Traverse City Record-Eagle

Basketball

March 20, 2010

Prep basketball: St. Ignace loses in 2OT

EAST LANSING (AP) -- St. Ignace knew where the ball was going on the final possession of Saturday evening's Class C state championship game.

Unfortunately for the Saints, they actually did too good a job defending the play.

St. Ignace blanketed Flint Hamady stars Arlesia Moore and Porsha Fluker, but left Kiyana Dudley-Thompson alone under the basket. Kathryn Thomas found her with a pass and Dudley-Thompson's layup as time expired in double overtime gave Hamady a 68-66 victory.

The game was the first overtime final in Class C history, and just the second double-overtime game in any class.

"We were looking for Arlesia or Porsha on the last shot, but they did a great job of blanketing them, and Kathy was a little lost there for a second," Hamady coach Keith Smith said. "Luckily, Kiyana got open, and Kathy made the great pass."

St. Ignace coach Dorene Ingalls agreed that her team had almost executed too well on the final play.

"We were guarding their big scorers, and everyone was working, and we just helped one too many times," Ingalls said. "We lost their guard under the basket, and that is a play that is going to haunt us for a long time."

Morse, who had 15 points in last season's title-game victory, had 26 points and 14 rebounds against St. Ignace, while Fluker scored 25.

"This feels just like last year, except we had to play so many more tough games," Morse said. "That's why we were prepared for this one."

St. Ignace's Nicole Elmblad led all scorers with 36 points, including 17 of her team's final 19.

"I had no idea they had teams like that in the U.P., and I certainly had no idea they had players like Nicole," Smith said. "Porsha is a great defensive player -- I think she can guard anyone in this state -- and Nicole still had 36 against her. That's amazing."

Both teams had chances to win at the end of regulation and in the first extra session.

Thomas split a pair of free throws with 3.7 seconds left in regulation, forcing overtime.

Elmblad's layup put St. Ignace up 62-61 in the final minute of the first overtime, but Fluker's free throw tied the game with 30 seconds left and both teams missed potential winning shots.

"There were a lot of times we could have thrown in the towel, but we kept fighting," Elmblad said. "We never did. We just needed one more bounce to go our way."

CLASS A

East Lansing 65, Detroit Renaissance 54: It has been less than a week since Klarissa Bell was named Miss Basketball, and one of her teammates has already stolen her thunder.

Malika Glover followed up a 29-point semifinal performance with 25 points in East Lansing's 65-54 victory over Detroit Renaissance in the Class A title game.

"I'm not sure what happened this weekend," the senior point guard said. "My shot just started falling, and we have the type of team that keeps getting the ball to anyone who is on that day. It's an amazing feeling."

Bell was mostly neutralized by Renaissance star Lorreal Jones, finishing with 14 points on 3-of-7 shooting, but was happy to share the spotlight with Glover.

"The last week -- I don't know how to describe the way this has felt," she said. "Winning Miss Basketball was awesome, but winning the state title -- winning the first state title in school history -- this is so huge. I love these girls, and we'll always have this championship together."

The Trojans had to work for their title. They trailed 27-25 at the half despite outshooting Renaissance 42 percent to 34 percent. The Phoenix had 10 offensive rebounds on 21 missed shots, keeping them in the game.

"In the first half, we weren't making shots, but we were playing strong and we still had the lead," Phoenix coach Diane Jones said. "In the second half, they just outplayed us. Malika was just awesome. Everything she took was going in, and we couldn't stop her."

CLASS B

Grand Rapids CC 51, Detroit Country Day 43: Annalise Pickrel scored 15 points and Tiesha Stokes added 14 as Grand Rapids Catholic Central upset Detroit Country Day 51-43 in the Class B state title game.

Country Day (24-1) beat Catholic Central (25-1) in last season's championship game, and followed it up with an unbeaten year that included wins over both Class A finalists.

Aeriel Powers led Country Day with 19 points.

CLASS D

Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes 48, Adrian Lenawee Christian 43: Freshman Ava Doetsch isn't worried about what she can do as an encore.

The freshman had nine points and six rebounds to help Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes take home its first Class D state title with a 48-43 win over Adrian Lenawee Christian Saturday.

"I guess we'll just have to win three more," she said when asked how she could top the end of her first season.

The victory was a family affair for Our Lady of the Lakes. Not only did Doetsch team up with older sister Alexis for 15 points and 11 rebounds, but Lauren and Lexie Robak combined for 29 points.

Steve Robak, father of Lauren and Lexie, coaches the team, and his siblings Paul and Sue Ann serve as his assistants.

"This is an unbelievable feeling -- to win the first one in school history," Steve Robak said. "We've never even been in the final before."

The Lakers' previous best run was a trip to the 1988 semifinals -- a team led by Sue Ann Robak.

"I guess we've got bragging rights over our aunt now," Lauren Robak joked.

Lenawee Christian (19-8) only shot 22 percent in the opening two periods, but stayed within 22-15 with nine offensive rebounds.

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