Title IX at 50: Decades Later, Edwards' Legend Continues to Grow
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 25, 2022
Michigan has contributed mightily to the growth of girls basketball across the nation over the last 50 years. At its height during the first few seasons of this century, nearly 21,000 athletes played for MHSAA member schools. And those schools have produced their share of legends who have gone on to also succeed at the higher levels of the game.
Four decades after starting high school as a student, Tonya Edwards remains one of the most accomplished standouts to travel that path.
The 1986 Flint Northwestern graduate completed her varsity playing career in Fall 1985 (when girls basketball was still played during the fall) with the MHSAA record of 2,307 career points (22.2 ppg) that stood until 1994 and remains 10th on that record book list.
She averaged 26.4 points per game as a senior, and her 104 games played remain tied for 10th-most by a girls basketball player in this state. Edwards helped her team to 99 wins, which remains tied for fifth-most and stood as the MHSAA girls hoops record until 1997. She led Northwestern to Class A championships as a sophomore and junior and a runner-up finish as a senior.
And that was just first chapter.
Edwards went on to play at national powerhouse Tennessee, helping the Volunteers win NCAA championships in 1987 and 1989 under coach Pat Summit. Edwards came home after graduating in 1990, and that fall began a five-year run as Northwestern’s girls varsity coach. She led the 1993 team to the Class A championship and a 28-0 record – becoming the first person to win an MHSAA Finals girls basketball championship as both a player and coach.
Meanwhile, her playing talents were leading to international opportunities with USA Basketball and professional leagues overseas. She returned to play in the U.S. in 1996 and won two championships with the Columbus Quest of the former American Basketball League, then was the No. 7 pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx, one of three WNBA franchises for which she played over five seasons.
Edwards went on to coach briefly in the National Women’s Basketball League, then as an assistant at the college level before serving as head coach of Alcorn State from 2008-09 through 2014-15. She then served as an assistant for the L.A. Sparks from 2016-18, helping that team to the WNBA championship her first season.
But on top of all of those achievements, a unique and incredibly cool twist was yet to come.
In March 2020, COVID-19 ended the MHSAA girls and boys basketball seasons before champions could be crowned. But as Michigan’s high school teams returned to the floor under various precautions the following winter, Edwards returned to Flint’s high school courts as the varsity coach at Flint Carman-Ainsworth.
What’s more, she’s also continuing to coach in the WNBA, which begins regular-season play in May. Three months after serving as an assistant and helping Candace Parker and the Chicago Sky to the WNBA title, Edwards has Carman-Ainsworth 6-3 and among the top teams in the Saginaw Valley League.
Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard.
Previous Title IX at 50 Spotlights
Jan. 18: Iron Mountain Completes Championship Climb - Read
Jan. 11: Harrold's Achievement Heralds Growth of Girls Wrestling - Read
Dec. 20: Competitive Cheer Gives Michigan Plenty to Cheer About - Read
Dec. 14: Evelyn's Game Had Plenty of Magic - Read
Dec. 7: Council Term Ends, But Leinaar Leaves Lasting Impact - Read
Nov. 30: Basketball Season Ready to Add to Rich Tradition - Read
Nov. 23: Marysville Builds Winning Streak Yet to be Challenged - Read
Nov. 16: Wroubel Has Championed Girls School Sports from Their Start - Read
Nov. 9: Pioneer's Joyce Legendary in Michigan, National Swim History - Read
Nov. 2: Royal Oak's Finch Leading Way on Football Field - Read
Oct. 26: Coach Clegg Sets Championship Standard at Grand Blanc - Read
Oct. 19: Rockford Girls Set Pace, Hundreds After Have Continued to Chase - Read
Oct. 12: Bedford Volleyball Pioneer Continues Blazing Record-Setting Trail - Read
Oct. 5: Warner Paved Way to Legend Status with Record Rounds - Read
Sept. 28: Taylor Kennedy Gymnasts Earn Fame as 1st Champions - Read
Sept. 21: Portage Northern Star Byington Becomes Play-by-Play Pioneer - Read
Sept. 14: Guerra/Groat Legacy Continues to Serve St. Philip Well - Read
Sept. 7: Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass - Read
Aug. 31: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way - Read
(MHSAA file photo.)
