Patient Muskegon Perseveres, Comes Back Twice to Claim 1st Finals Championship
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
March 21, 2026
EAST LANSING – There was no panic Saturday on the Muskegon bench.
Not when the Big Reds trailed Detroit Renaissance 15-2 early in the second quarter of the Division 1 Girls Basketball Final. Not when their comeback was beat back and they fell behind by six midway through the fourth.
There was only belief that what they were doing would work, and they’d make plays when it was needed.
That belief was rewarded, as the Big Reds came through with those plays down the stretch, defeating Renaissance 34-29 at the Breslin Center.
“We never stopped playing and believing in each other, and playing hard-nosed defense,” Muskegon coach Bernard Loudermill said. “We had to get some more stops and get some more conversions on the offensive end. It was still just one possession at a time.”
Loudermill’s quiet confidence was in stark contrast to the raucous Muskegon crowd that watched the team win the first Finals title in program history.
“This championship means everything,” Big Reds senior Mariah Sain said. “We just made history. We made history yesterday (by winning a Semifinal for the first time), but we really just left our legacy at Muskegon High School. A lot of our community was out today from all areas of Muskegon, so it’s a really big moment for us and I’m truly blessed that I got to enjoy it with my team. I’m just going to enjoy it.”
Sain had 14 points and eight rebounds for Muskegon (26-2), capping off her career with one last victory and a parting lesson for the kids in the crowd who have looked up to her for years.
“To keep working, to fight through adversity,” Sain said. “I feel like that game we fought through a lot of adversity. There was a lot of highs in that game, but there were a lot of lows. I love the kids. A lot of kids look up to me, and I try to give them as much knowledge as I can and try to be in the community as much as I can.”
Muskegon didn’t score for the first 5½ minutes of the game, and trailed 15-2 early in the second quarter, but then went on a 10-0 run capped by a Sain 3-pointer to bring itself back.
“That was probably like the second time we’ve had a deficit like that,” Loudermill said. “We know with the types of players we have, we knew we had the ability to come back, but it still had to be one stop at a time. You can’t get it all back at once, so we had to be really patient, continue to believe in each other, and do more execution-wise on the offensive end.”
Muskegon did not lead in the game until junior center Dy’nasti Bell hit a layup with 58 seconds remaining in the game to make it 29-27.
The Big Reds wouldn’t trail again, as a defensive stop was followed by a three-point possession, courtesy in large part to Bell. While it was Sain making one free throw and senior Camiyah Bonner hitting the other two, it was a hustle play by Bell in between that kept Muskegon in possession and helped swell a three-point lead to five.
“I think I tried to push myself beyond my limits,” Bell said. “This was potentially the last time I would ever get to do that, so I just went at everything hard. When you give it your all, I think it pays off.”
Bell finished the night with seven points and 12 rebounds, including the final rebound on a desperation 3-point attempt from Renaissance with the clock winding down.
The Phoenix (23-3) were led by senior Jaebri’an Autry, who scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
It was Autry who stretched the Renaissance lead when Muskegon had first tied the game at 21 in the fourth quarter, finishing off back-to-back possessions to once again give her team control.
The second Big Reds comeback could not be fought off, however.
“I feel like we should have won that game,” Autry said. “We’ve been doubted all year, and this was the game to prove to everybody that we are capable. I love these girls. I love these girls. This is the best team that I’ve ever been on at this school. I’m just proud of how far we’ve come.”
Autry was the leader on what was an incredibly young Renaissance team, as underclassmen out-numbered upperclassmen 8-4.
That was mostly from a strong sophomore class, which Autry called the best in the state. Those teammates had plenty of good things to say about her, too.
“She’s just, (in) life, off the court, on the court, she’s taught me everything,” sophomore guard Kassidy Cain said. “That’s really my sister. Obviously I plan to keep up what she’s built and done here.”
PHOTOS (Top) Muskegon’s Mariah Sain (10) drives hard to the basket Saturday with Renaissance’s Maria Walker (1) keeping in step. (Middle) Jaebri’an Autry (22) works to get a shot up over the Big Reds’ Dy’nasti Bell (24). (Photos by Keionna Banks and Lilanie Karunanayake/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Girls Report Week 5
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 12, 2026
As we start this sixth week of the 2025-26 girls basketball season, 37 teams across Michigan remain undefeated.
The list is guaranteed to be at least a little shorter as quickly as Tuesday night.
Several high-profile matchups headline the schedule as league play continues to ramp up. We take a look at a few below – but with several more candidates to be included in the “Review” portion of next week’s report.
“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. Grand Rapids South Christian 73, Grand Rapids West Catholic 62 South Christian (8-0) avenged last season’s Quarterfinal loss to the Falcons (7-2), but they’ll meet again Feb. 3 and also split the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold title last season.
2. Negaunee 54, Ishpeming 44 The Miners (9-0) took a significant step in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East with this win over the rival Hematites (6-1), who they’ll see again Feb. 6.
