NORTHVILLE — Thursday’s KLAA girls basketball championship game was a coming-out party unlike most.
Belleville (20-2) went into the game ranked No. 4 in the season’s final Associated Press girls basketball poll. The Tigers rampaged through their schedule, winning a dozen games by 40 or more points.
The Tigers put four starters on the All-KLAA East first team, led by freshman Sydney Savourey, considered one of the top freshmen in the country.
Howell, meanwhile, didn’t have the height or athleticism Belleville has. But the Highlanders had several players who took over the game at certain points and made Belleville work before the Tigers pulled out a 54-46 victory. Click here for the archived broadcast.
Belleville did so thanks entirely due to Savourey, who scored all 16 of her team’s points in the fourth quarter. This after Howell led after the first three quarters, 39-36.
Savourey scored driving the lane, from 3-point land, and at the free throw line.
The Highlanders, who had traded shots with the Tigers to that point, were unable to answer.
“We gave ourselves a chance to win the game,” Howell coach Jason Piepho said. “A few less turnovers on in-bounds (plays) hurt us. I mean, we turned it over five or six times on in-bounds, and they equated to 10-12 points. You take those out and we probably walk away with a W.”
It was the second win over a strong team in less than a week for the Highlanders, who won at Saline last Friday.
“I was really pleased with the effort of the kids,” Piepho said. “I thought we, after the beginning of the game, we did a pretty good job on the glass. Honestly, they still struggled to score on us in the half court and even late in the game. It’s just those turnovers, and kudos to them. They made plays. I mean, (Savourey) got out and made plays and turned them into points.”
Maurisa Mikus gave the Tigers notice early, picking Belleville ballhandlers clean several times on defense and scoring five points in the first quarter.
Gabby Piepho hit three 3-pointers in the first half, giving her 54 on the season to break a record that had stood since the fall of 1991. She scored 11 of her team-high 13 points in the first half.
Hannah Ralko had nine of her season-high 11 points in the second quarter. Allison Farr had eight of her 10 points in the second half.
“We talked about this (game) being a barometer,” Jason Piepho said. “Yeah, we wanted to win. We’re gonna go for the win, but we wanted to learn about ourselves. This is a great game to gain momentum go into the state tournament and gain confidence. We can play with anybody. We’ve just got to play with that confidence and attack, and I thought for three quarters we did a great job of that.”
Gabby Piepho echoed her father’s sentiments.
“It was great playing against them,” she said. “They’re a great team and playing against them before districts really helps us get energy and it was good experience against a really good team. So we’re prepared for everything we could see (in the tournament).. So it was a really great learning experience and just a great game to have before districts.”
The Highlanders don’t play again until Wednesday’s district semifinals.
“They’re a good team,” Farr said of Belleville, then looked ahead. “We both played well. We just had to work on some things and we’ll be OK.”
