BY TERRY FOSTER, WHMI.COM
Prior to Howell’s battle with Belleville in the KLAA girls basketball championship game, members of Salem’s team sat in the stands taunting the Highlanders as they prepared for the show.
The Salem players predicted a Belleville blowout that never happened.
“Good luck with that,” a Salem player chided the Highlanders.
Not only did Howell beat Belleville, 59-51, but the Highlanders wiped the snickers off the Salem players' faces.
Now they must do it again Monday (7 p.m.) in a Division I regional semifinal in the same Northville gym.
Fluke. That’s the word coming from the Belleville camp. Howell is a good team, but the better team did not win that night. Belleville was ranked number one in the state and riding a 35-game winning streak.
Disrespect. That’s the word coming from the Howell camp. The better team won that night. The Highlanders must prove it again. Now the Highlanders are the top-ranked team and are riding a 19-game winning streak.
“Our team is going to go in there with a chip on our shoulders and try to prove everyone wrong and shock the world,” backup junior center Gabby Fischhaber said.
“A lot of my teammates feel like we are getting disrespected and we are not getting our accolades," senior guard Hannah Ralko said.
Haven’t we seen this movie before in football? Belleville, the top ranked team in the state with the top player in the country, quarterback Bryce Underwood, rolled up on Howell in the KLAA championship game expecting a big win. However, Howell upset Belleville to win the title.
The difference is the teams did not meet in the state playoffs.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere like last time,” Howell coach Jason Piepho said. "But they (the Belleville Tigers) were motivated last time playing for a championship. It’s no different. The stakes are just as high. It was for a championship and they were trying to keep their unbeaten record.”
Belleville features junior Sydney Savoury, the most skilled player in Michigan. And shooting guard Se’crette Carter who has signed to play at Marquette.
People fall asleep on Howell’s depth because of the dominant force of 6-foot-5 center Lilly Williams and the sharp shooting of senior guard Gabby Piepho.
Hanna Ralko, Lyla Valentine and Savannah Hohn are capable of big nights shooting or by shutting people down on defense.
“The girls felt disrespected through the course of the season and they are going to channel that with every opportunity they can,” coach Jason Piepho said.