GRAND LEDGE — The DeWitt girls basketball team graduated a number of key contributors from last year’s squad that made a run to the state quarterfinals.
But for the few who returned, and the handful of new additions to this year’s roster, the group adopted a simple motto as it progressed throughout the year: “Don’t sleep on us.”
The Panthers carried that with them all the way into the district finals, where it would face East Lansing, a team it split the regular-season matchups against.
Once again, DeWitt’s motto proved true as the Panthers battled through a tight game and came out on top with a 51-41 win for their fourth consecutive district title.
“Our challenge to our two seniors and all the young kids that we’re trying to bring alone was that there’s no reason why this group can’t accomplish some stuff, too,” DeWitt coach Bill McCullen said. “This team has been a joy to coach, and we had a little bit of everything happen to us tonight, and East Lansing made it tougher on us than I would have liked.”
Sophia Beland led the Panthers with 18 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, where she hit nine of her 10 free throws down the stretch. Senior forward Carly Dennis had 16 points for DeWitt, with guard Goldie Nicholson adding eight points.
“I’m so proud of this group, it’s almost beyond words,” Beland said. “Our theme this year was, ‘Don’t sleep on us,’ and we had great seniors who graduated, but it’s awesome to see these girls step up and fill the roles that were left by them.”
East Lansing guard Sydney Black led all scorers with 21 points in the game.
DeWitt (19-4) will face Sturgis (20-3) in the Division 1 regional semifinals on March 9 at Holt High School.
Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: DeWitt girls basketball wins fourth straight district title: ‘Don’t sleep on us’
Reporting by Nathaniel Bott, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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