Marian Captures First Catholic League Title in Three Seasons

The Marian High School Mustangs are again Catholic High School League girls basketball champions following a 57-44 victory over Dearborn Divine Child Sunday.

The Mustangs led by 10 at halftime after playing tough zone defense at the University of Detroit's Calihan Hall, but it didn't last, according to miprepzone.com.

The Falcons scored ten straight in the second half to tie the game at 30, and it remained close until Marian sophomore Brittany Gray helped break the game open with a basket and two put-back rebounds, said Bob Hanon, a member of the Marian Athletic Board.

At the end of the game, Kara Holinski led Marian with 13 points, followed by Bailey Thomas' 11. Gray and Laura Bruton each scored 8 points, according to miprepzone.com.

The Mustangs (17-2) have won nine straight since losing to Livonia Ladywood 53-48 on Jan. 15. They moved into a first-place tie with the Falcons with a home win over Farmington Hills Mercy last month and maintained the momentum.

In addition, Marian is ranked No. 8 in the state in Class A play, according to rankings released by the Michigan Associated Press Tuesday.

Marian will play Detroit King — the number-one ranked team in Michigan — this Thursday at home, Hanon said. 

Marian's track record is helping to boost the Birmingham-Bloomfield area's reputation as a girls basketball hot spot. In a miprepzone poll, 7 percents of respondents say the Birmingham area has the best girls basketball teams in the region.

Other top girls basketball teams in the area include Detroit Country Day (13-2 and ranked No. 4 in Class B) and Roeper (11-4).