Riverview, MI. – Arbor Prep’s Freshman sensation Mya Petticord stole the ball and flew down the court for an easy layup in the first seconds of the Regional Championship game against St. Mary’s Catholic Central and it was all Arbor Prep from there on out. The Gators would play a high octane game with a smothering defense en route to a 56-39 victory over the Kestrels and win their 6th Regional Championship in a row.
The Gators took an early lead behind senior Mahri Petree’s tough play and quick, soft shots putting up 8 in the first stanza alone, as the Gators took a 20-11 lead into the second. Their tough defense forced the Kestrels to turnover the ball several times and limit the Kestrels to only 6 shots in the period and the Gators took a 28-17 into the half.
The Kestrels came out of the locker room after the half pumped up and raring to go as they rattled off several quick baskets to cut the lead to 5 but Gators Head Coach Scott Stine made some great defensive adjustments and the Gators were able to hold them off.
The Kestrels fought valiantly but were never able to get several shots to fall. At one point in the 4th quarter, they were able to get 7 shots off and retain the ball on just one possession but couldn’t get anything through the net. Abbey Johnson hit two big three-point shots for them in the fourth, the teams only two of the game but it was too little, too late.
“It was a hard-fought victory, against a really good team, “Stine stated after the game. “They (SMCC) won Regionals last year and they’re a great team. They came out after the half and did really well and we had to get our girls to play tougher defense.”
Petticord led the victorious Gators with 21 points, 10 assist, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals while Petree put up 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assist. Jackson finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds, Jazmin Chupp had 7 points, and Senior Karli Waddell had 6 points.
The Kestrels had 3 players leading the way in scoring,
Isabelle Alston, Abbey Johnson, and Juliana Paoletti all with 8 points apiece. Rachel Durbin had 6 points.
The Gators continue on in the big tournament with quarterfinals play in Tecumseh on Tuesday the 19th at 7 P.M. against the 23-1 Adrian Madison Trojans.
