Breslin Bound: Girls Report Week 2
December 11, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We're only two weeks into this girls basketball season. But there are plenty of teams that already can take pride in strong starts that either are continuing on last season's success or showing a nice turnaround after a rough run.
Some of those are highlighted in this week's report. Remember, what's below isn't any sort of statewide ranking – merely a top-10 list of notables from last week.
Records and results are through Sunday and based on those found at MHSAA.com. Click on Score Center to follow scores throughout the week and enter those of the games you attend.
1. Concord (3-0) – Most of the key pieces to last season’s Class C Semifinalist team are back, and they earned a pair of close wins. Concord edged Michigan Center 36-32 – after also beating Michigan Center in overtime in the District opener last season – and then got past Homer 37-35.
2. L’Anse (4-0) – The Purple Hornets are again off to a nice start – with a bonus. According to the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette, L’Anse’s 60-56 win over Houghton gave Houghton its first loss to a team from the state’s four northernmost counties since Nov. 2, 1999. Click to read more from the Daily Mining Gazette.
3. Westland John Glenn (2-0) – The Rockets got off to a strong start with a 66-34 win over Grosse Pointe North and then a 63-56 victory over Dearborn Divine Child. Divine Child is coming off a trip to the Class B Semifinals.
4. Grand Rapids South Christian (3-0) – Two of the Sailors four losses last season came to Grand Rapids Catholic Central. They haven’t played GRCC yet, but did edge Grand Rapids Christian 50-46 just three days after the Eagles beat GRCC by six.
5. Marshall (3-1) – This returning Class B Quarterfinalist added a strong week to a solid start. First, Marshall topped Richland Gull Lake 48-44 – Gull Lake won its Class A District last year – and then the Redhawks finished the week with a 46-33 win over Battle Creek Central.
6. Pontiac (2-0) – The Phoenix were a .500 team last season, but are off to a quick start thanks to two close wins. Pontiac beat Waterford Mott 49-45 and then Harper Woods Chandler Park 57-55.
7. Manchester (4-0) – The Flying Dutchmen have beaten every opponent by at least 10 points this season, including Onsted 59-40 and Napoleon 64-34 last week. Napoleon entered 3-0.
8. Bloomfield Hills Marian (2-0) – Marian is off to a solid start after beating annual Class A power Canton 44-30. Marian opened by beating Grosse Pointe North two weeks ago.
9. Athens (3-0) – The reigning Class D runner-up is off to a fast start again. Athens opened last week by beating Climax-Scotts 55-44, then survived a close one against Reading, 37-31.
10. Saginaw Heritage (2-2) – The Hawks bounced back from two losses during the first week to even their record by beating Arthur Hill 54-35 and Bay City Western 51-14. Heritage lost to Arthur Hill by 17 in their game last season.
PHOTO: Howell junior Meredith Wood works to get around a defender as the Highlanders pushed toward their first win of the season, 60-48 over Carrollton on Thursday. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Highlight Reel: Girls Basketball Finals
March 21, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
The 2014-15 girls basketball season came to an end Saturday with four MHSAA Finals at the Breslin Center at Michigan State University.
Below are highlight clips from every game plus links to watch them in full.
Class A
Bloomfield Hills Marian 51, DeWitt 37
PANTHERS OVERCOME EARLY DEFICIT - After a slow start, DeWitt pulled even with Bloomfield Hills Marian in the second quarter of the Class A Final. In transition, Lilly George takes a nice pass from Claudia Reid to give their team the lead.
SISTER-SISTER - Bloomfield Hills Marian broke the Class A Final with DeWitt open in the third quarter. Sisters Bailey and Samantha Thomas team up in transition for a layup.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Class B
Detroit Country Day 49, Haslett 41
WEBB ON THE TRIPLE - Kaela Webb led Detroit Country Day with 20 points in the Class B Final against Haslett. Here's a 3-pointer from the side in the third quarter.
DeCOOK KEEPS HASLETT CLOSE - Haslett closed to within two points late in the game when Kenzie DeCook scored on a fastbreak off a nice defensive play.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Class C
Calumet 57, Flint Hamady 49
HAMADY HAWKS PRESSURE - Defensive pressure by Flint Hamady results in a couple of steals and baskets for Jalisha Terry early in the third quarter.
KINGS GET THE BLOCK & THE BASKET - Calumet turns a defensive play into points. First, the block by Abby Bjorn, and then the fastbreak basket by Alexis Loukus.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Class D
St. Ignace 64, Pittsford 60 (OT)
BURGER DOWN THE LANE - Pittsford built a 20-point lead in the third quarter in the Class D Final against St. Ignace. Here Jaycie Burger drives the lane for two.
SAINTS COME ALL THE WAY BACK - St. Ignace came back from that 20-point deficit, the largest in Girls Finals history, to defeat Pittsford for the Class D title. In the first minute of overtime, the Saints finally took the lead with two baskets from Abbey Ostman. Here's the second of those scores on a fastbreak.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
PHOTO: St. Ignace’s Margo Smith drives for two points against Pittsford during the Class D Final.