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| First of many? Madison Heights Bishop Foley girls basketball hopes to end title drought By Christian Davis MADISON HEIGHTS — Madison Heights Bishop Foley seniors Sarah Kator and Susie Sandoe could sense the difference in the team’s confidence during practice Jan. 12. The girls basketball team had just bested league favorite Riverview Gabriel Richard 49-48 Jan. 9 at home. The win put the Ventures at 3-5 overall, 1-1 in the Catholic High School League West Division at press time. They were winless in the division all of last season. “We just all came together, finally,” said Kator, who joins Sandoe and senior Amber Williamson as team captains. By the Ventures’ account, the squad should be undefeated in the division, but a 49-43 loss to Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard Jan. 5 at Richard put a blemish on their record. In that contest, Foley held as much as a 14-point lead, according to Sandoe, but let the game slip away. “We knew we couldn’t play like that again,” Sandoe said. “We knew that we would have to communicate and play hard to win.” “We felt that we had that one, and it should have been in our pocket,” coach Dave Joseph said. Foley made up for it by beating Riverview Richard, which Joseph said is favored to win the title, according to a CHSL coaches poll. Joseph called it one of the biggest victories in his four-year career at Foley. “I think it ranks right up there, only in the fact that I think it’ll propel us to better things down the road,” he said. The Ventures hope the win is the first of many and ultimately leads to a league championship —something the Ventures haven’t claimed since 1998. With four starters back — Kator, Sandoe, Williamson and sophomore Kam Haifleigh — Joseph feels the team has the ingredients for a title run. He said when the squad is at its best, it’s making sound decisions with the ball and clamping down on defense, which it did against Riverview Richard. “I feel that even though we have seven new players, it’s a good mix, and there’s a lot of talent,” he said. “If the kids put their minds together, I think we’re the best team in the league. I really believe that. “I think the girls know we’re right up with the league runners,” he continued. “I think the girls feel that they belong.” Catch the Ventures when they host Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22.
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