C-D Preview: Favorites Seeking to Finish
March 16, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The proposed favorites at this weekend’s MHSAA Class C and D Girls Basketball Finals have unfinished business from trips to the Breslin Center a year ago.
Ypsilanti Arbor Prep and Pittsford entered the postseason as the top-ranked teams in those classes, respectively, by The Associated Press – Arbor Prep coming off a Semifinals loss in 2015 and Pittsford bouncing back from an overtime defeat in the Class D championship game.
But claiming a title this time won’t be as easy as returning to East Lansing. All four Class C contenders are seeking to play in an MHSAA Final for the first time. Stephenson is seeking the same in Class D – and along with the Wildcats, faces a Semifinal opponent with recent championship history.
All four Class C and D Semifinals will be played Thursday, with all four championship games Saturday.
Semifinals - Thursday
Class C
Niles Brandywine (24-2) vs. Traverse City St. Francis (25-1), 1 p.m.
Ithaca (24-2) vs. Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (23-2), 2:50 p.m.
Class D
Pittsford (25-0) vs Waterford Our Lady (20-4), 6 p.m.
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (23-1) vs Stephenson (24-2), 7:50 p.m.
Finals - Saturday
Class A - Noon
Class B - 6 p.m.
Class C - 4 p.m.
Class D - 10 a.m.
Tickets cost $8 per pair of Semifinals and $10 per two-game Finals session. All Semifinals will be streamed live on MHSAA.TV on a pay-per-view basis. All four Finals will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Detroit’s primary channel, with the Class B game on a delayed basis at 10:30 p.m. 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. Click on the name of the school to see that team’s full schedule and results from this season. (Statistics are through teams' Regional Finals; Ithaca’s include Tuesday’s Quarterfinal.)
Class C
ITHACA
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 7
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference West
Coach: Jessie Rayburn, fourth season (40-42)
Championship history: Has not played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 51-43 over No. 2 Flint Hamady in Quarterfinal, 68-45 over Reese in Regional Final, 53-41 over New Lothrop in Regional Semifinal, 57-53 over Hemlock in District Final.
Players to watch: Kayla Belles, 6-3 soph. C (18 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 4.2 bpg, 2.1 spg); Maddie Brock, 5-10 jr. F (9.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg); Brooklyn Dolloff, 5-4 sr. G (9.5 ppg, 3.9 spg).
Outlook: Ithaca has been on the verge of this best-ever run, but it’s still a little incredible given that coach Bob Anderson retired midseason because of health issues. In stepped assistant Rayburn, who was head coach from 2009-11, and the Yellowjackets have barely missed a beat with their only losses to Class B No. 8 Freeland and No. 9 Frankenmuth. Belles has put up some incredible games over her first two seasons, and she’s surrounded in the starting lineup by three seniors and a junior. The Regional title also was the first in program history.
NILES BRANDYWINE
Record/rank: 24-2, honorable mention
League finish: First in Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference Red
Coach: Josh Hood, seventh season (162-12)
Championship history: Has not played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 53-47 over No. 9 Gobles in Regional Final, 40-24 over Grand Rapids Covenant Christian in Quarterfinal, 53-44 over Class B honorable mention Stevensville Lakeshore.
Players to watch: Makenna Hartline, 5-10 sr. C (no statistics submitted); Michaela Hartline, 5-10 sr. F (no statistics submitted).
Outlook: Brandywine is back at the Semifinals for the first time since 2010 and has won at least 20 games every season and never lost more than two under Hood since he took over the program that historic winter. Five seniors start, and while the Bobcats don’t go taller than 5-10, the Hartlines are strong in the post. The only losses this season were to South Bend Adams (Ind.) and Class A Southfield, which finished 20-2.
TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS
Record/rank: 24-1, No. 3 (tied)
League finish: First in Lake Michigan Conference
Coach: Keith Haske, first season (24-1)
Championship history: Has not played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 48-44 over No. 6 St. Ignace in Quarterfinal, 62-55 over Maple City Glen Lake in District Final, 76-72 over Class D No. 7 Frankfort, 51-38 and 54-29 over Kalkaska.
Players to watch: Annie Lyman, 5-10 sr. F (14 ppg); Juliana Phillips, 6-4 jr. F (12 ppg, 10 rpg).
Outlook: St. Francis has won 23 straight since falling early to Class B No. 5 Manistee. Haske coached both the boys and girls teams this season and has taken a girls team this far before – his 2004 Charlevoix team finished Class C runner-up. With two sophomores and a junior in the starting lineup and only three seniors total, this might be the first of a few trips for this group. Senior center Lauren McDonnell adds another 10 points per game.
YPSILANTI ARBOR PREP
Record/rank: 23-2, No. 1
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Coach: Rod Wells, fifth season (101-17)
Championship history: Has not played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 40-30 over No. 5 Napoleon in Regional Final, 66-42 over No. 10 Saginaw Nouvel, 52-41 over Class B No. 5 Manistee, 50-47 over Class B No. 2 Bay City John Glenn.
