On Feb. 12, South girls varsity basketball fought for the win in a nailbiter against Henry Ford II, prevailing 57-50.

Three notable players led the team to their win, captaining the squad through a strong fourth quarter. Guards Clara Bachert ’27, Evelina Baer ’28 and Ciara Pongratz ’27 led the court, communicating clearly with the team and showing good sportsmanship in a particularly rowdy matchup like this one.

“Our team knew it was going to be a tough game, and everyone stepped up,” Bachert said. “It can be hard trying to work through a close game to the end, but we had to push to the end thoroughly.”

Baer, a guard, made her mark as an underclassment on the court for varsity. Her strong ball handling and finishing contributed to South maintaining its close lead over Henry Ford II in the last quarter.

“We focused on staying aggressive and communicating the whole game,” Baer said. “Every pass and play counted, but we had to make sure we stayed supporting each other after small mishaps.”

Pongratz, another standout, highlighted the team’s hard work. In an aggressive game like this, it is important to Pongratz to set a noble precedent for her team with a focus on sportsmanship.

“It’s difficult not to push back or yell back when the other team is aggressive,” Pongratz said. “But we have good sportsmanship at South, and we play fair.”

With a current record of 10-10, Grosse Pointe South looks ahead as they face L’Anse Crueuse North, Frankfort Elbert and Port Huron in the final stretch of the season before the playoffs. The players’ hard work, commitment and teamwork have been evident all year, and this victory shows the promising potential of the squad as they aim for a secure end of the season.