No satisfaction: Stoney Creek takes down Marian to advance to Sweet 16

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

LAKE ORION — Brad Crighton presented a challenge Tuesday afternoon.

The Rochester Stoney Creek girls basketball coach asked his players if they were just satisfied with the school’s first-ever district championship in basketball, boys or girls.

Apparently, the cougars are plotting to stay awhile in their new-found territory.

Unranked Stoney Creek toppled perennial powerhouse Birmingham Marian, 59-46, in a Class A regional semifinal Tuesday at Lake Orion to keep their postseason hopes alive.

“That’s exactly what I kept asking them,” offered Crighton, who started the Cougars’ girls basketball program back in 2002-03. “I said, do you want to be satisfied with the district trophy or do you want to go after the regional championship?’ I think they played like they wanted to play again Thursday.”

Stoney Creek (16-7) advances to the regional finals for the first time in school history and will face state-ranked Waterford Kettering (22-2) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lake Orion.

After a shooting slump last week kept all-state guard Gabby Yurik to just 13 points against Rochester Adams and no points against Rochester in the district finals, Gabby Yurik rebounded with a fine all-around game which saw her scored 20 points with seven rebounds and five assists.

Despite playing in foul trouble, Lauren Voss (10 points) and Natalie Voss (nine points) also had strong games for the Cougars. Keri Scipione followed with eight points for Stoney Creek.

The Cougars fought for a 30-27 lead at the half, as Marian 6-foot senior Kilyn Bulluck worked her way for 19 points over the first 16 minutes. Stoney Creek keyed its defensive efforts on Bulluck in the second half, holding her to nine points over the final two frames.

“They did a good job of lobbing the ball inside to their post player, Bulluck.I think part of our problem was that both Voss sisters were in foul trouble and had to come out for stretches of the first half and bullock was able to score 19 on us in the first half,” said Crighton. “I think we did a much better job on her in the second half. She did score 28, but she really had to work for her shots in the second half.”

Meanwhile, Stoney Creek slowly pulled sway in the second half, outscoring the Mustangs 14-9 in the third quarter and 15-10 in the final period.

Marian (10-14) was able to cut the lead to six points in the fourth quarter, only to see Stoney Creek pull away for good.

“I think Marian did a nice job making a run at us, but when we did we hit some shots and some free throws. We did a nice job reacting to their pressure,” noted Crighton. “

“I was concerned a little bit because at the start of the season our goal was to win the district championship. We lost in the district finals the previous two years and the girls wanted to get over the hump,” offered Crighton. “I told them that we still have a lot to play for, that we can still win some more games in the tournament. They played like it tonight.”

Both teams scored 15 points in the first half, with Stoney Creek holding a 15-12 edge in the second quarter for the three-point cushion at the half.

Kara Holinski chipped in with 10 points for Marian, while Brittany Gray scored eight for the Mustangs, who had only four players reach the scoring column.

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