2000 Girls Basketball

Following the historic accomplishments of DeWitt’s 1999 squad was certainly going to be a challenge, but Coach Bill McCullen’s team returned several players in 2000 who had gained valuable experience and confidence as underclassmen. Then adversity struck as the team’s center and lone returning starter (Elizabeth Jury) suffered a torn ACL in June. The team would offset its lack of size with outside shooting, making a program record 115 three-points shots that season. The Panthers were 10-4 when Jury returned to action just three and a half months after surgery. Rebounding woes that contributed to all four losses were quickly solved, and DeWitt clinched a fourth consecutive Ingham County League title. The girls swept through three league foes to win a second straight Class B district crown on their home court. Unranked DeWitt then upset #10-ranked Saginaw Swan Valley (49-34) and #4-ranked Frankenmuth (49-36) to capture its second straight regional title before shocking #7-ranked Sault Ste. Marie 51-49 at the buzzer in the quarterfinals. Against all odds, the Panthers returned to Central Michigan University’s Rose Arena for back-to-back Class B Final Four appearances. Unfortunately, their 14-game winning streak ended with a 54-41 loss to top-ranked Detroit Country Day who boasted a lineup that included six players who eventually played at the Division I level. The Panthers finished 22-5 with each one of their losses to teams who had won 20 or more games that season. The team also won the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan GPA State Championship with a 3.87 collective grade point average. The 2000 DeWitt Girls Basketball team included the following members: Erin Block, Jessica Bunce, Christy Drayton, Joanna Freeman, Emily Gillette, Julia Ingraham, Elizabeth Jury, Monica Nickovich, Kelsey Radke, Alex Reed, Amy Siwek, Head Coach Bill McCullen, and assistant coaches Sam Dalman and Ron Marlan.