ROCHESTER — The Catholic High School League will crown four basketball champions this weekend — Friday, Feb 13, and Saturday, Feb 14 — at Oakland University O’Rena athletics center.
The action will tip off at 6 p.m. Friday for the girls Bishop Division trophy in a clash between the two best teams, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep and Jackson Lumen Christi.
Their records are mirror images: both are 15-2 overall with just a slight variation in their league records: St. Mary’s is 8-0 in the Central West, Lumen Christi 7-1 in the Central East. St. Mary’s — ranked statewide No. 8 in Division 1 — lost to unranked Saginaw Heritage two days after Christmas and three weeks ago to Division 2 No. 2-ranked Goodrich. Lumen Christi — ranked No. 2 in Division 3 — lost by three points to Farmington Hills Mercy and a non-league contest to a team from Ohio.
Although Lumen Christi didn’t join the CHSL until 2023 and St. Mary’s enrolled girls a couple years earlier to its all-boys academic curriculum, there is history between them. In the 2023-24 season, the Eaglets knocked off the Titans three times, including for the Cardinal Division championship. They have not faced each other since. The Eaglets are riding a seven-game win streak while Lumen Christi has won its last nine in a row.
Eaglets coach Brad Crighton’s daughter, junior point guard Allie, averaging 20 points a game, provides a steadying influence on a young roster. Six-foot forward Brooke Shockey is the only senior. She and 6-foot-1 junior Reese Holton carry the defense.
Lumen Christi’s new coach, Scott Stine, who directed Ypsilanti Arbor Prep to three state championships in the last four years, has a smaller squad with the emphasis on speed. Sophomore 5-foot-9 point guard Kenna Hunt has drawn the attention of a dozen college scouts.
The rest of the weekend’s schedule will be decided by semi-final games played on Tuesday or Wednesday:
Friday, 7:30 p.m., the Boys Bishop Division. The winner of Novi Detroit Catholic Central vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice against the winner of St. Mary’s Prep vs. Toledo St. John’s Jesuit.
Saturday, 6 p.m., the Boys Ste. Anne Division. The winner of Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes vs. Marine City Cardinal Mooney against the winner of Allen Park Cabrini vs. Royal Oak Shrine.
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. the Boys Cardinal Division. The winner of Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Dearborn Divine Child against the winner of Detroit Loyola vs. Lumen Christi.
More February Frenzy in CHSL
Here are the winners so far, and what is scheduled to happen on the CHSL calendar:
Competitive cheer: Bishop Division: Dearborn Divine Child. Cardinal Division: Allen Park Cabrini.
Dance: Farmington Hills Mercy.
Pom-pon: Divine Child.
Ski: St. Mary’s Prep won both the boys and girls events.
Girls basketball: Girls Cardinal Division and Ste. Anne Girls Division finals will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, at Madonna University. Pairings to be announced.
Girls ice hockey: Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Big Boy Ice Arena, Fraser. 12 p.m. Championship: Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Grosse Pointe Wood Liggett.
Bowling: Saturday, Feb. 14, 8:30 a.m., Oak Lanes in Westland.
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].
