Macomb Township

Lutheran North girls hoops team working out kinks going into postseason

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes The Macomb Lutheran North girls basketball team wraps up its regular season with a tip against Royal Oak Shrine, set for 7 p.m. Feb. 19. Pictured is Mustangs senior Taylor Hentgen. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes The Macomb Lutheran North girls basketball team wraps up its regular season with a tip against Royal Oak Shrine, set for 7 p.m. Feb. 19. Pictured is Mustangs senior Taylor Hentgen.

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The Macomb Lutheran North girls basketball team, at press time, had a record of 10-6, 4-4 Catholic High School League AA Division.

Mustangs coach Kevin Murawski said his group is having a solid season, but he knows it could be better if his team could close out close games.

“We’re in a lot of tight games — one possession with a couple minutes left — and we just haven’t been able to make that play to take the lead and close out the close ones,” Murawski said.

Lutheran North was 1-3 in games decided by four points or fewer. The three losses have all come on the road. The Mustangs are 9-3 in all other contests.

Murawski admitted it’d be nice to win more of those close games, but he finds a silver lining in the fact that Lutheran North has been in so many close games.

“We’re having a solid season, but with four league losses to two teams, we’re turning our attention away from winning a league title and on to the (Michigan High School Athletic Association tournament),” Murawski said.

“We’re focusing on the district tournament. I think we might be able to do some things, come the playoffs.

The MHSAA state tournament begins with district play, which tips off Feb. 25.

The Mustangs are in a Class B district that includes Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day, Bloomfield Hills Kingswood, Clawson, Madison Heights Lamphere and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.

Murawski’s confidence in his team to perform well in the postseason stems from the play of some key performers.

Senior guard Danielle Schomaker is averaging 8.5 points and seven rebounds per game — a high average for a backcourt player. Junior Jackie Schwark, a post player, leads Lutheran North with nine boards per game and is second on the team in assists with three per game.

Sophomore guard Jenna Briney has come on strong in the latter part of the season, according to Murawski. Over a three-game stretch, Briney had averages of 11 points, six steals and six assists per game.

“We’re working some things out,” Murawski said, “but I think our girls are rounding into form, and we can win some games in the playoffs.”

The Mustangs wrap up the regular season with a home matchup against Royal Oak Shrine, set for 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at Lutheran North.

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