OVID-ELSIE — Coach Ryan Cunningham’s Ovid-Elsie girls basketball team made a name for itself after a glittering 21-2 season ended in the MHSAA Regional semifinals. A good enough resume that the Lady Marauders finished ranked in the Top Ten for all of mid-Michigan. Last week, Lansing media reported O-E ranked 6th behind powerhouse programs like Fowler, East Lansing and Portland. It was another exciting season in girls basketball for the Mid-Michigan area. It was capped off by Fowler’s second straight state title in Division 4. Portland St. Patrick won the CMAC title with a 20-0 regular season record. Leslie won a share of the GLAC title with an 18-2 regular season record. And congrats to Ovid-Elsie for winning the MMAC league title — and their first MHSAA District championship since 1984. The Lady Marauders boasted one of their best seasons ever, winning 21 of 23 games — their only losses coming in the final 1/8 of the campaign, and only stopped until being stymied by a tough Frankenmuth team — at Frankenmuth — in the Regional semifinals.
Here’s the final Top Ten in mid-MIchigan, starting #10 to 1 by Lansing media outlets:
10). DeWitt (14-5): DeWitt lost to a red-hot East Lansing squad in the district semifinals. But they had great wins over Haslett, Holt, and Grand Ledge (twice).
9). Dansville (17-8): The Aggies had a great tournament run in Division 3. They upset GLAC co-champion Leslie in the regionals and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual state champion Ypsilanti Arbor Prep.
8). Williamston (17-7): Pete Cool’s group got hot at the right time and won a share of the CAAC Red title with Haslett. And then won the district title before losing to Chelsea by two points (48-46).
7). Lansing Catholic (19-3): The lady Cougars shared the CAAC White title with Portland. But they lost to the Raiders in the Division 2 district final.
6). Ovid-Elsie (21-2): Coach Ryan Cunningham has it going on at O-E. As long as he’s there, the Lady Marauders will be a factor in the area.
5). Leslie (20-3): The Blackhawks were knocked out in the Division 3 regional semifinals by Dansville by 12. It was a poor end to a great season.
4). East Lansing (19-5): The Trojans got two of their best players back just before the state tournament in Ella Miller and Peyton Baker. And coach Rob Smith rode them to the Division 1 quarterfinals, where they lost to Rockford.
3). Portland St. Patrick (21-1): The Shamrocks won the CMAC title behind the great season by Lydia Meredith. Al Schrauben’s team had a chance to win the Division 4 title, but after beating Fowler twice in the regular season, they lost to the Eagles in the district final in one of the games of the year,
2). Portland (23-2): The best team in the Mid-Michigan area this season. But they simply couldn’t make anything inside of 12 feet against Detroit Edison in the Division 2 quarterfinals at Williamston last Tuesday.
1). Fowler (24-3): Won their second straight Division 4 state title over Plymouth Christian at the Breslin Center.
