Shrine Tops Royal Oak, 41-30, in Girls' Hoops

The girls' basketball team had two goals in mind Tuesday: Stop a two-game losing streak and put an end to crosstown rival 's four-game winning streak.

The Knights accomplished both with a 41-30 victory at home over the Ravens. Using a box-and-one defense, Shrine bottled up Royal Oak's sophomore scoring sensation Sami Stormont early, a strategy that allowed the Knights to gain an early lead.

The win was just what Shrine head coach Bill LeGault was looking for.

"We've been struggling and lost a few games in a row and I didn't think we played that well tonight. We hope to turn it around over the holidays," LeGault said. "But when we move the ball and everybody gets involved, we have a good team."

Royal Oak jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on a Stormont three-pointer but Shrine clawed its way back, tying the game at five and then taking the lead for good with 2:22 left in the first period. Shrine ended the first quarter up 11-5 and Stormont was in early foul trouble with two personals.

Shrine senior Halle Wangler led all scorers with 23 points while collecting 10 rebounds. Stormont ended the game eight points under her season average with 17 points.

"They're a good team for sure," Stormont said. "Halle's a great player and their coach had them well prepared."

Royal Oak didn't have an answer to Shrine's tenacious defense and trailed at half 21-13, but the Ravens did inch closer at times in the third quarter. Royal Oak only attempted six foul shots in the game, making four of them. Shrine kept its defense tightly packed in and attacked the basket on the offensive end, which helped the Knights get to the free-throw line.

"There's a reason she's going to Oakland University," Royal Oak head coach Brian Sopatasaid of Wangler. "She was good at getting into the lane and drawing contact. We tried to take some charges. I think we tried to take three or four and got one. But that's her game. If you lay off her, she'll knock down the three."

Shrine forced Royal Oak out of its man-to-man defense given the Ravens' foul trouble, and playing against a zone defense seemed to favor the Knights. 

"We just had to get into our groove," Wangler said. "That's what we've been working on the past few games — finding our tempo. And I think we found it tonight."

Shrine's box-and-one-defense focused on guarding Stormont with senior Cora Essenmacher and playing zone against the remaining four Royal Oak players.

"I was told to shut her down so I did my best," Essenmacher said. "She's a good player, but the whole team played good."

Royal Oak had 29 rebounds — 12 offensive, nine assists, and three steals but had 14 turnovers. The team shot only 19 percent from the field, going 7-36, and hit 4-14 three-pointers for 29 percent on the night.

Shrine pulled down 34 rebounds – 14 offensive, had 10 steals, five assists and 13 turnovers. Hitting 11-36 shots, Shrine was 31 percent from the floor.

Royal Oak falls to 4-1 on the year while Shrine raised its record to 5-2.

Animal shelter also a winner in fundraiser

The game also raised nearly $1,400 for the through T-shirt sales, gift baskets, a 50/50 raffle and other donations.