Southfield

Chargers claim district crown; other local teams bow out

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Sean Work Lathrup’s Taiye Bello takes a shot against Royal Oak in the district final. The Chargers won their ninth district crown in the past 10 years. Photo by Sean Work Lathrup’s Taiye Bello takes a shot against Royal Oak in the district final. The Chargers won their ninth district crown in the past 10 years.

Before her team took the court at Royal Oak High for a Class A district championship, Michele Marshall watched Country Day claim a district title of its own in Class B.

It marked yet another crown for the Yellowjackets, adding to a streak that’s been going since 1997.

Marshall said she spoke with Country Day coach Frank Orlando about how it never gets old this time of year, and then she guided her team to its ninth district crown in the past 10 seasons.

“And it really never gets old,” she said with a laugh about the 54-41 victory against Royal Oak. “To do it with a new group of girls always makes it special. And to do it this many years now, you can’t help but feel blessed.”

The Chargers advanced to the Southfield High regional and faced Farmington Hills Mercy after press time.

The final is set for 7 p.m. March 7 against Livonia Stevenson or Detroit Martin Luther King.

“Royal Oak was a tougher game than I think people thought it would be,” Marshall added. “They have some good scorers who can keep them in any game. We were at their gym, with their crowd, so it was tough. We had to come out and play as hard as we could.”

Lathrup (18-3) got the playoffs going with a 64-27 victory against Berkley High.
“We’re having a lot of fun. This is a great group of kids that is winning games at the right time of the year,” Marshall said. “You have to appreciate it.”

In other district action:

Southfield High dropped the district opener 50-29, ending the season 10-11.

In Class D action, Southfield Christian had a first-round bye, and then lost to Plymouth Christian 54-37 in a semifinal.

The Eagles ended the year 6-15.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038. Follow Mike on Twitter.