SWEET SWEEP: Mustangs steamroll Novi, advance to District Final
Northville junior Harper Lee drives for a layup against Novi’s Dayana Payne.
Like an Olympic gold medal-winning downhill skier, Northville’s relentlessly fast-breaking girls basketball team made its home court appear to slope in the direction of the basket it was attacking Wednesday night against rival Novi.
When the final buzzer sounded in the MHSAA District 14 semifinal game, the full-speed-ahead Mustangs had throttled one-time nemesis Novi, 55-21, to punch their ticket into Friday’s 7 p.m. district final against South Lyon.
Winners of 12 of their previous 15 games (with one of those three losses coming against ultra-talented Belleville), the red-hot Mustangs will be looking for redemption from an early-season loss against the equally sizzling Lions (19-2), who edged Northville, 51-46, on Dec. 17.
Spreading the offensive wealth
The beauty of Northville’s 2024-25 success is you never know who is going to be the catalyst.
Wednesday night it was junior forward Harper Lee, who netted a game-high 15 points despite sitting out the fourth quarter due to the lopsided score.
The winners also received pivotal contributions at both ends of the court from sophomore Peyton Sivier, who scored eight points while adding a couple of swats on the defensive end.
The Mustangs’ players cohesive bond was in full display throughout the fourth quarter when the starters, who were sitting on the bench, cheered robustly whenever the reserves scored a basket.
McGuire was magnificent
Sophomore Molly McGuire gave the Wildcats fits in the second half, scoring seven points — two on a slick, slicing drive to the hoop.
Non-starter Addison Gubing also shined, adding six points, while sophomore Ella Ross played sticky defense and displayed poise while running the point.
Like in the two teams’ previous meetings this season — Northville won 52-38 and 67-33 — the Mustangs were in charge for most of the 32 minutes, exploding to a 30-12 halftime lead and 43-17 advantage after three quarters.
Northville’s Energizer Bunny — junior guard Carly Pelon — chipped in with six points and four steals on a night when the Mustangs were running on all cylinders.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
