EAST LANSING -- It's a lesson that has been continually reinforced during the playoffs: nothing less than a complete, four-quarter effort will allow you to advance.  Even facing the bleakest of predicaments, it's a lesson the Fulton-Middleton Pirates did not waver from.

Trailing 53-39 with less than six minutes left in regulation in a Class D semi-final against Detroit Westside Christian Academy, the Pirates embarked on a stunning, 18-0 run, and eventually earned a 59-55 win over the Warriors to advance to the Class D state title game on Saturday.  Fulton will battle Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian at 10 a.m. with the championship up for grabs.

"We just knew they were a great team. We knew we had to play defense and rebound," said Fulton guard Tyler Walden, who scored a game-high 19 points despite hitting only five of his 16 field goal attempts.  "We struggled to score for awhile, but we were never done. We wanted to keep going and we pushed. I love my teammates to death. We got the job done tonight and we're ready to go Saturday."

"We missed a lot of shots that we typically make. How they kept battling, I don't know," said Pirates head coach  Todd Walden.  "But we hit some big ones when we needed to."

Corey Hungerford chipped in with 14 points and seven rebounds for the Pirates in the winning effort, while Detroit Westside C.A. was paced by Deon Taylor and Robert Davis, with a combined 28 points and 12 rebounds.

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