The 1984 team standing from left: Coach Roger Zoll, Crystal Leflore, Jave Ott, Starry Hodge, Taraisa Wills, Darcyl Abernathy Tonya Edwards, Carolyn Neal, Shanta Burks. Janice Cooper, Coach Tony Holliday Kneeling from left: Paulette Backstrom. Lawanda Skinner, Lawana Holland, Cynthia Lyons, Stephanie Tipton, Carolyn Fitzpatrick, manager Mark Fransioli
The 1983 team standing from left: Head Coach: Roger Zoll, Soroya Pendelton, Starry Hodge, Taraisa Wills, Darcyl Abernathv, Tonya Edwards, Shanta Burks, Michelle Cooper, Asst. Coach: Tony Holliday. Kneeling from left: Paulette Backstrom, Casandra Alexander, Franzetta Grundy , Cynthia Lyons, Stephanie Upton, Debra Jones.
Not Pictured: Janice Cooper
Getting out of Flint was the hard part.
Winning the state title was a comparative breeze.
Once Flint Northwestern High broke the grip of Flint Northern’s five year dynasty, the Lady Wildcats wrote their own chapter of Flint basketball history with back-to-back state Class A championships in 1983 and 1984.
Led by four-time All-Stater Tonya Edwards and three other Division I bound starters, NW went 55-1 over the two seasons and won 16 tournament games by an average margin of 59-35.
Tonight those two teams are being inducted as a single entry into the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame, joining the Northern dynasty that was inducted in 2002.
The period from 1978-85 was a heady time in Flint hoops. From the spring of 1978 through the spring of 1985, the city’s high schools won 12 state championships, capturing at least one boys or girls championship every year.
Taraisa Wills remembers growing up and watching Northern’s four-year streak of titles (1978-81) and a fifth trip to the final in 1982, then facing that juggernaut when she got to high school.
“It was fun just watching them from the sidelines and seeing how dedicated they were,” said Wills. “To actually be on the court with them was a little overwhelming.
But you always have to go through the giant. That’s the name of the game.”
NW was a budding giant itself with Edwards (Tennessee), Wills and Cynthia Lyons (both Michigan State) and Paulette Backstrom (Bowling Green) all destined for college basketball’s top level.
Including freshman Stephanie Tipton, who would earn All-State honors as a senior, they were the Lady Wildcats’starting lineup in both state championship years.
Top substitutes included Shanta Burks, Saroya Pendleton and Darcyl Abernathy. Roger Zoll and Tony Holliday were knowledgeable coaches who filled their players with confidence.
“Tony and Mr. Zoll totally set us up with the mindset of conquering anybody we stepped on the court to play,” said Wills. “Nobody was better than us.”
“I think that’s how we got over Northern that first year. No matter what their legacy was, they still had to step on the court and play.”
The Wildcats had come within five points of beating Northern in the 1982 district, and they felled the giant the next year, ousting the Lady Vikings 44-34 in the district final.
“I’ve waited six years to beat them ” Zoll said after the game. “We’ve been knocking on the door. Now it’s our turn.”
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