Huge Flint Metro League matchup tonight in Swartz Creek

Swartz Creek junior J.D. Tisdale is the X-factor for the Dragons heading into their showdown with Fenton Friday night.

The marquee matchup in the Flint area on Friday night will be the showdown between Metro League rivals Fenton and Swartz Creek. The two teams both have one loss in conference play and always seem to put on a great show. The game tips at 7:30 p.m. at Swartz Creek.

Creek will be looking for payback after arguably the most painful loss in head coach Jeremy Trent’s career. Last season, Creek ran roughshod over Fenton, the eventual conference champion, through three quarters before frittering away a 20+ point lead with a full-fledged blizzard of turnovers.

This year Creek returns with a couple familiar faces, seniors David Withey and Jarod Jones and junior Max Cummings. New to the team this year is 6-4 junior guard J.D. Tisdale, a transfer from Flint Northern and a difference-maker to say the least.

Fenton, arguably the top team in Genesee County this season, counters with a three-headed monster of forwards made up of seniors Ryan and Dylan Hickoff and junior transfer Cory Cox, the brother of former Flushing standout Nate Cox.

I’ve seen both teams this season and, to be honest, Swartz Creek is the clear underdog heading into this game. The Dragons will need to play their best game of the season thus far to beat the Tigers, and they are counting on Tisdale to be a big part of it. I think Fenton has a strong enough core of complimentary players in the backcourt to minimize Swartz Creek’s clear advantage in guard play. Creek’s obvious lack of size on the frontline is going to be difficult to overcome, but I’ve seen them do it before.

I’ve seen the Flint-area schedule for Friday night and this is definitely the game to see.