STUD SOPH GETS HOT LATE, HELPS DCD BOYS BALLERS REFIND WINNING WAYS IN HOSTILE WATERS

Edmond Sumner showed his stuff on Tuesday, proving he's more than ready to play big with the big boys on a big stage.

With his team behind 50-42 with four minutes to play, Birmingham Detroit Country Day's standout sophomore guard scored eight straight points to ignite a Yellowjackets' rally and send Country Day to a much-needed 60-52 win on the road over Ann Arbor Pioneer.

The four consecutive buckets were Sumner's only of the night and sparked an 18-2 run to close the game. Last season as a highly-regarded freshman, Sumner was the school's JV squad's leading scorer and assist man.

"He's fearless," said Yellowjackets head coach Kurt Keener of his budding star in the backcourt. "No matter the situation, Edmond is very composed for his age and I have faith in him with the ball in his hands."

Over the weekend, the Keener Kage Krew dropped its first contest of the year, a heartbreaking 60-58 loss to Detroit King where Country Day blew a double-digit lead in the final four minutes of the game after being on top the entire way previous.

Following Tuesday's emotionally-charged come-from-behind victory, the Yellowjackets are 3-1 as they prepare to face fellow state power Detroit Consortium for their next game on December 23.

Senior forward Jodan Price (signed with DePaul) rebounded from a down outing against King on Saturday by posting a double-double of 11 points and 10 boards on Tuesday. Junior center Poet Thomas, also bouncing back from a rough night at the office against King over the weekend, played well on the blocks, scoring 11 points – eight coming in the second half – and grabbing nine rebounds.

Thomas is a Division I football recruit at the defensive lineman position.

Reid McManus, Country Day's starting senior point guard, registered a steady floor game of nine points, five assists and three steals.

Both Thomas and McManus, a running back on the gridiron, led the football team into the playoffs back in the fall.

As role players last year, Price, McManus and Thomas were part of a Country Day team that was nationally-ranked and advanced to the Class B final four before losing to eventual state champion Lansing Sexton.

Pioneer fell to 2-1 with the Tuesday's defeat.