game on 3/1/13
MHSAA District Championship
Score by quarter 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Northville 3 6 10 4 23
@Canton 8 5 6 10 29
Scorers: Sr. Kendra Brenner 10 pts., Sr. Brittany Berehulka 7 pts., So.
Emily Maresh 2 pts., Sr. Diane Myers 2 pts., Jr. Heather Randall 2 pts.
The Northville Mustangs Girl's Basketball team made a return appearance to the MHSAA District Finals Friday night with a repeat match-up vs. Canton. This was their 2nd straight year playing in the district championship game vs. Canton and the 3rd time in the last 5 years. Northville was victorious last year but Canton turn the tables Friday night to reclaim the district title. As in past battles with the Chiefs it was a defensive struggle. Northville got on the board first with a 3-point shot by Kendra Brenner to give Northville it's first but only lead of the night. The rest of the opening quarter was filled with turnovers as the Mustangs couldn't connect on their passes while Canton limited them to just three shot attempts. In the second quarter Northville was able to get on the board with buckets by Diane Myers, Heather Randall, and Kendra Brenner and the Northville defense aloud just one Canton basket. Northville finally looked to get things going in the third quarter as the tied the game after being down by six, again holding Canton to just one made basket in the quarter. Canton held a four point lead at 23-19 in the fourth, but the Mustangs once again fought back to tie the score at 23-23 on a basket by Brenner and two free throws by Brittanty Berehulka. A left-handed hook shot just in front of the basket by Canton's Taylor Hunley with under two minutes to play gave the Chiefs the lead for good and carried them to
the title. Each team just managed to score eight baskets (Northville 8-28FG 29%, Canton 8-34FG 24%). Big difference came in the turnover numbers
(Northville 20, Canton 6) and at the foul line (Northville 5-8, Canton 13-30).
Canton has been and still is one of the better teams in our area. They pride themselves on defense. They are well-organized and make you work for everything you get. When you play them you expect it to be a low scoring game.
We were our own worst enemy in the first half especially. After scoring first I
think we went four or five straight possessions with a turnover. We had a couple of chances in transition only to throw the ball away and not even get a shot on the rim. You don't get a whole lot of chances like that and you have to take advantage of them. Canton's bread and butter is attacking the basket to score or get fouled. We gave up a few too many second chances and put them on the foul line a lot. Credit our girls for playing hard all game. Even though we were sloppy early they competed and kept chipping away to tie it up on four difference occasions. We just couldn't get over the hump like we did on Wednesday.
Northville finishes the 2012-2013 season 16-6 overall.
