HARTLAND — Less than 24 hours after punching their ticket to the Breslin Center, there was an air of disbelief around the Hartland girls basketball team on Wednesday.
“Honestly, we can;t believe it,” senior co-captain Amanda Roach said. “We can’t believe we’re going to the Breslin and we’re going to play. We know we have to win. It;s not just playing at the Breslin but winning at the Breslin.”
The Eagles (24-1) will get that opportunity today in a Division 1 semifinal at the Breslin Center, located on the Michigan State University campus. Hartland will take on Wayne (23-2) at approximately 2 p.m. today in a game that will be broadcast on The Livingston Post starting at about 1:50. Click here for the link.
The winner will play the victor of the West Bloomfield-Rockford semifinal for the championship at 12:15 p.m. Saturday.
Regardless of who wins, the KLAA will have its first-ever championship game berth. It’s the first for any team in the league since Howell in 1996, when the Highlanders lost to Birmingham Marian.
“I think it speaks well for our league,” Hartland coach Don Palmer said. “I’m not saying we have hte best league in the state, but we might. You throw Howell and Brighton in that mix and it’s even stronger.”
Hartland and Wayne both lost to Howell this season. The Eagles also beat the Highlanders three times, while Wayne’s loss came in the KLAA semifinals. The Zebras’ other loss came to Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, a team considered to be one of the best over all in the state, in the season opener.
Wayne beat Brighton in last week’s regional final, then downed Riverview 44-33 in Tuesday’s quarterfinal.
“They’re quick, they’re athletic, they’re long,” said Brighton coach Paul Ash, referring to Wayne’s height. “They have a couple of long wings (Paris Bass and Mayla Ham, both 5-11) and a 6-3 post player (Davai Matthews).
One factor might be roster depth. Hartland has a full complement of 15 players, nine of which can see significant minutes. Wayne listed nine players on its roster.
“If it’s going to be an up-and-down game, than it definitely favors Hartland,'” Ash said.
The Eagles have a combination of speed and quickness at guard, but also have 6-4 Kate Jacobs and 6-2 Sarah Rekowski available to go into the post if needed.
Regardless, Palmer isn;t worried about how his players will perform.
“I watched the Brighton game on tape,: he said. “(Mary) Copple didn’t have any problem competing. (Sarah) Ebel didn’t have any problem so it’s certainly doable.”
Roach, who fouled out early in the fourth quarter of Wednesday;s 56-51 overtime win over Midland Dow, is looking to redeem herself today.
“I felt really bad because I see myself as a leader of this team,” she said. “I felt helpless out there. I just kept cheering for my team and hoped we could pull it out.”
Which they did, thanks in large part to a 3-pointer by Olivia LInden that banked in off hte backboard to tie the game going into overtime.
“I told the Mercy coach, “It’s Tuesday, and the bank is always open,'” Palmer joked. “I said, ‘Liv, you’ve got to call glass, but she said, “I didn’t see it. I got knocked down. I could tell by the crowd if it went in.”‘ The basketball gods were looking down on us in that mommet.”
The next moment begins a little after noon today.
“Everyone will be nervous,” Palmer said. “If you’re not nervous for a game, you shouldn’t be playing and you shouldn’t be coaching it either. Nerves are always a part of it. It’s usually the first team that settles in that usually has the advantage.”
