From Underdogs to Top Dogs: Summerfield Wins 1st Regional Title
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
April 2, 2021
PETERSBURG – Mickey Moody is making a habit out of taking Monroe County schools to new heights.
While coaching Jefferson’s softball team in 2006, the Bears reached the MHSAA Finals for the first time in school history. At Dundee, Moody coached the Vikings softball team to its first-ever Finals championship in 2013 and into the Semifinals in 2019.
On Wednesday, Moody coached the Petersburg Summerfield girls basketball team to the first Regional championship in school history and a berth in the Division 4 Quarterfinals.
“The girls are really playing well,” Moody said. “I’m so excited for them. It all starts with the kids. I am an old school coach. I’m pretty strict.”
Moody has changed the mood at Summerfield, and the success on the court shows.
“When we were freshmen four years ago, things were a lot different,” said senior Grace Kalb. “He’s definitely changed the mindset. All the coaches have. They are very encouraging. They never give up on us, they always tell us to give them everything we have, and we listen.
“You could feel it changing last year. This year, we have continued down that path.”
Summerfield won 13 games last season in a big turnaround, improving from just five wins in 2018-19 and only four in Moody’s first season coaching Summerfield in 2016-17. Despite the lack of historical success, Moody did not hesitate to tell the girls how far he thought they could go this season.
“It started at our first practice way back in November,” Kalb said. “He told us that we had an opportunity to win a Regional, which had never been done before at our school. When we got to Districts this year, we had a plan. This is our year.”
Summerfield was unranked during the regular season. The Bulldogs started out 3-3, including a 33-point loss to Sand Creek. A week later, they rebounded to beat the Aggies by three. Summerfield closed the regular season by winning six of its last seven games and finished fourth in the Tri-County Conference.
“I don’t talk about league championships,” Moody said. “I tell the girls the league is a bonus. I want their ultimate goal to be to go as far as you can. Well, as far as you can means the state finals.”
That is still two wins away, but anything is possible.
The Bulldogs beat Britton Deerfield to win the District title and hosted the Regional which ended with wins against Allen Park Inter-City Baptist and Southfield Christian. The school’s first-ever Regional title came after Kalb scored a career-high 21 points. Sophomore Abby Haller, the team’s top scorer, added 17, and the other senior on the roster, Breanna Weston, scored 11.
“It was amazing to win at home,” Weston said. “It’s been dream come true.”
Moody said the difference in Summerfield’s late-season surge has been defense.
“We are playing much more aggressive defensively,” he said. “We have been able to put a lot of pressure on teams. They’ve always played hard, but we are coming together now.”
In addition to the two seniors, Summerfield has two juniors in Sydney Redlinger and Elaney Fisher and two sophomores, Haller and Destanee Smith. Moody has five freshmen on the varsity right now.
“All five girls of our starters are shooting the ball super well,” Moody said. “Everyone thinks Abby is going to be our leading scorer, but all of the girls are shooting well. That helps because teams can’t just key on one girl.”
Kalb and Weston are four-year players.
“Grace is my steady engine,” Moody said. “I know she’s going to play well defensively. She always does. Her leadership on the floor is even more important.”
Weston has upped her game in the postseason as well.
“This is the best she’s shot in her four years,” Moody said. “She averaged about 12 points a game during the regular season but has stepped up in the tournament. She looks to score a lot more right now.
“From the time they were freshmen until now, their knowledge of basketball has improved so much. They’ve gotten better every year.”
Moody said the foundation was set for this year’s tournament run with last year’s loss in the Division 3 District. The Bulldogs lost to a solid Blissfield team.
“We played very well,” he said. “I think with that game, the girls saw what they were capable of. Right then we set the goal of getting out of Districts this year.”
Weston said the Bulldogs believed in Moody because he believed in them.
“It was different before,” she said. “Before, we were the underdogs. Now, we are the top dogs. We have done something that’s never been done before in our school’s history. It has been a surreal moment. We are making our marks now. It’s been a great ride.”
Moody got his start in coaching on the softball diamond, not the basketball floor. He is in his 10th year coaching the Dundee softball team but has not started coaching the Vikings yet this spring. Before Dundee, he coached four seasons at Jefferson.
“My assistant coaches are running things for me,” he said. “I love softball, but my main focus is the basketball team right now.”
The Bulldogs will take on Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes on Monday in St. Clair Shores.
“We’re going to have to come up with a really good scheme,” Moody said. “They are a good team. Our girls are excited about being this far. I am really happy for them. It’s nice to see their hard work pay off.”
Anything is possible at this point of the season. Summerfield is not planning to back down just because the Lakers might have more postseason experience.
“I’ve been blessed,” Moody said. “Once the kids understand what we are trying to do and the goals, things fell into place. Every team I’ve coached, the work ethic has been outstanding. Once they get confidence, they just take off.”
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Summerfield’s Grace Kalb, left, makes a move to the basket during her team’s District Final win over Britton Deerfield. (Middle) Bulldogs coach Mickey Moody shows off some of the latest hardware won by his program. (Below) Breanna Watson unrolls a layup against the Patriots. (Photos by Mike Doughty.)
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.)