Girls Basketball

After a one-year hiatus in 2017, the annual Reaching Higher showcases of Michigan’s top high school basketball players will return for their ninth year July 17 at Milford High School in Highland Township. 

Rik Ponstein cuts to the chase when he talks about senior pitcher-centerfielder Makenzie Wilkinson. “She’s probably the best player I’ve ever coached,” he said.

On back-to-back days, Heritage’s Shine Strickland-Gills put together back-to-back standout performances at Van Noord Arena to lead the Hawks to their first MHSAA girls basketball title since 2002.  She had 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals in a 46-28...

When asked how many seasons he’s coached basketball, Don Palmer always is up front. The reactions are variations of shock and awe.

Detroit Country Day senior Kaela Webb dribbled out the clock Saturday on a hard-fought Class B title game against Jackson Northwest, and a smile overtook her face. She looked over at her coach, Frank Orlando, who was about to celebrate his 13th MHSAA title at the schoo...

Detroit Edison’s girls basketball team had one loose end left to tie this weekend.  By midway through the third quarter Saturday, everything the Pioneers had hoped to accomplish was secured – including their second straight Class C championship.

Nothing could wipe the smiles off the faces of the Saginaw Heritage players and fans Saturday – not even a trophy to the head. “Did you see our fans today? They’ve been out in full force all weekend long,” Heritage coach Vonnie DeLong said. &ldq...

As daughter of the coach and sister of the star, sophomore Dani Salenbien was in unique position to forecast the success of this season’s Adrian Lenawee Christian girls basketball team.  She knew one thing for sure.

The eras come and go as standouts cycle through coach Frank Orlando’s Detroit Country Day program. Win or lose Saturday, another will close as all-staters Kaela Webb and Maxine Moore play their final high school game attempting to lead the Yellowjackets to a thir...

Like kids in every community, future Jackson Northwest athletes grow up dreaming of winning championships. But there’s something more to say about the opportunity earned by the Mounties with their 56-47 Class B Semifinal win Friday over Michigan Center.

East Lansing found itself playing in the Semifinals again Friday for the first time since 2010. But the Trojans also found themselves in an unfamiliar situation with potentially only 16 minutes left in their season.

This season, the Saginaw Heritage girls basketball team had, as junior Shine Strickland-Gills called it, an “epiphany.”  And it’s made the difference between another 20-win season and getting a chance to play for the Class A championship.

Michigan, meet Bree Salenbien – the Adrian Lenawee Christian freshman who stands as tall as a center, plays like a guard, and made a shot Thursday that most seniors never get a chance to launch.  The 6-foot-2 Cougars standout instantly may have bought hersel...

The possibility of a Chassell basketball team playing for an MHSAA championship for the first time since 1958 was within reach with a half remaining Thursday.  But earning that opportunity would take some work.

Ypsilanti Arbor Prep calls its championship pursuit a “4-mile run.” And the Gators got through about 3.9 a year ago.  They’ll get another chance to finish the final leg after a 53-35 Class C Semifinal win over Maple City Glen Lake on Thursday at ...

All nine Detroit Edison players who saw the floor in last season’s Class C championship win over Pewamo-Westphalia were back for Thursday’s Semifinal at Calvin College’s Van Noord Arena.  But there was a clear difference in the rematch after the ...

Class A – made up of the largest high schools in Michigan – also has the most star power to offer this weekend at Calvin College’s Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids.  This season’s Miss Basketball plus two more finalists, not to mention some ...

Three Class B semifinalists will journey to Calvin College’s Van Noord Arena this weekend seeking the first MHSAA Finals title in their programs’ histories.  But to celebrate the ultimate prize for the first time, those hopefuls must contend with the r...

The most exciting basketball played at Van Noord Arena this weekend could feature a foursome of Class C powerhouses. All four semifinalists making the trip to Calvin College in Grand Rapids played in Semifinals last season as well. 

For two straight seasons, Pittsford didn’t lose a game. But the Wildcats ended up in Class C this school year, and that means we’ll have a new champion in D this weekend – with a mix of familiar and new faces making the charge.