Macomb County

Cousino girls, Utica boys capture titles

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Patricia O'Blenes Cousino's girls basketball team celebrates a victory Feb. 20 at Utica High in which it clinched at least a share of the MAC White Division title. Photo by Patricia O'Blenes Cousino's girls basketball team celebrates a victory Feb. 20 at Utica High in which it clinched at least a share of the MAC White Division title.

UTICA — Warren Cousino’s girls and Utica High’s boys basketball teams can celebrate at long last after the squads ended decades long division title droughts Feb. 20 at Utica High.

The Patriots girls topped Utica 55-39 early in the evening to lock up at least a share of the Macomb Area Conference White Division — their first title since 1978.

“It’s pretty special to end that 34-year streak with these group of girls,” Cousino coach Mike Lee said.

The win gave Cousino an 11-1 mark in the league, moving them a half-game ahead of Grosse Pointe South (10-1), which was scheduled to play at St. Clair High (6-5) Feb. 22.

The nightcap contest between the boys squads, which entered in a first-place tie in the MAC White, looked to be a blowout at first, as Utica took a 29-11 lead into halftime. But the Patriots battled back, taking a 49-43 lead with 3:34 left to play. Yet Utica regained the lead and won 57-55, taking the title outright — it’s first since 1976.

“It feels pretty good,” Utica coach Gerry Kraemer said about snapping the streak. “I’m proud of our kids for coming together the last three minutes.”

“We knew that Cousino was going to come hard after us. Players make plays, and our experienced ones did. We did what we needed to do.”

Cousino coach Chris Shepard was proud of the way his players persevered despite their early struggles.

“We just couldn’t get into rhythm in the first half,” he said. “In the second half, our kids wanted to play. We laid it out on the line. I was just proud of the way we fought tonight.”

Utica senior Josh Hart led the Chieftains with 17 points, including scoring the go-ahead basket to put the home team up 56-55 with a little more than 30 seconds left to play. Classmates Mighael Hollingsworth and Andrew Thompson also made some big baskets for Utica, finishing with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Senior Kirtis Murphy added nine points for the newly crowned champs, who finished 10-2 in league play.

Cousino senior Drew McGuire led the Patriots with 17 points, including going 8-for-10 from the free-throw line. Junior Darnell Parham recorded 12 points, while senior Troy Cross added eight and junior Daymen Hardges scored seven for Cousino, which wrapped up league action at 9-3.
 

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040.