Shrine, Everest remain in chase for girls basketball state title

Everest Collegiate's regional championship girls basketball team posts with its trophy. Left to right (front row): Leah Radich, Annelise James, Katherine Engle, Katelyn Allen, Grace Lowney, Celeste James, Audrey Beauchamp. Left to right (back row): Assistant coach Marc Lasceski, Assistant coach Mary Jo Allen, Kateri Thibodeau, Daniella Mirjah, Serra Lowney, Kendall Beauchamp, Katrina Earnhardt, Allison Brzezinski, head coach Erin Van Wagoner. (Courtesy of Everest Collegiate High School)

DETROIT — Two CHSL teams remain in the hunt for a girls state basketball championship.

And, no, Bloomfield Hills Marian is not one of them. The Mustangs, season-long highly ranked in Division 1, were eliminated by Grosse Pointe North in a regional final.

Now, it’s up to Royal Oak Shrine and Clarkston Everest Collegiate to carry the Catholic League banner at the quarterfinal level: Shrine in Division 3, Everest in Division 4.

Both are in action Tuesday, March 19. Both games start at 6 p.m.

The CHSL Division C-D champion Knights (20-5) will travel about 50 miles to Lapeer to play Flint Hamady (19-5).

Everest Collegiate (13-8) will have a 30-mile sojourn to Burton Bendle to play Kingston (23-2).

Shrine last won a regional trophy in 1995. They were a Class C state finalist in 1979. But, first things first.

Coach Wayne Gigante’s team powered past New Haven, 52-27, for the regional title behind 25 points by senior Grace Murray.

“This group has come together like no other. To win this is an incredible feeling,” she said afterward.

“She’s a top kid,” Gigante said. “Togetherness is the key.”

Defense is another key to the Lady Knights’ success, evidenced in the 51-18 average score of the five victories so far in state tournament play.

Everest has had a couple of close calls on its trail is to the regional title, its first since 2014. The Mountaineers slipped past Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes by a point in the district semi-final, and by two points against Allen Park Intercity Baptist on a buzzer-beater basket by junior Annelise James.

Coach Erin Van Wagoner could breathe a little easier in the 59-39 victory over New Haven for the regional championship. Senior Katelyn Allen led the way with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 blocks. The James sisters were a step behind: Annelise with 12 points and 7 rebounds, and her younger sister, Celeste, a freshman, 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Winners move on to Calvin College where the semi-finals are scheduled for Thursday-Friday, March 21-22, and finals on Saturday, March 23.

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