Farmington Hills

Micklash says end to playoffs won’t diminish success; Mercy falls

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Andrew Potter Amber Stephens and the Harrison girls basketball team closed the year with a 23-2 record and reached the regional round for the first time ever. Photo by Andrew Potter Amber Stephens and the Harrison girls basketball team closed the year with a 23-2 record and reached the regional round for the first time ever. Photo by Donna Agusti Mercy’s Taylor Jones drives around a Lathrup defender during the regional semifinal. The Marlins ended the year with a loss to Detroit Martin Luther King 44-39 in double overtime. 0 Photo by Donna Agusti Mercy’s Taylor Jones drives around a Lathrup defender during the regional semifinal. The Marlins ended the year with a loss to Detroit Martin Luther King 44-39 in double overtime.

After his team captured a district title, Farmington Hills Harrison girls basketball coach Tim Micklash said nothing could happen in the regional round to diminish the success they have already enjoyed.

That assessment was certainly put to the test.

“The basketball gods were against us in this one,” Micklash said a day after his girls lost in a Class A regional final 37-34 in overtime to Dexter High. “It’s going to take some time to get over it.”

The Hawks led by 12 at halftime, and at one point in the third quarter led by as many as 18.

Then Dexter mounted its comeback, forced overtime and claimed the regional title with a half-court shot at the buzzer.

“Things just turned on us,” Micklash said. “It was one of those games where everything was just going against us.”

Still, as Micklash pointed out, there were plenty more “ups, than downs” this season.

The Hawks ended the year with a 23-2 overall record, won the Oakland Activities Association White Division title and claimed the school’s first basketball district title ever.

“As hard as it was to lose this game, you have to take the time to reflect on the year and acknowledge just how great the season was,” Micklash said. “This was the best season in school history, for boys or girls basketball.”

Chemistry, he added, was the main reason for a year that included 23 wins in 25 games.

“That was the No. 1 thing,” he said. “We had a bunch of girls that got along, meshed over the summer, and then put it all together. It was my most enjoyable coaching experience ever. I mean, winning helps, but this group was so special. I just loved being a part of this.”

Overtime ouster for Mercy
Overtime wasn’t kind to local teams during the playoffs, as Farmington Hills Mercy also dropped a regional final, falling to Detroit Martin Luther King 44-39 in double overtime.

The Marlins, who upset Lathrup Village Southfield-Lathrup 69-40 in the regional semi, ended the season 16-9.

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