Less than 48 hours after a thrilling, emotional victory in Wednesday’s Class A semifinal at Howell High School, the Hartland girls basketball team will be back on the court tonight.
This time, it’s against South Lyon East (14-7), and coach Don Palmer has his concerns.
“We’ve had quite a week here,” Palmer said Thursday. “Monday went to the wire, Wednesday to the last second, South Lyon, not that they had an easy game, but they’ve played one and won it by double digits.. We played two, and the margin of victory was a total of five. .I’m concerned about the physical aspect and sometimes that can be mentally draining.
“I know that they’re 16-, 17-, 18-year-old girls” he added. “They’re young, they’ve got energy and endurance. But three games in a week, I think, is tough on anybody. And then, the emotion of these last two games. You’re curious. Are we going to be able to perform? Will our hearts in it but legs not work? That type of thing.”
Then, Palmer switches to a well-worn quip from one of his former players at Milford.
“Annie Charles once said, ‘Coaches worry and players play,'” he said, chuckling. “That’s how it goes now.”
The game will be broadcast on The Livingston Post starting at 6:50 p.m.
It’s the first meeting of the season between the Cougars and Eagles (17-5). They met last year in the opening round of the district at East.
“I think they’re a lot better than people think,” Palmer said. “They split with Waterford Kettering, and Kettering beat Walled Lake Western. I like their guards. They have very good guards. I’m just concerned with what we have left in the tank.”
The Eagles will have to get better play from their young guards, who committed numerous turnovers, forced and unforced, in Wednesday’s 40-37 win over Howell.
“The guard play has to get better. There’s absolutely no doubt about that,” Palmer said.
Sophomore Nikki Dompierre and freshman Syd Caddell, along with junior Abby Ratkowiak, have spent the most time on the point this season. The scrutiny, Palmer says, is fair, but also can be distorted.
“Your typical basketball fan, when the point guard has a bad game, everyone knows it because the mistakes are right out there with the ball. Your interior players can be playing just as poorly, but no one notices.
“Nikki wants to be good and will be good, and eventually it will work out. But she’s going through a tough time. I’ve told her, and I’m telling you that she’s my point guard and it’s not changing.”
And, after all, Wednesday was one game. As the season moves on, there’s another bit of urgency for the Eagles.
“It’s a chance to play for a championship,” Palmer said. “So far, we haven’t won any. We finished two games back in the division and were out of the (KLAA) tournament in the second round. This is our chance.”
