Mikey Sullivan & Sam Kuhna | Photo Editor & Staff Writer

After demolishing Dexter, 48-29 in the state semi-finals, the Lady Blue Devil basketball team advanced to the state final Saturday, March 16 at noon.

The game started off slow with both teams attempting to jumpstart their offense. It was a sloppy first quarter, but the Blue Devils edged the Dreadnaughts by a score of 11-4.

“I thought that after a while we started to really get up with our pressure,” said Claire DeBoer ’13. “Our whole defensive pressure throughout the game was great. It was the key to our success.”

The rest of the game was a whole different story. Despite a few turnovers, South used their fast break offense and swarming defense to hold Dexter to only 10 first half points, while breaking out to a 17 point lead at the half.

Although South lacked scoring distribution with only four girls making buckets, Cierra Rice ’15 continued her outstanding playoff run tallying 21 points, including 15 in the first half. Along with Rice’s 21 points, she grabbed four rebounds and tallied two assists.

“I feel very comfortable,” said Rice. “It’s great to come out here a second time and try to win a state championship again.”

Bre’nae Andrews ’14 and DeBoer had great games as well, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds combined.

The team will be taking on Grand Haven in tomorrow’s game, a repeat of last year’s final when Grand Haven came out victorious despite an 18-point lead.

South has rolled through the playoffs, but Grand Haven has something that South has not seen; Abby Cole. The 6 foot 5 inch senior, has been a double-double machine throughout her career at Grand Haven and gave South trouble in last year’s finals.

The girls are thinking about how they will need to adjust their game because of her presence in the paint.

“I will probably shoot a lot more jumpers,” said Rice. “It will be tough to go against (Abby) Cole.”

A rematch with Grand Haven has been something the Lady Blue Devils have been dreaming about for a full calendar year now. The girls will get that dream tomorrow.

“We’ve dreamt of being in this position since last year,” said Head Coach Kevin Richards. “The chance at redemption is something that has been on all of our minds.”