Forty-three years is a long time. The last time Utica Eisenhower’s girls basketball program played at Breslin Center, Ronald Reagan had just been inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States. None of the players on this roster were alive. Neither was their head coach.
Tomorrow at noon, that changes. The Eagles — winners of 20 straight games, back-to-back MAC Red champions, and owners of a 24-2 record — tip off against Muskegon in the MHSAA Division 1 state semifinals. For the Macomb County community that has watched this program build toward this moment, it is a genuine milestone worth celebrating regardless of what happens next.
But Eisenhower isn’t going to East Lansing just to show up. This team is built to compete, and the matchup against Muskegon — though difficult on paper — is far from a foregone conclusion.
How Eisenhower Got Here
Second-year head coach Madison Ristovski has turned this program around faster than anyone expected. After winning back-to-back MAC Red titles, the Eagles tore through the postseason bracket with a combination of pressure defense and balanced scoring that opposing coaches have struggled to solve all season.
The quarterfinal win over Fraser told you everything you need to know about this team’s character. Trailing 40-36 entering the fourth quarter, Eisenhower outscored Fraser in the final period and won 57-43 — holding Fraser to just three points in the fourth. The Eagles forced 20 turnovers and pulled down 40 rebounds to Fraser’s 27. When the moment got big, Eisenhower got bigger.
The Players to Watch for Eisenhower
Madison Repicky
SOPHOMORE · GUARD · ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
The engine of the Eisenhower offense. Handed out 9 assists in the quarterfinal win over Fraser. Her ability to get into the paint and create for teammates is what makes Eisenhower’s offense go. As a sophomore she is already one of the best distributors in Macomb County.
Gabriella Gojcaj
SENIOR · GUARD · ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM · D1 SOCCER COMMIT (U-D MERCY)
The veteran leader. A dual-sport D1 athlete, Gojcaj brings elite athleticism and competitiveness to every possession. Her experience in big moments is what Eisenhower will lean on when Breslin gets loud.
Janielle Turner
SOPHOMORE · GUARD · ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM · 13 PPG
Leads the team in scoring at 13 points per game. Turner is Eisenhower’s most dangerous offensive threat and the player Muskegon will spend the most time game-planning for. If she gets going early, Eisenhower is dangerous.
Gabriella Camaj
SOPHOMORE · GUARD/FORWARD
The hero of the quarterfinal. Her putback gave Eisenhower the lead for good at 41-40 against Fraser in the fourth quarter. Players who make plays in the biggest moments tend to keep making them.
Leah Poggiolo
SOPHOMORE · FORWARD · ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
A key piece of Eisenhower’s rebounding dominance. The Eagles out-rebounded Fraser 40-27 in the quarterfinal. Against Muskegon’s size, Poggiolo’s work on the glass will be critical.
The Muskegon Challenge
Let’s be honest — Muskegon is the favorite, and they’ve earned that status. The Big Reds enter at 24-2 with a defense that held opponents to just 29.1 points per game across the entire season. That number is not a typo. When a team gives up 29 points per game in the regular season, they are doing something structurally different from everyone else.
“Muskegon’s defense is the best structural advantage in this semifinal. Holding teams to 29.1 points per game all season is not luck — that is a system.”— THE COUNTY LINE ANALYSIS
Their offensive centerpiece is Mariah Sain — a Miss Basketball finalist who commits to Liberty University and averages 20.2 points per game on 48.6% shooting from three. She makes 42 three-pointers on the season and averages 4.5 assists and 3.3 steals per game. She is, in plain terms, one of the best players in Michigan regardless of class or division.
MUSKEGON KEY PLAYERS
Mariah Sain
SENIOR · GUARD · MISS BASKETBALL FINALIST · LIBERTY UNIVERSITY COMMIT
20.2 PPG · 42 three-pointers · 48.6% from three · 4.5 APG · 3.3 SPG · 4.8 RPG. The best player on the floor tomorrow and arguably the best player in Michigan girls basketball this season. Eisenhower must contain her without gambling on defense.
Cece Bonner
SENIOR · GUARD · OAKLAND UNIVERSITY COMMIT
13.2 PPG · 5.0 APG · Oakland University commit. There is an ankle concern heading into this game that has not been fully confirmed. If Bonner is limited, Muskegon loses their second-best playmaker and the matchup shifts significantly toward Eisenhower.
Dy’Nasti Bell
JUNIOR · FORWARD · 6’3″ · D1 PROSPECT
A multiple postseason double-double performer and the interior presence that makes Muskegon nearly impossible to play against. At 6’3″ she creates matchup problems Eisenhower has not faced all season in the MAC Red.
The X-Factors
Cece Bonner’s ankle. This is the biggest variable in the entire game. If Bonner is at less than 80%, Muskegon loses their playmaking depth and Eisenhower’s perimeter defense becomes far more manageable. Watch the Muskegon warmup closely.
Eisenhower’s fourth-quarter identity. The Eagles trailed Fraser by four entering the fourth and outscored them by 14 in the final period. That kind of late-game composure doesn’t happen by accident. Breslin is loud and the moment is enormous — but this team has already proven they don’t flinch.
Madison Repicky’s playmaking. Nine assists in the quarterfinal against a D1 program is remarkable. If Repicky can create the same kind of open looks against Muskegon’s pressure defense, Eisenhower’s shooters will have their chances.
The crowd factor. Macomb County has not had a girls basketball team at Breslin since 1982. The Eagles will not be playing in front of an empty gym. That energy is real and it matters.
COUNTY LINE PREDICTION
Muskegon — slight edge
CONFIDENCE LEVEL: LOW-MEDIUM · THIS GAME IS CLOSER THAN THE RANKINGS SUGGEST
Muskegon’s 29.1 points-allowed average and Mariah Sain’s 20-point ceiling give the Big Reds a structural advantage that is hard to overcome in a single elimination game. But Eisenhower wins this game if Cece Bonner’s ankle limits her, if Madison Repicky has another nine-assist performance, and if Turner gets hot from outside early. The Eagles have proven they can win ugly and they can win in fourth quarters. Don’t be surprised if this one comes down to the final possession. Tip-off is noon at Breslin Center in East Lansing.
