DELTA TWP. — KJ Torbert has shown a consistent ability to score during his strong high school basketball career.
The East Lansing senior has been even better in the biggest of games.
The Bowling Green signeee shined in another big-game atmosphere Friday, Feb. 6, helping Division 1 top-ranked East Lansing take control of the CAAC Blue race with an 81-64 victory over Waverly.
Torbert finished with 39 points and eight rebounds as the Trojans (17-0. 9-0) pushed their winning streak to 40 straight games and took a two-game lead over the Warriors (12-4, 7-2) in the Blue with three games remaining.
"I've always got to stay locked in on what I've got to do and just get the win for us," Torbert said.
Torbert hit a 3 from just inside half court at the halftime buzzer to help the Trojans pull even and then scored 19 points in the second half. That included 17 in the final quarter as East Lansing turned a 53-48 lead into a win by 17 points.
"To me he's hands down Mr. Basketball," East Lansing coach Ray Mitchell said. "No disrespect to the other candidates, but time and time again he does this. I expected it. Everybody expected it and he just does it. That's Mr. Basketball."
Torbert's performance helped the Trojans prevail despite being without starter and Division I prospect Kingston Thomas, who was out with an injury. Thomas is East Lansing's second-leading scorer behind Torbert. While Torbert, who leads Greater Lansing in scoring at just under 25 points a game, elevated his play, the Trojans also had others step up.
Tyree Anthony had 11 points and Kellen Lott scored 10 and had four rebounds and four assists.
"We knew with Kingston out some people had to step up and that was me, Tyree (Anthony), Henry (Peck)," Lott said. "We got some plays off the bench. Coming into this atmosphere, I didn't know how it was going to be because it was our first time in Waverly's gym playing. We were a little slow off the start b,ut I'd say after the first quarter we got into it."
Cayden Ali finished with 24 points and Xavier Pendergrass scored 17 points to lead Waverly. East Lansing held Waverly star and leading scorer Derek Thomas II to four points.
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway and Bluesky @briancalloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: KJ Torbert stars for East Lansing basketball in win over Waverly