Nouvel Books Return to C Final
March 13, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
EAST LANSING – Just about every team that reaches an MHSAA championship game and leaves with a runner-up trophy makes plans, rather immediately, to return the following season and finish the title run.
Easier said than done, obviously. But Saginaw Nouvel gave itself no other option.
After falling by just five points in last season’s Class C Final to Manchester, the Panthers will get another chance Saturday to finish with a win for the first time since 2008.
Nouvel defeated Gobles in Thursday’s first Semifinal at the Breslin Center, 47-35, to earn an opportunity to face St. Ignace for the championship at 4 p.m. Saturday.
“It was hard. We almost expected it of ourselves. It was implied,” said Nouvel senior center Rachel McInerney of making another Breslin run. “We came into every game knowing we were going to win, and not leaving until we had won.”
The Panthers have made good on that aspiration more times than not this season, moving to 21-4 Thursday after chipping away quarter by quarter to finish ahead by a comfortable margin and hand Gobles (26-1) its lone loss.
Nouvel’s four-point advantage during the fourth quarter was its largest of any period. Neither team set Breslin aflame from an offensive standpoint – Nouvel shot only 25 percent from the floor and Gobles just 29.
But the Panthers managed a 48-37 rebounding edge, and with three seniors, maybe a slight edge in comfort with the big stage as Gobles was making its first trip to the Semifinals in program history.
First-half performance hasn’t been a strength this season – but Nouvel gutted out a 21-15 halftime lead and never trailed over the final 27 minutes of the game.
Sophomore guard Laurel Jacqmain led the Panthers with 20 points, and three teammates scored at least seven. But McInerney – who averages nearly 12 per game – had just three points although she did grab a team-high eight rebounds.
“Our team depth is so incredible. When Rachel isn’t scoring, we have other people who can step up,” Nouvel first-year coach Mary Jo Skiendziel said. “I’m so proud of how they play and come together, and pick her up until hopefully she can start scoring again.”
Gobles senior Michaela DeKilder just about hit her averages with 15 points and eight rebounds to finish a career that included leading her team to a combined 46-4 record over the last two seasons.
Coach John Curtis mentioned after that this was the group the Gobles community expected to make the school's first trip to the Semifinals, and the Tigers came through after also winning their second Regional title ever a week ago.
“Going through the other teams I’ve been on, this was completely different,” DeKilder said. “Yeah, we all liked each other (before), but this team all loved each other, and that was completely different. It wasn’t just for yourself, it was for everyone on the team.
“Making it to Breslin was the biggest accomplishment we’ve ever made. For me, when I walked into the gym, it hit me hard.”
She’s one of only two seniors graduating from a team that also had seven sophomores.
“We told the girls, our big thing is we want to be a regular here,” Curtis said. “We see St. Ignace here, see Nouvel, and I told (DeKilder) in the lockerroom they laid the foundation.
“We return nine girls next year, and hopefully next year we’ll be in a situation that’s not just, ‘Oh, we’re here.” We might play a little bit better, and we might just handle this situation a little bit better.”
Click for a full box score and video from the press conference.
PHOTOS: (Top) Saginaw Nouvel's Laurel Jacqmain (44) tries to get around a Gobles defender Thursday. (Middle) Nouvel's Lindsay Stroebel blocks the way for Gobles' Sharyena Hunt.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Jacqmain drives the lane for two of her game-high 20 points for Saginaw Nouvel in its 47-35 Class C Semifinal win over Gobles. (2) Michaela DeKilder led Gobles with 15 points. Here she gets two first-quarter points on a nice feed from Haley Rock.
Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Girls Report Week 10
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 17, 2026
Three months of Michigan high school girls basketball results are soon to be poured into the sorting of 128 District brackets, which will be published Sunday on the Girls Basketball page after teams are seeded based on their Michigan Power Ratings this winter.
A week’s worth of games certainly still can make a difference, and there are plenty of matchups coming up that could tilt how teams line up at several locations. Follow along on the MPR page and see below for some of what we’re watching as we move toward one of the most highly-anticipated days of the season.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Belleville 56, Wayne Memorial 54 The Zebras (15-2) made this much closer than Belleville’s 28-point win in their first meeting, but the Tigers (20-0) still prevailed to clinch the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East title.
2. Jackson Lumen Christi 48, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 36 The Titans (15-2) claimed the Catholic High School League Bishop Tournament championship, adding to their CHSL Central East title by downing the CHSL Central West champion Eaglets (15-3).
3. Detroit Renaissance 63, Detroit Mumford 37 The Phoenix (15-2) finished an undefeated run through the Detroit Public School League with a second win this winter over Mumford (8-8), this time in the PSL Tournament championship game.
4. Mio 50, Au Gres-Sims 46 These North Star League Little Dipper rivals played each other twice in four days, Au Gres-Sims (16-3) winning the first matchup 53-46 before Mio (14-4) took this one; both have just the one loss, to each other, in league play.
5. Brooklyn Columbia Central 59, Hanover-Horton 52 (OT) Columbia Central (15-2) earned a one-game edge atop the Cascades Conference West with these two set to meet again tonight and Hanover-Horton (15-3) playing to secure a share of the title.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Muskegon (15-2) The Big Reds have clinched the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green championship with two league games to play and after finishing third and 11-12 overall just a season ago. Muskegon certainly is a contender statewide in Division 1 as well with wins over Rockford (16-1) and Hudsonville (12-7) and losses to only Wayne Memorial (15-2) and Grand Haven (16-2) – the latter by just a point. Haslett (15-2) and Holt (14-3) are league champions and will provide two more solid prep games heading into the postseason.
