Double OT Emotional Roller coaster: Kalamazoo Phoenix Stuns Hackett, 91–85

Phoenix's Deshawn Lee Emotional after making the game winning free throws Wednesday night. Photo by Travis Long | Team TBM

Kalamazoo Phoenix walked into Wednesday night with plenty of doubt surrounding them. A move from Division 4 to Division 3 this season had many questioning whether the program could compete at the next level, especially against a perennial power like Kalamazoo Hackett. By the end of the night, those questions were answered in dramatic fashion.

Phoenix stunned Hackett in an instant classic, surviving a double-overtime thriller for a 91–85 victory to punch their ticket to the district final and make a loud statement that they belong in the Division 3 playoff conversation. From the opening tip, it was clear Phoenix wasn’t intimidated by the moment or the opponent. They came out aggressive on both ends of the floor, pushing the pace and attacking early. That confidence translated quickly to the scoreboard. By the end of the first quarter, Phoenix held a shocking 22–10 lead, leaving the gym buzzing and many—including myself—scrambling to recalibrate expectations. What most assumed would be a routine night for Hackett had already been flipped on its head.

Elijah Brooks from Hackett at the free throw line Wednesday night. Photo By Travis Long | Team TBM

Hackett responded in the second quarter, tightening defensively and finding a rhythm offensively, but Phoenix never backed down. They absorbed the push and continued to execute, taking a 36–31 lead into halftime. The five-point margin felt larger than it looked on paper, as Phoenix had clearly set the tone and forced Hackett to play catch-up.

Coming out of the break, Phoenix kept their foot on the gas. Rather than trying to slow the game down, they leaned into their momentum, attacking aggressively and extending the lead to 59–47 by the end of the third quarter. Every time Hackett appeared ready to seize control, Phoenix answered with poise and timely baskets. That resilience was tested in the fourth. Phoenix held the lead for most of the final period, but with just over three minutes remaining, Hackett’s Elijah Brooks drilled a massive three-pointer to cut the deficit to 69–66, igniting the crowd and swinging momentum. Phoenix, however, remained completely unfazed. Junior Remire Lockhart continued to lead the charge offensively, steadying his team when the pressure peaked.

Remire Lockhart making it look easy as he makes a impressive lay up Wednesday night Photo By Travis long | Team TBM

With 51 seconds left, Phoenix still held a 73–69 advantage. Then came another surge from Hackett. Leland Berg knocked down a clutch three to cut the lead to one, and moments later Hackett came away with a steal and an uncontested layup to grab a one-point lead. In the span of seconds, the game had turned. Phoenix responded the way championship-caliber teams do. Drawing a foul in the closing moments, they calmly stepped to the line and converted the free throw to tie the game at 74–74, forcing overtime. The first overtime mirrored the intensity of regulation. Both teams traded blows, bodies hit the floor, and the foul count began to matter. Hackett was dealt a significant blow late in the period when Elijah Brooks and Keegan McCue both fouled out. Despite the losses, Hackett’s bench stepped up just enough to keep the game alive, sending it to a second overtime with everything still on the line. in double overtime, the absence of Brooks and McCue finally caught up to Hackett. Phoenix seized the moment, capitalizing on mismatches and executing down the stretch. With composure and confidence, they closed out the game and secured a memorable 91–85 win that will be talked about for a long time. The victory was more than just an upset it was a statement. Counted out after the divisional move, Kalamazoo Phoenix proved they can not only compete in Division 3, but thrive when the lights are brightest. Phoenix now advances to the district final, where they will face Schoolcraft on Friday night. Schoolcraft earned its spot with a dominant 71–30 win over Comstock, setting the stage for a district championship matchup fueled by momentum, belief, and two teams playing their best basketball at exactly the right time.

Scoring Leaders Phoenix: Remire Lockhart: 35 Carmello Johnson: 18 Kamarion Parker: 18 Artaeis Nabors:15 Hackett: Elijah Brooks: 34 Keegan Mccue: 15 Leland Berg: 15 https://www.thebigmadonski.com/post/schoolcraft-soars-past-comstock-punches-ticket-to-sixth-straight-district-final READ SCHOOLCRAFT RESULTS