3. Flint Powers Catholic 54, Pewamo-Westphalia 43 The Chargers (8-1) started off a three-win week by handing the Pirates (6-1) their lone defeat of the winter.
4. Freeland 46, Frankenmuth 42 The latest chapter in this rivalry saw the Falcons (5-2) avenge last season’s Regional Semifinal loss to the Eagles (3-4) after they also had split regular-season meetings and the Tri-Valley Conference Red title.
5. McBain 56, Evart 32 The Ramblers (6-0) moved a key step ahead of their Highland Conference rival after Evart (6-1) edged them for the league championship a year ago.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
New Baltimore Anchor Bay (6-0) The Tars have started their encore well after improving four wins to 17-5 last season while winning the Macomb Area Conference White title. Friday’s 59-53 victory over Macomb Dakota was their first by fewer than 15 points, and that next-closest victory came 47-32 as they handed St. Clair its only loss this season. Five of the six wins have come against opponents currently .500 or better.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (7-1) A 47-43 win over Warren Regina last week sent St. Mary’s into first place alone in the Catholic High School League Central West, a lead they also own thanks to a 45-33 win over Farmington Hills Mercy on Jan. 2; St. Mary’s and Mercy shared the league championship last season. A 24-point win over Clarkston also jumps out, and the only loss came to Saginaw Heritage over the break.
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (7-0) The Chargers already have equaled last season’s 7-15 finish, avenging last-winter losses to Lowell, Big Rapids and Muskegon Western Michigan Christian and navigating three victories by six points or fewer. A 34-30 nail-biter over Kent City was arguably the most notable of the impressive opening run, and there are plenty of opportunities to shine in the near-future as they jump into the second half of an eight-game road trip.
Haslett (6-0) The Vikings have enjoyed plenty of success over the first half of this decade, finishing 22-4 a year ago, and they’re on the right track again despite playing four of their first six games on the road. A 62-56 win at Frankenmuth made a nice statement, as did a 57-36 victory over Williamston in Capital Area Activities Conference Red play Friday. They’ll hope to roll that momentum into Tuesday’s matchup against DeWitt, one of the few to down the Vikings a year ago.
DIVISION 3
New Lothrop (5-0) The Hornets also finished 22-4 a year ago and are back on the same track with all five of their victories this winter by 11 or more points – including one apiece over St. Charles and Ovid-Elsie, which have both begun 6-2. New Lothrop has reached 20 wins two seasons in a row and made the Regional Finals last winter, and the Hornets will prep for another run in part with games at Division 2 Freeland and Division 1 Midland.
Shelby (5-0) The Tigers went from 8-17 two seasons ago to 19-5 last winter, and they’re on the move again with five double-digit wins – including 49-38 over Hart, which defeated Shelby three times in 2024-25 including in their District matchup. Shelby’s first game this s season against Ravenna, scheduled for Dec. 19, was postponed, but they’ll meet twice and are the only two teams without a loss in the West Michigan Conference Rivers.
DIVISION 4
Concord (7-1) The Yellowjackets reached the Division 4 Semifinals last season at Breslin Center and finished 22-5, and they’re dominating once again. They actually opened with a loss to Morenci, but haven’t fallen since – and all but one of those victories have come by 16 or more points. The lone single-digit win came as Concord handed Adrian Lenawee Christian its only defeat, 64-55.
Morenci (6-0) As noted above, Morenci started this season in a big way by downing Concord 58-25, and they closed last week by handing Petersburg Summerfield its only loss as well, 44-20. The Bulldogs have reached the Division 4 Quarterfinals the last two seasons and will face several Division 3 opponents this winter as they prep for another run – with a 38-30 win already as well over Division 1 Temperance Bedford.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Haslett (6-0) at DeWitt (7-1) These longtime rivals are again among mid-Michigan’s elite and have split their last four games, with DeWitt winning last year’s 62-50.
Tuesday – Baraga (9-0) at Ewen-Trout Creek (5-1) – E-TC finished first and Baraga second in the overall Copper Mountain Conference standings last season with the Panthers winning their lone meeting.
Tuesday – McBain (6-0) at Roscommon (7-0) – For the second-straight week, McBain will take on another undefeated Highland Conference contender.
Tuesday – Grand Rapids South Christian (8-0) at Wayland (7-0) – The Wildcats could make a move in the O-K Gold after finishing third a year ago, and that might start against one of the reigning co-champions.
Friday – Belleville (7-0) at Wayne Memorial (7-0) – Belleville has a big week ahead as it pursues another Kensington Lakes Activities Association East title, taking on undefeated Livonia Stevenson on Tuesday before this first matchup with the reigning co-champion Zebras.
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PHOTOS (Top) Gwinn's Alayna Soyring passes the ball around Ishpeming' Jenessa Eagle (left) and Ava Jo Hares (right) during their teams’ matchup Jan. 6 at Northern Michigan University. (Middle) Hemlock senior guard Victoria Hauffe (21) drives through the Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central defense during the first quarter Friday. (Gwinn/Ishpeming photo by Cara Kamps. Hemlock/Nouvel photo by Kolleth Photo.)