EAST LANSING, Mich.---The hardware is coming back across the Mackinac Bridge, even if it's only returning to the Upper Peninsula by a mile or two.
The St. Ignace Saints had a big fourth quarter Saturday and outlasted Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 59-44, at Michigan State University's Breslin Center.
The Saints outrscored the Lakers, 21-6, in the fourth quarter to break open what had been a tie game. The Lakers were the three-time defending Class D state champions before the Saints took them down on Saturday.
St. Ignace, meanwhile, won its fourth state championship in the last 14 years, all of them under the direction of Coach Doreen Ingalls.
"Any time you win, it’s like the first time,” Ingalls said. “It’s a new group, with different reasons, different themes. It’s just like the first time. It’s been a journey. We’ve all grown together. I'm so proud of these girls. We're in good hands when these kids go on in life. They played with a lot of heart, a lot of spirit. I'm just speechless.”
St. Ignace led, 15-12, after the first quarter.
But the Lakers outscored the Saints, 16-8, in the second quarter. So Ingalls and the girls were behind, 28-23, at halftime.
"We talked at halftime about that we needed to go out there and play St. Ignace basketball," Ingalls said. "We had to do it through our defense. We did that (in the second half). We got in the passing lanes, got some deflections, got some turnovers."
The Saints outscored the Lakers, 36-16, in the second half. They allowed just ten points in the third quarter and six points in the fourth quarter.
The St. Ignace Saints had a big fourth quarter Saturday and outlasted Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 59-44, at Michigan State University's Breslin Center.
The Saints outrscored the Lakers, 21-6, in the fourth quarter to break open what had been a tie game. The Lakers were the three-time defending Class D state champions before the Saints took them down on Saturday.
St. Ignace, meanwhile, won its fourth state championship in the last 14 years, all of them under the direction of Coach Doreen Ingalls.
Sarah Cullip had 16 points. (MHSAA photo)
St. Ignace led, 15-12, after the first quarter.
But the Lakers outscored the Saints, 16-8, in the second quarter. So Ingalls and the girls were behind, 28-23, at halftime.
"We talked at halftime about that we needed to go out there and play St. Ignace basketball," Ingalls said. "We had to do it through our defense. We did that (in the second half). We got in the passing lanes, got some deflections, got some turnovers."
The Saints outscored the Lakers, 36-16, in the second half. They allowed just ten points in the third quarter and six points in the fourth quarter.
Emily Hinsman finished with 20 points for St. Ignace, with Sarah Cullip adding 16 and grabbing nine rebounds and Kelley Wright scoring 10 and dishing five assists.
Lexie Robak led the Lakers (21-5) with 25 points, including six three-pointers – which tied her for second-most in an MHSAA girls basketball championship game.
CLICK HERE to watch the St.Ignace-Our Lady press conference.
CLICK HERE to watch the post-game awards presentation.
CLICK HERE to see all of the stats from the game via MHSAA.com.
