Ferndale Girls Basketball Team Wins District Title

The girls basketball team hadn’t cut down the nets in a very long time.

On Friday at Livonia Clarenceville, a 60-53 win over gave the Eagles their first district title in 12 years.

“It was a great night,” Ferndale coach Berwyn Ellis said.

The Eagles jumped out to a 9-2 lead over its city rival in the first quarter. Micaela Ellis hit three straight 3-pointers at one point to give her team a 16-9 cushion going into the second.

Ellis and Taryn Stephens helped Ferndale survive foul trouble from its leading scorer Janecia Jenkins. Jenkins had to sit most of the second and third quarter.

Stephens hit a couple of key 3-pointers and layups in the second half. 

“She kind of got going when we needed it,” Ellis said.

Ellis hit a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left in the game to seal the win. She finished with a game-high 18 points and nine assists.

Stephens finished the night with 12. Despite limited minutes, Jenkins nearly had a triple-double with 12 points, nine rebounds and nine steals.

Loni Moore led University with 15 points.

Ferndale’s Class B regional matchup won’t be an easy one. The Eagles face defending state champion on Monday at Carleton-Airport High School. Divine Child beat Three Rivers 43-35 at the Breslin Center last year in the finals.

“It will be a tough matchup for us, but anything after this (districts) is just icing on the cake,” Ellis said.