DETROIT - Michigan State associate head coach Dwayne Stephens was on hand to watch Old Redford squeak out a 64-58 win over Detroit Henry Ford in the Class B district championship at Detroit Mumford on Friday.

Stephens was paying close attention to the Old Redford trio of shooting guard Rocket Watts (2019), and forwards Isaiah Jackson (2020), and Aundre Polk (2020).

Watts finished with 12 points. He had limited scoring opportunities against Henry Ford’s box-and-one defense. His lone first-half point came at the free-throw line midway through second quarter.

“I’ve been through worse than what Henry Ford did to me, and I know how to over come this,” Watts said. “When they play you like that you’ve got to get your team involved. You have to keep playing, and take advantage of the opportunities when they come.”

Last year when Old Redford played teams which were successful taking away Watts, they had little chance of winning games.

“We’ve learned how to win games when he struggles,” said Old Redford Coach Craig Covington. “That’s what we really try and do now because we are going to see that all of the time. Box-and-one, other defense to take Rocket away. We’ve just got to keep playing.”

Watts registered first field goal in the third quarter on a transition 3-pointer. It was a scoring opportunity he created with a steal.

“He has had a bull’s-eye on his chest, and its made him learn how to play through the adversity,” Covington said. “When he plays through the adversity without forcing bad shots and getting frustrated, it shows that he is becoming a leader.”

Polk isn’t as well-known as Jackson in recruiting circles at this stage in the process, but against Henry Ford, the long, athletic sophomore was one of Old Redford’s most consistent performers. He finished with 14 points to lead his team in scoring, and his 12 rebounds also represented a team high for Old Redford.

“He showed up like he hasn’t before and that’s good to see because we needed tonight, with Isaiah in foul trouble,” Covington said. “Isaiah did some real good things when he was in there. But Aundre had a great game for us.”

Jackson, who spent a lot of time on the bench due to foul trouble, scored five points, and added eight rebounds with four blocked shots for Old Redford. When Jackson and Polk were on the court together, their threat as rim protectors sped up Henry Ford guards, resulting in unforced errors.

Kenjuan Andrews (2021) joined Polk and Watts in double figures with 13 points before fouling out. With Henry Ford determined to limit the scoring production of Watts, Old Redford needed other guards to step up, and Andrews was up to the task.

“In this last game, he was probably the best teammate of anybody,” Covington said. “I think that he is going to be one of the best players in his class by the time he is a senior. He’s playing with three D-1 prospects in the starting line-up. Him and Aundre Polk showed up like never before tonight.”

Henry Ford’s Anthony Roberts led all players in scoring with 21 points in the loss.

Old Redford (16-5) advances to the Class B regional at Livonia Clarenceville where it will face Henry Ford Academy (14-7) on Monday at 6 pm. That game precedes River Rouge (20-1) and St. Claire Shores South Lake (21-2) at 7:30 pm.

BELLEVILLE ADVANCES: The Michigan State-bound duo of Gabe Brown (basketball) and Davion Williams (football), and their Belleville teammates claimed a Class A district title with a 57-50 win over Saline at Ypsilanti Lincoln on Friday evening.

Belleville advances to the Class A regional at Dearborn where it will face Dearborn Edsel Ford on Monday at 5 pm. That game precedes Gibraltar Carlson (18-5) vs. Wayne Memorial (16-7) at 7 pm.

GR CATHOLIC CENTRAL ADVANCES: Marcus Bingham Jr. and his Grand Rapids Catholic Central teammates won by 30 points or more in each of their three district games. But the Cougars could get their first test of the postseason against O-K Blue Conference rival Spring Lake, which has finished runner-up to Catholic Central each of the past two seasons.

Spring Lake rolled through its district with three double-digit wins over Muskegon Orchard View, Montague, and Muskegon Oakridge.

Catholic Central faces Spring Lake on Monday at 6 pm in the Class B regional at Grand Rapids West Catholic. That game precedes Grand Rapids South Christian (17-6) and Fremont (16-7) at 8 pm.