Breslin Bound: Girls C-D Semifinals Preview
March 13, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half
Flint Northern, from 1978-81 in Class A, is the only school in MHSAA history to win four straight Girls Basketball Finals championships.
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes can become the next to achieve that feat by claiming the Class D title this weekend.
The Lakers' pursuit will be one of the most followed storylines at Michigan State University's Breslin Center. Class C and D Semifinals are Thursday, with all four championships games Saturday.
Semifinals - Thursday
Class C
Manchester (25-1) vs. Riverview Gabriel Richard (16-7), 1 p.m.
Saginaw Nouvel (24-2) vs. Houghton (23-2), 2:50 p.m.
Class D
St. Ignace (25-0) vs Climax-Scotts (20-5), 6 p.m.
Athens (22-3) vs Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (20-4), 7:50 p.m.
Finals - Saturday
Class A - Noon
Class B - 6 pm
Class C - 4 pm
Class D - 10 am
Tickets cost $8 per pair of Semifinals and $10 per two-game Finals session. All Semifinals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv and available on a pay-per-view basis for $3.95 per day, $6.95 for the weekend or $9.95 for all girls and boys Semifinals over the next two weekends. All four Finals will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Detroit. Free radio broadcasts of all weekend games will be available on MHSAANetwork.com.
And now, a look at the Semifinalists in Class C and D.
Class C
HOUGHTON
Record/rank: 23-2, tied for No. 7
League finish: First in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference
Coach: Julie Filpus, 14th season (307-34)
Championship history: Class C champion (2005).
Best wins: 61-47 and 64-62 over Calumet, 76-41 and 58-42 (District Final) over L’Anse, 67-36 over Ishpeming (Regional Final), 56-47 over Shelby (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: Elisa Jurmu, 5-8 jr. F (19.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Blaire Zenner, 5-10 sr. F (8.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg).
Outlook: Houghton has made at least the Regional round all 14 of Filpus’ seasons and won league titles every one of the last 13. Although the Gremlins didn’t see ranked teams this season, they did split against Class A Marquette, which finished 18-4. Jurmu received all-state special mention from The Associated Press on Wednesday and is one of four starters shooting better than 50 percent from the floor this winter.
MANCHESTER
Record/rank: 25-1, No. 3
League finish: First in Cascades Conference
Coach: Cori Kastel, seventh season (95-63)
Championship history: Has not played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 57-42 over honorable mention Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (District Final), 58-51 over honorable mention Adrian Madison (Regional Final), 67-43 over No. 2 Niles Brandywine (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: McKenna Erkfritz, 6-1 sr. F (14.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.8 bpg); Jessie Manders, 5-6 soph. G (9.6 ppg, 2.9 apg); Taylor Manders, 5-5 sr. G (14.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, 3.0 spg).
Outlook: The Jackson area is generally strong for girls basketball, and Manchester emerged champion of a league that included six teams with at least 11 wins and four that won 15 or more games. Erkfritz earned all-state special mention and teams with Taylor Manders and guard Jesse Coltre as the team’s lone seniors – although all three start.
RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD
Record/rank: 16-7, unranked
League finish: Tied for first in Detroit Catholic League AA
Coach: William Jones, second season (36-11)
Championship history: Has not played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 52-48 over Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 47-44 (OT) over honorable mention Flint Hamady (Quarterfinal).
Player to watch: Ashley Henderson, 5-8 sr. G (16.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.6 spg).
Outlook: Gabriel Richard has reached the Quarterfinals both seasons under coach Jones, but Tuesday’s win over Hamady still had to be considered a bit of an upset considering Hamady’s championship history. Henderson has proven she can find the basket when it's needed most, scoring 30 in the Regional Final and 31 in the Quarterfinal.
SAGINAW NOUVEL
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 4
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Coach: Kris Hengesbach, 12th season (252-54)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (2008), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 47-45 over No. 1 Reese (Regional Semifinal), 55-34 over honorable mention Kent City (Regional Final), 60-50 and 57-48 (District Final) over No. 10 Saginaw Valley Lutheran, 58-47 over Class B No. 1 Freeland, 59-58 over Class B honorable mention Clare, 44-40 over Class B honorable mention Haslett, 51-22 over Class D No. 9 Waterford Our Lady.
Players to watch: Taylor Hengesbach, 5-10 G/F sr. (12.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.4 bpg); Rachel McInerny, 6-2 jr. C (14.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.4 bpg).
Outlook: Nouvel has beaten the top-ranked teams from two classes and the three-time reigning champion from a third. The Reese win avenged a 10-point loss from earlier this season, and Nouvel’s only other defeat came against No. 7 Carson City-Crystal. Taylor Hengesbach made the all-state team and McInerny earned honorable mention Wednesday as the leading scorers from a team that outscores its opponents on average 55-26.
Class D
ATHENS
Record/rank: 22-3, honorable mention
League finish: Second in Big 8 Conference
Coach: Calvin Quist, eighth season (145-50)
Championship history: Class D runner-up 2012.
