GIRLS BASKETBALL: Stoney Creek staves off Utica for third straight district title
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
UTICA — For years, Rochester Stoney Creek struggled in the district tournament, going its first six years without even a single win in the district.
How times have changed.
The Cougars competed in their sixth straight district final Friday night, and came away with their third straight Class A district championship with 47-38 victory over host Utica.
The Cougars will face Fenton at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the regional semifinals at Grand Blanc High School.
Stoney Creek (17-6) used a 10-0 run over a 1:53 span and four possessions to build a 24-16 advantage with 2:40 left in the second quarter. Junior Ally Voss drained a trio of three-pointers in the run and the Cougars never trailed again.
“The seniors on this team have won three districts and have been to the district finals all four years they’ve been here,” said Stoney Creek coach Kellen James. “They have been a big part of our success.”
Voss finished 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and finished with 14 points. Emma Sobczynski added 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Courtney Eckhout followed with seven points, nine rebounds and three assists, while Emily Solek had a fine floor game with five steals, four assists and four rebounds.
“I don’t know what it is about this gym. We played here early in the (season) and (Voss) hit five threes from the same spot and hit a few more tonight from the same spot (on the left side),” noted James. “Her hot shooting helped us pull away a little bit. She can do that to teams.”
Both sides traded off nine points in the first quarter, with Stoney Creek using 17-9 run in the second frame to take a 26-18 lead at the half.
The Cougars led 34-26 through three quarters of play and led by as many as 11 points (43-32) in the fourth quarter before staving off Utica’s late threat.
The Chieftains closed to 44-38 with 25.1 seconds left but could get no closer.
“The seniors on this team have won three districts and have been to the district finals all four years they’ve been here,” said Stoney Creek coach Kellen James. “They have been a big part of our success.”
Stoney Creek forced 19 turnovers in the contest, picked up nine steals, and held Utica to a dismal 13-for-40 shooting night (32.5 percent), including only 3-for-11 from beyond the three-point arc.
“We know what it takes to be here and the girls did exactly what we talked about,” offered James, an assistant the past several seasons. “They got out there and got after the ball hard for 32 minutes and it resulted in a win.
“One of the things we pride ourselves all year long is playing hard especially on the defensive end,” added James. “We frustrated them and took them out of their rhythm.”
Cierra von Zittwitz scored 14 with seven rebounds to lead Utica (16-6). Lyndsey Lavelle added nine points and seven rebounds and Paige Spinale followed with seven points and seven rebounds for the Chieftains.
“They took us out of the things we do well,” said Utica coach Tom McDonald. “It was more about them and what they did to take away the things we do. You know what they’re going to do but with their length, their athletic ability and how fundamental they are, they just make things really difficult.”
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