BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
MIDLAND — After three lengthy tournament stays from 2008-2010, the district drought for Midland Dow has reached six years.
The Chargers have the talent this year — if they can escape one of the tougher Class A districts in the state. Fourth-ranked Dow began the season 9-2, the only losses coming against No. 3 Saginaw Heritage — and that came in an 50-47 overtime defeat — and to Class B top-ranked Birmingham Detroit Country Day. Every team in Dow’s district has winning record at the mid-point of the season.
Dow and Heritage shared the Saginaw Valley League North Division crown last season. The rivals tangle in their second SVL contest in early February, while they
will likely meet in a district semifinals clash in late February.
Dow lost in the district finals the past two years, including to Heritage a year ago.
“We have to win out between now and then and hopefully win the next game with Heritage,” said Dow coach Kyle Theisen. “To be honest, we’re not satisfied with the way our last two seasons have ended. We shared the league, but didn’t play well in the districts. I think we can make a run (this season). I think the winner of our district can win a regional. It’s going to be a (war). But we can’t have any slip-ups between now and then.”
Dow reached the Class A regional semifinals in both 2008 and 2009 and lost in the state quarterfinals in 2010 before falling to Dexter. Despite talented squads over the past six years, Heritage or Midland have got the best of the Chargers in district play.
This year’s roster is littered with college prospects, as 5-foot-9 senior guard Ellie Taylor, a returning All-State player, is headed to St. Louis, while 6-2 senior post player Kaylee Wasco will play at Binghamton (N.Y.). Both are headed to Division I schools.
Elsewhere, 5-7 sophomore combo guard Molly Davis recently verballed to Central Michigan, giving this squad three D-I talents. Davis is team’s top ball-handler and floor leader.
The talent does not stop there, as 5-10 senior forward Asjia Blanton, 5-8 sophomore guard Maizie Taylor, 6-0 senior forward Nadia Atton, 5-10 junior forward Quinn McCaffrey and 5-7 sophomore guard Paige Messick are also in a tight-knit, eight-player rotation.
Blanton has committed to D-III Albion College, and Taylor has already had some offers from D-II schools.
“We only have eight girls on varsity right now, but what I like about this group is that everyone plays their roles,” said Theisen. “We play good defense, we communicate, we have shooters and we have good post play. All eight girls contribute. We have talent, not just 1-2 girls that lead us. We have a lot of players that can hurt you.”
The Chargers are a team that can compete for championships. They are scoring 59.9 points a contest while holding the opposition to 41.6 points a game. Dow is 2-2 in game’s decided by 10 points or less, although both losses are to teams ranked in the top five in the state.
“We’re right there,” said Theisen. “I expect that we’ll have two more great games against Heritage. We could win both the league and district or finish second in our league and lose in the (district) semifinals. It will e close. The team that wants it the most (will prevail). And the winner of our game should see Midland High in the district finals — and they are a solid team. The winner of our district will have to earn it.”