Reece Hitt (33) of Western High School attempts to drive past Tori Martin of Haslett High School during the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 regional semifinal game at Fowlerville High School. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
On a night where Western High School’s two top scorers were held in check, a core of players led the Panthers to a solid defensive effort and a win.
Western defeated Haslett High School 45-34 in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 girls’ basketball regional semifinal at Fowlerville High School.
With the win the Panthers broke a school record for wins – 21 – with the old record dating back to 1988. Western will also face Marshall or Ida in the regional final on Thursday at FHS beginning at 7 p.m.
Sophomore Reece Hitt stepped up to play the point guard role and lead the Panthers with 10 points. While Hitt is a starter, she normally camps at the 3-point line and waits for a shot.
She was needed to handle the No. 1 guard position on Tuesday night in the regional semifinal.
“I always say when someone has a bad game, there is someone there to step up,” WHS Coach Gina Fortress said. “Reece does play point guard, but we use her as the No. 2 guard because she is one of our best shooters.
“I knew she could handle the pressure.”
Hitt scored four points in the first quarter as the Panthers trailed 12-11 after eight minutes.
That is when the Panthers stepped up on the defensive end – holding Haslett scoreless in the second quarter.
Western led 18-12 in a low-scoring first half.
The Panthers extended the lead to nine point by the end of the third quarter, leading 27-18.
But Haslett got hot from the 3-point line and pulled within one possession (34-31) at the 3:30 mark of the fourth quarter.
“They (Haslett) started playing well defensively in the press and we had to stay calm and break it,” Hitt said. “I knew we were still in the game and had to guard the 3-point line.”
Hitt drilled a 3-point shot with approximately 3 minutes remaining in the game to break the Vikings’ rally.
The Panthers made 6-of-8 free throws in the last 66 seconds of the game to pull out the win.
Hitt finished with 10 points and five assists to lead Western. Natalie Shellberg, Lilli Luma, and Chelsea Hurt all scored eight points for the Panthers. Shellberg pulled down seven rebounds and Luma finished with six rebounds for Western (21-2).
Division 3 regional: Michigan Center High School will play in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 regional final at Columbia Central High School on Thursday following a 61-28 win over Lumen Christi. The Cardinals will face 23-1 Byron High School beginning at 6:30 p.m. Byron defeated Bronson 58-21 in the other regional semifinal.
