Class C: Knights will Return to Final

March 15, 2012

EAST LANSING – Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett is the only Class C Semifinalist that didn’t bring a perfect record to the Breslin Center on Thursday. The No. 9-ranked Knights have lost four times, including in their final game before the start of the District tournament.

But a loss to end 2011 pushed the Knights through those momentary disappointments and back into the season’s final day for the second year in a row.

University Liggett finished Class C runner-up a year ago in its first MHSAA Final appearance. But the Knights now need just one more win to finish a year-long quest for their championship.

They earned that opportunity with a 49-27 win over No. 2 Concord in the day's first Semifinal.

“Last year we lost and it was pretty heart-breaking. Everyone was pretty upset. But throughout the course of the year it motivated us because we wanted to be here as bad as anything,” said senior guard Madison Ristovski, who was named the state’s Miss Basketball on Monday.

“So yeah, we feel pressure. But at the same time, we want it so bad that it overrides it.”

University Liggett (23-4) will face No. 1 Morley-Stanwood (27-0) in Saturday’s 4 p.m. Final. 

Ristovski, who has signed with the University of Michigan, is arguably the best-known player at Breslin this weekend – and the regular catalyst for the Knights over the last few seasons.

But Thursday, junior sister Haleigh Ristovski got University Liggett rolling.

She made her first 3-pointer with the Knights trailing by five points seven minutes into the game. But she finished with six 3-pointers – and 22 points, 12 above her average – along with four steals.

"We just tried to pick it up," Haleigh Ristovski said. "Once I hit the first one, I knew I was going to make more. I just felt it.”

Along with freshman sister Lola, the Ristovskis scored University Liggett’s first 37 points before junior Julie DeRoo scored with 1:30 to go in the third quarter. Madison Ristovski finished with 15 points, six rebounds and seven assists and Lola had six steals.

The teams were tied after the first quarter, but the Knights built a 30-17 lead by the end of the second.

"Sometimes in our games, we start off a little slow. It takes one good shot, one good block, and everybody looks at each other and says, 'All right, now it's time. Let's go,'" Madison Ristovski said. "I'm not going to lie. We were probably a little nervous coming out. But as soon as Haleigh knocked down that first 3, it was like 'All right, here it is. Let's go.'

"It's not the first time she's done that. I've seen her hit seven, eight before."

Concord finished 26-1. Junior Megan Redman had eight points. Junior Maycee Brigham added seven.

They are two of eight juniors who will work to get back to Breslin next season. The Yellow Jackets started four juniors Thursday, and had only three seniors on the roster.

"I'd say that we got a lot farther than we thought (we would)," Brigham said. "We set our minds to get here, and I think it was just a great experience to play here."

Click for the box score. Watch the game and both teams' postgame press conferences at MHSAA.tv.

PHOTO: University Liggett junior Haleigh Ristovski drives for two of her game-high 22 points Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Terry McNamara Photography.)

Performance of the Week: Mount Clemens' Nevaeh Williams

January 14, 2022

Mount Clemens basketballNevaeh Williams ♦ Mount Clemens
Basketball ♦ Senior

A media report her sophomore season referred to Williams as the “best player that most high school hoops fans have never heard of,” but the part about being unknown has changed significantly this season and especially over the last week. On Jan. 7, Williams scored 60 points in a win over Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac – tying the fourth-highest single-game total in state girls basketball history – and she followed up with 42 points in a 58-38 win Tuesday against Warren Michigan Collegiate.

The senior point guard has arguably been unmatched in filling stat sheets this winter. She also had seven rebounds against ATAP, and added eight rebounds and 10 steals against Michigan Collegiate. She went over 1,000 career points during a Dec. 14 win over Detroit Pershing, tallying a quadruple double with 20 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and 11 steals, and nearly matched it the next night in a win over Detroit Lincoln-King Academy with 35 points, 10 steals, nine rebounds and seven assists. Earlier in December she put up 44 points in a victory over Southfield Bradford, and she set a school record with 14 steals against Melvindale Academy of Business & Technology also during the season’s first weeks.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Second Half’s "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

2021-22 Honorees

Dec. 2: Lucas Dunn, Chelsea football - Report
Nov. 25:
Riley Nugent, Plainwell swimming - Report
Nov. 18:
Harper Murray, Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball - Report
Nov. 11:
Abby VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian cross country - Report
Nov. 4:
Arianne Olson, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Oct. 28:
Jack Guggemos, Okemos soccer - Report
Oct. 21:
Sachiv Kumar, Northville tennis - Report
Oct. 14:
Kate Brody, Grand Blanc golf - Report
Oct. 7:
Lilly Nelson, Negaunee tennis - Report
Sept. 30:
Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Sept. 23:
Riley Hough, Hartland cross country - Report
Sept. 16:
Josie Bloom, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Report

PHOTOS courtesy of the Mount Clemens athletic department.