Rochester Hills

Rochester Hills Stoney Creek falls to Waterford Kettering in regional finals

By Mark Vest
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Donna Agusti Players for Rochester Hills Stoney Creek look on during the team's win over Bloomfield Hills Marian in the opening round of regionals at Lake Orion on March 6. The Cougars fell to Waterford Kettering in the regional finals game Thursday. Photo by Donna Agusti Players for Rochester Hills Stoney Creek look on during the team's win over Bloomfield Hills Marian in the opening round of regionals at Lake Orion on March 6. The Cougars fell to Waterford Kettering in the regional finals game Thursday.

LAKE ORION — Rochester Hills Stoney Creek came short of its goal of adding another title to its 2011-2012 season, as the Cougars fell in a Class A regional final game to Waterford Kettering 40-28.

At the end of the third quarter, Stoney Creek was within five points of Kettering, but as was the case for the majority of the evening, the Cougars couldn't seem to get many shots to fall their way in the last eight minutes of play.

"If you would have told me before the game that Kettering was going to score 40, I would have liked our chances to win," said Stoney Creek girls basketball coach Brad Crighton. "Shoot 7-for-48, we shouldn't have even been in the game, but the girls never quit. That's my three seniors; I've never been more proud of three girls in my life."

Lauren Bolhuis, Keri Scipione and Gabby Yurik are the three senior reprsentatives on the Cougars' squad. The Captains held Yurik to five points, and according to Kettering coach Scott Woodhull, doing so was no small task.

"That was a tribute partially to what we did to her," he said. "You got to challenge that kid; she's just too good, one of the best I've seen. I've watched her probably four times on film. Every game she does something pretty impressive."

Stoney Creek does not exactly exit this season empty-handed. The Cougars won their first-ever district championship, and Creighton is hoping his players take time to appreciate what they have accomplished.

"It's bittersweet right now, but trying to get the girls to realize the entire picture," he said. "We made it to the regional finals. Overall season,  I couldn't be more proud of the girls. It's the furthest we've ever gone, so it was fun."

Senior Arjanai Washington led Kettering with 13 points; Allison Bicknell chipped in nine for the Captins.

Sophomore Natalie Voss led Stoney Creek with 14 points.

Kettering (23-2) faces Grosse Pointe South (21-3) in quarterfinal play at 7:30 p.m. March 13 at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Stoney Creek finishes the season with a record of 15-7.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mark Vest at mvest@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1112. Follow Mark on Twitter.