Saginaw Heritage (15-5) The Hawks have won four straight to clinch the outright Saginaw Valley League North championship after finishing second in the one-division SVL a year ago. Heritage also has moved up to No. 3 in statewide Division 1 MPR with its success coming against opponents with a combined .688 winning percentage and the five losses to teams that all have at least 13 wins. The team’s final two regular-season games are against league champions – Flint Powers Catholic (18-2) and Yale (17-1).
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids West Catholic (14-4) Last season’s Division 2 runner-up can’t catch Grand Rapids South Christian in the O-K Gold but still has plenty of chances to make noise this season and plenty of quality wins showing what’s possible – including victories over reigning champion Tecumseh (17-2), Saginaw Heritage (15-5), Parma Western and Wyoming (both 13-5). Two of West Catholic’s losses came to the undefeated Sailors, with the others to Muskegon (15-2) and Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (10-7). Thursday’s matchup with Grand Rapids Catholic Central (16-2) should be especially interesting heading into seeding.
Redford Westfield Prep (12-5) The Warriors defeated Hamtramck on Friday to win the Charter School Conference Tournament, and they have only one loss this season to an in-state school – Riverview (15-4), by a point – with the other four coming against opponents from Chicago. All but an earlier win over Hamtramck came by double digits, and Westfield went from defeating the Cosmos by two on Jan. 30 to 22 last week. Tonight’s matchup with Milford (14-4) highlights the final weeks of the regular season.
DIVISION 3
Hemlock (17-1) The Huskies are enjoying another dominating run in the Tri-Valley Conference Blue, carrying a 37-game league winning streak into this week as they seek to clinch a fourth-straight title Friday against second-place Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Hemlock has five wins over opponents with at least 12 victories this season, including by 20 points the first time it faced MLS (14-4) and more recently over Beaverton (16-2) on Feb. 9. The lone loss came to Division 2 Freeland (12-6). The Huskies will head into the postseason seeking a second-straight District title.
Kalamazoo Christian (13-3) The Comets clinched a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley title Friday with a 35-33 win over Schoolcraft and can make the championship outright against Lawton this Friday. The league crown is K-Christian’s fourth-straight, and the Comets will head into the postseason seeking at least a fourth-straight District title. The only losses came against Division 1 and 2 opponents that are a combined 42-12. They see second place Hackett Catholic Prep (15-3) one more time Feb. 24 and could see the rival Irish as well in the District.
DIVISION 4
Ewen-Trout Creek (16-2) Last season’s Division 4 runner-up has played like a contender again, with a six-point loss to Division 2 Negaunee (17-1) just like last winter and also one against L’Anse (15-2), but with wins over Baraga (16-3), Norway (14-4) and Wakefield-Marenisco (12-5) twice – and with W-M likely to be the second seed in E-TC’s District in two weeks. Division 2 Houghton (13-5) on Feb. 24 will be another nice test heading into the playoffs.
L’Anse (15-2) The win over Ewen-Trout Creek noted above appears likely to decide the overall Copper Mountain Conference championship in favor of the Purple Hornets and came after they lost to E-TC by 24 a year ago. L’Anse did finish 18-6 last season so this progression may be just the next step, and they’ve shown it even during this winter avenging an early 12-point loss to Baraga with a 16-point win Jan. 29. The other defeat came to Division 1 Marquette, by just three points, also in mid-December.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Friday – Grand Haven (16-2) at Rockford (16-1) – The Rams’ third game in four days this week could clinch them the outright title in the O-K Red, as they look to add to a 64-48 win over the second-place Buccaneers from Jan. 30.
Friday – Pewamo-Westphalia (14-2) at Bath (16-2) – The Pirates’ 37-game Central Michigan Athletic Conference winning streak will be on the line as they look to finish a repeat championship and after defeating Bath 64-41 on Jan. 15.
Friday – Morley Stanwood (15-2) at Kent City (15-4) – Morley Stanwood can clinch the Central State Activities Association White title outright, or Kent City can move into a first-place tie with one league game left for both.
Friday – Beaverton (16-2) at Standish-Sterling (17-1) – These two are set to meet in next week’s Jack Pine Conference championship game as well, but this matchup could provide a preview.
Saturday – Cascades Conference Championship at Spring Arbor – Grass Lake (16-1), Michigan Center (15-3), Brooklyn Columbia Central (15-2) and Hanover-Horton (15-3) all remain in the mix to reach this game.
MHSAA.com's weekly “Breslin Bound” reports are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Click to connect with MI Student Aid and find more information on Facebook and X @mistudentaid.
PHOTOS (Top) Belleville’s Sydney Savoury (21) pulls up for a shot during her team’s 56-54 win over Wayne Memorial. (Middle) Holt’s Olivia Gadson (11) follow’s a teammate’s screen during the Rams’ 51-42 win over Okemos on Feb. 10. (Belleville/Wayne photo by KMS Photography. Holt/Okemos photo by John Johnson.)