JAM SESSION: Plymouth outlasts Novi, earns 1st-place division tie
Plymouth’s Elena DiMaria and Annie Flavin battle Novi’s Myah Mackerl for a rebound Wednesday night.
Following the Plymouth girls basketball team’s impressive 48-38 victory over Novi Wednesday night, the KLAA West Division standings are more jam-packed than Ford Road during Rush Hour.
The Wildcats improved to 5-3 in the West (and 9-4 overall) to share the best record in the division with Salem, Howell, Hartland, Brighton and Canton.
Novi slipped to 0-8 in the division and 4-10 overall.
Plymouth hosts Canton Friday at 5:30 p.m. in a crucial cross-campus match-up featuring co-first place teams.
Playing a day later than scheduled due to school being canceled in Novi on Tuesday, both Wildcat contingents played with energy and cohesion.
Tight first quarter
The hosts owned a slim 13-11 advantage after one quarter before carrying a 27-17 lead into the half. Thanks, in part, to back-to-back triples from sophomore point guard Mackenzie Dicken, took a comfortable 41-26 cushion into the final quarter.
Dicken, who swished five of six free throws in addition to her net-finding performance from downtown, led all scorers with 13 points.
Plymouth’s dynamic front-court duo of Elena DiMaria and Annie Flavin netted 12 and 10 points, respectively. DiMaria hustled around the rim, grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.
Also scoring for the winners were Zaynab Saab (seven points); and Olivia Maciag and Evelyn Stiglish, both of whom chipped in with three.
Emma Prahin led Novi’s balanced attack with 10 points. Jordan Popyk scored nine and Anna Lindsay scored eight.
Well-oiled offense
Whenever it possessed the ball, Plymouth made Novi work from sideline to sideline with quick perimeter passes that ultimately opened up space for DiMaria and Flavin in the paint.
Saab was a contributor at both ends of the court for Plymouth, racking up three steals and six rebounds to go with her seven points.
Plymouth was more than efficient from the free-throw line, sinking 15 of 19 attempts (79%). Novi sank just three of seven freebies.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
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