Recap: Goodrich defeats Regina in state quarterfinal game
Regina couldn’t conquer the Martians.
Senior Riley Place scored 14 points and senior Kalen Williams 11 to lead Goodrich to a 52-27 victory over the Saddlelites in a state Division 2 quarterfinal basketball game at Calihan Hall on Tuesday.
Talyah Beard scored seven points for Regina, which finished 10-13.
Coach Kevin Reese said Regina studied more than a halfdozen Goodrich games and understood how dangerous the Martians could be.
“We knew that if they were shooting it, if they were on from ‘three,’ it was going to be hard for us to win,” Reese said. “They were on. They’re a very good team, very well coached.
“Their shots fell and ours didn’t. Hats off to them, but we made a great run. I think we have the base to bring Regina back.”
Regina, which plays in the Catholic League Central Division, was in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011.
“The best part about the last couple weeks was the girls — seeing their excitement, the pleasure, the smiles after winning a regional,” Reese said. “It’s not always easy when you’re in our league and you’re getting beat up every night. As a coach you see improvement, but it’s hard for them. Sometimes girls at this age only see wins and losses.
“I was so proud to see them have some success.”
Goodrich (24-3) plays Frankenmuth (24-2) in a state semifinal at the Breslin Center at 5:30 p.m. Friday. It will be the Martians’ first trip to the final four since 2015.
“It feels amazing,” Place said. “It will be a great experience.”
Regina scored seven consecutive points, including three on a triple by Sara Wilking, to cut the Goodrich lead to 35-18 midway through the third quarter.
But the Martians responded, twice getting Williams, a 5-foot11 senior post, open for inside baskets during an 8-2 run that restored the lead to 43-20.
Goodrich sank a 3-point field goal and was perfect on five free throws while outscoring Regina 19-11 in the third quarter for a 45
20 lead.
“We’re a shooting team,” Place said. “A lot of us can shoot.”
Regina made two baskets in the first half and trailed 26-9 at the intermission.
Place led the Martians with 11 first-half points. Her triple opened the scoring in the second quarter and gave Goodrich a 14-6 lead, and her basket with 5:37 left made it 18-6.
Sophomore Ella Place, Riley’s sister, sank a 3-pointer from the left corner with a second left in the second quarter to cap the scoring in the first half.
Sabrina Kiryakoza drove for a Regina basket with 1:13 left in the second quarter, and she tacked on a free throw for a three-point play.
Maddy Mlynarek made the Saddlelites’ only basket of the first quarter.
Regina was the last Macomb County team active in the tournament.
Frankenmuth advanced by defeating Houghton 5236.
Grand Rapids West Catholic (26-0), ranked No. 1 in the final Michigan Associated Press poll of the season, plays No. 9 Lansing Catholic (22-5) at 7:30 Friday night in the other semifinal.
The championship game starts at 6:15 p.m. Saturday.
West Catholic lost to Detroit Edison PSA in the 2022 final.