By Paul Kuhna ’13 | Staff Writer

On Jan. 8 in a game against Macomb Dakota, the girls varsity basketball team caught my attention. In this contest, their defense, something the girls have been known for all season, just wasn’t there. A back and forth first quarter and a lackluster second quarter helped dig the Lady Blue Devils a 13 point half-time deficit. At this point, the team had two paths to choose from: Give in to Dakotas’ great three point shooting or turn up the defense and lock down Dakota like they had been doing to opponents all season.

Whatever Head Coach Kevin Richards said in that locker room sparked a fire that helped the girls play their best stretch of basketball this season to date. Still trailing the Cougars by 12 with time slipping away, the girls went on a 12-0 run and held Dakota scoreless for nine straight possessions. This run helped the Blue Devils stay stop the MAC Red Division, something they never relinquished.

Despite being the team circled on every other team’s schedule, few teams could live up to the great defense and scoring duo of Cierra Rice ‘15 and Claire DeBoer ‘13. Rolling through their regular season schedule and into the playoffs, the Blue Devils found teams that they had already beaten before. Up until their third matchup with Dakota, the Lady Blue Devils outmatched every opponent they played.

To truly show how dominant the girls really are, one must look at their games against Warren Cousino. In December, Cousino hosted the Lady Blue Devils and got smacked 69-27. They played that same Cousino team again in the regional semifinal, ending in another blowout 56-34.

For the third time this season they would play Dakota, but this time for a chance to go to the state quarterfinals. Gretchen Shirar ’13 had the game of her life topping all scorers for the Blue Devils with 16 points. The only thing that now stood between the Lady Blue Devils and their chance to go back the Breslin Center was Bloomfield Hills Marian. With a 23-3 record, Marian was no team to mess around with. Defeating a very good Clarkston 40-37 in overtime and holding Detroit power MLK to only 40 points earlier in the year, the key in this game was going to be which team made the fewest mistakes. In a game of two elite defensive ball clubs, the fewer the turnovers the better chance of survival. In the end, the Lady Blue Devils came out on top by forcing a whopping 27 turnovers and won 63-58.

The goal of the whole season is far from finished, though. The girls aren’t looking for just another good playoff run to the Breslin. Last year’s team set the bar for what Grosse Pointe South Girls basketball is all about. No more settling for just getting there. This year it’s all about finishing, whether it be a rematch with Grand Haven or seeing a new foe in Westland John Glenn. This year’s seniors won’t be leaving like they did last year.

They will be champions.

Video By Harrison Krasner ’14