Eastpointe

East Detroit girls basketball building confidence

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Deb Jacques The East Detroit girls basketball team is averaging 16.4 points per game more than it did last season. Pictured is Shamrocks sophomore Kadre’a Jones. Photo by Deb Jacques The East Detroit girls basketball team is averaging 16.4 points per game more than it did last season. Pictured is Shamrocks sophomore Kadre’a Jones.

EASTPOINTE — The East Detroit girls basketball team had won three of four to start Macomb Area Conference Silver Division play at press time to bring its overall record to 4-3.

Second-year Shamrocks coach Krysta Kreyger said playing more as a team on both ends of the floor has played the biggest role in the turnaround. Kreyger added East Detroit next must focus on what types of defenses — man or zone — will work against various opponents.

“Those are the types of things we’ve been working on that could put us in position for a league title,” said Kreyger, whose Shamrocks sat at 3-1 in MAC Silver play at press time. East Detroit is tied for third in the league with Madison Heights Lamphere behind 6-0 St. Clair Shores South Lake.

“We still have a lot to work on, but now we have a good starting point,” she said.

Kreyger said playing tough MAC crossover games against teams like Utica Stevenson and Anchor Bay prepared her group for league play. The Shamrocks’ coach said her team, with nine returning players, is learning how to adjust quicker during games to combat what opponents run.

The team’s effort aren’t for naught. East Detroit has already doubled its win total from last season, and a 46.3 points-per-game average is 16.4 points better than last season. A defense that allowed 52.6 points per game in 2011-12 has improved, as well, as East Detroit at press time was letting up 45.6 points per game.

Tiffany Wilson and Lakeyia Terry lead the offensive attack, according to Kreyger. Felisha Hill guards the opposition’s best player on a nightly basis, while Latesia Steele is solid on the press.

“If we keep getting better defensively, taking care of the ball and finishing at the basket, we should continue to compete well,” Kreyger said.

Kreyger understands East Detroit’s schedule gets tougher as it gets into the latter part of the regular season. Games with Lamphere, Center Line and South Lake remain — all three teams are ahead of the Shamrocks in the MAC Silver standings. The Shamrocks also have a back-to-back Feb. 14 (at Clinton Township Clintondale) and Feb. 15 (at Clawson). The matchup with Clintondale is a make-up of a Jan. 10 game that was canceled.

“We have a tough second-half schedule,” Kreyger said. “As long as we stay healthy and compete at the highest level, we will be putting ourselves in a great position to compete for a league title.”

East Detroit’s next tip is a home game with Lamphere, set for 7 p.m. Feb. 1.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jason Carmel Davis at jdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107. Follow Jason Carmel on Twitter.