Despite freezing cold temperatures outside, the boys basketball team was able to stay hot in regular season play, defeating Port Huron Northern 60-50 and improving its record to 5-1.

After a close win over Warren Mott two days prior, the Blue Devils were focused on limiting turnovers and staying sound defensively. Port Huron would quickly score first going up 2-0. It’d be their only lead for the entire game. Dallian Burnett ’15 was the spark to the boys offense, scoring six points on 3/3 shooting within just the first five minutes.

“We knew the team wasn’t going to be able to keep up with us, so I had to get us heated up,” Burnett said.

On the defensive side, Sam Blanzy ’15 had two blocks in the first quarter alone and forced multiple turnovers resulting in easy transition baskets. At the end of one, South’s explosive offense earned them an early 20-13 lead

“Tonight I think the team as a whole played very well together,”  Blanzy said. “We have great team chemistry, and tonight it showed because the scoring was spaced out between multiple players, and we were able to get the win together.”

This intensity, however, would ease up throughout the second due to a change in numerous defensive schemes, head coach Troy Glaser said. As a result, South would score just eight points, and its lead was cut to 28-25 at the half.

In the second half, role players off the bench Greg Harris ’16 and Nate Hall ’16, helped revamp the Blue Devils offensively. On defense, it was Brennan Buszka ’17, Jack Maher ’16 and Burnett continued to clog up lanes, dominate the glass and contest shots.

South would finish the third quarter back up with a comfortable 46-36 lead headed to the final quarter, where this lead would hold. The bench would come in midway through the fourth and would keep the game out of reach from Port Huron.

As the team chemistry continues to grow, many players have a common goal, and it’s not simply to win states. Sam Blanzy is looking to win the division for the second straight year, yet with the targets on their back it won’t be easy.

“I believe we can win the division and make it two years in a row,” Blanzy said . “But it won’t be easy we play some tough teams coming up, and we will have to play well in each one to reach our goal in winning the division.”

Hall may be the new guy on the block, but he too has similar intentions for a team who he already feels so attached to.

“In practice we go at it, and a majority of the time it’s me talking smack and trying to give the senior buckets to make our practice more competitive,” Hall said . “My expectation for our team is to play every game like it’s our last.”

The boy’s look to continue to improve their season record and quest for another division title when they travel out to face Fraser on Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m.