How Armada girls basketball turned a loss into a 10-game winning streak

ARMADA — A moral victory doesn't count in the win column. But it might as well have for the Armada girls basketball team on Dec. 4, 2023.

That night, the Tigers fell to Port Huron, 34-31, in the season opener. Albeit in defeat, they held their own against one of premier programs in the Blue Water Area.

"That loss alone was so beneficial for us," Armada coach Joe McDevitt said. "Because it showed our kids — with all the things we've been working on — that, 'Hey, we can do this.' Even in a loss, it gave us confidence that we can play with anybody."

That belief must've sparked something. Because the Tigers haven't lost since.

Armada is 10-1 overall and 9-0 in the BWAC entering Wednesday. Nine of its wins have been by double digits. The Tigers are also scoring 53.5 points per game while allowing just 30.3.

"Our defense creates our offense," junior forward Claire Sniesak said. "It's that energy we bring to the floor."

Armada's defense suffocates opponents with a relentless full-court press. Its offense thrives in both transition and half-court sets.

"Our kids just don't panic," McDevitt said. "They don't get rattled. They don't get too high, they don't get too low. It's just business."

Setting the tone for that balance is junior point guard Ashlyn Upton.

"She's been great," McDevitt said. "She's a warrior. She's one of the toughest kids I've ever coached — boys or girls. She just plays (no matter what) and loves the game of basketball. She's a dream to coach."

"I think I see the floor well," Upton said. "My teammates help push me every day and that's the only reason we're doing well right now. It's our teamwork."

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Of course, it helps that the Tigers are at full strength this year. Sniesak, who led the team in scoring as a freshman in 2022, missed all of last season with a knee injury.

"It took some time for her to get (back into the flow)," McDevitt said. "She's working her way through that, but she's a leader and she battles."

"It was more of a mental process," Sniesak said of her recovery. "I learned so many things just from being able to watch my team. It's amazing to be back on the court and I'm so happy."

Her excitement is mirrored throughout a program that's hitting its stride.

"I don't think we'd be able to do it without our coaches," Upton said. "The connections that we have with them and the chemistry, it's awesome."

"That's the strength of our team," McDevitt said. "When you get that (type of group), you appreciate it."

There's certainly a lot to cherish, as Armada pursues its first BWAC championship since 2018. The Tigers have a two-game lead over Croswell-Lexington (7-1) and Yale (7-1) with five games left in conference play.

It's a nice cushion, but this isn't the time to get comfortable. The goals haven't changed.

"Continue to grind in practice," Sniesak said. "Every day is a new day. Get 1% better every day."

"Don't take anything for granted," Upton said. "Keep working and keep going."

Three of Armada's five remaining league games are on the road, starting with Thursday's matchup against Cros-Lex. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.

"We'll see how this thing shakes out in the end," McDevitt said of the BWAC title race. "It's been a good ride so far. And we're going to see if we can finish it."

Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: How Armada girls hoops turned a loss into a 10-game winning streak