Southfield Arts and Tech/Saginaw Heritage Insight/Prediction.

Written Saturday March 23rd at 10:10 AM

The final day of the Girls Basketball season is upon us.

The Warriors have a chance to avenge their only loss of the season when they play Saginaw Heritage at Calvin College at 12:15 in the Division One State Final this afternoon.

The Hawks beat Southfield Arts and Tech early in the season 45-43 at Ypsilanti Arbor Prep back in December.

There is plenty of Division One talent on both teams, Saginaw Heritage whom is well coached under Vonnie DeLong has two Division One players in Shrine Strickland-Gills (Central Michigan,) Moriah Joiner (Michigan State,) and a future Division One player in Lauren Reed. Southfield Arts and Tech counters with two Division One players themselves in Sodell Barnes (Toledo) and Alexis Johnson (Marshall) along with a future Division One player in Cheyenne McEvans.

Joiner has been the leader for the Hawks including games where she took over against Midland Dow, Flint Carman Ainsworth, and Wayne Memorial. Joiner had a triple double against Wayne Memorial in the State semifinals and was very instrumental against Midland Dow in the regional finals.

The Warriors who played a brutal schedule went through Detroit Renaissance, Detroit Mumford, Warren Cousino, Grosse Pointe North, Lakeview, and Muskegon in the postseason. Southfield Arts and Tech has a balance group of five talented players in Barnes, Johnson, McEvans. The other two starters could be key in Kayonia Willis and Jasmine Worthy. The bench is a major concern for coach Michelle Marshall and her team, someone besides these five will need to step up if the Warriors want to take home their first State title.

Here are the keys advantages for each team.

GUARDS: ADVANTAGE: Saginaw Heritage: The Hawks have Joiner and an emerging guard in Reed whom are both capable of taking over games. The Warriors counter with Barnes and Willis along with McEvans who can play the wing. Willis is a game manager but will score if need too. However Saginaw Heritage has Joiner and Reed whom both can score anywhere and take a game over and that’s not to mention Mallory McCartney whom is more than capable of taking a game over herself. Joiner had a triple double against Wayne Memorial while Barnes took over the game late against Muskegon holding off the Big Reds. I give the advantage to the Hawks because of the scoring options.

FORWARDS: ADVANTAGE: Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors have the advantage here because of the two for one element. Strickland-Gills although very good has been prone to getting into foul trouble but Southfield Arts and Tech has Alexis Johnson and Jasmine Worthy. If the Warriors two bigs (especially Worthy, wouldn't be ideal for Johnson) stays out of foul trouble then she could focus on Strickland-Gills. If Strickland-Gills doesn't get into foul trouble and Worthy does than that could be problematic because she can focus on Johnson and Southfield Arts and Tech might have to go with an inexperience big in the post. If Strickland Gills does gets into foul trouble then things would be interesting.

BENCH: ADVANTAGE: Saginaw Heritage: The Hawks go about seven deep which was shown against Midland Dow and Wayne Memorial but they are more than capable to go more if need be. Saginaw Heritage has a freshman in Lauren Gunn whom is a three point shooter off the bench and was very instrumental against Wayne Memorial in the State semifinals. The Warriors only go six deep which is a major concern. If this game becomes a foul fest, advantage Hawks.

COACHING: ADVANTAGE: Southfield Arts and Tech: Michelle Marshall has been here before winning a State Championship in 2005 when she was at Southfield-Lathrup however Vonnie DeLong won a State title last season at Saginaw Heritage and has won one as a player as well. Marshall’s experience in these situations gives a slight edge here to the Warriors.

PREDICTION: Motivation is clearly on the Warriors side after what happened to them in December but Saginaw Heritage has been here before. I think Joiner and Barnes cancels each other along with Johnson and Strickland Gills and Cheyenne McEvans and Mallory McCartney do the same. If Jasmine Worthy stays out of foul trouble and produces on the offensive end then another State title for Marshall could be in the works along Southfield Arts and Tech’s first State title. This will be close and tight throughout. The Hawks are the defending State Champs for a reason and they have four talented players as mentioned. Mick McCabe and the folks at ESPN 100.9 FM are going with the Hawks so give me the Warriors. PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 51, SAGINAW HERTIAGE 48.