SPORTS

Tecumseh girls basketball moves to 11-0 with win at Madison

Doug Donnelly
The Daily Telegram
Tecumseh's Alli Zajac drives the ball to the basket while Madison's Madisyn McDonald defends during Tuesday's game. [Telegram photo by John Discher]

MADISON TWP. — Stop that thief! 

Tecumseh’s girls basketball team nearly had more steals than Madison had points Tuesday as they remained undefeated with a 49-25 non-league win. 

“We forced 32 turnovers, which was great, but we didn’t finish on some of them,” said Tecumseh coach Kristy Zajac. “It was huge getting them to turn the ball over as much as they did.” 

The turnovers played a huge role in the win, but the 24-point victory wasn’t sealed until a late Tecumseh (11-0) run put the game out of reach. Madison (3-7) gave state-ranked Tecumseh squad a push. 

No. 1 among Tecumseh thieves was Chesney Wilkie, who picked up 10 steals. Jada Moore used her quickness to gather seven more and Jaden Benschoter was credited with four. First-year Madison head coach Javon Jenkins said the pressure has been an issue for his team all season. 

“Pressure has been a big issue for us all year,” Jenkins said. “They got us a little bit confused and capitalized on our mistakes.” 

Tecumseh stepped out to a 16-4 advantage early and were up 28-10 after a basket by Allie Barrett with 2:21 left in the first half. Madison closed the quarter on a 4-0 run, however, including a buzzer-beater by Annie McDade, to go into the break down 28-12. 

Madisyn McDonald, the only player back for Madison this season with starting experience, hit a 3-pointer to open the second half. Then the Trojans went on a 8-0 run over a three-minute period late in the quarter to make it a 10-point game with under a minute to go.  

Baskets by Jamairah Powers, Navaeh Parish, McDonald and Kelsey McCarty made up the 8-0 run. 

Tecumseh left its pressure on, forced more turnovers, and went on a 14-0 run and gained a 20-point plus margin before the final buzzer. 

Alli Zajac, who finished with 16 points, scored eight of those 14 points during the stretch. Moore finished with 11 points.  

“They did a great job,” Zajac said of Madison. “They are very well coached. They were prepared. They worked hard and battled in the post. We outsized them, but they worked harder than us. We couldn’t get our inside-out game going.” 

Madison didn’t have anyone reach double figures in scoring. McDonald, Haylee Patterson and McCarty each had five points. 

“I’m super proud of the way they are working,” Jenkins said. “Now we need to put the skill and fundamental piece to it. I’ve told the girls that its never about them that it is always going to be about us. We just need to improve each game.” 

Tecumseh plays at 7 p.m. Friday in a Southeastern Conference White Division game at home with Pinckney while Madison hosts Sand Creek the same night.  

Erie Mason 69, Sand Creek 44: At Erie, the defending Tri-County Conference champions won a big game against the Aggies, who came into the game unbeaten in league play. 

Erie Mason hit nine 3-pointers. 

“I was pleased with our effort,” said Sand Creek coach Wayne Perry. “They shot the ball well in the first half, hitting eight threes.” 

Emily Carbajal and Grace Elliott both had double-doubles for Sand Creek. Elliott had 10 points and 12 rebounds while Carbajal had 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

The Aggies (5-3, 3-1 TCC) are at Madison Friday. 

Whiteford 39, Britton Deerfield 27: At Britton, the visiting Bobcats won for the first time this season, outscoring BD in every quarter but the first. 

Jillian Molnar had another solid scoring night for BD (4-7, 1-5 TCC) with 11 points. 

Summerfield 42, Morenci 40: At Petersburg, Summerfield got out to a 12-point lead in the second half, but Morenci battled back to make it a two-point game.  

It dropped Morenci out of a first-place tie in the TCC. The Bulldogs are 6-2 overall (2-1 TCC). 

Bekah Shoemaker and Libby Rorick scored 12 points apiece for Morenci. 

Napoleon 40, Clinton 29: At Napoleon, the Redwolves led after the first quarter, but then gave up 35 points the rest of the way and lost for the ninth straight time. 

Brynn Frederick led Clinton (0-9) with 12 points.