Winning Crusade

OLGC eighth-grade girls basketball team rolls to CYO championship

March 17, 2010, 9:35 p.m.

  Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse and Duke hope their March goes as well as the Our Lady of Good Counsel eighth grade girls basketball team's month went.

  On Saturday, in front of more than 600 fired-up fans, the Crusaders capped an extraordinary 21-1 season by winning the 64-team Metro Detroit CYO basketball championship tournament with a convincing 42-26 victory over St. Isaac Jogues of St. Clair Shores.

  The title was the first CYO basketball championship in the school's history.

  The Crusaders' trademark this season was balance as six players made major contributions in the championship game.

  Emily Hogan scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds against St. Isaac Jogues, Alyssa Dillon recorded eight points and six steals, while Kylie Robb added eight points and five assists.

  Super-smooth point guard Rachel Winters chipped in with eight points while post players Jenna Reinhold (four points, six boards and three assists) and Shannon Perry (four points and seven rebounds) controlled the glass.

  Other team members who played instrumental roles in OLGC's success were Kayla Kavulich, Marissa Ozog, Rachel DeMarco and Kelsey McDougall.

  OLGC defeated Redford S. Valentine, Detroit Gesu, Southgate St. Pius, Novi St. James and Livonia St. Michael to reach the final game.

  The Crusaders also won the St. Edith Thanksgiving Tournament and the Mercy High School Christmas Tournament.

  The team's head coach is Ann Robb. She was assisted by Linda Reinhold and Steve Robb.

  Pictured in the photo above are (front row from left) Kelsey McDougall, Kylie Robb, Kayla Kavulich, Marissa Ozog, (middle row from left) Emily Hogan, Rachel Winters, Rachel DeMarco, Shannon Perry, Alyssa Dillon, (back row from left) Ann Robb, Linda Reinhold, Jenna Reinhold and Steve Robb.