File photo by Erin Sanchez Four-year varsity player Madeline Young will certainly be missed on the Troy girls basketball team next season. The senior helped guide the Colts to a 9-12 record while playing in the OAA Red.

Colts hold their own in first season playing in OAA Red Division

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

TROY — Troy High girls basketball coach Lisa Danhoff wasn’t angry with her team’s move from the Oakland Activities Association White Division to the Red prior to the 2009-10 season.

She just knew the challenges that would come with it.

But instead of fighting said challenges, Danhoff and the Colts embraced them.
Looking back on the season, they couldn’t be happier.

“You almost hate to admit it, but the girls really surprised me with how we played this year,” said Danhoff, whose Colts ended the year 9-12 overall and were eliminated from the Class A district March 3 in a 56-41 loss to Waterford Mott.

“We were playing in the top division for the first time in eight years, so there was certainly some adjustments to make, and I really don’t think anybody expected too much from us. But we got off to a pretty good start and just kept building from there.”

Before the season began, Danhoff said a record near .500 would be a great accomplishment, and to her satisfaction, that’s exactly where the Colts stayed most of the year.

Entering the final week of the regular season, Troy was 9-9 before embarking on a treacherous trio of games against division champ North Farmington and Lathrup Village Southfield-Lathrup, and then the playoff game against Mott.

“We were playing in a new division with a young roster against a bunch of teams we hadn’t seen very much in the past,” Danhoff said. “The thing I love the most is the fact we held our own against just about everyone we played. It’s cool to think we were in most of games, even against some of the better teams.”

Things won’t get any easier moving forward, though.

While there is a possibility of bringing back as many as 11 girls, four-year varsity player Madeline Young and three-year veteran Colleen Burns will leave a gaping hole, both in talent and leadership.

“That’s the key thing, finding a leader, someone to step up and take that roll next year,” Danhoff said. “With that said, and knowing who we could have coming back, I think aiming for that .500 mark again is a pretty good goal. … Still, the most important part is making sure these girls have fun. I’m proud to say this was a group that had a lot of fun this year. After all, that’s what’s important.”

In the March 1 opener, the Corsairs eliminated Troy Athens 55-41.

Athens, which won the OAA White Division, ended the season with a 15-6 overall record.

You can reach Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1038.