players will be joining play in the coming weeks, with the playoffs starting next weekend and the All-Star game slated for the last weekend in July.”

Trent added that he has made his entire varsity sit in the bleachers to soak up the action and moves of the talented players.
“To have this kind of talent level and player caliber right here in Burton and to bring the kids out to watch, especially the high school kids ... it’s just unbeatable,” Trent said. “Mateen pulls the kids aside and gives them pointers and advice. I have Joey Jerisk, who will be my top point guard in the area, taking pointers from him and watching every week.”

You can’t beat the admission price of $2, either, he said. Because this is an NCAA sanctioned league, admission cannot be charged, but the league asks for a small donation at the door. Trent noted that people can come out to watch for free if they choose, but for the price, you just can’t find a better deal around. Friday night games run at 6 and 7:30 p.m. and weekend games begin at 3 p.m. and run until the final game that starts at 8 p.m.