EAST LANSING – Basketball might be a team sport, but this sure was a fun one-on-one duel between a Miss Basketball Award finalist this season and a freshman who could be a finalist for the award in 2029. 

Throughout Friday’s first Division 2 Semifinal — and especially during the fourth quarter — Flint Powers Catholic senior Kendyl Smith and Tecumseh freshman Avery Zajac seemed to engage in a game of “anything you can do, I can do better.”

Ultimately, Smith won the scoring battle but Zajac’s team got the win, with Tecumseh holding off a late Powers rally to earn a 63-59 victory.

“They both had great games,” Tecumseh head coach Kristy Zajac said. “I mean, both are amazing players. There were a lot of great players on the floor today. And one player can’t make a team, right? Kendyl made a ton of shots, but doesn’t get those shots without those screens, and Avery doesn’t get those shots without someone else getting that pass.”

Tecumseh (26-2) will attempt to repeat as Division 2 champion Saturday evening, thanks in large part to Zajac continuing to play beyond her years. 

She scored 25 points on 9 of 15 shooting and repeatedly made big baskets when Smith and Powers seemed poised to catch up. 

Tecumseh carried a 51-40 lead into the fourth quarter, but Powers roared back, going on a 9-0 run to cut the margin to 51-49 with 5:19 remaining in the game after a 3-pointer by freshman Presley Schriner. 

But Zajac came to the rescue, quelling the run with consecutive layups to put Tecumseh up 55-49 with 3:34 left. 

Smith answered with a 3-pointer to make it 55-52 Tecumseh with 3:19 remaining, but Zajac responded with a 3-pointer of her own to push Tecumseh’s lead back to six at 58-52 with 3:07 left.

Smith hit another 3-pointer at 1:25 to bring Powers back within three at 60-57, but a Zajac free throw with 53.4 seconds to go put Tecumseh back up by two possessions at 61-57.

Single free throws by Reese Grounds with 42.3 seconds remaining and Delaney Brown with 18.8 seconds left gave Tecumseh a 63-57 lead before Smith rounded out the scoring on a layup with 10.6 seconds to play.

Tecumseh threw a successful inbounds pass down the court and then ran out the clock to preserve the win. 

“I was a little nervous coming in because of the stage and the atmosphere,” Avery Zajac said. “But once I started hitting shots, my confidence got up.” 

Playing in her last high school game before embarking on a college career at Liberty in Virginia, Smith led all scorers with 32 points on 11 of 27 shooting from the field. 

“I don’t think we fell short,” Smith said. “I think we just didn’t have enough time because I think we fought until the end. It was nothing to be ashamed of. We did so well, we fought so hard, and we just played all together.”

Powers (24-4) was making its first Semifinal appearance since 2014. 

“Overall, it’s a game of making shots, and they just made a few more than us down the stretch,” Powers head coach Ryan Trevithick said. “We were playing a little bit of catch-up. But I’m proud of our kids’ effort and proud of our kids’ fight.” 

Both teams shot well all game. Tecumseh finished at 52.8 percent from the field (19 of 36), while Powers shot 48.8 percent (21 of 43). 

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS Tecumseh’s Delaney Brown (1) looks to pass while Flint Powers’ Haleena Abueita defends. (Middle) Chloe Bullinger (10) works to get past Evah Smith. (Photos by Keionna Banks and John Castine/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)