Ignition Complete

HIGHLANDERS RIDE EMOTIONAL TIDE TO COMEBACK WIN

The Rochester Adams boys basketball team needed a spark on Thursday night in its game against Oak Park.

Down by double-digits in the second half, the Highlanders found that spark by seeing their head coach, John Hall, get tossed from the heated contest late in the third quarter when he received his second technical foul of night.

Playing inspired ball for their dear departed coach, the Highlanders rallied for a 60-58 win on their own home floor, moving their overall record to 7-4 and a perfect 3-0 in action from the Oakland Activities Association White Division.

Following the free throws spawning from Hall's second tech, Oak Park held a 13-point lead.

Then, as if sticking to the exact script the always-motivating Hall had penned himself, Adams started to chip away at its deficit

The comeback was ignited by a 3-pointer by junior Zack Littleson. A steal and lay-up by star sophomore guard Akhemji Williams with just under three minutes remaining gave the Highlanders their first lead of the game at 51-49.

It would be an advantage the Adams hoop squad wouldn't look back from. Press Kampe, the Highlanders' other standout sophomore in the backcourt, drilled four straight free throws in the final seconds to close out the victory.

Williams put in team-high 19 points for Adams, while Littleson scored 17 points and Kampe notched 8. All three were key members of last year's Highlanders team that captured a district title and made a memorable run into the Class A Sweet 16 by upsetting Pontiac in the regionals.  

Kampe is the youngest son of Oakland University Golden Grizzlies men's hoop coach Greg Kampe. His older brother, Branch, was an all-state quarterback at Royal Oak Shrine and is currently playing in college at LSU.

Oak Park got a game-high 25 points from junior Bryan Williams. The Knights are now 4-1, 1-2 in league play.