KJ Torbert's Last Second Heroics Send East Lansing Past Detroit King, 41–40

MLK senior Steven Jones locks in defensively against Michigan’s top-ranked player, KJ Torbert. Photo by Brent Merontos | True Vision Media

The finale of the Moneyball Sportswear Tip-Off featured two of the biggest brands in MHSAA Basketball: the reigning D1 Champions, the East Lansing Trojans, and the Detroit MLK Jr. Crusaders.  East Lansing entered the game as the consensus #1 team in Michigan and undefeated. On the way to their 3-0 record, they beat Flint Hamady, Lansing Sexton, and Lansing Everett by an average margin of 21.3 points, scoring 73.7 points per game. 

Detroit King came into the game 1-1, with that one loss at the hands of the top-ranked Lansing Waverly, 75-71. The Crusaders bounced right back the next game against Frederick Douglass, winning 75-45. With both teams' offenses so efficient, the defensive struggle that the game turned into was a shock.

Mareon Knott of King rejects a shot attempt by Dequarius Stewart on Saturday night. Photo by Brent Merontos | True Vision Media

With 5:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, Detroit King inbounded the ball to senior Steven Jones, who made a layup to push their lead to 8. East Lansing would not go quietly, however. Slowly chipping away at the Detroit King lead until the very end.  With just 7 seconds left in the game, Detroit King up 39-38, East Lansing fouled Senior guard Drew Floyd and sent him to the line. The first attempt was butter, putting the lead at 2; however, the second one bounced off the back of the rim.

East Lansing sophomore Robert Crews crosses over a defender Saturday. Photo by Brent Merontos | True Vision Media

East Lansing's Kingston Thompson dumped the ball off to KJ Torbert, who took the ball up the court himself. The King defense had a lapse in judgment as Torbert was left wide open from 21 feet and pulled the trigger. The shot was green. Players, students, and fans all rushed the court as Torbert won the Trojans the Heavy Weight contest, 41-40. East Lansing continues their winning streak, extending it to 27 games. This game certifies the Trojans ' consensus #1 spot in the state. East Lansing now looks toward Grand Ledge in a conference game on Tuesday, followed by an even bigger game against top-ranked Lansing Waverly on Thursday. For Detroit King, this is their second loss of the year, both at the hands of top 10 teams in the state. The Crusaders' schedule does not get any easier, as they face Detroit Catholic Central and Hamtrack on the clock.

 Player of the Game: KJ Torbert - East Lansing #2

The Senior Forward's Mr. Basketball campaign continues with this game-winning shot. While the points didn't pile up today, they have so far in the year, averaging in the high 20's entering today.

All photos used in this article are owned by Brent Merontos and are used with permission.