Seniors lead Chiefs past Dreadnaughts and into Sweet 16
Justice Tramble was fouled while attempting this third-quarter shot.
Whether she was banking in put-backs or swishing free throws, Canton senior Justice Tramble made her presence felt in the Chiefs’ regional semifinal clash against Dexter.
Paced by Tramble’s game-high 25 points, Canton advanced to the MHSAA Division 1 girls basketball Sweet 16 with a 45-37 triumph over the Dreadnaughts.
Now 22-6, the Chiefs will face probably their most-talented opponent of the season in Belleville, which knocked out Novi in Monday’s first regional semifinal at Westland John Glenn High School.
Tramble was too much for Dexter’s bigs to handle in the paint as she secured eight offensive rebounds, which she routinely turned into either buckets or free throws. Bound for South Carolina State University to play basketball, Tramble drained 12 of her 16 free-throw attempts and added a three-pointer to her scoring ledger.
Free-throw party
Thirteen of the talented senior’s free throws were attempted in the fourth quarter when Dexter sliced a one-time healthy Canton advantage down to 31-28. A Tramble put-back off an offensive rebound with 5:13 left stretched the Chiefs’ lead back to 37-28 and they were never threatened the remainder of the game.
Aleaa Blumberg was Dexter’s only player to reach double-digit scoring, netting 11.
Tramble received plenty of help from senior teammates Marisa Cribari (11 points and eight rebounds) and Maya Joiner, who scored three points (all of free throws) but was a nuisance all night for Dexter on the defensive end.
Freshman chipped in, too
Canton freshman McKinsey Berlin played solid in a reserve role, scoring six points — half coming on a pivotal three-point play when she secured an offensive rebound, scored while being fouled and hit the free throw to extend Canton’s lead to 34-28.
Dexter started fasted, grabbing a 7-5 lead before Canton reeled off a 10-point run that stretched from the late first quarter into the early second. Cribari capped the run with — what else? — a hustling putback shot from the paint.
Addison Chase swished a corner three-point shot with 5:55 to play to bring the Dreadnaughts to within 31-28, but the rest of the night belonged to the surging Chiefs.
Wednesday’s regional final is set for 7 p.m. at John Glenn High School.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