Breslin Bound: 2023-24 Girls Regional Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 11, 2024
We’re a week into this season’s girls basketball playoffs, with two weeks to go, and already our Breslin Center field is beginning to change up significantly from a year ago.
Last week’s Districts saw six of last season’s semifinalists – including the reigning Division 3 champion and Division 4 runner-up – finish their runs in this year’s tournament. Two more of those 2023 semifinalists are set to meet in a Regional Semifinal tonight, and several more face season-defining matchups over the next three days – and we detail some of those as we glance at three Regionals in each division below.
Ticket information, brackets and more can be found on the Girls Basketball page. To watch any of several games online, visit the NFHS Network.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Sanford Meridian 59, Hemlock 47 In defeating the reigning Division 3 champion Huskies (18-6), the Mustangs (22-1) continued one of the most impressive program turnarounds over the last half-decade; they were winless five years ago but have reached 20 victories all of the last three seasons.
2. Byron Center 47, East Kentwood 44 This was a matchup of Ottawa-Kent Conference division champions, and Byron Center (20-4) avenged a 58-52 season-opening loss to the Falcons (20-4).
3. Fowler 64, Portland St. Patrick 58 These rivals had split their regular-season series, as the Shamrocks (21-3) had won the middle meeting and the Central Michigan Athletic Conference title – but the Eagles (21-3) advanced to this week.
4. Grand Rapids West Catholic 43, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 36 This was another matchup of O-K Conference division winners, as West Catholic (23-1) added to its six-point win over the Cougars (17-7) from December.
5. Vicksburg 69, Paw Paw 57 These two also split during the regular season, with Vicksburg (21-2) winning the last two meetings to first clinch the Wolverine Conference title and this time end Paw Paw’s season at 21-3.
Regionals at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold:
DIVISION 1
Bloomfield Hills Marian
Grosse Pointe North (19-5) vs. Royal Oak (18-6)
Detroit Renaissance (21-3) vs. West Bloomfield (22-1)
Both Renaissance and West Bloomfield reached last season’s Division 1 Semifinals, but didn’t meet – Renaissance fell to Rockford to start the weekend before the Rams defeated West Bloomfield in the championship game the following day. The winner of their Regional Semifinal tonight will be the likely favorite to return to East Lansing from this quarter of the statewide bracket. West Bloomfield’s only loss was to an Ohio opponent, and Renaissance lost only to Detroit Edison (18-3), Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (24-0) and Tecumseh (20-4). Grosse Pointe North and Royal Oak are intriguing spoilers with great storylines, however; GPN was a Regional champion last year that ran into Renaissance in the Quarterfinals, and Royal Oak has enjoyed a memorable rise from three wins only two seasons ago.
Mason
Holt (16-8) vs. DeWitt (22-2)
Portage Central (19-2) vs. Coldwater (21-3)
This Regional features a pair of league champions – DeWitt and Portage Central – and Central opened this season by winning its first 16 games, although the Mustangs did lose their regular-season finale to Coldwater, 44-28 on Feb. 29. The Cardinals are a repeat District champ after finishing runner-up to Jackson Northwest in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference, and their win over the Mounties on Feb. 6 started a current eight-game winning streak. Holt and DeWitt are plenty familiar with each other on the other side of the bracket, the Panthers winning their matchups 52-37 and 54-41 in clinching the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue while the Rams tied for second place. DeWitt has some added motivation as well after falling to Holt in last season’s Regional Final. Holt and Coldwater also faced off earlier this season, with Coldwater winning 40-33 on Jan. 5.
