Standing L-R: Asst. Coach Kae
Eidson, Asst. Coach Betsy Kreston,
Coach Kathy McGee, Asst. Coach
Brad Terebinski, Rachel Martin,
Sarah Rutledge, Noelle Beaudry,
Sarah Willyerd, Lisa Negri, Jill
Dolphin, Marie Hamelin, Becky
Flynn, Tiffany Green, Darci
Stocker, Managers Jill Angle,
Raoul Shah, Tiffany Panchula.
Kneeling L-R: Melany Shoskey,
Meg Hudgens, Emily MacDonald,
Katie Cushman, Shelley Waggoner
It was about more than just one season when Powers Catholic won the state Class B girls’ basketball championship in
1991.
It completed the process that began in 1988 when the Chargers reached the state Class A title game, only to lose 71-
49 to Birmingham Marian. That team introduced the rest of the state to coach Kathy McGee’s program, which had been
overshadowed locally by Beecher, Northern and Northwestern in the 1980s.
The 1991 championship was also the beginning of a dynasty. It was the first of four state championships in an 11-year
span. The Chargers also lost in the state finals twice during that span.
Those teams were part of a remarkable run in which Powers won a state-record 18 straight district championships from
1988-2005 and reached the state semifinals nine times in 12 seasons.
“It changed things,” McGee said. “When this group of seniors was freshmen, it was the first year we ever made it to the
finals. That’s when the dream really started to get back to that championship and get it done. When this group not only made
it to the championship but won it, it really set the stage. The kids became believers. Once you believe you can do something
— to quote Jack Pratt — things can get done. I believe this group of players was instrumental in making believers out of a lot of
young players that they had at camp.”
Powers was barely tested during its state championship season, with the 41-29 victory over New Boston Huron in the title
game matching the closest margin of victory in a 26-1 season.
Powers trailed 11-8 after one quarter, but had the game under control after a 19-6 second-quarter run. There were only 26
points combined in the second half of a defensive battle.
“It was almost as if the entire game was in slow motion,” said Sarah Willyerd, who scored 11 points in the final. “I had a
friend on that team who I’d grown up playing AAU with. I have to give that team credit; they were well-coached and actually
contained us to a certain degree. We never felt in jeopardy of losing that game, but they contained us the best possible way
they could have. That was frustrating, because we were used to running people into the ground.”
Lisa Negri scored a game-high 15 points against Huron.
“I just remember I could not even believe we were there, the whole arena being so big and so many people there,” Negri
said. “It was so exciting. We were just really lucky we had the opportunity. We’d played together for so long. We knew how to
work together as a team to get it done.”
Powers’ one loss in 1991 proved to be a valuable teaching moment. In the fifth game of the season, Powers lost 49-44
to Plymouth Canton, which reached the state Class A semifinals that season. That was the highest point total the Chargers
allowed all season.
