FeedsTigers top Highland Park, 61-33
The Belleville Tigers are quickly building a case as one of the top girls basketball teams in the Mega Red Conference.
The Lady Tigers trounced Highland Park, 61-33, at home in the team’s only contest last week. The win improved their record to 4-1, with conference play yet to start. Along the way Belleville has beaten River Rouge, Allen Park and John Glenn. The only loss on the schedule so far was to Salem in the opening game of the season.
Against Highland Park, the Lady Tigers’ defense was strong enough in the second quarter to hold the Lady Polar Bears scoreless for the entire eight minutes.
“We just stepped up our defensive effort and held them,” said Belleville Coach Kevin Edwards. “The defense is getting better but can always get better. The girls are playing hard against tough teams and girls are stepping it up.”
Courtney Holland was big off the boards, handling 12 rebounds. She’s maintained double-figure rebounds in all four of the contests so far, according to Edwards.
“That’s huge for us,” he said. “It really comes in handy.”
Holland also had eight points.
Senior guard Taylor Manley led all scorers with 17 points. Senior guard Danica Holmes and sophomore Miriah Gordon each added 10. Ashley Blasszczak put in eight.
The season is young and the Lady Tigers are far from being out of the woods. Belleville opens conference play at Southgate against a tough Titan team at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
“We have to try and limit them to one shot,” Edwards said. “We’ll really need Holland to get rebounds and we’ll need everybody to step up. Southgate is a disciplined and well-coached team.”
After that, Belleville hosts a usually tough Inkster team next Thursday. However Inkster struggled last week against Detroit Pershing perhaps leaving the window open for the hungry Tigers.
