Reneisa O'Neal works the ball upcourt for Detroit City in its victory over Kettering. (Ricardo Thomas/Detroit News)
Detroit— Detroit City started fast and held on for a 44-37 victory over Detroit Kettering in a Public Schools League girls basketball game at City High on Thursday.
"We talked about the slow starts in the past," City coach Thomas Wimbush said. "We talked about not starting so lackadaisical."
It seemed to work.
City's defense set the tone, not allowing Kettering a point until freshman Tia Hall's free throw with 4 minutes 30 seconds left in the first quarter. Kettering's first basket came from Jalisa Peterson with 2:20 left in the first.
City (3-9) led 18-7 after the first quarter.
"We're inexperienced," Kettering coach Elbert Williams said. "Everything goes through (Hall), so when she has a slow start, we have a slow start."
Michelle Thomas led Kettering (0-16) with 12 points, and Hall added 11.
Tonay Russell scored 12 and Layla Stevens 10 for City.
More girls basketball
Ann Arbor Richard 45, Riverview Richard 33 : For Ann Arbor (2-3, Catholic League AA), Taylor Hinkson scored 18. Ashley Henderson led Riverview (11-2, 5-1) with 11.
Clawson 47, Madison Heights 27: Kayla Stafford had 14 points and six rebounds, and Ryann May added 10 points and eight rebounds for Clawson (7-5, 5-2 MAC Silver). Alyssa Bennetts and Monique Burnett each scored 12 for Madison Heights (2-9, 0-7).
Clinton TownshipChippewa Valley 31, Fraser 22 : For Chippewa Valley (7-5), Olivia Demos scored 11 and Ciara Helton had 15 rebounds. Fraser is 4-7.
Detroit Western 55, Detroit Central 35: Tranee Jenkins had 27 points and 15 rebounds, and Danielle Williams scored 26 for Western (5-6).
Grosse Point North 44, Romeo 40: Taryn Kiah scored 21 and Maria Liddane 12 for North (4-8, 3-3 MAC Red). Lauren Bright scored 11 for Romeo (11-2, 4-2).
Grosse Pointe South 51, St. Clair 23 : For South (12-2), Caitlin Moore scored 13 and Claire DeBoer 11. St. Clair is now 6-5.
Melvindale 44, Taylor Kennedy 28: Auriel Harris scored 22 and Alycia Webster 13 for Melvindale (7-7). Asia Page scored 15 for Taylor Kennedy.
New Boston Huron 52, Milan 23: Kiara Kudron had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Huron (10-4, 8-0 Huron League). Lexus Kersey scored six for Milan (3-10, 1-7).
Southgate 54, Woodhaven 47: Leah Malam, Amani Corley, and Sarah Kircos each scored 13 for Southgate (10-3, 9-1 Downriver). Whitney Currie scored 14 for Woodhaven (13-1, 9-1).
St. Clair Shores 50, Anchor Bay 34 : For St. Clair Shores (8-5), Megan McCain scored 22 and Leah Charrette 13.
St. Clair Shores South Lake 38, Clintondale 33 : For St. Clair (6-5), Nyshah Brown scored 17.
Boys basketball
Birmingham Groves 73, Bloomfield Hills Andover 68 : For Groves (5-7), Grant Henderson scored 18 and Parish Thurman 16. Zack Smoler scored 17 for Andover (6-6).
Bloomfield Hills Crankbrook Kingswood 61, Allen Park Cabrini 51: Sterling Morrow had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Alex David added 11 points for Kingswood (7-5, 3-2 Catholic League). Steve Latkovic scored 16 for Cabrini.
Detroit Old Redford 78, Dearborn Advanced Tech 71: Gerel Buttram scored 25 and Deangelo Naylon 23 for Old Redford (4-4). Robert Jones scored 17 for Tech (6-4).
Oxford 49, Bloomfield Hills Lahser 42: Mark Hazelwood scored 15 and Jacques Toussaint 14 for Oxford (8-4, 2-1 OAA Gold). Yante Maten had 11 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks for Lahser (9-4, 2-1).
Pontiac 72, West Bloomfield 55 : For Pontiac (9-5), Dijon Cogell scored 27. Jake Daniels scored 16 for West Bloomfield (4-6).
Rochester Adams 60, Oak Park 58: Akhemji Williams scored 19 and Zak Litteson 17 for Adams (7-4, 3-0 OAA White). Stephon Williams scored 25 for Oak Park (4-7, 1-2).
Romulus 69, Belleville 33: Wes Clark led Romulus (9-2) with 11 points, and Ray Lee added 10. Belleville is 5-5.
Royal Oak 72, Hazel Park 62: Devin Carmen scored 24, and Dre Smith and Martel Parker each added 13 for Royal Oak (6-6, 1-2 KLAA Gold). Semaj Thompson had 14 points, five assists, and three steals for Hazel Park (4-7, 0-3).
Southfield 61, Farmington Hill Harrison 35: Earl Swift scored 10 for Southfield.
Southfield Christian 94, Novi Franklin Road Christian 74 : For Southfield Christian (10-1), Chris Dewberry scored 29 with eight rebounds, Gavin Toma had 17 points and six rebounds and Lindsay Hunter III added 15 points and seven assists. Franklin Road was led by Quinn D'Ascenzo's 26 points and Jalen Walker's 17.
Boys hockey
Detroit Country Day 5, Flint Powers 1: Sebastian Stankiewicz and Ryan Gorcniak each scored two goals for Country Day (14-3). Garrett Gormley scored for Powers (8-3).
Boys skiing
Birmingham Brother Rice 11, Lakeland 29: Robbie Cort had the top combined times in the slalom and giant slalom with 37.6 seconds for Brother Rice. Graham Berry came in second with a time of 37.71 seconds.
Birmingham Brother Rice 10 def. Walled Lake Western 38: Graham Berry had the top combined times in slalom and giant slalom with 38.38 seconds for Brother Rice. Robbie Cort recorded the second best times with 38.74 seconds.
Girls skiing
BirminghamMarian 14 def. Lakeland 28 : Lakeland's Kelsey Griffin recorded the best combined times in slalom and giant slalom with 39.59 seconds while Marian's Kelly Lunghammer tallied the second best time with 39.97 seconds.
Birmingham Marian 10 def. Walled Lake Western 41 : For Marian, Kelly Lunghammer had the top combined times in slalom and giant slalom with 40.5 seconds and Kat Streng had the second best time with 40.62 seconds.
Blake Meakin is a freelance writer. Detroit News staff contributed.
Join the Conversation
The Detroit News aims to provide a forum that fosters smart, civil discussions on the news and events that we cover. The News will not condone personal attacks, off topic posts or brutish language on our site. If you find a comment that you believe violates these standards, please click the "X" in the upper right corner of the post to report it.