LINDEN, MI – Evan Williams wasn’t Goodrich’s first option Tuesday night.
He wasn’t even the Martians’ second option to take a potential game-winning shot.
But as it turned out, No. 3 turned out to be the perfect choice for Goodrich in its Metro League basketball showdown with host Linden.
The Martians wanted either Tyson Davis or Aidan Rubio to take the potential game-winning shot in the waning seconds but when both of their star players were unable to get an open look, they turned to Williams.
And the 6-foot-5 junior forward answered the call.
Williams, who coincidentally wears jersey No. 3, drained a 3-pointer from deep in the corner to give the Martians a 46-44 victory in a battle between Flint Metro League unbeatens.
“Coach drew up a great play,” Williams said. “I saw my shot and I took it. It was in the moment. I’ve been practicing that shot. I knew I could make it so I let it fly.
“It was a great game. Coming into this week, coach said we had to play with a chip on our shoulders so that’s what we did and we took care of business.”
Linden took a 44-43 lead with 54 seconds to play on a driving basket by Eli Beil and the score stayed that way until Goodrich called timeout with 14.8 seconds left to set up the potential game-winning shot.
The coaches naturally wanted Davis or the 6-foot-4 Rubio -- their two leading scorers and top players -- to take the last shot.
But it didn’t work out that way after Caden Veenhuis inbounded the ball to Rubio from in front of the Goodrich bench. With Davis covered down on the blocks, Rubio dribbled near the top of the lane and then drove toward the basket before spotting a wide-open Williams in the right corner.
The Goodrich coaches called for a deep 3-point attempt in the timeout huddle and Williams gave it to them.
“Everyone in the gym knew we were looking for Aidan or Tyson to make the play,” said Goodrich coach Gary Barns, whose team is ranked No 6 in Division 2 by The Associated Press. “When it broke down, we work that play every day and Evan was open. Evan came up as a sophomore last year and we know he can shoot and he made it.
“We challenged them in the huddle. It was a great game.”
The game was not only a match-up of teams that had won their first eight Metro League games without a loss, but it also featured two of the Flint-area’s top guards in Davis and Linden junior Blake Lund, who was an All-Metro League first-team pick the last two seasons.
But Lund wasn’t around for the wild finish after fouling out with 2:07 left and Linden leading 42-41. He drew a pair of charging fouls 56 seconds apart and was forced to go to the bench with a team-high 16 points.
“When Lund went to the bench, we felt relieved,” said Barns, whose team improved to 10-1 overall. “That kid is good. He’s tough. He’s a good player.”
Linden, the reigning Metro League champion, saw its record fall to 9-2 with its second two-point loss of the season. The Eagles’ other setback was 50-48 to unbeaten Bridgeport in the first game after Christmas.
The game vs. Goodrich was tight the entire way.
Linden held the game’s biggest lead at 42-36 after scoring five straight points in the first minute of the final quarter before Goodrich came back and took a 43-42 lead on an inside basket by Williams with 1:47 to play.
Davis led all scorers with 17 points and Veenhuis added 10 for the Martians. Williams finished with six. Both Veenhuis and Williams had four rebounds.
Brenden Miller supplied 12 points for Linden and Beil had eight.
Making the victory sweeter for the Martians was the fact that they won despite not being at full strength. Rubio played with the flu, JaCoby Brandon was back home in Goodrich with a temperature of 103, Davis and Nolan Robb had flu-like symptons and Hayden Hiller was out with an ankle injury.
What does that say about the Martians?
“That means that we’ve got to play Owosso Friday night at Goodrich,” Barns said in his typical low-key manner.
But Williams thinks it says a bit more about Goodrich. Before dealing Linden its first Metro League loss, the Martians beat Clio last Friday by 45 points to hand the Mustangs their first Metro setback.
So, who is the best team in the Metro this season?
“I believe that would be us,” Williams said.
MORE:
Watch Evan Williams hit game-winning shot for Goodrich
Vote for Flint-area Player of the Week
MLive’s top 25 boys teams for week of Jan. 27
Flint-area boys Power Rankings for week of Jan. 27
Flint-area girls Power Rankings for week of Jan. 27
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