Girls Basketball: It's the Final Countdown

March 14, 2012

Four months after the opening tip, girls basketball season will come to close this weekend at Michigan State's Breslin Center. 

All four reigning champions are back -- Inkster in Class A, Dearborn Divine Child in Class B, St. Ignace in Class C and Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes in Class D. But also arriving in East Lansing are nine teams that have never won an MHSAA girls basketball championship -- including Class B favorite Goodrich.

The schedule, ticket and broadcast information follows below, along with team-by-team looks at all 16 competing this weekend.

Semifinals - Thursday
Class C
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (22-4) vs. Concord (26-0) - 1 pm
St. Ignace (25-0) vs. Morley-Stanwood (26-0) - 2:50 pm
Class D

Portland St. Patrick (19-6) vs. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (21-4) - 6 pm
Athens (20-5) vs. Crystal Falls Forest Park  (21-5) - 7:50 pm

Semifinals - Friday
Class A

Grand Haven (25-1) vs. Inkster (21-5) - 1 pm
Ann Arbor Huron (21-5) vs. Grosse Pointe South (22-3) - 2:50 pm
Class B

Grand Rapids Catholic Central (23-3) vs. Freeland (22-3)- 6 pm
Goodrich (26-0) vs. Dearborn Divine Child (24-2) - 7:50 pm

Finals - Saturday
Class A - Noon
Class B - 6 pm
Class C - 4 pm
Class D - 10 am 

Tickets cost $8 per session for Semifinals and Finals. Parking at Breslin costs $5. All Semifinals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv and FoxSportsDetroit.com. The Class D, C and A Finals will be broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit, with the Class B Final on Fox Sports Detroit Plus channels. 

And now, a look at the contenders:

Class A

ANN ARBOR HURON
Record/rank: 21-5, unranked
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference Red
Coach: Steve Vinson, ninth season (142-64)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 52-39 over Saginaw Arthur Hill (Quarterfinal), 58-34 and 51-41 over Temperance Bedford, 47-36 over Brighton (District Final), 48-40 over Hartland (Regional Final).
Players to watch: Devin Talley (5-8 sr. G – 10.6 ppg, 2.7 spg, 2.5 apg), Logan Sims (6-0 sr. C – 8.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg).
Outlook: Huron has won 18 straight games after a 3-5 start, but those losses – four came against Class A Semifinalists Detroit Pershing and Inkster and Class B powers Goodrich and Detroit Country Day – no doubt have made Huron more prepared for this weekend. The River Rats have been building toward this kind of run with three straight league titles and District championships three of the last four seasons.

GRAND HAVEN
Record/rank: 25-1, No. 1
League finish: First in O-K Red
Coach: Katie Kowalczyk-Fulmer, 14th season (219-109)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 42-40 (2 OT) over honorable mention East Lansing (Quarterfinal), 43-39 over No. 4 Detroit Martin Luther King, 45-36 over No. 6 East Kentwood,  44-35 over Class B No. 10 Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Shar’Rae Davis (5-9 sr. G – 10 ppg, 5.0 apg), Alex Law (5-11 sr. F – 12 ppg), Abby Cole (6-5 jr. C). (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Grand Haven just got past East Lansing in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal, but should have no problem rebounding for a game it’s likely been waiting a year to play. The Buccaneers fell by a point to Detroit Renaissance in a Semifinal last season, and Davis, Law and Cole plus the team’s three subs that game all are back. That lone loss this season came to East Kentwood, and Grand Haven has won 21 straight.

GROSSE POINTE SOUTH
Record/rank: 22-3, honorable mention
League finish: Tied for first in Macomb Area Conference White
Coach: Kevin Richards, fifth season (83-30)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 74-51 over honorable mention Warren Cousino, 56-45 over honorable mention Romeo (Regional Semifinal), 58-54 over No. 8 Waterford Kettering (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: Caitlin Moore (5-10 sr. G – 16.2 ppg, 2.9 apg), Claire DeBoer (6-1 jr. F – 13.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.0 apg).
Outlook: The Blue Devils’ run is even more impressive considering the team has just four seniors, and only two who start – plus two freshman guards with significant roles. Grosse Points South beat its first five postseason opponents by 10 points or more – and also posted an impressive loss this season, falling to Class A Semifinalist Inkster 73-71 in overtime in the Blue Devils’ sixth game this winter.

