The best-laid plans of the Hartland and Howell girls basketball teams went for naught on Wednesday.
The schools moved up the start time of Wednesday’s Lakes Conference championship game to 6 p.m., only to see heavy snow forced a postponement early Wednesday afternoon.
The game will be played at 7 p.m. Friday and will be broadcast on The Livingston Post.
“It’s up to us to do something different,” said Hartland coach Don Palmer, whose team (15-3) has suffered two of its losses to the Highlanders. “I was reading an article where (Waterford Mott coach) Michelle Sklar said it accurately: You have to pick your poison.”
One way, Palmer explained, is to concentrate on Howell senior Erin Honkala, whom he saw grow as an offensive force over the summer.
“If you’re going to try and stop her, you have to find a way to slow her down,” Palmer said. “If you do, the other weapons are abundant and good. (Paige) Johnson and (Lexie) Miller are good off the dribble and behind the arc, and (Leah) Weslock is sneaky good.”
The Highlanders (16-2) are looking for their first Lakes Conference title since 2010, while the Eagles are looking for their first.
Hartland has a pair of inside-outside threats in Lexey Tobel and Graysen Cockerham, but Palmer is still seeking a third scorer to spread opposing defenses.
“We’ve got to have someone or a couple of different kids emerge,” Palmer said. “Maybe Michelle (Moraitis, Hartland’s point guard) will. She gets her four points and plays great defense, and maybe she will have to get 10 or 11 points.”
Emily Messner, a sophomore, has shown flashes of promise in the post — but also has shown a young player’s propensity to draw fouls. But, Palmer said, that’s not entirely her fault.
“That comes with trying to guard Erin,” he said. “The biggest difference this year is that she’s a consistent factor on offense. She’s someone you have to deal with on defense, and I don’t think she gets nearly enough credit for her passing ability. She’s willing to kick it out on a double team, and the sophomore guards (Johnson and Miller) are very good players, and Weslock (another sophomore) can hit the 3 or drive.”
Tonight’s game is the third the teams will play this season, and they’ll meet again Monday night at Hartland in the first round of the Class A district tournament at Hartland.
The Eagles played Brighton four times last season, beating the Bulldogs to win the district. Palmer wasn’t thrilled to play Brighton three times during the season last year, and isn’t too excited about three games against Howell, but says this year’s game is different.
“Last year, we went to Brighton in the consolation round, and it was a throwaway game,” he said. “This year, we’re both playing for a conference title, and this is important. You have to take those games very seriously. You can’t pick or choose which game to win. You have to make sure you do it.”
The all-Lakes Conference team will be announced before the game.
“I’m sure they’ll show up, and I know we’ll show up,” Palmer said. “Whatever happens (tonight) will be forgotten by Monday.”
Tonight’s winner will play at the Kensington Conference winner, either Wayne or Canton, on Friday.
