SOUTH LYON — For the second year in a row, the fourth time was the charm in the season series between the Hartland and Howell girls basketball teams.
Last year, it was Howell. Friday night, it was Hartland that finished the sweep, picking up a Class A district crown in the process with a 46-24 victory at South Lyon East.
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“It definitely feels really good, really, really good, especially because of last year,” said Hartland senior Lexey Tobel, who had a game-high 16 points. “We kept that in our minds all year, remembering how it felt to lose four times.”
The formula was the same: a lockdown defense by the Eagles which created turnovers, and a pair of runs to put the Highlanders out of reach.
The first came right out of the gate in the form of Graysen Cockerham. She hit her first two shots, for five points, then was hit in the eye while going after a loose ball.
She stayed in the game and hit another 3 before coming out.
“My (right) eye was closed, but I could see with the other eye,” she said, “and I was able to make it.”
Whitney Sollom then scored as Hartland completed the shutout in the first quarter, leading 10-0.
“It’s 10-0, and we miss 3-4 great looks,” Howell coach Tim Olszewski said.
“We had phenomenal looks,” Howell guard Paige Johnson said. “They just didn’t fall, and that’s the game.”
Still, the Highlanders hung in there and eventually worked the lead down to eight at the end of three quarters, 24-16.
This despite the loss of Lexie Miller, who fell and hit her head hard on the court. She was helped off the court and did not return.
“At the start of the fourth quarter, we had the ball, and we had momentum starting to build,” Olszewski said. “If we hit a 3, it’s a five-point game all of a sudden. But we had a turnover and it’s now 11, and another turnover and it’s 13, and it’s a snowball effect.”
The Eagles went on an 11-0 run that sealed the victory.
“It feels good,” Hartland coach Don Palmer said. “Last year, I told everyone that 15-5 never felt so bad. We lost to Howell four times and (Class C champion) Arbor Prep once. We won a lot of games, but we won nothing.
“So this year’s a little bit more satisfying, not that you beat Howell, but that you won something while doing it.”
The Eagles (22-1) will play Farmington Hills Mercy on Tuesday in a regional semifinal at North Farmington.
For the Highlanders (18-4), who have all five starters returning, it’s time to plan for next season.
“I’m proud of us,” Olszewski said. “That’s an 18-win season, and only one team beat us. If they win the state championship, I’ll say what I’ve always said: We’re a pretty good team. I told the girls, ‘Please don’t hang your head about a season like this, especially seeing we’ve lost to only one team this year.'”
