Highlight Reel: Class C-D Semifinals

March 18, 2016

The Class C and D finalists at the 2016 MHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament, presented by Sparrow Health System, were determined Thursday in front of more than 5,000 fans at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Click the final score to watch the entire game and order DVDs.

Class C Semifinal – Traverse City St. Francis 53, Niles Brandywine 40

Muscle Hoops - A classic feed into the middle to Traverse City St. Francis center Juliana Phillips results in a basket that put the Gladiators in the lead to stay against Niles Brandywine. Phillips finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Bobcats Stay Close – The closest Niles Brandywine could get in the second half against Traverse City St. Francis was three points when Makenna Hartline scored two of her 17.

Class C Semifinal – Ypsilanti Arbor Prep 72, Ithaca 44

Kayla Cans One For Ithaca - Things went back and forth early between Ithaca and Ypsilanti Arbor Prep. Here the Yellowjackets take the least on a basket by Kayla Belles, who led her team with 16 points.

Chambers Leads Prep - Nastassja Chambers led Ypsilanti Arbor Prep against Ithaca with a game-high 24 points, including a transition basket here. 

Class D Semifinal – Pittsford 62, Waterford Our Lady 43

Clark Goes Coast To Coast - In the first quarter of this rematch of a Semifinal at last year's Class D tournament, Pittsford's Maddie Clark grabs the missed shot and takes it all the way for two of her game-high 24 points to go with 16 rebounds.

Senerius 3-Point Play - Tiffany Senerius led Waterford Our Lady against Pittsford with 20 points – including this old-fashioned three-point play in the second quarter. 

Class D Semifinal – Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 45, Stephenson 38

Eagles Tie It - This game had six ties, the last coming midway through the third quarter on this basket by Stephenson's Karley Johnson. Johnson led her team with 12 points.

Take That! And That! - Here's a couple of great defensive plays in the closing moments of the Class D Semifinal between Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart and Stephenson by Averi Gamble of the Irish – one smashing away a pass, the other blocking a shot. Gamble finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds. 

PHOTO: The Pittsford and Waterford Our Lady teams line up for the national anthem Thursday.

Title IX at 50: Marian's Cicerone to Finish Among All-Time Elite

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 8, 2022

Over the next two months, Bloomfield Hills Marian’s Mary Cicerone will complete one of the most celebrated coaching careers in any sport in Michigan history.

Her Mustangs girls basketball team is 9-5 this winter, and on Jan. 28 defeated Warren Regina to give Cicerone her 700th career win. She has a record of 701-231 since taking over the Marian program in 1983.

Cicerone’s wins rank third all-time in MHSAA girls basketball history. She’s also led Marian to six MHSAA Finals championships, most recently back-to-back in Class A in 2014 and 2015. The team’s first title under her guidance came in 1988, and Marian also finished Class A runner-up once, in 1997.

Cicerone (then Mary Lillie) was a 1978 Coopersville graduate and went on to star at Detroit Mercy; she was named to the Mercy athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard.

Previous Title IX at 50 Spotlights

Feb. 1: WISL Award Honors Builders of State's Girls Sports Tradition - Read
Jan. 25: Decades Later, Edwards' Legend Continues to Grow - Read
Jan. 18: Iron Mountain Completes Championship Climb - Read
Jan. 11: Harrold's Achievement Heralds Growth of Girls Wrestling - Read
Dec. 20: Competitive Cheer Gives Michigan Plenty to Cheer About - Read
Dec. 14: 
Evelyn's Game Had Plenty of Magic - Read
Dec. 7: 
Council Term Ends, But Leinaar Leaves Lasting Impact - Read
Nov. 30: 
Basketball Season Ready to Add to Rich Tradition - Read
Nov. 23: 
Marysville Builds Winning Streak Yet to be Challenged - Read
Nov. 16: Wroubel Has Championed Girls School Sports from Their Start - Read
Nov. 9: Pioneer's Joyce Legendary in Michigan, National Swim History - Read
Nov. 2: Royal Oak's Finch Leading Way on Football Field - Read
Oct. 26: Coach Clegg Sets Championship Standard at Grand Blanc - Read
Oct. 19: Rockford Girls Set Pace, Hundreds After Have Continued to Chase - Read
Oct. 12: 
Bedford Volleyball Pioneer Continues Blazing Record-Setting Trail - Read
Oct. 5: 
Warner Paved Way to Legend Status with Record Rounds - Read
Sept. 28: Taylor Kennedy Gymnasts Earn Fame as 1st Champions - Read
Sept. 21: 
Portage Northern Star Byington Becomes Play-by-Play Pioneer - Read
Sept. 14: 
Guerra/Groat Legacy Continues to Serve St. Philip Well - Read
Sept. 7: 
Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass - Read
Aug. 31: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way - Read

(MHSAA file photo.)