Sydney Savoury leads Belleville past Rockford for Division 1 Michigan girls high school basketball state title

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Belleville Tigers (27-1) took down the Rockford Rams 61-48 Saturday for the Division 1 MHSAA girls basketball state championship. It marked Rockford's first loss since December, as the Belleville defense proved too strong, even for 2025 miss basketball award winner Anna Wypych.

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The first quarter began back-and-forth, but after it was tied 2-2, the Tigers went on a 7-2 run. Wypych helped Rockford answer with a run of its own and tie the game at 12. Belleville outscored the Rams 6-2 before the quarter was over to take a 18-14 lead into the second.

The second quarter was somewhat a stalemate, as each team scored less than ten points. Belleville held the Rams to 7-of-21 (33.3%) from the field in the first half and 0-for-11 on three-pointers. Tigers head coach Jason Wilkins said it was part of the plan.

"We knew if we can limit (their) open shots, that they would struggle getting to the basket," Wilkins said after the game. "They're not really a slashing team. They thrive on driving, kicking (and) open lanes. We knew we had the athleticism to stay with them, but we just had to really close out (and) pressure the ball. I think our ball pressure is what really got them today."

Sophomore Belleville guard Sydney Savoury took charge offensively early and often. She led all scorers with 12 points going into halftime as the Tigers led 26-20 going into the break.

Savoury began the third quarter with a three-pointer, and she was soon joined by teammate Se'Crette Carter with a basket from behind the arc. The Tigers outscored Rockford 16-11 in the third quarter. Wypych was trying to bring the Rams back herself, but Belleville began setting traps and it proved to be too much.

Rockford made its first three-pointers of the game in the fourth quarter as it was trying to mount a comeback. It finished 3-for-21 from behind the arc.

Carter had 12 points in the game on four three-pointers, and Savoury had a team-high 22 points. Rockford head coach Brad Wilson said there wasn't a way to stop Savoury.

"Well you know she can shoot it," Wilson said of Savoury. "She can attack, she can post you up, she's tall, strong, so you can't really guard her with one player. We tried to deny her the ball, we tried to trap her, we tried to play some zone, tried to play major-gap man, and each time we tried something like that it would open up a shot for somebody else potentially."

Belleville outscored the Rams in every quarter and shot over 50 percent from the field (55.6) and from behind the arc (53.3). Wilkins said despite a poor shooting performance in the semis on Friday, he knew his team had it in them.

"... Offensively, on our end, we knew yesterday we couldn't make shots," Wilkins said. "But like I told everybody, I know my team. We're gonna make a run, we're gonna make shots, so I just told my team, just keep playing."

Wypych ended with a game-high 26 points, but no other Rockford player scored more than six. Four Tigers scored in double figures, including Savoury, Carter, and sisters Paisley (10) and Iyana (12) Stephens.

Division 1 Michigan high school girls basketball state final: Live score updates

FIRST QUARTER UPDATES

Belleville turns it over on its first possession with a travel from sophomore guard Sydney Savoury.

Senior Rockford guard and 2025 miss basketball winner Anna Wypych goes 2-for-2 at the free throw line to get the scoring started for the Rams (2-0).

Senior Belleville forward Iyana Stephens goes 2-for-2 at the charity stripe after getting fouled in the paint. Score it tied 2-2.

After some quick baskets on each side of the floor, Belleville is up 9-4 with 4:18 left in the quarter. Belleville hit its first three during the run.

Wypych makes a tough layup to get the Rams back within one possession (9-6). Belleville traveled its next time down the floor before a media timeout was taken with 3:09 on the clock.

After junior Rockford forward Jordan Mateer scored off the glass in the paint, Savoury hit a three-pointer for Belleville to put it up 12-8.

Senior Rockford center Desirae Donley went 2-for-2 at the free throw line, and on its next possession Mateer hit another layup to tie the game at 12 with 1:56 remaining.

The Tigers went on a 6-2 run to end the quarter, capped off by a layup from Savoury.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Belleville 18, Rockford 14

SECOND QUARTER UPDATES

Wypych scores the first bucket of the second with a layup off a slick pass from Donley. The Rams still trail 18-16 with 5:58 left in the quarter.

Savoury hits a three for the Tigers to put them up 21-16 with 4:58 until halftime.

Junior Belleville guard Se'Crette Carter hits her second three of the game to push her team's lead to 24-16. A media timeout was taken after the play at 4:13.

Wypych puts another one in for her team-leading tenth point for Rockford. The Rams are behind 24-18.

A tie-up causes Rockford to take a timeout with 2:06 left until halftime. Belleville remains ahead 24-18.

After a steal and a drawn foul, Savoury hit 2-of-2 free throws to give herself a game-high 12 points.

Junior Rockford center Kate Higgins goes 2-for-2 at the line to cut its deficit to 26-20 with 1:31 left.

HALFTIME: Belleville 26, Rockford 20

THIRD QUARTER UPDATES

Belleville begins the second half with the ball as the third quarter is underway.

Savoury starts where she left off and hits a three for the Tigers to give them a 29-20 lead.

Wypych scores inside to put the score at 29-22 with 6:51 left in the third.

Savoury hits 1-of-2 free throws after getting fouled in the paint. Belleville leads 30-22 with six minutes to go in the quarter.

Higgins goes 1-of-2 from the line on the other end for the Rams, as they trail 30-23.

Wypych makes 2-of-2 at the charity stripe for the Rams to make it 30-25, still in favor of Belleville.

Carter hits a three pointer for the Tigers to extend their lead to eight (33-25) with under five minutes left in the quarter.

After some back-and-forth scoring, Belleville leads 38-29 with 2:46 left until the fourth quarter. Savoury and Wypych each have 16 points for their respective teams.

Stephens puts Belleville up double digits (40-29) with a layup coming out of a media timeout. Rockford took a timeout to follow with 1:40 left in the quarter.

Wypych hits 2-of-2 free throws for Rockford to make it 42-31 in favor of Belleville.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Belleville 42, Rockford 31

FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES

Rockford's Higgins goes 1-for-2 at the free throw line to get the scoring started in the final quarter. The Rams trails 42-32 with 7:38 left in the game.

Wypych gets the Rams' deficit down to ten (44-34) with a layup, but Stephens put it back to 12 (46-34) with a layup of her own.

After some quick baskets on both sides, the Tigers have a 51-38 advantage with 4:27 left in the game.

Stephens puts in a layup to extend Belleville's lead to 53-38 with 3:23 on the clock.

Rockford gets its first three pointer of the game from junior guard Sienna Wolfe with 2:18 to go in the fourth. On its next possession, Wypych hits one to put the score at 55-44.

After a Paisley Stephens layup for Belleville, Wypych hits another three for Rockford to cut the deficit to ten (57-47) with 1:12 left in the game.

The Tigers get back-to-back layups off turnovers to move ahead 61-47.