On a mission
Mercy storms past Regina to advance to CHSL Tournament final
NOVI >> After missing out on the CHSL Tournament Bishop Division title for the first time last season, Farmington Hills Mercy looks to be on a mission this time around.
The fifth-ranked Marlins dominated Warren Regina in a CHSL Tournament semifinal on Wednesday at Detroit Catholic Central, winning 52-19 to advance to Saturday’s final at Calihan Hall in Detroit.
“We are doing a good job of sharing the basketball and we are competing really hard at both ends of the floor,” Mercy coach Gary Morris said of his team. “We are executing really well, and when we are shooting as well as we have been, it’s hard to stop us.”
Since moving to a Bishop and Cardinal Division in the 2019-20 season, Mercy had won the first two CHSL titles before Marian took the crown in 2022.
Now, the Marlins (17-2) can secure their third title in four years on Saturday when they face Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, the regular-season co-champion in the Central Division. Mercy split two games with Gabriel Richard, a 62-53 winner over Dearborn Divine Child in Wednesday’s other semifinal contest.
“At this stage, I think nerves are to be expected. We know we are going to have a tough game on Saturday,” Morris said. “I think the sooner we are able to settle in, the better it will be for us.”
It didn’t take long for Mercy to get settled in on Wednesday.
Regina (6-11) scored on the opening possession to take its only lead, but Mercy would answer by scoring 31 of the next 33 points to blow the game wide open.
“Normally we are a great defensive team. We just played one of the top-five teams in the state and they shot the lights out of the ball,” Regina coach Kevin Reese said. “We contested every shot, and (Mercy) still made them. Our defense was there, they just made shots and that’s what happens sometimes.”
The Marlins were dialed in with their shooting, knocking down seven 3-pointers while also converting a pair of threepoint plays.
“Once we settled in and started looking at the basket and focusing on shooting, we were fine,” Morris said. “Once we started shooting, we shot the ball pretty well.”
Regina just wasn’t able to find an answer for consistent offense, as the Marlins also played a swarming defense that kept the Saddlelites from getting good looks at the basket.
“Mercy brings that tradition of being a winning program for 20-30 years. We want to be Mercy,” Reese said. “We want to be able to come out and compete each night like they do and that’s something we have to learn to do.”
Mercy had eight different players score in the win. Sophomore Aizlyn Albanese led the way with 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Sophomore Emily Walker and
junior Ava Lorraine each added nine points.
Regina was led by Sara Wilking, who had five points. Maddy Mlynarek added four points.
Mercy’s CHSL tournament final will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Regina gets back in action next Thursday when it hosts Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
“We just need to keep competing and playing hard,” Reese said. “We play some of the top teams in the state night-in and night-out. We have one of the top opponent winning percentages in the state and it’s a learning experience for our girls. I think it’s something to prepare us for March, where I think we can make a run.”