Photos: StudentandAthlete
Detroit Edison’s Gabrielle Elliott (3) scores against Adrian Lenawee Christian junior Bree Salenbien (35) on Monday.
Division 2 No. 1-ranked Detroit Edison Public School Academy Early College escaped with a hard-fought 67-62 comeback road victory over Division 4 No. 1 Adrian Lenawee Christian in girls basketball action on Monday, Feb. 17.
Edison made the hour and a half drive to Adrian and fell behind early as the Cougars led 16-13 after one quarter and 31-24 at halftime.
Pioneer star senior and Clemson-bound Gabrielle Elliott played limited minutes in the first half due to foul trouble in the opening minutes, only scoring eight points before halftime.
The Cougars extended the lead to 11 points midway in the third quarter on deadly three-point shooting before Elliott took charge of the game.
Elliott scored 12 points in the third as the Pioneers closed to within two points by the end of the quarter. Elliott added 11 points in the fourth quarter as the Pioneers pulled away for the win, finishing with 31 points, seven rebounds, a blocked shot, and a steal.
Senior Shaulana Wagner scored 13 points, with seven in the fourth quarter, adding four rebounds and two steals. Senior Daija Tyson finished with 10 points and five steals, including seven points in the fourth quarter.
Junior Damiya Hagmann had only four points, but was a force on defense with six steals, numerous deflections and six assists, as the Pioneers remained undefeated.
Lenawee Christian (15-2) was led by senior Dani Salenbein’s 31 points, including eight three-pointers. four of those in the fourth quarter to
prevent Edison from running away with the game. Her sister Bree Salenbein, a junior, had 13 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and three assists. Senior Libby Miller added 12 points on four three-pointers.
Edison (15-0) has packed its schedule with many of the state’s top teams. In February alone, Edison has wins over Detroit Public School League champion and Division 1 No. 8 Detroit Renaissance (54-52), perennial power Southfield Arts & Technology (74-36), Division 1 No. 4 Farmington Hills Mercy (59-41), and Lenawee Christian.
The Pioneers’ remaining schedule doesn’t get any easier. They host PSL runner-up Detroit Cass Technical (15-2) today ( Feb. 18), travel to Saginaw Heritage (11-5) on Feb. 21, travel to Division 1 No. 9 Flint Carman-Ainsworth (14-2) on Feb. 25, and end the regular season hosting West Bloomfield (12-4) on Feb. 28.
Edison opens the Michigan High School Athletic Association district playoffs against Detroit International Academy for Young Women on March 2.
The Pioneers will be looking for their fourth straight MHSAA championship, winning Class C titles in 2017 and 2018, and the Division 2 championship in 2019.
The Cougars are aiming for their third straight MHSAA championship, winning the Class D title in 2018 and the Division 4 title in 2019.
Detroit Edison’s Daija Tyson (1) scores against Adrian Lenawee Christian on Monday.
Detroit Edison’s Damiya Hagmann (0) brings the ball down court against Adrian Lenawee Christian on Monday.
Detroit Edison’s Shaulana Wagner (24) scores against Adrian Lenawee Christian on Monday.