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Defense helped Cousino settle a score and extend its basketball season.Charlotte Martin scored 14 points and Cousino did not allow double figure scoring in any quarter as the Patriots defeated Royal Oak 51-22 in a Division 1 regional semifinal at Lakeview on Monday night.The win over the team that sidelined Cousino in a district championship game last year sent coach Amy Mitchell’s squad to the regional final.
The Patriots (15-10) play Ford at 7 p.m. Wednesday with a state quarterfinal berth at stake.
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”Cousino players anticipated the revenge game against Royal Oak soon after defeating Warren Woods-Tower in a district final Friday.“I think they were fueled by that,” Royal Oak coach Brian Sopata said.Royal Oak didn’t shoot well from the perimeter and had trouble getting shots inside against a defense anchored in the post by Martin.
“She was fantastic at blocking shots,” Sopata said. “Cousino came out ready to go, and we struggled to do just about anything. They had a great D plan.
They clogged the middle and face-guarded Lucy (Freytag). When you get down, you tend to force things.“Tonight wasn’t our night.
I credit Cousino. They played really well.”Royal Oak’s Lucy Freytag looks to pass the ball up the floor against Cousino.
(GEORGE SPITERI — For MediaNews Group)Defense has carried the Patriots throughout the season, coach Amy Mitchell said.“We set the tone with our defense game in and game out,” Mitchell said. “That’s our bread-and-butter.
That’s what the girls love to do. That’s what they buy into. They get a lot of energy from our defense.
”Mitchell thought a good defensive performance would help the Patriots overcome any nervousness they might have.“I told them, ‘Do your job on defense, and everything else will take care of itself,’” Mitchell said.Raegan Collins’ play against Freytag was a key, Mitchell said.
“She took on the challenge and did a great job,” Mitchell said. “No. 23 (Freytag) is their sharpshooter.
”Martin led four Cousino players in double figures.Demaya Asberry scored 13 points, Londyn Johnson 12 and Maggie Stadler 10.Martin said she enjoys playing both ends of the floor.
“I love playing offense,” the junior said. “I love being big. I love posting girls up.
Demaya and I are a dynamic duo. Teams have to decide who to guard.”Martin uses her size to Cousino’s advantage on defense.
“It’s about being big in the paint,” Martin said. “Blocking passes, standing straight up so I don’t get into foul trouble, obstructing.”Cousino led 16-5 after one quarter, outscored the Ravens 14-2 in the second and continued to dominate in the third with a 15-5 edge.
Royal Oak scored nine points in the fourth.Maddie Lawrence led Royal Oak (13-12) with seven points and Hannah Saunders had six.The Ravens made a consecutive appearance in the regionals for the first time in program history.
“That’s the takeaway here,” Sopata said. “It’s the first time in basketball, girls or boys, that it happened. It’s been a very exciting time for us.
”Cousino is in the regional round for the first time since 2019.The Patriots won the state Class A championship in 2016.Stadler’s 3-pointer gave Cousino a 9-2 lead with 4:25 left in the first quarter.
The Patriots closed the quarter on a 7-0 run that featured another triple by Stadler and a basket by Martin, who scored off an assist by Asberry.Asberry, who is in her fourth varsity season, took over the offense in the second quarter. She made the Patriots’ first four baskets and had 10 points in the quarter.
Johnson’s basket with 38 seconds left gave Cousino the 30-7 lead it took into the halftime break.Johnson scored six points in the third quarter. Martin made the first two baskets of the fourth.
Ford advanced with a 74-51 victory over Dakota..
