A state champion team looking to defend its title and a group of two-time regional champions will make this year’s girls basketball season an exciting one in Lenawee County.

The Tecumseh girls won Michigan’s Division 2 state championship last year and are looking forward to defending their title during the 2025-26 season. 

Meanwhile, Morenci’s Lady Dawgs are in the midst of the program’s most successful run in school history and, with a strong group of returning seniors, have a good shot at the state title this year.

Tecumseh: Head coach Kristy Zajac is entering her 10th season at Tecumseh where the Indians were 2023 district champions, 2024 regional champs and most recently won the 2025 state championship. 

Falling one game short of the Breslin Center in 2024 helped motivate the team for their state title run in 2025.

“We had a heartbreaking loss to Gabriel Richard in the quarterfinals the year before, and our goal all season was to get past Gabriel Richard and make it to the Breslin Center and Final Four,” Zajac said.

The only blemish on their record last year, a loss to Rockford, was a pivotal learning experience.

“This was a huge tipping point for us as it was a super physical game,” Zajac said. “We battled toe to toe with them the entire game and showed what kind of team we could be. It also showed us how much tougher we needed to get to make it all the way.”

 Zajac will be looking to returning senior guards Chloe Bullinger and Makayla Schlorf, as well as junior center Addi Zajac, to provide the foundation for this team.

“Chloe’s elite defense and playmaking, Makayla’s scoring and two-way impact, and Addi’s dominant presence in the post set the tone for everything we do. Their experience, competitiveness, and high basketball IQ drive the team and establish the standard in practice every day,” the coach said. 

These key returning athletes will be surrounded by “a group of newcomers who bring length, athleticism, shooting, energy, and skill across all positions,” she said. 

That group includes freshmen Avery Zajac and Delaney Brown adding instant impact in the backcourt; junior Amaria Brown and freshman Reese Grounds strengthening the frontcourt; sophomore Maya Juozapaitis bringing relentless on-ball defense; and Sophia Torres adding senior strength, steadiness, and reliable minutes in the guard rotation. 

“The chemistry is strong, the work ethic is high, and the potential is exciting — this is a group built to win,” Zajac said.

Morenci: The Bulldogs have three-peated as TCC champs, and they’ve won back-to-back district championships and back-to-back regional championships. 

Seniors Evelyn Joughin, Addyson Valentine and Emerson Bachelder are all four-year varsity starters.  And classmates Lauryn Dominique and Katelyn Ruse were key contributors last year on a team that finished 24-2. 

But this decorated senior class still has one item to cross off their list: a trip to the Breslin Center.

Junior Colbie Ekins is another returning starter who will have a big impact on the defensive end and on the boards. And with four-year starter Alyssa Gibbs lost to graduation, Ekins is primed to have an even bigger year on the offensive end. The Bulldogs will need the added production in scoring to get over that final hurdle. 

In their two losses last year, Morenci gave up just 36 points in an overtime road loss to Whiteford and 31 points to Genesee Christian in the quarterfinals, but the offense sputtered in both contests. Juniors Aly Curtis, Tessa Zuvers and Hailey Cleveland will join a team looking to add a few more trophies to the case.

Blissfield: The Blissfield Royals and head coach Ryan Gilbert will be looking to compete for another LCAA crown as well as another district title and tournament run come March. Seniors Leigh Wyman, De’Mya Gibbons and Hope Miller along with junior Kaleena Braun and sophomore Annie Scharer return from a team that went 22-3 last year. Joining them will be junior Brooklyn Fetzer, sophomore Harper Collins, and freshmen Grace Nieman and Layla Gilbert. 

Addison: The Panthers did not field a girls varsity basketball team last year. Second-year head coach Hayden Seegert will start to build a program with essentially all new athletes. He looks to “build a strong foundation and establish our culture and compete with effort and heart every night.”

Adrian: The Adrian Maples and coach Caylie Boehmer are coming off a 10-13 season that saw them finish in fourth place in the SEC. They went 4-6 in league play.

Britton Deerfield: First-year head coach Zach Zyla takes over a Britton Deerfield program that went 2-21 overall and 1-11 in league play last year. Kurina Dotson, Allana Gillson, Elayna Thorton, Yvonne Thomas, Leah Thorton, Natalie Barrett and Allie Fraley are returning from last year. “Keep building a good culture for the program,” he said of his goals for the season. “Improve every day we step foot on the basketball floor.”

Clinton: Veteran coach Mike Ruhl will be entering his first year running the Clinton varsity girls program after eight years off from coaching. The Redwolves went 5-17 last year. 

Ruhl will rely on returners Kaylin Sposite, Annabelle Preston, Lexi Jarrell, Makayla Whitehead, Avery Loftis, Mya Popkey, Erin Burton and Kyra Hendrick in his first year back. They’ll be joined by newcomers Addison Loftis and Lola Sczcesniak as Ruhl looks to increase participation and build culture for the Clinton program. 

Hudson: The Hudson girls varsity basketball team finished in fifth place in the LCAA last year, going 6-8 in league play and 9-14 overall. Coach Anthony Barron welcomes back seniors Taylor Kopin, Sam Anderson, Mia Rogers and Annabelle Czeisperger along with juniors Elci Rogers and Ryen Rogers and sophomore Maci Godfrey. 

Lenawee Christian: The Christian Cougars graduated six seniors, three of them starters, from last year’s 12-11 team. Coach Emilie Beach will look to returning junior Brynn Davis, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, to provide leadership and stability along with returners Sam Shane, Ava Feick and London Schmid. Freshman Hattie Fansler will be a key newcomer for the Cougars. 

Madison: Coach Javon Jenkins is looking for the Trojans to compete for a league title. Jaeda Parish, Mariana Carbajal, Nevaeha Love, Aniyah Jones, Camylie Sower, Christiana Allen and Kalexiana Wrest are returning from a team that went 18-6 and finished second in the LCAA standings last year. Newcomers Marlee Powers, Emma Myers and Olivia Garcia will join an already strong squad.

Onsted: The Wildcats are returning three starters from last year’s 16-8 team that finished third in the LCAA and made it to the district finals. Coach Jon Hovermale will lean on four-year starting guards Hannah Hill and Karlie Kimerer along with Aubreigh Smith, Mattie Hallenbeck and Sydney Keefe. Juniors Izzy Raglow and Hadley Ross will join a team looking to compete for an LCAA title and return to the district finals.

Sand Creek: The Aggies are looking to improve upon a 3-20 record last year through dedication and continuous growth. Coach Mike Zyla is entering his second season with Sand Creek and he welcomes back Payton Steinke, Erin Alexander, Elise Wilkinson, Madalynn Trame and Emma Burns. Zyla said his goal for the season is to “improve every day by fostering a positive, team-first culture.”