Ben Murphy
Sports Scene
The Midland High girls basketball team reached new heights a season ago, clipping to a 22-3 record and its first ever regional championship. The season eventually came to an end with a 35-32 quarterfinal loss to Canton, but head coach Elaine Mahabir welcomes back six members from that squad.
“My team has a lot of returning varsity experience, is made up of kids who know how to win and with kids who are willing to work hard,” Mahabir said. “I really have good feelings about the season. However, we have our work cut out for us. We have one of the hardest schedules that we have ever had at Midland High since I have been coaching here. It’s going to be exciting.”
Adding to the coach’s excitement is the return of seniors Maura McAfee (guard, forward), Tiarra Carter (forward), Jennifer Jarema (guard), Mikayla Russell (guard, forward), and Katie Schnurr (center).
The other returnee is sophomore Jessica Walter (guard), who is perhaps best known as the hero in last year’s district opener, where she hit the game winning shot in the Chemics’ 33-32 win over third-ranked Dow High.
“Our strengths are experience and knowledge of the game,” Mahabir said. “I have quite a few kids with high basketball IQs. Another strength would be my seniors have been playing together for a long time.”
New to the team are juniors Katie Ortega (forward), Leah Grinwis (forward), Emily Hohman (guard), Autumn Enzer (guard), and sophomore Lily Hami (forward).
“We are spending a lot of time getting everyone to understand our system,” Mahabir said. “Getting everyone to buy into TEAM and the fact that little things are the difference of good and great.”
Though Dow was the Saginaw Valley League champion a year ago, Mahabir feels her Chemics may be the team everyone tries to knock off this year. The coach also added that her team may have higher goals than a league crown. “I would say we are the team to beat,” she said. “Of all the teams, we have the most returners from last year. I do not have permission from the team to share their goals publicly, but I will say this: They have the bar set pretty high.”
To reach that bar, the coach knows her team can’t put the cart in front of the horse. Winning basketball games still comes down to the basics.
“Good seasons start with 11 players putting their own individual plans to the side for the good of the team,” Mahabir said. “Good seasons happen when the team is working toward a common goal. Good seasons happen when we play smart, play hard, and play together.”