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March 20, 2012

Check out our must-know scores and news from March 12-17.

(Click on links for coverage.) 

Girls Basketball

Raise the trophies: Grand Haven in Class A, Goodrich in Class B, Morley-Stanwood in Class C and Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes in Class D did so at Breslin Center in the most exciting Finals in some time -- three of the four games came down to the final minutes. Check Second Half later this week for a Girls Basketball Finals in Review.

Boys Basketball

Pershing moves on: The Detroit Pershing vs. Detroit Martin Luther King series has been one of the best in the state this winter. King defeated Pershing in the PSL Tournament Final. But only one could emerge from last week's Class A Regional -- and this time it was Pershing with a 75-70 win. (Mlive.com)

Long time coming: Lake Orion won its first Regional title since 1925 (really), defeating Waterford Mot 48-42 in Class A. Really. (Oakland Press)

Fantastic finish: Flint Beecher moved on with a 38-36 overtime win over Detroit Consortium in a Class C Regional Final that wasn't decided until Antuan Burks drained a jumper with a second to play in the extra period. (Detroit Free Press)

Time for two: New Haven won its second boys basketball Regional title ever, and first since 1990, with a 59-57 overtime win over frequent power Saginaw Nouvel. (Macomb Daily)

Editor's note: Did we miss something? Comment below and tell us about it. Is there an event coming up that we should make sure to note? Comment or e-mail [email protected].

Country Day Pulls Away After Power Pair Enters Saturday Tied for Lead

By Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com

June 6, 2026

MIDLAND – There’s a lot of hardware in Division 3 girls tennis between Detroit Country Day, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and East Grand Rapids.

Since 2010 only Country Day and Cranbrook had been able to claim Finals titles. But before that run, East Grand Rapids captured the top spot seven times over 12 seasons.

So it was no surprise heading into Saturday’s semifinals that two of those traditional powers EGR and Country Day were tied for the lead at 24 points at the Lower Peninsula Finals at the Midland Tennis Center.

Two of the heavyweights were ready to claim another title – and the current streak stayed intact.

Country Day dominated the semifinals and finals, prevailing with 34 points. Bloomfield Hills Marian finished second with 29 points, and EGR was third at 28.

Country Day sophomore Chloe Conniff won the final point for the Yellowjackets at No. 1 singles with a 6-0, 6-2  victory over Lilah Zaskowski of Ada Forest Hills Eastern. Zaskowski survived a four-hour semifinal match to advance.

Jiya Gill and Zoe Grebenski claimed the flight title at No. 4 doubles with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Marian’s Lizzie Plunkett and Clare Reaume. The championship was Gill’s second at that flight.

“The only thing we think about is what we can control,’’ Gill said. “We always expect to be here, but our goal is to just go out and play good tennis.’’

Country Day’s Karishma Vakhariya, left, and East Grand Rapids’ Farha Malviya shake hands after their title decider at No. 2 singles. Said Grebenski: “We try just to play and not worry about the other things. We played Cranbrook and East Grand Rapids this year, so we knew what to expect.’’

Country Day also captured No. 1 doubles as Quinn Norlander and Helen Benjamin beat Marian’s Allegra Curis and Bri Daood, 6-3, 7-5.

No. 2 doubles went to Marian’s Emerson Turkot and Stella Glorio, who defeated Country Day’s Zoe Bergg and Grace Kaskanis, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2. Marian’s Lexa Hindo and Emerson Villalba won No. 3 doubles with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over top seed Ava Kouza and Julia Geisz of Cranbrook.

While East Grand Rapids didn’t claim the team title on championship Saturday, coach Mickey Mikesell said his team’s future is bright.

“Our doubles teams are experienced, but we have a lot of youth in singles,’’ said Mikesell. “We have great depth. Phenomenal singles. The future is bright as well.’’

Freshman Evelyn Gingras is one of the youngsters. She entered as the top seed at No. 3 singles and won her first Finals title with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Country Day’s Addie Grebinski. Gingras dropped one game in the semifinal and final.

“We’re doing well, and I’m happy to be part of the team,’’ Gingras said. “We’ve worked really hard, and our coaches have put in a lot of effort.’’

Country Day’s Karishma Vakhariya, the top seed at No. 2 singles, said the goals stay the same each year.

“A three-peat would mean we bring in the right players every year,’’ she said. “Everyone believes they can win their flight. There’s a lot of pressure, but when you’re on the court the only thing you can think about is winning.’’

Vakhariya defeated East Grand Rapids’ Farha Malviya 6-2, 7-5 to win the flight. Marian freshman Gwen Slapak won at No. 4 singles 6-4, 7-6 over EGR sophomore Mia Owings.

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Country Day's Chloe Conniff sends a backhand during her No. 1 singles championship match Saturday. (Middle) Country Day’s Karishma Vakhariya, left, and East Grand Rapids’ Farha Malviya shake hands after their title decider at No. 2 singles. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)