Birmingham Detroit Country Day holds on to win it all

The Birmingham Detroit Country Day girls basketball team had already been there, on the big stage.

Last season, the Yellowjackets were in the semifinals of the Class B tournament, a senior-less bunch playing in front of thousands at Michigan State's Breslin Center. The young Yellowjackets fell in overtime, 47-41, to Hudsonville Unity Christian, after their defense gave up the tying basket with just six seconds left in regulation.

It was a heartbreaker, but it served as a valuable lesson and motivator to Country Day's leaders, forward Erica Solomon and guard Amber Moore.

And it propelled the team back to the big stage this season. This time, Country Day won it all.

On March 8, the Yellowjackets defeated Detroit Community, 46-40, in the finals at Eastern Michigan's Convocation Center.

"It was a rewarding season because we were coming off that semifinals loss in overtime," coach Frank Orlando said. "As the season went on, they became stronger. There was more of a team effort. And the leadership was excellent."

In the title game, the Yellowjackets got 10 points apiece from junior guards Moore and Sharena Taylor, and nine from sophomore forward Troy Hambric. Sophomore center Madison Williams, who stands 6-foot-6, had eight blocks and eight rebounds. And Solomon, a Notre Dame-bound senior, scored five points, while holding Community star Nya Jordan to six points on 3-of-14 shooting.

The Yellowjackets, who beat Holland Christian, 66-28, in the semis, finished the season 25-1, with their only loss to Ben Davis of Indiana. The title was Country Day's state-record ninth, all since 1989 and under Orlando, who is now 555-96 in 28 seasons.

Highlights this season included a 65-57 win over Class A semifinalist Saginaw Arthur Hill on Jan. 12, a 65-62 win over Lake Orion a couple of weeks later, and a 56-53 victory at Ohio power Toledo Waite on Feb. 2.

"It was a gradual process of getting better," Orlando said of the season. "Starting at the beginning of the state tournament, they really followed the leadership of Erica Solomon. It was her last season, and she wanted to finish out in style."

Country Day wasn't threatened at any time during the playoffs, until the championship game. There, the Yellowjackets overcame 19 turnovers and 22 offensive rebounds by Community with its defensive prowess.

"That was a difficult team to play," Orlando said. "Detroit Community was an excellent team, very athletic and very well-coached. I give credit to our girls, playing great defense to hold them to what we did."

Solomon averaged 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks this season. She was the Miss Basketball runner-up and the Associated Press Class B co-player of the year.

Moore averaged 13 points, five rebounds and four assists this season. And Williams did the dirty work, averaging eight rebounds and six blocks.

The star trio was complemented by role players Hambric, Taylor, Spencer Lane and Emma Golen.

"It was a tremendous season, a great effort by the girls," Orlando said. "I'm proud of them, not only because they work hard on the floor, but they have a team grade point average of 3.3. They are great student-athletes, and that's what I'm most proud of."

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