Best wins: 41-33 over No. 7 Mendon (District Semifinal), 68-42 over No. 10 Hillsdale Academy (Regional Final), 55-44 over Climax-Scotts, 48-47 over Class C honorable mention Concord.
Players to watch: Audrey Oswalt, 5-9 jr. F (9.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.8 spg); Chantel Davenport, 5-9 sr. F (9.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg).
Outlook: Few teams can boast such scoring balance, with sophomore guard Allison Fuller (10.2 ppg) and junior guard Allysha Beal (9.8 ppg) the leading scorers and joining Oswalt and Davenport to give the team four players who average double figures or close. It’s tough to see how Athens couldn't crack the top 10 with its losses only to Mendon, Concord and Homer – all teams the Class D reigning runner-up eventually split with this winter.
CLIMAX-SCOTTS
Record/rank: 20-5, unranked
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association
Coach: Dana Perrin, third season (61-12)
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1986.
Best wins: 42-40 over No. 8 Gaylord St. Mary (Quarterfinal), 52-48 over Class C honorable mention Concord.
Players to watch: Destiny Froberg, 5-7 sr. F (13.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.7 spg); Fallon Froberg, 5-8 sr. C (11.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.4 spg).
Outlook: Climax-Scotts has won at least 20 games all three seasons under Perrin, and will play Thursday for its first championship game berth in nearly three decades. Five seniors of seven total fill the starting line-up. Guard Stephanie Cochran joins the Froberg twins scoring in double figures averaging 10.5 points per game with 54 3-pointers through her first 24 games this season.
ST. IGNACE
Record/rank: 25-0, No. 1
League finish: First in Straits Area Conference
Coach: Dorene Ingalls, 14th season (289-57)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recently 2011), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 70-54 over No. 3 Crystal Falls Forest Park (Quarterfinal), 74-68 over No. 6 Posen (Regional Final), 70-21, 78-16 and 67-23 (Regional Semifinal) over honorable mention Pickford, 53-38 over Class A honorable mention Petoskey, 55-41 over Class A honorable mention Brighton.
Players to watch: Kelley Wright, 5-10 jr. G (19.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, 6.8 spg); Sarah Cullip, 5-11 sr. G (13.4 ppg); Abbey Ostman, 5-8 fr. F (10.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg).
Outlook: The Saints are making their fourth-straight trip to Breslin Center but first of this run in Class D after playing in Class C previously. Wright, Cullip and junior guard Emily Hinsman also started last season, and senior guard Morgan LaVake played the most minutes off the bench during the Semifinal. Wright was named all-state Tuesday.
WATERFORD OUR LADY OF THE LAKES
Record/rank: 20-4, No. 9
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League East
Coach: Steve Robak, sixth season (126-27)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recently 2012).
Best wins: 40-26 over No. 5 Lansing Christian (Regional Final), 28-24 (OT) over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (Quarterfinal), 45-25 over Riverview Gabriel Richard, 50-38 over Livonia Ladywood.
Players to watch: Ava Doetsch, 5-6 sr. G (14.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.8 spg); Lexie Robak, 5-9 sr. G (14.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.4 apg).
Outlook: The Lakers, and especially Doetsch and Lexie Robak, will attempt to add to an incredible run that’s included the last three Class D championships – and those two started on all three of those teams. Both were named to the all-state team this week and are dangerous from the perimeter – Robak had 67 3-pointers and Doetsch 37 heading into the week. Our Lady is 87-18 over their four seasons.
PHOTO: Riverview Gabriel Richard celebrates its Class C Quarterfinal win over Flint Hamady on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Anna Fedor/Riverview Gabriel Richard.)
Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Girls Report Week 7
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 26, 2026
The frostiest winter in recent memory disrupted about half of last week’s girls basketball schedule across Michigan.
But there are still plenty of highlights to pass on – and we can look forward to a busy February for many teams as snowed-out games are worked into the open dates remaining. Stay tuned.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Holt 40, DeWitt 37 The Rams (9-2) avenged an 11-point loss to the Panthers (10-2) from Dec. 16 and reset the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue race with DeWitt and Holt now with one loss in league play.
2. Gaylord St. Mary 58, Indian River Inland Lakes 35 The Snowbirds (10-1) stand alone atop the Ski Valley Conference standings after Inland Lakes (9-2) also entered this matchup tied for first.
3. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 54, Farmington Hills Mercy 22 OLSM (11-2) solidified its place atop the Catholic High School League Central after also defeating second-place Mercy (9-2) by 12 points on Jan. 2.
4. Goodrich 53, Saginaw Heritage 37 The Martians (13-0) won a matchup of league leaders and handed Heritage (10-3) its only double-digit defeat this winter.
5. Midland 65, Detroit Edison 46 The Chemics (9-3) loaded their nonleague schedule with several annual statewide contenders and earned a notable win in downing the Pioneers (4-4).
