Breslin Bound: Girls Report Week 7
January 15, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We're officially midway through the MHSAA girls basketball season. And the contenders are starting to break away from the pack.
Those on this week's list of high performers look like strong possibilities to keep rolling into their District tournaments that begin in only six weeks.
Records and scores below are based on those submitted to the MHSAA.com Score Center.
1. Clarkston (8-1) – The Wolves have cruised since their only loss, to Macomb Dakota a month ago, and handed outstanding Southfield-Lathrup its only loss this season (37-35) on Friday.
2. Crystal Falls Forest Park (11-0) – Unless you made it for an early Class D Semifinal last season, or are a Division I college coach, you may not know much about Lexi Gussert. But get ready to hear more.
3, Posen (10-0) – Halfway through its regular season, Posen still hasn’t experienced a game closer than 19 points.
4. Battle Creek St. Philip (7-0) – The volleyball power continues to show plenty hoops ability as well, scoring at least 50 points in every game this season.
5. Holly (9-1) – The Bronchos haven’t fallen again after losing to Hartland by five on opening night, and are only six wins from equaling last season’s total.
6. Davison (8-2) – After starting 0-2, Davison has run off eight straight wins including a strong 62-28 victory over Saginaw Arthur Hill on Friday.
7. Oxford (8-1) – The Wildcats have won six straight since losing to White Lake Lakeland (and added a seventh-straight win tonight by beating Troy by three to go to 9-1).
8. Walled Lake Western (7-2) – The Warriors need only five more wins to already equal last season’s total, and handed solid Waterford Kettering its only loss, 43-42, a week ago.
9. Gladwin (7-1) – The Flying Gs’ only loss was by two to Roscommon, and they no doubt are looking forward to that rematch on Jan. 29.
10. Sterling Heights Stevenson (7-1) -- Stevenson knows how to win the close ones, with two one-point victories plus a 60-55 overtime win over Macomb L’Anse Creuse North on Thursday.
PHOTO: Davison won its eighth-straight game last week by defeating Saginaw Arthur Hill. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Performance of the Week: Midland Dow's Melanie Kolnitys
February 6, 2026
Melanie Kolnitys ♦ Midland Dow
Senior ♦ Basketball
The Chargers’ senior point guard unfortunately finished her season – and high school basketball career – earlier than expected last week. But given the circumstances, it’s difficult to imagine a more incredible ending. Kolnitys entered Dow’s Jan. 28 game against Grand Blanc needing 22 points to reach 1,000, and with knee surgery scheduled for the next day. She scored only two points during the first half, but 20 during the second to reach the milestone on her final basket.
Kolnitys initially had been injured during a soccer game as a sophomore, tearing an ACL and both meniscuses in her right knee. A four-year varsity basketball standout, she played the last few and especially this winter knowing follow-up surgery was a possibility, and although she hoped to make it through her entire senior season, her ability to sprint had been affected enough to require that surgery Jan. 29. Kolnitys would like to return for the end of her soccer season this spring, and will continue her soccer career this fall at Saginaw Valley State. She plans to study biology on a pre-veterinary track.
@mhsaasports 🏀POW: Melanie Kolnitys #dow #basketball #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
Jan. 29: Stella Musialowski, Huron Valley United gymnastics - Report
Jan. 22: Baylor Perkins, Grand Blanc swimming - Report
Jan. 15: Delaney Vanier, Flint Kearsley bowling - Report
Jan. 8: Stevie Hall, Detroit Cass Tech basketball - Report
Dec. 18: Ethan Martha, Ishpeming Westwood basketball - Report
Dec. 11: Louis Smith, Three Rivers wrestling - Report
Dec. 4: Traverse Smith, DeWitt football - Report
Nov. 28: Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield swimming - Report
Nov. 20: Brady Kieff, Blanchard Montabella football - Report
Nov. 13: Ella Laupp, Battle Creek Harper Creek swimming - Report
Nov. 7: Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix cross country - Report
Oct. 31: Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23: Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16: Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
Oct. 9: Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report
Oct. 2: Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25: Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18: Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11: Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4: Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of the Midland Dow girls basketball program.)