March Madness begins for Region girls basketball teams
The preliminaries are over.
The real fun started Monday night as the state tournaments for girls basketball tipped off.
“We have told our girls all year games 1-22 mean nothing,” Monroe coach Trent Moody said. “it’s the tournament when it is win or go home that matters.”
Monroe and Dundee started the state tournament by avenging earlier losses, Jefferson snapped a 12-game losing streak and Whiteford earned its first district victory in more than a decade.
Not a bad start to the madness of March.
Monroe 57, Gibraltar Carlson 41
TEMPERANCE – Monroe fell 55-51 to Gibraltar Carlson on Jan. 5.
Just a little less than two months later, the result was different.
“All week we have been preaching mental toughness,” Moody said. “Outside of the first couple minutes of the game we had that. We had six girls score for us and got great minutes out of everyone.”
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Jennah Cadle moved up from the junior varsity to score six important points. Taylor Ray also provided important minutes off the bench.
Sophia Bussell led the Trojans with 21 points and senior Alana Aulph added a career-high 16.
“When things got hectic, we went to our sets that we have been running all year and have practiced all year for games like this when we need a go-to shot and executed well down the stretch,” Moody said.
Lauren Dunwoody, who had scored 10 points all season, broke loose for a career-high 12 and Brooklyn Kemokai added 11 for Carlson, which finished with a 12-11 record.
Monroe takes an 8-14 record into the semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday against 20-2 Bedford.
Whiteford 47, Erie Mason 27
ERIE – Whiteford got hot at the right time, turning a 2-2 game for a long stretch of the first period into a 10-2 lead and never looked back.
The lead was 20 points at halftime.
“We were able to set the tone in the opening quarter,” Whiteford coach Nick Brillhart said. “We knocked down some shots from the outside which really helped to open up the post.”
Emily Hill had 13 points, and Annie Gapp had 13 points to lead the Bobcats.
It was Whiteford’s first district win since 2013. The Bobcats are 13-9.
Mason closes its season at 10-13. Aubrey Iocoangeli and Audrey Trainor each scored 8 points.
“They shot the ball well,” Erie Mason coach Josh Sweigert said. “We gave a great effort until the end. I am proud of this team and the hard work they put in this season.”
Dundee 53, Milan 36
TECUMSEH — Milan handed Dundee its first loss of the season way back on Dec. 7.
The Vikings got their revenge in the opening game of the Division 3 District at Tecumseh.
“We are so proud of our girls and can’t say enough good things about them,” said Dundee’s first-year coach Jay Briggs.
Maddie Salenbien, who hit a career-high 13 points in the regular-season finale for Dundee, topped that with 20 and her cousin Ellie Salenbien also hit a career-best with 16.
“We talked in preparation for Milan that we wanted to run the floor and take advantage of fast-break opportunities,” Briggs said. “We executed it. Ellie is just so quick and Maddie did a great job on the boards.”
Milan’s Emily Bladden also hit a career high with 21 points.
“Free throws and foul trouble derailed my Big Reds tonight,” said Rob Carlson, whose first season as Milan’s coach ended at 6-17.
Dundee (6-15) moves into the semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Jefferson 46, Summit Academy 31
ROMULUS – Jefferson picked a good time to end its 12-game losing streak.
“The kids played hard,” Jefferson coach Bryan Parran said. “They did a good job of moving the basketball and hit some shots.”
Parran was happy to see his girls rewarded for hard work.
“It was nice to see some smiles,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard when you are losing to keep coming to practice and working hard. These kids kept battling.”
Lindsey Gennoe hit 8-of-9 free throws and led the Bears with a career-high 14 points. Anna Boggs added 13 points.
Parran has a feeling the Bears were ready to turn things around.
“We’ve been telling the kids during the losing streak that we are so close,” he said.
Ida 37, Adrian 34
TECUMSEH – Ida played what coach Tim Leonard called “un-inspiring basketball” in the first half.
The veteran coach figured out how to inspire his team at halftime.
After trailing 16-10 at the half, the Blue Streaks controlled the third quarter 11-4 to pull away. The Maples did not score a basket in that quarter.
“In the second half, Ida came out with a press that seemed to put some energy into the team,” Leonard said.
Jessica Schrader paced Ida with 18 points and Reese Hennessey and Mckenna Tarry provided valuable minutes.
The Blue Streaks take a 17-6 record into the semifinals of the Division 2 District at Tecumseh at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday against 18-4 Adrian Madison.
Grosse Ile 43, Huron 37
ROMULUS – New Boston Huron split with Grosse Ile during the regular season, but won the most recent meeting by 10 points.
The Red Devils had their number in the district, halting the Chiefs’ first season under Chris Imperati at 12-11.
Lila Clements led Huron with 12 points and Addison Beddow added 9.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe, Dundee avenge losses, Whiteford, Jefferson end droughts