INKSTER
Record/rank: 21-5, No. 10
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Coach: Ollie Mitchell, first season (21-5)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recently 2011).
Best wins: 56-53 and 59-56 (District Final) over No. 7 Westland John Glenn, 56-53 over No. 2 Lansing Waverly, 59-40 over No. 4 Detroit Martin Luther King (Quarterfinal), 52-51 over Class B No. 6 Dearborn Divine Child.
Players to watch: Kelsey Mitchell (6-1 sr. F – 19.5 ppg), Jamie Madden (5-8 sr. G – 16 ppg), Ariyanna Taylor (5-10 sr. F – 14 ppg).
Outlook: In addition to the mentioned wins above, Inkster has beaten both Semifinalists it could see if it defeats Grand Haven on Friday – the Vikings defeated Ann Arbor Huron 71-61 early in the season and Grosse Pointe South 73-71 in overtime a few weeks later. Mitchell – who has signed with the University of Michigan – leads an imposing frontcourt featuring four players 6-feet and taller and two more who are 5-11. Mitchell and Madden both started last season as well.

Class B

DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD
Record/rank:
24-2, No. 6
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic High School League Central
Coach: Mary Laney, eighth season (131-60)
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recently 2011), one runner-up finish
Best wins: 45-35, 54-32 and 53-36 over Class A honorable mention Farmington Hills Mercy, 47-41 over Class D No. 7 Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 48-42 over Class A No. 4 Detroit Martin Luther King.
Players to watch: Rosanna Reynolds (5-9 sr. G – 12 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Morgan Blair (5-9 jr. G – 11 ppg, 3.2 apg).
Outlook: The reigning champion hasn’t had to face a ranked opponent during the postseason so far, but prepared plenty during the regular season. On top of its impressive wins mentioned above, Divine Child fell by one to Class A Semifinalist Inkster and by nine to Class C Semifinalist Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett. Plus, senior guards Cara Miller and junior forward Mallory Myler joined Reynolds and Blair in last season’s starting line-up and together carry the most Finals experience of any team at Breslin this weekend.

FREELAND
Record/rank:
22-3, honorable mention
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference Central
Coach: Tom Zolinski, fifth season (93-27)
Championship history: Won Class C title in 1998.
Best wins: 66-52 over honorable mention Gladstone (Quarterfinal), 50-43 over honorable mention Muskegon Oakridge (Regional Semifinal), 63-39 and 73-66 over honorable mention Bullock Creek, 60-58 over Class C honorable mention Saginaw Valley Lutheran.
Players to watch: Tori Jankoska (5-7 jr. G – 25.5 ppg, 4.3 apg, 58 3-pointers), Tara Padgett (5-5 jr. G – 12.1 ppg, 4.0 apg).
Outlook: Jankoska, who will sign with Michigan State this fall, is arguably the top junior in the state and will get the chance to play on her future home floor. She and Padgett key an offense averaging 59 points per game and also has cleared 70 five times this season. The Falcons avenged one of their two losses – against Saginaw Valley Lutheran – with the other coming to Class C top-ranked team Morley-Stanwood.

GOODRICH
Record/rank:
26-0, No. 1
League finish: First in Genesee Area Conference Red
Coach: Jason Gray, 13th season (266-38)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 56-47 over No. 3 Detroit Country Day (Quarterfinal), 70-67 over Class C No. 9 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 61-24 over Class A honorable mention Auburn Hills Avondale, 56-36 over Class A No. 3 Midland, 63-46 over Class A No. 10 Inkster.
Players to watch: Aketra Sevillian (5-6 jr. G – 13.7 ppg, 3.4 spg), Frankie Joubran (5-11 sr. F – 11.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Taylor Gleason (5-8 jr. G – 11.1 ppg, 3.6 apg).
Outlook: Goodrich could make the argument as the state’s top team, regardless of class. Four starters are back from the squad that fell by two in double-overtime to eventual Class B champion Divine Child during last season’s Semifinals. The Martians have beaten their opponents by an average of 64-30 this winter. Joubran has signed with Belmont and senior guard Destiny Stephens has signed with Detroit Mercy.

GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank:
23-3, No. 10
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Coach: Colleen Lamoreaux-Tate, 19th season (347-60)
Championship history: One MHSAA title (2010), one runner-up finish
Best wins: 48-33 over No. 2 Portland (Regional Semifinal), 49-46 (OT) over No. 5 East Grand Rapids (District), 54-35 and 46-31 (Regional Final) over honorable mention Grand Rapids South Christian, 68-41 and 53-28 (District Semifinal) over honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian, 48-34 over Class A No. 10 Inkster.
Players to watch: Tiesha Stokes (6-0 sr. C – 10 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.8 spg), Shellis Hampton (5-10 sr. G – 10 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 5.0 apg), Addie Johnson (5-11 sr. F – 10 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.2 spg).
Outlook: Stokes and Hampton also played significant roles on the 2010 championship team and are among eight seniors who have led this squad to its third Finals in four seasons. Grand Rapids Catholic has won nine straight and knocked out two top-five teams along the way. The Cougars are especially hard to defend because of their balance – three more players average six points per game, and sophomore Alyzia Dilworth hands out five assists per contest.

Class C

CONCORD
Record/rank:
26-0, No. 2
League finish: First in Big 8 Conference
Coach: Jeff Redman, fifth season (62-50)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 31-28 over honorable mention Grass Lake (District Semifinal), 56-45 over No. 4 Niles Brandywine (Quarterfinal), 52-42 and 50-40 over Athens.
Players to watch: Megan Redman (5-4 jr. G – 13 ppg, 3.0 apg), Maycee Brigham (5-10 jr. F – 11.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg).
Outlook: A team with only three seniors is just three seasons removed from a 0-21 finish. But Jeff Redman has led the Yellow Jackets to two straight league championships and a run this season that’s included 22 wins by 10 or more points. Two of those wins were over Class D Semifinalist Athens. Megan Redman earned an all-state honorable mention this week.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY LIGGETT
Record/rank:
22-4, No. 9 (tied)
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference
Coach: Joe LaMagno, first season (18-3)
Championship history: Finished runner-up in 2011.
Best wins: 51-33 over No. 7 Flint Hamady (Regional Semifinal), 46-37 over Class B No. 6 Dearborn Divine Child, 77-63 over Class A No. 10 Inkster.
Players to watch: Madison Ristovski (5-10 sr. G – 19.2 ppg, 9.0 apg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 spg), Haleigh Ristovski (5-10 jr. F – 10.2 ppg).
Outlook: University Liggett’s return seemed inevitable after it fell in last season’s Final 65-54 to St. Ignace. It is the only team left in Class C without a perfect record, but those losses all came to Class B or A schools, including B top-ranked Goodrich by three points. Ristovski was named the state’s Miss Basketball on Monday and has signed with the University of Michigan. Her freshman sister Lola also is a major contributor, starting and averaging 12.2 points per game. The Knights are without sophomore guard Bre’nae Andrews (11.7 ppg), who has a leg injury.

MORLEY-STANWOOD
Record/rank:
26-0, No. 1
League finish: First in Central State Activities Association
Coach: Bob Raven, 19th season (319-116)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 70-50 over No. 8 McBain, 44-42 over No. 5 Kent City (Regional Final), 59-44 over Saginaw Nouvel (Quarterfinal), 62-53 over Class B honorable mention Freeland.
Players to watch: Bailey Cairnduff (5-10 sr. G – 16.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.3 spg), Alexis Huntey (6-1 sr. F – 15.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.5 apg).
Outlook: All-staters Cairnduff and Huntey hope to make this final run a memorable one after also leading the Morley-Stanwood volleyball team to that Class C championship in the fall. The Mohawks have won 11 straight conference and seven straight District championships – and more than 20 games in each of the last seven seasons too. But this is the first time in five tries during that run that they advanced to the Semifinals. Senior guard Elyse Starck adds 13 points per game and 3.7 assists as the main distributor to those standout posts.

ST. IGNACE
Record/rank:
25-0, No. 3
League finish: First in Straits Area Conference
Coach: Dorene Ingalls, 13th season (264-56)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recently 2011), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 70-69 (OT) over No. 9 Houghton (Regional Final), 73-65 over No. 8 McBain (Quarterfinal), 68-39 over Class D honorable mention Brimley.
Players to watch: Lauren Goldthorpe (5-8 sr. G/F – 15.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.0 spg), Kelley Wright (5-10 soph. G – 13.9 ppg, 4.7 apg, 5.4 spg), Emily Hinsman (5-10 soph. G – 12.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.0 spg).
Outlook: The reigning champion actually has reached the Final the last two seasons, falling in 2010. Goldthorpe, Wright and junior guard Sarah Cullip (10.4 ppg) started in last season’s championship game, although the team as a whole has picked up a lot of slack after graduating two eventual college players last spring. Goldthorpe earned an all-state special mention this season.

