Brighton Students Compete as Top Shooters

Two basketball players, Nick Schroeder and Shane Dokey, were invited by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan to compete in the MHSAA/BCAM Top Shooters Challenge at the MHSAA Hoopfest in East Lansing on Saturday. The Hoopfest is part of the Michigan High School Activities Association boys basketball state championships, hosted by Michigan State University.

Schroeder was among 16 contestants from throughout the state who competed in the Free Throw Challenge. He advanced out of the first round, making 24 of 25. He then hit 23 of 25 in the second round finishing in fifth place. Two contestants made 25 of 25 and two made 24 of 25. The two finalists participated in a shootoff at halftime of the Class D championship game at the Breslin Center to determine the champion.

Schroeder shot 80.70 percent from the line this season and has made 80.07 percent of his free throws over his 3-year starting career at Brighton. He also shot and made every Brighton technical, flagrant, and intentional foul shot over the past three seasons except two assigned to a teammate earlier this season. 

In the afternoon, both Schroeder and Dokey competed among 18 of Michigan's best players in the Top Shooters 3-Point Challenge. Dokey shot 46.87 percent from beyond the arc this season for Brighton while Schroeder shot 46.00 percent and is a career 43.90 percent 3-point shooter.

The contest was a timed event. Schroeder was unable to get into a rhythm in the first round, making only 19 of 50, and was eliminated. However, Dokey made 23 of 50 and advanced to the second round.

In the second round Dokey made 10 of 25 and finished in a multi-contestant tie for third place, narrowly missing the final round. The top two shooters at the end of the second round competed in a shootoff at halftime of the Class A championship game at the Breslin Center to determine a champion.

Schroeder, Dokey and the rest of the contestants were present at half court and introduced themselves to the crowd. Fox Sports Detroit televised the state championship games and the 3-Point Challenge Final.

"We received several calls from friends telling us they had seen Nick and Shane on television," Nick Schroeder's father, Jay Schroeder, said.