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Grand Haven (10-0) The Buccaneers are looking good to push for a first Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title since 2012-13 as they continue to build off last season’s 22-4 overall finish. They’ve started 3-0 in league play but with a tough week ahead hosting Muskegon (9-1) on Tuesday, and then Rockford (8-1) on Friday with first place on the line. Only O-K Black contender Spring Lake has gotten within single digits of catching Grand Haven, with the Bucs winning that Dec. 19 matchup 35-28.
South Lyon East (12-0) Last week’s win over Walled Lake Western gave South Lyon East as many victories as all of last season and kept the Cougars atop the Lakes Valley Conference standings after they finished third a year ago. Only second-place Milford and 10-win Plymouth have gotten within single digits, and East also has a notable 58-44 win over Southeastern Conference Red contender Saline. A closing run including games with Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Farmington Hills Mercy and Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard will be great tournament prep.
DIVISION 2
Holland Christian (7-3) The Maroons are undefeated in O-K Black play, in part thanks to a 38-34 win over Spring Lake and 55-51 overtime victory over Hudsonville Unity Christian. They are playing for a second-straight league title but also have climbed the statewide Division 2 MPR list in part because of losses to strong opponents Grand Rapids South Christian, Wayland and Grand Rapids Catholic Central – which are a combined 30-3. Holland Christian has another notable nonleague matchup coming up Feb. 3 against undefeated Grand Rapids Covenant Christian.
Wayland (8-1) The Wildcats have strung together seven straight winning seasons and have an opportunity to shake up the O-K Gold this winter. Wayland fell two weeks in its first matchup against still-undefeated Grand Rapids South Christian, but can look forward to a rematch Feb. 10 and games as well against Grand Rapids West Catholic on Feb. 3 and 17. A 51-44 victory over Holland Christian on Dec. 19 avenged last year’s District loss, and a 15-point win over Wyoming to start January also was among the most notable.
DIVISION 3
Beaverton (9-0) After finishing second and four games back of Sanford Meridian in the Jack Pine Conference Division 2 last season, Beaverton quickly has a 2.5-game lead thanks in part to a 67-27 win over Meridian on Jan. 15. Meridian had swept Beaverton last season, and the Beavers also have a victory over St. Louis after splitting with the Sharks in 2024-25. Beaverton has several big nonleague games coming up, including against undefeated McBain, Evart, Standish-Sterling and Jackson Lumen Christi.
Grass Lake (10-1) The Warriors have won seven straight league championships and lead the Cascades Conference East thanks to handing Michigan Center its only league loss, 61-55 on Jan. 15. Grass Lake also has wins over league leaders Hanover-Horton and Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, with the only loss to Division 1 contender Rockford. The Michigan Center rematch on Feb. 13 and home game against Parma Western on Feb. 24 will be intriguing as the postseason approaches.
DIVISION 4
Kingston (11-0) The Cardinals are perfect through the first half of this regular season and have celebrated a new all-time leading scorer in Molly Walker. A 53-34 win over second-place Deckerville last week sent Kingston into first place alone in the Big Thumb Conference Blue, and the Cardinals are also the only team to defeat BTC Black co-leader Brown City. The closest an opponent has come is 19 points, and only one has reached 40 points.
Mendon (9-2) The Hornets have won 18 or more games five times since their last league championship season in 2015-16 – including going 23-4 and making the Division 4 Quarterfinals two years ago. But this could be the season they complete the title climb again as they lead the Southern Central Athletic Association West by a game over Climax-Scotts, which they defeated 30-24 last week. Mendon has allowed only two opponents to reach 40 points, in losses to Division 3 Union City (43-27) and Division 1 Sturgis (46-40).
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Gladstone (10-2) at Negaunee (12-0) – Both were league champions last year and could be again, but what makes this matchup especially intriguing is it’s the first since Gladstone defeated the Miners in last year’s District Final.
Tuesday – Brown City (9-1) at Sandusky (10-1) – These two are tied for first in the BTC Black and will meet again Feb. 19.
Wednesday – Morenci (8-1) at Adrian Lenawee Christian (9-1) – The Friday matchup between these two at Morenci was postponed, but they’re set to play this time at Lenawee Christian for first place in the Tri-County Conference.
Friday – Rockford (8-1) at Grand Haven (10-0) – The Rams have won three straight O-K Red titles, and this matchup could go a long way toward helping them secure a fourth in a row.
Friday – Shelby (9-0) at Ravenna (10-2) – They are the only teams still undefeated in West Michigan Conference Rivers play after finishing second and third, respectively, in the league last season.
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PHOTOS (Top) Wayne Memorial’s Micah Darling (23) drives into the lane during her team’s 55-40 win over Livonia Stevenson last week. (Middle) A Bath player puts up a shot as the Bees held on for a 35-33 win over Laingsburg on Wednesday. (Wayne/Stevenson photo by KMS Photography. Bath/Laingsburg photo by Team Arreguin Photos.)