On The Chin

If North Farmington is Superman, then Melvindale ABT senior guard Marcell Smith is a huge chunk of Kryptonite. Smith sank a game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds of the Gators 61-58 come from behind victory over the host Raiders on Wednesday night, making it two straight years that he has driven a last-second dagger through the hearts of what looked to be an almost-certain North Farmington win.

Before his heroics, Smith, a starter on ABT's Class C state title squad, had only scored five points. Senior center Urbane Bingham put in a game-high 26 points to go along with 14 rebounds to lead the Raiders, who fall to 2-1 on the year. Bingham's bucket in the paint with 25 seconds remaining in the game tied things up at 58-58. His turnaround jumper a minute earlier had provided North Farmington its final advantage on the scoreboard.

"That same kid did the same thing to us last season," said Raiders head coach, Tom Negeoshian. "We like these kind of games early in the schedule, they toughen you up for down the stretch." Negoeshian is three wins away from the 300-mark for his career at North Farmington.

In an early-season game last winter, Smith hit a runner in the lane at the buzzer to defeat the eventual district champion Raiders, who had just hit what looked to be a game-winner on the other end with under five seconds left. Anthony Lairy anchored the Gators in the scoring column with 19 points.

Holding a 27-24 lead at halftime, the Raider's fell behind 43-41 heading into the fourth quarter. Showing off his talented youth brigade, Negeoshian's troops quickly clawed their way back on top. Junior forward Dorrell Foster's offensive rebound and put-back hoop tied the game at 43 and was immediately followed by sophomore point guard Caleb Hogans' finger roll and a basket by Bingham.

Foster, the nephew of former NBA first round draft pick Carlos Rogers (Detroit Northwestern), finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Hogans (8 points, 4 asst) and Foster were the JV team's leading scorers last season. On Friday night against crosstown rival Farmington, Hogans pumped in a career-high 23 points.

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