2/18/22: It was one of the most highly anticipated girls basketball teams battle in the state between two number 1 ranked teams, Arbor Prep and Detroit Edison, two teams loaded with lots of great talent. The Detroit Edison Pioneers team had just come off their first loss to a Michigan-based team since 2018 -which ended a 74 win streak- to West Bloomfield on Tuesday. The Arbor Prep Gators had a big come from behind victory against Lake Fenton days earlier.
This was a battle between not only two top teams but the top-ranked players in the state who are two candidates for the Miss Michigan Basketball award between the Gator’s Mya Petticord, Texas A& M commit, and the Pioneers Ruby Whitehorn, a Clemson commit. Both teams are expected to battle for a state championship in their respective divisions and the teams did not disappoint the many fans in the Ypsilanti Arbor Prep Gator’s Swamp gym. After much battling, it was the Edison Pioneers coming out on top for the big 60-52 victory.
Both teams came out strong and were playing lots of tough solid defenses and after the first Edison held a 12-11 lead. Early in the second Edison went on a roll forcing several turnovers and extending their lead but the always resilient Gators kept fighting and entered the half down by 8.
In the third, the Gators came alive and kept fighting back closing on the Pioneer’s lead. The Pioneers kept playing tough swarming defense and did a good job taking the tough Gator forwards the Utomi twins from the underneath game and forced several bad shots and turnovers. At the buzzer, Petticord launched a deep three which fell off the mark but Stephanie Utomi got the putback to bring the Gators within 5.
Headed into the final 8 minutes of the game the Gators hit several big shots including a huge pro-level long-distance 3-pointer from sophomore Taylor Wallace to bring the Gators within striking distance for the tie. After a drive for the net Senior Jazmin Chupp was fouled and sunk both free throws to tie the game up at 47. The Gators held tough and with just a few minutes left in the game, it was tied up at 52. But the Pioneers went on an 8-0 run and forced several bad shots and turnovers to restart their new win streak with a huge 60-52 victory.
The Gators were led by Petticord, who finished with 17 points, while Stephanie Utomi and Stacy Utomi each added 10 points and Chupp had 8.
The pioneers were led by Whitehorn who finished the game with 24 points, followed by 11 from Madisen Wardell.