Class D

ATHENS
Record/rank:
20-5, honorable mention
League finish: Third in Big 8 Conference
Coach: Calvin Quist, seventh season (122-46)
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 34-32 and 48-34 (Regional Final) over No. 10 Climax-Scotts, 31-30 over No. 8 Lansing Christian (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: Sierra Stevens (5-5 sr. F – 10.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Leia Fuller (5-8 jr. F – 5.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg).
Outlook: Athens has been on the verge of a trip to Breslin – Quist has led the Indians to six straight District championships, three Regional titles in four seasons, and at least 20 wins in five straight. Athens is on the low end, literally, in terms of size – Fuller is the team’s tallest player at 5-8. But that hasn’t affected the Indians defensively – they give up just 36 points per game, and have allowed more than 45 only three times. Two losses came to Class C Semifinalist Concord.

CRYSTAL FALLS FOREST PARK
Record/rank:
21-5, honorable mention
League finish: Second in Skyline Conference
Coach: Jeff Syrjanen, seventh season (121-35)
Championship history: Finished runner-up in 1995.
Best wins: 63-58 and 50-47 (Regional Final) over No. 1 Bark River-Harris, 50-39 and 50-29 over honorable mention Rapid River, 52-42 over No. 5 Eben Junction Superior Central (Regional Semifinal), 59-57 over No. 3 Gaylord St. Mary (Quarterfinal).  
Players to watch: Alexis Gussert (5-11 soph. F – 21.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.8 spg, 2.0 bpg, 45 3-pointers), Tanner Bartczak (5-11 sr. F – 10.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.2 spg).
Outlook: The Trojans have staked their claim by beating three of the top five teams in the final Associated Press poll, although they also won 21 games last season. Gussert, an all-state selection this week, is the best player you probably haven't heard of right now – but you’ll know all about her by the end of the weekend. Just a sophomore, she’s got major college eyes turned toward the northwest corner of the Upper Peninsula.

PORTLAND ST. PATRICK
Record/rank:
19-6, unranked
League finish: Fourth in Central Michigan Athletic Conference
Coach: Al Schrauben, 27th season (531-137)
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recently 2002), six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 41-29 over No. 2 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (District Semifinal), 65-61 over East Kentwood West Michigan Lutheran (Regional Semifinal), 52-27 over Pewamo-Westphalia.
Players to watch: Sidney Hill (5-8 sr. C – 7.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Courtney Dixon (5-10 jr. C – 7.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg).
Outlook: Don’t overlook the Shamrocks because of their record, lack of rank, or no player scoring more than eight points per game this season. Few programs have had as much success on Girls Basketball Finals weekend. Although St. Patrick’s last championship game appearance was in 2006, it has won District titles four of the last five seasons and Regionals the last two.

WATERFORD OUR LADY OF THE LAKES
Record/rank:
21-4, No. 7
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic High School League East
Coach: Steve Robak, fifth season (105-22)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recently 2011).
Best wins: 37-35, 53-40 and 42-35 (District Final) over No. 6 Marine City Cardinal Mooney, 38-30 over Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (Quarterfinal), 47-44 and 39-38 over Allen Park Cabrini.
Players to watch: Carlee Cottrell (5-9 sr. G – 11.8 ppg, 3.3 apg), Lexie Robak (5-9 jr. G – 11.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 43 3-pointers), Tori Duffey (5-8 sr. G – 11.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg).
Outlook: Our Lady has won the last two Class D championships, and Lexie Robak and junior guard Ava Doetsch (9.7 ppg) started for both of those teams, while Cottrell also started in last season’s Final. Robak and Cottrell were named all-state earlier this week. The Lakers again battled through a tough schedule including a number of bigger schools, with losses to Class B Semifinalist Dearborn Divine Child and Class C Saginaw Nouvel. But they allowed only two postseason opponents within 28 points. 