Players to watch: Nastassja Chambers, 5-8 sr. G (11.2 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.8 spg); Ro’zhane Wells, 5-5 jr. G (11 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.6 spg); Cydney Williams, 5-11 jr. F (7.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.6 bpg).
Outlook: Arbor Prep has won three straight Regional titles and fell to eventual runner-up Hamady in a Semifinal last season. Chambers is the lone senior starter but has been the team’s leading scorer during its two runs to Breslin. And big-game experience isn’t a problem: the Gators again played one of the toughest schedules for a Class C school, handing Class B contender John Glenn its only loss and falling to reigning Class B champion Detroit Country Day and Class A No. 5 Ann Arbor Huron.
Class D
MOUNT PLEASANT SACRED HEART
Record/rank: 23-1, No. 3.
League finish: First in Mid-South Activities Conference.
Coach: Damon Brown, eighth season (153-39)
Championship history: Class D champion 2014, runner-up 2008.
Best wins: 27-26 over Gaylord St. Mary in Quarterfinal, 44-25 over Fruitport Calvary Christian in Regional Semifinal, 54-34 over Big Rapids Crossroads Academy in District Semifinal, 45-40 over Class C honorable mention Morley Stanwood.
Players to watch: Averi Gamble, 6-3 sr. C (16.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.1 bpg); Scout Nelson, fr. G (9.2 ppg, 3.2 apg, 3.3 spg).
Outlook: Sacred Heart has made the season’s final week the last four years and won Class D in 2014 with now-seniors Gamble and guard Megan English in the starting lineup. Gamble was named this week the Class D Player of the Year by The Associated Press. The Irish’s only loss was by five to Class C No. 10 Saginaw Nouvel, and they’ve had only four wins decided by double figures – and given up more than 40 points only three times. Sophomore forward Sophie Ruggles adds 7.6 points and five rebounds per game.
PITTSFORD
Record/rank: 25-0, No. 1
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association East
Coach: Chris Hodos, fourth season (89-8)
Championship history: Class D runner-up 2015.
Best wins: 61-43 over Class D No. 5 Climax-Scotts, 56-36 over Manchester, 53-41 over Belleville.
Players to watch: Maddie Clark, 5-10 jr. F (17.7 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, 3.5 spg); Jaycie Burger, 5-9 jr. G (19.2 ppg, 72 3-pointers, 6.3 apg, 3.1 spg).
Outlook: Pittsford’s 2015 Finals run ended with an overtime loss in the championship game. Three starters and six of eight players who saw the floor that day returned for this run, with Burger and Clark continuing to shine after breaking onto the statewide scene at Breslin a year ago. Senior center Maddie Ayers adds 8.5 points per game and sophomore guard Sydni Brunette had scored 8.3 off the bench a team outscoring opponents 67-23 on average. The Wildcats haven’t lost a regular-season game since 2011-12.
STEPHENSON
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 8
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Coach: Shanna Beal, second season (35-12)
Championship history: Has not played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 60-35 over No. 2 Newberry in Semifinal, 60-36 over honorable mention Crystal Falls Forest Park in Regional Final, 57-56 (OT) over No. 4 Bark River-Harris in District Semifinal, 51-43 over Norway.
Players to watch: Tori Wangerin, 5-10 sr. C (18 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 2.0 bpg); Karley Johnson, 5-8 sr. G (11 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.8 apg, 3.4 spg); Kelsey Johnson, 5-8 sr. G (14 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 4.6 apg).
Outlook: Stephenson advanced from its first Quarterfinal since 1982 to its first Semifinal ever while facing most of the best from the Upper Peninsula and avenging an earlier loss to Bark River-Harris along the way. The Eagles made a huge jump after finishing 11-10 during Beal’s first season, and with Wangerin and the Johnsons as the team’s only seniors. Stephenson’s 10-game winning streak has included nine by 13 or more points.
WATERFORD OUR LADY
Record/rank: 20-4, No. 6.
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League East.
Coach: Steve Robak, ninth season (166-56)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2012), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 51-43 over Kingston in Quarterfinal, 47-35 over Morrice in Regional Final, 40-24 over Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 46-44, 41-23 and 55-53 over Wixom St. Catherine.
Players to watch: Alex Troy, 5-4 sr. G (12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 3.0 spg); Tiffany Senerius, 5-8 soph. F (12.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.2 spg).
Outlook: Our Lady will make its sixth Semifinal appearance in seven seasons and with all five starters back from last year’s surprise run, when the Lakers advanced after entering the postseason with a sub-.500 record. They have won 10 straight and avenged a loss to Bishop Foley by winning a final rematch in the Catholic League C-D championship game. Our Lady graduates four players, but 10 could return for another run in 2017.
The Girls Basketball Finals are presented by Sparrow Health System.
PHOTO: Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart's Averi Gamble grabs a rebound during a Regional Final win over Portland St. Patrick. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Freshman-Infused Heritage Overcoming Injuries to Make Big Impression Fast
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
January 3, 2025
Saginaw Heritage entered this girls basketball season flying under the radar of most casual observers.
That turned out to be a quick flight.
