Okemos boys basketball guard tandem helps put end to Jackson's three-game winning streak

The Okemos High School boys basketball team’s one-two punch of Chris Harrison-Docks and Mack McKearney delivered a few too many blows for a stagnant Jackson offense to contend with in a 64-52 Okemos victory Tuesday.

Harrison-Docks buried five 3-pointers en route to a game-high 25 points and McKearney tallied 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists to help Okemos (8-2 overall, 3-1 Capital Area Activities Conference Blue Division) halt Jackson’s winning streak at three games.


“I think with Chris and Mack … I’ve really got two point guards on the floor and that’s really an advantage for us,” Okemos coach Dan Stolz said. “(Mack) is just so strong and Chris is elusive and quick and a good ball handler so that helps us against aggressive trapping teams. Chris and Mack are just terrific every night really — they average over 40 points a game together and that’s always there.”

In the second half, the tandem made a majority of the key plays for the Chiefs.

After Jackson (4-6, 2-3) had pulled within three by halftime, Harrison-Docks hit three 3-pointers in a 3:30 span to give Okemos an eight-point lead.

Down the stretch, McKearney was almost automatic at the free-throw line, making 10 of 12 shots.

Jackson coach Ramsey Nichols said his team’s defense wasn’t the trouble though — he was actually pleased they held the Chieftains below 70 points.

It was the offense that disappointed him.

“It was just getting stagnant on offense. The ball wasn’t moving … and we just need to be a little faster on our feet,” he said.

John White scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half, but Okemos went with a zone defense in the second half, making Jackson look elsewhere for shots.

Jeremy Williamson finished with a team-high 13 points, including a pair of late 3-pointers.

Still, Jackson got no closer than 10 points in the final quarter.

White added 10 rebounds to tally another double-double, something Nichols said he is becoming accustomed to.

“John is undersized for a big man, but he just goes out and gives it his all every game,” he said. “He uses his quickness, athleticism and toughness to get by, and he just continues to work hard.”

Stolz said Jackson is a well-coached, scrappy squad that is “a really good team to beat on their home court.”

He said going to a zone defense in the second half seemed to slow down the game and work in his team’s favor.

“It did change the tempo for a while, and we got a couple of turnovers out of it,” Stolz said.
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on Jan. 26, 2011