CINDERELLA STORY: Mustangs continue magical season on Senior Night

As they stood shoulder-to-shoulder, hearts beating as one, during Tuesday night’s National Anthem, members of Northville’s girls basketball team looked slightly less than imposing, considering how much size is valued in the sport at which they thrive.

Once the opening tip ignited the Mustangs’ Senior Night game against Canton, the team’s first-place moxie was on full display.

And Northville proved, as it has all season, that the “H”-word that really matters in hoops is often hustle, not height.

Moving relentlessly without the ball on offense, sliding across the glistening gym floor to secure every loose ball on defense, enduring the temporary pain that comes with drawing charging fouls against bigger foes, and firing up three-point rainbows with the confidence — and, oftentimes, accuracy — of Caitlin Clark, the Mustangs displayed their season-long calling cards against the Cobras.

Riveting rally

After trailing 23-15 with 10 minutes to play against a Canton squad also known for its work ethic, Northville rode its trademarks — sticky defense and long-range shooting — to topple the Cobras, 36-30.

The triumph locked the Mustangs (10-2) into sole possession of the KLAA West Division with just two divisional games left to play.

Not bad for a team picked to finish fifth in the West in a pre-season coaches’ poll.

“We work hard, we’re fast and we’re all capable of making shots,” said senior Sara Bambenek, when asked about her team’s recipe for success this season.

‘We play for each other’

“And we all play for each other,” added Maggie Miller, who was honored during a pre-game ceremony along with Banbenek and Lyza Koski.

“I’ve never been on a team that has had such a great bench and our energy is always at its highest level.”

Northville was led offensively by sophomore Peyton Sivier’s 14-point effort.

Arguably, Sivier’s most pivotal bucket of the night was her three that rippled through the net as the third-quarter buzzer sounded, cutting the Mustangs’ deficit to 23-20.

Carly Pelon contributed eight points while Koski’s last regular-season game on her home court ended with four points, five rebounds and the drawing of a charge that came during the Mustangs’ comeback.

The Cobras’ scoring ledger could not have been more balanced. Samantha Moore and Essence Jelks both scored seven while McKinsey Berlin notched six. Julia Allen chipped in with five.

Northville initially wiped out its recent eight-point deficit when Sivier swished a triple 4:24 left to put the Mustangs up, 28-26.

However, Berlin countered with a bucket to knot the game at 28-all at the 3:40 mark.

Final dagger

Northville took the lead for good with 3:10 remaining when Sivier converted an and-one play.

“We’re always in games because of the way we can shoot the ball,” said Northville Head Coach Shaun Dicken. “We tried to speed them up in the second half. We got them to turned it over and we created some opportunities from those turnovers.

Following Tuesday’s game, the Mustangs’ seniors reflected on the first time they competed on their home court as freshmen high school players.

“I remember being pretty nervous my first game,” Miller said.

“I definitely wasn’t as coordinated then as I am now,” said Bambenek, laughing,

“That whole year was kind of a blur, but I remember how excited to be playing basketball at the high school because it’s something I had wanted to do my whole life,” Koski said.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.