Sports
Canton Girls Fall to Inkster in Class A Semifinals
"We came up one play short," Canton coach Brian Samulski said.
EAST LANSING — It was a back-and-forth battle.
The lead changed 10 times and the contest was tied seven times.
In the end, though, it was Inkster that came out on top, beating 39-38 in a Class A semifinal at the Breslin Center.
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“The kids made plays,” Canton coach Brian Samulski said. “We just made one less play than them. ... We came up one play short.”
After losing in the semifinals last year to Detroit Renaissance, the Chiefs (24-3) were aiming for a state title.
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“We were happy to get here, but we would’ve liked it to end differently,” said Canton senior Kari Schmitt, who had 8 points, one assist and two steals. “We have nothing to hang our heads about. We gave it our all.”
Inkster’s Crystal Bradford hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give her team a 20-18 lead.
“Two great teams,” Samulski said, “we expected a battle. Our kids’ effort was outstanding. ... I love (the five seniors) to death. When you talk about girls basketball, I think Canton is in the conversation, and they’re a big part of that.”
Canton and Inkster were tied 29-29 at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Vikings (24-2) pulled out to a 35-31 advantage as sophomore Paris McLeod came off the bench and gave her team a lift with two consecutive baskets.
“Paris had a big fourth quarter,” Inkster coach Peggy Carr said. “She gave us the spark we needed. ... I told them we have eight minutes to get to the state championship game.”
Canton senior forward Kayla Bridges made one of two free throws to climb within 1 point, 35-34, with 3:04 left in the game.
“Canton is well-coached,” Carr said. “They made us work for this one.”
With the Vikings leading 38-36 and less than a minute left in the contest, Canton junior Robyn Mack drove to the basket, but the shot was blocked by Inkster’s Kelsey Mitchell.
“I had to do what I had to do,” said Mitchell, who had 16 points, four blocks and a steal. “We couldn’t let them score at that point, so I slid over for the block.”
Kayla Bridges led Canton with 12 points and seven rebounds.
“They’re very long and athletic,” Bridges said. “It was tough to try and score around the rim.”
Canton finished with 12 steals and caused 19 Inkster turnovers, compared with 11 miscues for the Chiefs.
However, Canton struggled on the glass, getting outrebounded 41-29. Inkster scored 30 points in the paint and 11 on offensive rebounds.
