Monday’s preps: Mumford girls claim PSL West title
Detroit Mumford sophomore guard Monica Williams showed some veteran savvy Monday night when she turned in a winning play on both ends of the floor to lift her team past Detroit Cass Tech, 52-50, for its second straight Detroit Public School League West Division 1 championship.
With 20 seconds remaining and the game tied at 50 apiece, Cass Tech was setting up a possession to try and get a winning shot. Mumford had fought back from a 15-point second half deficit on the back of its pressure defense, and it was Williams who came through with another steal and finished with a layup on the other end to cap the victory.
“She went to Cass Tech last year, so she was determined to make a statement tonight,” Mumford coach Kareem Hogan said. “I was impressed. It was just a great play.”
Hogan called for his team to up the full-court pressure when it fell behind in the third quarter. All of his girls bought in.
Brooklyn Taylor finished with 10 points, six assists and seven steals to lead the defensive charge. Jaquaia Jackson and her twin sister, Sequoia Jackson, made it tough on Cass Tech to get buckets late in the game.
“Some of the best defenders I’ve ever coached in my life,” Hogan said. “They made it touch on Cass Tech to even bring the ball up the court. There was pressure everywhere.”
Mumford (11-3, 5-0) got contributions from across the board, as Adoreya Williams finished with 10 points and nine assists, while the game’s last-minute hero, Monica Williams also finished with 10.
Shynell Ponder finished with 14 and Ariah Powell 10 to pace Cass Tech.
MORE GIRLS BASKETBALL
Detroit CMA 29, Detroit Western International 21: Vantane Garrett scored 15 and Jamiya Owens had 14 rebounds for CMA (11-1, 8-0 PSL West 2).
Detroit King 62, Detroit East English 43: Jordan Lewis scored 18, Danielle Camp 12 and DelJanae Williams 11 for King (11-2, 4-0 PSL East 1). Jayla Smith had 18 for East English.
Detroit Renaissance 55, Detroit Henry Ford 26: Kailee Davis scored 19 for Renaissance (9-6, 4-1 PSL West 1). Destinee Bullock had 14 for Henry Ford (5-9).
Detroit Southeastern 47, Detroit Davis Aerospace 19: Kyla Murphy scored 23 for Southeastern (5-8).
Waterford Lakes 53, Riverview Gabriel Richard 23: Catherine Weddle scored 16 and Isabelle Kline 14 for Lakes (11-3, 6-0 Catholic League North).
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 78, Melvindale 43: Toriano Biggs scored 10 for Melvindale (3-8).
Geoff Robinson is a freelance writer.