High School Hoops: Avondale Beats Romeo, Heads to Regional Final

Avondale cruised by Romeo 49-34 after turning on the jets and scoring 33 points in the second half.

The win puts Avondale in the regional championship on Thursday.

The Heros: Avondale’s defense, led by Hannah Little, blocked shots and created numerous turnovers.

Little led the Yellow Jackets offensively with 16 points and shot 6-for-13 from the line.

Quennece Garrison added 14 points and shot 6-for-8 at the line.

The Turning Point: Avondale took charge in the second half and took its biggest lead of the game in the third quarter.

The Quote: “We had the opportunity to break out in the third quarter, and we took advantage of it,” Avondale head coach Dave Muczynski said.

“I give a lot of credit to my girls' defense tonight. (This was) one of the worst shooting nights we’ve had all season.”

The Bottom Line: The game picked up in the second half after both teams combined for five points in the second quarter.

Avondale shot 18-for-29 from the free throw line — evidence of how many fouls were called in the game. 

Two technical fouls were called on Romeo’s head coach, Connie Hernden, getting her ejected from the game with minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Key Stat: Romeo’s turnovers.

“We turned the ball over 17 times in the first half.  You’re not going to win if you do that in a game, let alone a half,” Hernden said.

Romeo knocked Rochester and Stoney Creek out of the district tournament last week.

Who’s next? Avondale plays Detroit Renaissance in the regional championship at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Waterford Kettering High School. Detroit Renaissance beat Southfield Lathrup, 47-46, in the other semifinal.