Father Gabriel Richard High School’s varsity girls basketball team wrapped up an epic season and playoffs run as they battled Detroit Edison Public School Academy for the MHSAA Division 2 state championship on Saturday, March 23rd. More than 200 students brought their Irish spirit and cheered on the team from the student section at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center, in a thrilling and hard-fought game. “The student section was amazing,” says head coach Timothy Cain. “The number of people that showed up just blew me away.”
While DEPSA won the state title game 41-33, this year’s girls’ varsity basketball team dominated through a triumphant and record-breaking 2023-24 season. They went undefeated from their first game in December through the state semifinal on March 22nd, often winning games by 20 points or more. Winning the league title, the league tournament, the Operation Friendship title, districts, and regionals, they went into the state quarterfinals with a record of 26-0.
On March 19th, the team beat Tecumseh 50-45 in the state quarterfinal at Ypsilanti Lincoln High School, then went on to face Grand Rapids West Catholic in the state semifinal at the Breslin Center on March 22nd. Down 32-33 with seconds to go in the game, the Irish came through for the win as junior Charlotte Miller #13 sank an electrifying buzzer-beater three-point shot. The play is called Victory, and Coach Cain says they’ve practiced it over and over, which paid off in the game. “The girls never put their heads down,” he says. “They were dialed in to listening and running the play.” A jubilant crowd of Irish supporters screamed for joy at the victory, knowing the team was headed to the final the next day.
Although the girls didn’t bring home the state championship, Coach Cain is proud of his team and knows they have a bright future ahead of them. Last year, the team went 19-4, and this year they scheduled their tough rematches early in the season. “We beat them early, and the momentum was building. We just kept gaining confidence and confidence.”
The team has a number of extremely talented players, he says, but the key to their success is their hard work and their team philosophy. The players train five days a week before school – “they’ve sacrificed so much sleep,” he says – on conditioning and shooting, as well as practicing many afternoons. The team’s philosophy is to be defense-minded as well as unselfish, so no one player gets all the glory: “We have many girls who would be scoring big on other teams, but we have balanced scoring because we play together, and that’s what makes us successful.”
Ultimately, all those long hours in the gym and dedication to the game helped make the most successful season in thirty years for Irish girls’ basketball. Graduating seniors Veronica Fredericks ’24 and Bethie Benz ’24 will go out on a high note, while the rest of the team looks forward to next year. “We only have one expectation for next year,” Coach Cain says. “We always have the same expectation. We want five trophies: league tournament, Operation Friendship, districts, regionals, and states.” The team secured four of the five this year, and their trajectory is clear: the valiant Irish girls are working hard, playing unselfishly, and bound for victory.