Three score in double figures to help Eisenhower’s girls stay undefeated

Devyn Raymond is a veteran on an Eisenhower basketball team that has experienced a lot of change.

She is pleased with the way the undefeated Eagles have come together.

Natalya Stojcevski scored 15 points and Raymond and freshman Mackenzie Turner added 11 apiece to lead Eisenhower to a 52-38 Macomb Area Conference crossover victory over visiting Romeo on Friday night.

The Eagles have a new coach in former University of Michigan player and Miss Basketball winner Madison Ristovski, and their roster includes five ninth-graders.

But the coaching change former Sterling Heights head coach Rick Repicky is one of Ristovskis assistants and the influx of freshmen have been keys to the teams 3-0 start, Raymond said.

Honestly, I think its the best thing that could have happened, the senior said.

I love my old coach, but I think its good to have new insight.

And I feel like the freshmen have come in and given us another boost.

Its been nothing but great things.

Im definitely happy with this years team.

Turner and her twin, Janielle, along with Repickys daughter Madison, Leah Poggiolo and Gia Stojcevski are the Eagles ninth-graders.

Repicky assisted on Raymonds basket that opened the scoring in the second quarter, and her pass gave Natalya Stojcevski an open shot that the junior buried from the perimeter later in the period.

Mackenzie Turner made two baskets during a 9-0 run that gave the Red Division Eagles a 32-20 lead their biggest of the game to that point midway through the third quarter, and Repicky made the first basket of the fourth quarter.

They bring a new energy, Raymond said of the ninth-graders.

Especially with the twins on the team, they make it so much fun at practice and at games.

Its always the best environment to be around.

Of Ristovski, Raymond said, She has made us want to be the best people and players we can be.

We do a lot of things together off the court.

Eisenhowers other victories came against Lutheran Northwest and Anchor Bay.

We have a lot of depth right now, Ristovski said.

We can run any number of combinations with the kids we have on the team.

Our kids love to play the game.

They love to play hard, and they play for each other.

At the end of the day, they just want to win games.

Ristovski, who finished her U-M career in 2016, coached the previous two seasons at Stevenson.

I knew there was a lot of good talent within this program that I was excited to coach, she said.

Romeo cut into its 12-point deficit in the third quarter with the help of two baskets by Mya Muschong, one by Layla Babich and a pair of free throws by Lydia Hill.

But Raymond made a turn-around jump shot in the lane and Natalya Stojcevski converted an offensive rebound for a basket before Raymonds field goal closed the scoring with 11 seconds left in the period, and the Eagles took a 42-32 lead into the fourth.

Ike scored the first five points of the final quarter for a 47-32 lead.

Aya Mosleys basket drew Romeo to within 48-38 with 5:03 to play, but the White Division Bulldogs could get no closer.

Despite the defeat that dropped his team to 0-4, Romeo coach Ron LeBlanc was encouraged by the Bulldogs performance.

This was by far the best that weve performed so far, he said.

Its easy to get down, but when you look at the big picture of who weve played and realize that were doing some different things on defense theres a learning curve.

I think the girls are still up.

Theyre still excited for whats coming down the road this year.

Eisenhower was Romeos third-consecutive Red Division opponent.

Weve been playing a gauntlet of a schedule Tom Izzo-type stuff, LeBlanc said.

After opening the season against Rochester of the Oakland Activities Associations White Division, the Bulldogs lost to the Reds Ford and Grosse Pointe South before taking on Eisenhower.

The three Red teams are a combined 9-1.

Were a little behind where we were last year, LeBlanc said.

Were learning some new defensive concepts.

Thats going to get better as we spend more time together.

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Were an athletic team.

Ive got a lot of multi-sport kids.

We have some seniors, but were young experience-wise.

LeBlanc knew the Bulldogs would be tested by Eisenhowers trapping defense.

I was very proud of how they handled it, for the most part, he said.

They learned a lot today.

Babich led Romeo with 10 points.

Eisenhower plays at Troy Athens next Tuesday and hosts Cousino on Thursday before its holiday break.

Romeo has three games before 2025.

Lake Orion visits the Bulldogs on Tuesday.

Romeo travels to Stoney Creek on Thursday and plays LAnse Creuse at St.

Clair County Community College on Dec.

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