Mad Bombers

There was no tip-toeing through the tulips on Saturday for the Michigan Madness.

Playing in the annual Tulip Tip-Off Classic in Holland, Michigan, it was full speed ahead all the way for the Madness, an 16-and-under boys AAU basketball team made up of some of the best young hoopsters Northern Oakland County has to offer, as they rampaged their way through the first day of action in the tourney.

The Madness went 3-1 on the day, beating Elite Skills 73-54, taking down Parallel 45 70-50 and defeating Shoreline Region 59-53 before losing a nail-biter to Comstock Park 74-72.

They will continue play on Sunday in the tourney's championship bracket.

In the Elite Skills game, Clarkston center Mike Nicholson went for a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds and Holly's Morgan Baylis pumped in 15 points in the win. Clarkston sharpshooter Blake Pokely scored a game-high 16 points in the victory over Parallel 45, flanked by 12 apiece by Holly point guard Parker Rowse and Lakeland forward Nick Troxell.  Holly's inside-outside tandem of spunky guard Josh Simms and fast-improving 6-foot-7 power forward Logan Spiker put up 10 each to lead the way for the Madness in the Shoreline Region game.

Troxell, one of the true hidden gems in the area's Class of 2014 and a genuine high-flyer in the open floor, threw down a massive two-handed dunk over a pair of Parallel 45 defenders in the second game of the day. Averaging 22 points and 8.5 rebounds a night last season, Troxell was an all-league selection and will be one of the best players in the KLAA entering his junior campaign next year.

Nicholson and Pokely played JV last season as sophomores for Clarkston but will be expected to contribute heavily in 2013 and 2014. Pokely is the younger brother of former Wolfpack great Brandon Pokely, who captained C-Town to the final four back in 2009 and is currently playing D1 ball at Western Michigan.

Jeff Spiker, Logan's dad, is the head coach of the Madness. Logan transferred into Holly last season as a sophomore from Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes.

Baylis' father, Lance is the head coach at Holly. Him and Rowse made varsity as freshman last winter and along with Isaac Casillas represent the bright future of Broncho basketball for the next three seasons.