PHOTO: Waterford Our Lady senior Tori Duffey drives to the basket during a game against Marine City Cardinal Mooney. (Photo courtesy of Terry McNamara Photography.)

Tri-unity Ends Historic Run in Quarters

March 16, 2016

By Dean Holzwarth
Special for Second Half


WYOMING – When the month of March rolls around at Wyoming Tri-unity Christian High School, it’s traditionally been a time for the community to rally around the boys basketball team for a lengthy postseason run.

The boys team has been a perennial state powerhouse in Class D for the past 20 years, winning four MHSAA Finals (1996, 2002, 2006, 2011) and earning four runner-up finishes.  

This season, however, the girls basketball program enjoyed similar success with its own jaunt through the Class D tournament. 

The Defenders won their first MHSAA Regional title last week with a 58-46 win over Climax-Scotts, upping their winning streak to 13 games after an 8-4 start. Tri-unity’s historic campaign ended Tuesday night with a disappointing 71-30 loss to unbeaten Pittsford in a MHSAA Class D Quarterfinal.

"Our goal was to do this,” Tri-unity coach Bryan Sinner said. “This is my third year, and our goal coming in was to bring some respect to the girls’ side of the program and that’s what we’re doing. The boys are going on a run, and we’re on a run, and it’s been fantastic for the school, especially for these girls now.”

The Defenders finished with a 21-5 overall record, and the banner season was something they knew was possible at the start of the season.

“I knew we could go far as long as we worked together,” said senior guard Sarah Buffum, a four-year varsity player who averaged a team-high 17.5 points per game.

“We had the talent, but we just had to come together as a team. We knew we could do it, and winning Regionals was so special, especially since it was the first time in school history. It meant a lot.”

Tri-unity’s other senior, center Marissa Stevenson, said it was thrilling to become the first team to reach the Quarterfinals.

“It was exciting to be noticed and make history for our school,” she said. “I think we were all in a lot of shock when we won, but throughout the season we learned our team chemistry, and our defense really picked up in this tournament. I had so much confidence in our team.”

Said Sinner: “They felt pretty special after that win, and they worked extremely hard for it. It’s a true blessing that we were able to do that, and the support from our fans and community has been fantastic. It’s gone back and forth between the girls and the boys, and it’s really great for our small school.”

The Defenders received a wealth of encouragement from the boys during their journey.

“The boys were supporting us along the way, and that was exciting to see,” Stevenson said. “It was nice to have their support behind us, and we give them our support, too.”

Tri-unity’s squad consisted of only 10 players: six juniors and a pair of sophomores joined the lone seniors.

After enduring two one-point losses on buzzer-beaters early in the season, as well as double-digit losses to Fruitport Calvary Christian and Grand Rapids Covenant Christian, the Defenders began to find their groove.

They gained confidence with each victory and built momentum for the postseason.

“The middle of the season we started coming together and playing as a team,” Sinner said. “I could see some special things happening. There was this determination and this commitment to going out there and leaving it all on the floor. You could see it in their eyes.”

Junior guard Cierra Smith provided a spark for Tri-unity, as did 6-foot sophomore Elasia Craig, who averaged 12 rebounds a game and set a school record for blocked shots with 82.

A demanding schedule, which included games against Class A, B and C squads, also factored into the Defenders’ success.

“Playing those schools helped us prepare and get ready for these months,” Sinner said. “I don’t think we’ve done that in the past, but we’re trying to do that now. I would rather take my lumps during the season in order to prepare us for this time in the season.”

The future of the girls program remains bright with the graduation of only Buffum and Stevenson. An experienced core will be back and a group of younger players are waiting in the wings.

“I have five freshmen playing now, and seven eighth-graders and 13 seventh-graders who are coming to these games and seeing the excitement,” Sinner said. “Hopefully it keeps growing this way.”

Dean Holzwarth covered primarily high school sports for the Grand Rapids Press and MLive for 16 years and more recently served as sports editor of the Ionia Sentinel and as a sports photojournalist for WZZM. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties.

PHOTOS: (Top) Sarah Buffum drives during Tuesday’s Quarterfinal loss to Pittsford. (Middle) Marissa Stevenson (42) works to get to the basket Tuesday. (Below) Elasia Craig provides plenty of hope for the future after setting a school record for blocked shots. (Photos by Chris Duzan.)