Meet the Facilitator and the Celebrator.
They are the men that make Fenton boys’ basketball soar.
The Celebrator is leading scorer junior Sam Dillard who chased the school three-point record during Fenton’s 89-55 victory over across freeway rival Linden Friday night at Fenton’s version of The Jungle. He finished with 29 points and six rebounds.
The Facilator is another junior guard – Ja’Hion Bond -- who sets up teammates with death defying passes often set up by his ability to crowd the passing lane and push fast breaks at break neck speed. Bond recorded 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
“I can score when needed, but I like to get my teammates involved,” said Bond. “I picked up that role as we went on. I learned I don’t have to score all the time.”
The Celebrator pumped a fist whenever he punched a three-point basket through. He tied the school single-game record with seven. He may have set the record if he played in the fourth quarter. But the game was well out of hand as Coach Chad Logan emptied his bench with the Tigers ahead, 72-45.
Dillard and Bond effect a game like few others. They pushed the pace, excited a pro Tiger crowd and had the visiting boosters moaning all night. Once they sat down in the fourth the game felt different, looked different and even smelled different.
“We know each other well,” Dillard said. “Our chemistry is nice. We feed off each other. We know this team needs us to win.”
Fenton (15-5 overall, 10-0 in league play) clinched the Flint Metro League Stripes Division championship with the win and has its eye on winning districts and beyond. Linden (4-15, 2-8) is tied with Schwartz Creek for last place.
Linden center Jase Becher (12 points, three rebounds) brought some old school to the game with his Kareem-Abdul Jabbar sky hook. Tyler Willard, who only averages three points per game, led Linden with 14 points.
Dillard’s fist pumps and arm swing celebrations come from his love for the game and the excitement of getting close to a school scoring record. It was also nice to pound on Linden, a school that beat Fenton twice last season.
This game turned into a blow out early. Fenton led 52-30 at the half as it shot 55 percent for the game and a blistering 51 percent from the three-point line (15-29).
Fenton is just getting started. It is a junior dominated team the features nine juniors and a sophomore. It’s a team that eats together, hangs together and usually ends up at one of the player’s houses during down time.
Another dangerous man is senior Justin Banura (11 points), who has a little Dream Shake and Kevin McHale up and under move. He can also step out on the perimeter where he hit three of four three-point attempts.
“We won the Metro League and now we want to keep stacking them up,” Bond said.