A 26-point win against reigning Division 1 champion West Bloomfield on Dec. 7 showed the rest of the state what those in the program knew all along – despite having zero seniors, and freshmen making up half their roster, the Hawks are ready to compete at the highest level now.
“I guess I was a little, but I wouldn’t say there was a lot of surprise,” Heritage sophomore Emma Duran said. “We worked a lot this summer and into the season, so when we finally got to the season, we knew how to work as a team and how to get better. I wasn’t really surprised about it, because I knew how much talent we had.”
Heritage has stormed out to a 6-1 start, knocking off not just West Bloomfield, but also postseason contenders such as Sanford Meridian, Freeland, Detroit Cass Tech and Hemlock by an average of 23.2 points.
That’s happened with four freshmen starting most of their games, as the Hawks are not only young, but have been without star junior Alesia Ode for the past four games.
“I knew we had something special probably in April when we started doing workouts,” Heritage coach Jaden Clobes said. “These kids didn’t miss anything all summer. It’s a special group that is really committed to being excellent. It’s fun to coach kids that obviously know basketball, but that also want to get better and are committed to being the best.”
Heritage had a solid season a year ago, going 14-11 and winning a District title in Clobes’ second season in charge of the program before losing to eventual Division 1 runner-up Rockford in a Regional Semifinal.
While not a single upperclassmen was coming back from that team, there were major pieces to build upon. That included leading scorer Ode and classmate Bree Hamilton, who Clobes called the best leader he’s coached. Emma and Ava Duran were also coming back after solid freshman seasons, although a knee injury suffered in April has kept Ava off the court. Clobes called them two of the best defenders he’s coached.
Around those pieces, Clobes was able to add perhaps the most talented freshman class in the state: Josie Ode, Zariya McCrary, Jayla Laster, Brooklyn Isom, Londyn Newton and Phoenix Brownfield.
It’s a group that went unbeaten in middle school (24-0 over two seasons), and several of them play high-level AAU in the offseason.
“We have a lot of talent,” McCrary said. “We all came from a team where we all played together, so we’re used to playing together.”
They immediately meshed with their older teammates and gave Clobes the ability to play his preferred up-tempo, pressing style.
“It was fun to put this group together,” Clobes said. “I’m a pressing coach, and we haven’t had the pieces the first two years to do it. This year, we have the length, we have the size, have the speed, have the IQ. We’ve caused 40 turnover in a game, we’ve caused 35 turnovers in a game. It’s fun to watch this team. They can kind of play the game without me having to say, ‘Hey, set this screen. Do this. Do that.’ I really haven’t had a team where I can just let them go play.”
They’ve earned this type of trust and praise from their coach while playing in big games, and without the help of the older Ode on the court. Their early success, however, has made her feel comfortable waiting until she’s fully healed to come back. A year ago, she said she suffered the same injury and it lingered for much of the season as she rushed returns multiple times.
“I’m proud of these freshmen,” she said. “They’re making big plays to help us win. I love the way they play. They play free. They play with passion. They’re not scared; they just play their game.”
As great as those freshmen have been, in order for Heritage to reach the goals it’s set for itself, Alesia Ode will be needed. But it’s been nice to have others grow their roles in her absence.
“Losing Alesia, obviously as a junior and someone who knows how to play, definitely is a challenge,” Hamilton said. “She gives us 15 points a game, so we lost those. But we’ve had freshmen step up. She’s also a good leader, so I’ve stepped up as that.”
One other thing that could help the Hawks reach that goal – the one loss on their record. Heritage lost its most recent game 60-51 against Howell, handing the freshmen their first-ever defeat playing basketball for their school.
“That was very eye-opening for us,” Hamilton said. “We have six freshmen on varsity, and they haven’t lost a game. The outside view does really get to you sometimes, and we came in and honestly did not have good practices before. It was a big learning moment, which was good. It’s eye opening and a good lesson that hard work is really what you need. You need to come into practice every single day and work hard. There are no rest days.”
To hammer that point home, Clobes hands out a hard hat to the hardest-working player each week. They tote it around during school, bring it to practice and set it at the end of the bench during games as a reminder.
“There’s a great quote that says, ‘Hard work does not equal success,’” Clobes said. “‘It’s the opportunity for success.’”
If it all comes together, the Hawks feel they can achieve their goals – which include getting past Rockford in the Regional, making a trip to Breslin for Finals weekend, and winning it – and the pieces do appear to be falling into place.
If they don’t, the Hawks certainly seem to be fine for at least another year, and likely longer, as they try to bring the program back to the heights it reached in 2002, 2018 and 2019, when they brought home Finals titles.
While they acknowledge that the future if full of those possibilities, they’d much rather take care of business now.
“Our huge goal is winning a state championship this year or next year, and getting to the Breslin Center,” Emma Duran said. “We want to do it with this team. We hope to, and that’s our top goal is winning a championship. Or, it could be both years.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Saginaw Heritage’s Bree Hamilton (11) makes a move toward the basket during a win over Freeland. (Middle) Hawks coach Jaden Clobes (kneeling) huddles with his team. (Below) Josie Ode (23) looks to make a play against the Falcons. (Photos courtesy of the Saginaw Heritage girls basketball program.)