Mott girls hoops recognizes seniors as foundation of team

By Sue Teggart
C & G Sports Writer

At the halfway point in the league season, Warren Mott’s girls basketball team finds itself in familiar territory.

The defending Macomb Area Conference Bronze Division champs were 4-1 in the league at press time, 8-6 overall, and in good position to finish the season strong.

“We’re stressing that you practice how you play, which they’re doing,” Mott coach Pat Schmidt said. “I’m looking forward to the second half of MAC division play.”

Schmidt said he’s relying on his senior nucleus — Alexis Lewandowski, Demi Sutter, Caitrin Wojtas and Amanda Kinsman — to lead the charge.

“I have a good group of senior leaders,” Schmidt said. “Alexis is a four-year varsity player. She has a lot of experience.”

Schmidt said Wojtas, his 6-foot-2 center, is one of the squad’s most improved players.
“(Wojtas) and Amanda lead by example,” Schmidt said. “They set the tone at practice.”

Schmidt’s seniors aren’t just leading the squad this season; they helped form the foundation of the current program.

“When I took over the job, they were kind of the building blocks of the program,” Schmidt said. “Now I have a good core of juniors that are playing well. The seniors set the example.”

“Freshman year, we struggled,” said Lewandowski, recalling Mott’s 6-15 overall finish in 2006. “We started building and became a unit. Now, we work well. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and play off of them.”

As Mott heads into the final stretch of the season, Schmidt said the focus is on defense.

“We’re stressing defense as a team, making sure to help each other out. Just basically working together,” Schmidt said.

At press time, Mott’s only league loss came against first-place Center Line, which was 5-0. The two teams played again Feb. 12, after press time.

Win or lose against Center Line, Schmidt knows throughout the second half of league play, which consists of four games, his squad must stay aggressive.

“I expect us to be competing for the MAC Bronze championship,” Schmidt said. “There are some good teams in our division, but I’m hoping that we can repeat. We have to take
one game at a time.”

Fans can catch the squad in action next at 7 p.m. against New Haven High at home.

You can reach Sports Writer Sue Teggart at steggart@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1107.