Milford
Grand Blanc (19-4) vs. Howell (17-7)
Clarkston (18-6) vs. White Lake Lakeland (20-4)
After a first-game playoff exit a year ago, Lakeland is coming off its third District title in four seasons and seeking its first Regional championship to add as well to a shared Lakes Valley Conference title this winter. After winning the Saginaw Valley League for the first time, Grand Blanc also could take another next step as it seeks to follow up its fourth-straight District championship by winning what would be a first Regional title since 1977. Howell is a league champion as well, from the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West, and a return District champ. The Highlanders and Clarkston faced off Dec. 15, with the Wolves winning 51-48. Clarkston tied for second in the Oakland Activities Association Red, won by West Bloomfield, but avenged a Feb. 13 loss to Lake Orion in defeating the Dragons 41-40 in their District Final on Friday.
DIVISION 2
Alma
Alma (19-5) vs. Flint Powers Catholic (21-3)
Frankenmuth (22-2) vs. Freeland (21-3)
Powers finished third in the Saginaw Valley League to Grand Blanc and Midland Dow, losing only to those two Division 1 rivals and Division 3 contender Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, and is joined this week by the top three teams from the Tri-Valley Conference Red – champion Frankenmuth, runner-up Freeland and third-place Alma. The Eagles, last season’s Division 2 runners-up, defeated Freeland 53-51 and 54-49 this winter and Alma 57-44 and 58-18 – and also defeated Freeland in last year’s Regional Final. Alma dealt the Falcons their only other loss this season, 62-49 on Feb. 6 to avenge a 29-point loss from Jan. 9.
Charlotte
Tecumseh (20-4) vs. Parma Western (15-9)
Lansing Catholic (19-5) vs. Haslett (18-7)
The Cougars are the reigning Division 2 champions and on a nice run with seven wins over their last eight games, the only loss to Frankenmuth, and last week’s 56-37 District Final win over Portland avenging a seven-point loss to the Raiders from Feb. 13. Lansing Catholic also defeated Haslett 48-37 on Feb. 6, but the Vikings also are on an impressive streak of seven straight wins including a 69-68 overtime victory over Chelsea last week followed by a 56-43 win over Williamston that avenged two regular-season defeats. Haslett also defeated Parma Western 53-39 during this late surge, but the Panthers otherwise have won eight of their last 10 games. They did fall to Tecumseh 59-37 on Dec. 12, and Tecumseh has won 17 of its last 18 games – the lone loss during that string to Chelsea, but with notable wins over Detroit Renaissance and Jackson Northwest at the end of the regular season.
Goodrich
Armada (16-3) vs. Goodrich (24-0)
Warren Regina (12-13) vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (23-0)
At least one team will end the season this week with its lone loss. Goodrich’s last defeat came in a Semifinal at Breslin Center a year ago, and half its wins during this regular season were over teams that finished with 14 victories or more heading into the playoffs. Armada finished second in the Blue Water Area Conference but won its District by avenging a loss to league champ Yale in a big way, 49-29. St. Mary’s opened this season with a 51-42 win over Warren Regina and went on to win the Catholic High School League AA and Cardinal Tournament championships. Regina had a rough start this winter but has won eight straight and defeated Macomb Area Conference Gold champion Marine City 49-35 in its District Final.
DIVISION 3
Onsted
Allen Park Cabrini (10-13) vs. Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (20-4)
Brooklyn Columbia Central (15-8) vs. Blissfield (22-2)
A Blissfield/Arbor Prep meeting in the Regional Final would be a rematch of last year’s won by Blissfield 50-38 on the way to finishing Division 3 runner-up. Blissfield’s only losses since were to Tecumseh and Niles Brandywine this winter, and the Royals have won 16 straight games. Blissfield also opened with a 57-42 win over Columbia Central, which went on to win the Cascades Conference West. Arbor Prep readied for this run with a regular-season schedule filled with Division 1 and 2 opponents, and the Gators’ only losses were to Division 1 Jackson Northwest and Division 2 Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, Detroit Edison and Detroit Country Day. Cabrini has surged late to win a third District in a row.
