Girls Basketball: Reading, Litchfield and North Adams-Jerome dominate their season openers
HILLSDALE COUNTY — Basketball is back, and with it comes the heartbreak loss or thrilling victories of opening season games. Several Hillsdale County girls basketball teams leaned on their star players in their return to the courts for 2023. Several other teams benefited from emerging talents to earn key wins.
Watch: Hillsdale hoops pulls away in the second half for win over Jonesville
The results did vary for some of the teams we thought would be contenders this season, but it still remained an exciting two nights of prep hoops for area programs.
Litchfield wins uncontested matchup thanks to Bills and Miller
After an 9-11 outing in 2022-23, coach Al Alvarez and the Terriers looked to take another leap forward in 2023. Returning stars Abby Bills and Jenna Miller looked to anchor the squad this season, and they would match up with Hillsdale Will Carleton Academy at home for their season opener.
It wasn't clean throughout all four quarters, but the Terriers would lean on their experience to dominate the Cougars in a 40-7 victory.
More: Hillsdale boys hoops plays through foul trouble to take down Comets 50-40
"Happy to open the year with a win as we all know they don't come easy," coach Alvarez said. "But I am pleased that we were able to run our plays and - more importantly - when our play didn't work, we just played basketball."
It was a big night for Abby Bills. The sophomore dropped 13 points in her Terrier debut and logged four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Bills hit the team's lone 3-pointer of the night. Bills should be a player to watch for Litchfield as the sophomore gains more experience.
Adding to the scoring effort was returning senior and honorable mention dream team honoree Jenna Miller. Miller captured a double-double in her final home opener of her career. The senior grabbed 14 rebounds and had 10 points. The senior led the team with two blocks and also corralled three steals.
Rounding out the leading scoring stats for the Terriers was Tavia Shelton with eight points.
WCA lost their best player from last season - Clemmie Gadwood (Aquinas College) - and things would take time for them to build back up with a core that includes Kristen and Madison Recob. The Cougars struggled in their opener to reach the basket, with all but two of their seven points coming from the free throw line.
Kherington Ladd led the Cougars with six points. The eighth-grader made her varsity debut this week due to numbers, but Ladd has potential to continue to become a top scorer for WCA at the beginning of the season.
Reading still has the look of a conference title contender after their opening season decimating win
Coach Kevin Bailey and the Rangers finished last season third in the conference standings with a final season record of 16-7 (including playoff game). The Rangers, Springport Spartans and Bronson Vikings all battled for who would take the conference crown.
The Rangers lost all four of their matchups with those two conference contenders, conceding their championship hopes to Bronson. Going into the season, we expected the Rangers would have unfinished business to attend to on the court, and they made a statement with their non-conference opener against Camden-Frontier, winning 54-15.
As expected, Player of the Year contender Aubree Ervans made an impressive season debut, totaling 17 points, five assists and six steals. The junior is one of several talented defensive playmakers that made an impact on the court.
Ranger Maggie Santure had six steals to tie Ervans. Santure added five points to her team's total. Finishing with five steals was Ariana McDowell, who also earned nine points, three rebounds and four assists.
Sharpshooter Jenna Londeau made an impressive return to the court for Reading, nailing three 3s and 14 total points. Londeau also added three rebounds and four steals to her stat line.
More: Gallery: Litchfield takes down Addison 63-60 to open the boys prep hoops season
North Adams-Jerome impresses in season opener
Coach Doug Dospoy and the Rams earned only two wins last season, including a dominating effort against Coldwater Pansophia. The Rams opened the season against Pansophia, and despite the history, it was an impressive debut for a Rams team that wants to break through this year.
Playing without their returning conference honoree Lydia Little, the Rams still made quick work of their opponents for a 59-16 dismantling of Pansophia.
Making an impressive debut for the Rams was Kamryn Wagler, who nailed three triples and earned 15 points. Cheyanne Welch had an impressive defensive night, earning five steals along with 13 points and three assists. Avery Miller had 10 points to lead the top three scoring effort.
Maddie Horn totaled six points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists. Emilee McIntyre had five points and four steals.
North Adams-Jerome passed their first week one test with an A+ effort, but they'll face returning SCAA East champion Pittsford on Thursday night in a true road challenge.
More: Boys Hoops: Terriers survive season opener; Seniors lead Hornets and Comets to victory
Other Scores
Pittsford 35, Sand Creek 24
The returning SCAA East champs and coach Aaron Davis got revenge against Sand Creek after losing last year's opener at home.
The Wildcats were led by Riley McCumber with 13 points, Player of the Year contender Ava Mallar with 10 points and senior Halle Clark with 10 points.
"I thought we started off slow tonight," coach Davis said. "We kind of had some first game jitters. I could tell the game was moving fast for the girls. We settled down in the second half and played really well.
Pittsford plays Hillsdale Academy on Dec. 14 in a big SCAA East battle.
East Jackson 47, Hillsdale 39
This was game number one for new head coach Aaron Cory, who takes over after a stint as an assistant coach for the Hornets.
Lansing Christian 52, Hillsdale Academy 34
This is the first game for new Colts head coach Jennifer Clark.
Ava King led the Colts with 12 points, eight rebounds and one assist.
Returning Dream Team honoree Lydia JAckson had six points and seven rebounds.
Waldron 28, Burr Oak 20
This was coach Jon Burk and the Spartan's third straight opening season win.
Adrian Madison 44, Jonesville 35
Senior Lyra Nichols leads Comets with nine points and seven rebounds.
Returning from an ACL injury last winter, Haley Mach earned nine points in her 2023 debut.
Junior Korra Estel earns seven points and four rebounds.
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This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Girls Basketball: Litchfield, North Adams-Jerome and Reading breeze through openers
