All Saints Girls Bring Home 6th Straight District Title

Cougars Claw their way to a win over North Huron 53-46

March 8, 2009
By: Kevin Kula

All Saints celebrates their 6th straight District Title!
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

Facing a tough team in their home gym can be a daunting task for most teams to go through. Not the Cougars. The All Saints Cougars have been the defending district champs for the past five years; and, though they had to face the powerful North Huron Warriors on their home court, the Cougars were ready.


Cougar defense at work!
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)


Junior Julie Spyhalski(6') shows off her reach against #24 Abby Knoblock.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

It seemed like a bad sign when All Saints lost the tip-off, but the Cougars quickly set up their formidable defense and managed to prevent the Warriors from taking the early lead. The Cougars pressing offense gained the early momentum for All Saints by establishing a six point lead that the Cougars would defend all the way till the end of the first period. Things were going well for the Cougars as they prepared to start the second period with the score at 17-13, but the game was far from over.


Megan Heffner #4 gets a nice lay-up over Cougar Soph. Marisa Ramirez.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)


(Above:) Senior Ashley Bowker gets fouled by #24 Knoblock. Bowker then adds to her 12pt night with the free throw. (Below)
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)



The North Huron fans that filled the bleachers screamed and cheered as the Warriors rallied and fought back. It was an offensive roller coaster of a second period for both teams. Finally, with exactly one minute left in the first half, the Warriors put one in that knotted it up 24-24. But the Warriors weren't done yet; they scored once more before the end of the period and, to the delight of the home crowd, the Warriors held the lead at the half way point 26-24.


All Saints Ladies had plenty of fans on hand including the Varsity fellas!
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

Coming out of the brief intermission, both teams knew it was time to do-or-die. The Cougars worked hard on defense to keep the Warriors from scoring, while, at the same time, trying to draw fouls. The Cougar defenders held the Warriors offense off for the first half of the third period, which allowed them to tie the game again on two separate free-throw attempts which yielded one apiece.

Thirty seconds later the Warriors answered right back with a two pointer, but not 10 seconds after that the Cougars added their own two pointer to the board. But that was just the beginning of a Cougar offensive surge. The Cougars rallied, and managed to steal the Warriors momentum back after scoring 4 quick shots in a row while at the same time preventing any points to go to North Huron. With only one period left in the District Championship game, All Saints held the lead 36-30.


ASC's Julie Spyhalski with a nice shot to add to her 9pt night.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)


Senior Jeanie Heintskill #12 puts this one in over Sara Clancy #20.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

Unfortunately, if you thought it was going to be an easy ride to victory for the Cougars you thought wrong. The Warriors fought back, and, with a few lucky three-pointers, North Huron retook the lead 39-38 with 5 minutes left. Both teams defenses battled hard and didn't yield any points either way for over two minutes when the Cougars offense finally broke free and converted 2 fouls into 3 points plus a basket.


Jeanie Heintskill All Saints top scorer with a 20pt night.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)


Coach Gorlewski tells his girls to put the pressure on!
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

With the score at a close 43-39 the Warriors called a timeout. During this timeout All Saints coach Duane Gorlewski told his tired team "you've got three minutes left, just play your game." The Cougars went back out onto the court and "played as a team" as #12 Jeanie Heintskill later said. Although the Cougars yielded seven points in the last two minutes of play that included a 3pt shot; Heintskill and #10 Brittany Case were key to the Cougar victory. They added a basket each and drew fouls in the last minute of play to increase the Cougar lead to 53-46. When time expired All Saints girls varsity earned their 6th straight District Title!


Senior Taylor Timm sends this shot sailing towards victory.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)


ASC's Molly Neymieyer shows her level of intensity!
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)


Jeanie Heintskill added to her teams victory!
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

Below:Key free throws secured the District Title for the Cougars(Left) Brittany Case #10 Senior (Right)Jeanie Heintskill #12 Senior.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)





Coach Gorlewski told his triumphant team, as they got back on the bus to bring the title back to All Saints, "we've come a long way girls!" Seniors Brittany Case and Taylor Timm proudly said of their team "we didn't give up" and "we kept playing our game." The Lady Cougars will compete in the Regional semi-finals on Tuesday; the day after the Cougar boys attempt to follow in the girls footsteps when they start their own run for a district title.


ASC Fans applaud their ladies!
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)


Cougars C E L E B R A T E !
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)


DISTRICT CHAMPS!
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)


Seniors Molly Neymeiyer, Taylor Timm, and Brittany Case are all smilies showing off the hardware!
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)


Juniors: Stephanie Herman, Brianne Tomczak, Kaylee Niemiec and Julie Spyhalski show off the District Trophy!
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)