Griffin, Panthers Look to Step Up in D-1 Basketball

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(December 5, 2021 9:00 AM) A year ago, a four-minute scoring drought in the Michigan High School Athletic Association state semifinals cost the Western High School girls’ basketball team a chance at a Division 2 state title. 

The Panthers are using the saying ‘no regrets’ as a way to inspire the team to the same level. 

Only this season the Panthers will be battling Division 1 talent, but they don’t seem to want to back down to competition.

“We are just playing our game and not changing who we are as a team,” senior Hillary Griffin said after a blowout win over Columbia Central to begin the season. “Once we get our fast break going, we are hard to beat.

“Just like last year.”

Griffin joins fellow seniors – Alyna Lewis, Riley Kubiak, Lilli Luma, and Reece Hitt – in an attempt to win a state title in basketball. The fivesome started most of the games last year for the Panthers and ran all the way to the state semifinals. 

Western won its first regional girls’ basketball title in school history, defeated Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard in the quarterfinals, but lost to eventual champions Portland 45-38 in the semifinals. 

“Our saying is ‘no regrets’ … we are going all out every game to make it back to the final four and maybe further,” Griffin said. 

Griffin and the other seniors have all participated in AAU basketball for a number of years. Summer workouts included AAU basketball training, lifting and running. 

Griffin averaged nearly 13 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assist, nearly two steals and two blocks per game in 2021. 

She will take her basketball talent to Wayne State University in 2022. 

But the path from here to college is a tough road. The Panthers move up to Division 1 and face East Lansing, Ann Arbor Prep, Detroit Edison, Jackson High School, and battled Grass Lake last Friday. 

“This schedule prepares us so we can see some of the bigger girls,” Griffin said. “We know a lot of the top players from playing AAU basketball.”

Griffin maintains a 3.8 grade point average at WHS and would like to study secondary education. 

She also participated in volleyball at Western.

“Sports develops you as a person and teaches you how to work with other people,” Griffin said. “It gets you ready for the work world.”

A tough schedule, better competition, and another run will challenge Griffin and the Panthers over the next four months.