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Napoleon girls still figuring things out, but start season with eight wins in a row

 

By Mike Moore

Staff Writer

 

Napoleon – This remains a team with some flaws to fix, but a record to cherish.

 

Steve Smoyer compared what his Napoleon High girls basketball team has gone through so far to what the Michigan State University football team was able to do this fall.

 

“I’m not comparing the two teams, but the fact (MSU) had so many close calls, and still found ways to win,” Smoyer said. “That’s kind of what we’ve been through. We’re not a perfect team, and we have a lot to work at, but there’s something to be said about having more points than the other team when the horn blows.”

 

The Pirates have made a habit of doing just that so far this winter.

 

Following Friday night’s 52-22 victory over Michigan Center, Napoleon was 8-0.

 

It’s the best start for the Pirates since the 2008-09 team won 25 games in a row before ending that season 25-1 with a loss in the Class B semifinals.

 

And while this year’s group is a long way from thinking about a trip to the Breslin Center, the potential to “have a very special season,” as Smoyer put it, is taking shape.

 

And the main reason, he added, is a six-person senior class leading the way.

 

“They understand situations,” he said. “They’ve seen just about all of it, and they know what to expect. It’s a great group of girls.”

 

The senior group includes Kaylee Jester, MacKenzie Fairbanks, McKenzie Smoyer, Brittany Leutz, Taylor Sell and Kyla Babcock.

 

All six see considerable time on the court, powering the Pirates to a number of wins coming in a variety of ways.

 

The seasons started with a 31-29 victory over Pewamo-Westphalia, while others have come by way of the blow out, like a 63-24 triumph against Clinton, or a 41-37 overtime victory against Manchester shortly before the holiday break.

 

Really like the way we’ve won. And that’s the senior leadership,” Smoyer added. “When we’ve been tested, these girls have stepped up.”

 

The Pirates don’t score a ton, roughly 50 points per game, but the defense (less than 30 points allowed per game) has been stellar.

 

“It’s been a total team effort, and that’s what I really like,” Smoyer said. “They have each other’s backs. They understand what it takes to be good teammates, and that shows up on the defensive end. It takes five players to play defense, and they’ve done that. We may not be a great defensive team, but they understand the value of defense, and have done enough to be a good defensive team.”

 

There are bigger tests coming for the Pirates.

 

The team has games against Addison and Hanover-Horton next week as Cascade Conference play really takes off.

 

So far, so good.

 

“I think we’re still learning just how good we can be,” Smoyer said. “We don’t have a ton of size. But, if they keep buying in, and that confidence continues to grow, this can be a very special year. This could be a very rewarding season.”

 

 

Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’

Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.

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