St. Ignace
West Iron County (14-11) vs. Harbor Springs (22-2)
Elk Rapids (22-2) vs. Roscommon (17-7)
Harbor Springs and Elk Rapids shared the Lake Michigan Conference championship, Elk Rapids winning the first meeting 61-51 and Harbor Springs the rematch 48-41 on Jan. 30. Elk Rapids also won their District Final matchup a year ago on the way to the Quarterfinals. Roscommon could throw off the rematch scenario, emerging from a tie for fourth in the Highland Conference, which sent three teams into this week. West Iron also brings some intrigue with nine wins over its last 11 games including a 52-42 District Semifinal victory over Calumet that avenged one of the losses during this recent run.
Sanford Meridian
Manton (19-5) vs. Lake City (22-2)
Sanford Meridian (22-1) vs. Morley Stanwood (19-4)
Sanford Meridian might be riding as high as any team in the state after avenging its 2023 District loss with a 59-47 win over reigning Division 3 champion Hemlock to close last week. Lake City and Manton finished first and second, respectively, in a Highland Conference that produced three District champions, and Lake City won their matchups 68-34 and 39-27 and also owns a 49-37 win over Morley Stanwood from Jan. 3. Four of Manton’s five defeats were to eventual District winners, and the fifth to a team that reached its title game last week. Morley Stanwood won the Central State Activities Association and defeated TVC White champion St. Louis in another notable District Final.
DIVISION 4
Marquette (for Regional Final)
Ewen-Trout Creek (19-5) vs. Lake Linden-Hubbell (23-1) at Houghton
Ishpeming (23-1) vs. Carney-Nadeau (18-6) at Kingsford
Lake Linden-Hubbell is seeking its first Regional title, and Ishpeming its first since 1985 – and there are challenges on both sides of the bracket. Carney-Nadeau is a league champion, from the Skyline Central Conference Small schools division, and Ewen-Trout Creek finished third to 2023 Division 4 champion Baraga and Lake Linden-Hubbell in the Copper Mountain Conference, pushing the Lakes in a 59-55 overtime game Jan. 11. Lake Linden-Hubbell’s lone defeat was to Baraga (19-5), while Ishpeming’s was to Division 2 Negaunee (23-1).
Mendon
Concord (19-5) vs. Colon (22-2)
St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran (10-14) vs. Mendon (21-3)
Colon won the Southern Central Athletic Association West thanks in part to 54-31 and 51-47 wins over runner-up Mendon, and the Magi defeated Concord 61-47 on Feb. 24. Colon and Mendon also have met during the postseason the last four years, with Colon winning three of those meetings. Mendon’s only other loss this winter was to Division 1 Sturgis, 43-38, while Concord’s other four were to larger schools as the Yellow Jackets finished second in the Big 8 Conference. Michigan Lutheran won its third District title over the last four seasons edging Three Oaks River Valley 30-29 in last week’s decider.
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart
Bay City All Saints (19-5) vs. Breckenridge (18-6)
Brethren (19-5) vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (21-3)
This Regional includes a pair of league champions. All Saints won the North Central Thumb League Stripes and navigated a competitive District with wins of two and three points to advance. Brethren was the West Michigan D League champion and advanced with wins over a pair of league opponents, including 48-36 over WMDL runner-up Manistee Catholic Central in the District Final. Breckenridge and Sacred Heart played together in the Mid-State Activities Conference and finished third and second, respectively, to St. Charles. If the MSAC rivals meet again, it will be noted that Sacred Heart won their first matchup 50-34 and the Huskies the second 40-24 on Feb. 7
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PHOTOS (Top) Negaunee's Callie Rajala goes up for a shot while being defended by Ishpeming Westwood's Lexi Olson during the Miners’ 65-33 win Dec. 21. (Middle) Goodrich moves the ball upcourt during its second of three wins over Lake Fenton this season, 61-48 on Feb. 16. (Top photo by Cara Kamps; middle photo by Terry Lyons.)