The Port Huron High School boys basketball team has used the month of February to climb back into the Macomb Area Conferene Blue Division race.
Port Huron is on a five-game win streak and has won all four of its games this month.
Leading the Big Reds charge has been Jovon Thomason. The senior guard paced the Big Reds last week with a pair of big games, which each resulted in wins for his team. For his performance, Thomason is the Times Herald Athlete of the Week.
“In the second half (Friday at Mount Clemens) I felt like I couldn’t miss,” Thomason said. “Coach (Kevin Landschoot) told me to be aggressive and keep attacking. They couldn’t guard me.”
Thomason had 27 points and seven rebounds on Friday to lead Port Huron on the road past Macomb Area Conference Blue Division leader Mount Clemens, 66-64. He also scored 21 points on Tuesday in Port Huron’s 71-50 victory over Anchor Bay.
“It was a big win for us,” Thomason said of Friday’s victory over Mount Clemens. “Especially being the last part of the season. We are tying to finish strong. We have won five games in a row, and we want to keep this rolling and finish at the top of our division.
“We have been working together as a team. Before that, we were playing one-on one and everyone wasn’t getting involved. In practice we have been playing better together as a team, and we have decided to sit down (defensively) and not let teams score on us.”
In order for the Big Reds to accomplish their goals, they will need Thomason to continue his ascent. He is averaging 18 points per game and has been the driving force behind the Big Reds’ recent success.
“For me, I like having the ball in my hands,” Thomason said. “I like to create my own shot and run the show. Fortunately, I have teammates who know how to play the game, and we space the floor well, and I’m able to get my teammates involved.
“In a way it does feel like things are coming full circle. We have a lot of talent on the team, and when I’m not producing I have a supporting cast around me that knows how to put the ball in the basket. We just have to keep growing. Our confidence level is really high. We have five (regular season) games left, and we can beat those teams and finish 16-5. After that, we feel we can go far in districts and get past (Macomb) Dakota.”
Port Huron (7-3, 10-5) enters the week a half a game behind Mount Clemens and will return home Thursday against Fraser.
“We lost to them by a point when I didn’t play because of a knee injury,” Thomason said. “When we do lose games, we try to make a statement when we see that team again. We definitely have Fraser and Grosse Pointe South marked on our calendar. Those are two teams we shouldn’t have lost to.”
Contact Joseph Hayes at (810) 989-6268 or at jahayes@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jhayes1136.
