GIRLS BASKETBALL: Utica Eisenhower snaps 15-year drought with district title win over Stoney Creek
GIRLS BASKETBALL:
BY DAN STICKRADT
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ROCHESTER HILLS — The drought is over for Utica Eisenhower.
The Eagles overcame a slow start to claim their first Class A district title in 15 years Friday by downing host Rochester Stoney Creek, 49-33.
Eisenhower (19-3) held the Cougars to a 12-for-35 shooting night (34.3 percent) and forced 33 turnovers in the long-anticipated district victory.
Eisenhower (19-3) advances to the regional semifinals Tuesday at West Bloomfield against Waterford Kettering.
“We kind of turned top our defensive pressure (in the second half) and tried to make them handle the basketball. We forced some turnovers and were able to pull away over those last seven minutes,” said Eisenhower coach Mike Satawa. “I’m happy for these girls because we’ve been here before. We lost in the district finals three of the last six years since I’ve been here and something like eight or nine times in that stretch since 2003. It’s nice to finally get (a district title).”
Eisenhower held Stoney Creek (8-15) without a field goal for a 10:03 stretch of the second half, turning a 20-16 halftime advantage into a 16-point victory.
The Eagles, who have lost in the district finals three of the past four years, outscored the Cougars 29-17 in the second half.
Eisenhower only finished 16-for-45 from the floor, but pulled away by sinking 13-for-20 from the foul line and draining a trio of second-half three-pointers.
Junior point guard Lauren DeBeau had a fine floor game with 10 points, five steals, four assists and four rebounds for the Eagles. Junior forward Sara Faloon scored 16 off the bench with six boards and four steals, and sophomore center Olivia Stack chipped in with seven points for Eisenhower.
“They play good defense, but so do we,” said LaBeau. “We lost to them (two years ago). We wanted this one really bad.”
Stoney Creek opened the game with a 9-0 run in the first 2:59, but scored only two more points in the first quarter and five more in the final 13 minutes of the first half.
The game was tied 11-11 at the end of the first quarter, while Eisenhower led 20-16 at the half.
“We came out with the right energy, I was happy with that,” said Stoney Creek coach Kellen James. “But we (suffered) the same problems we have all year. We turned it over too much and we went a long stretch without scoring. Hats off to Eisenhower. They are a good team. We did the same thing to them two years ago in the district finals when they were young. Now they are the (veteran) team. We are where (Eisenhower) was the past two years.”
final 13 minutes of the
Stoney Creek sank only three field goals in the entire second half, and two came in the final 3:13 after the contest was decided. The Cougars were only 1-for-6 from 3-point range, with their sole trey coming with 5:01 eft in the first quarter.
Junior forward Marina St. Louis scored 12 with nine rebounds to pace Stoney Creek. Sophomore guard Lily Dipanni finished with six points, seven steals and seven rebounds, and junior guard Emily Eckhout was held in check with six points.
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