By Dan Fenner For Media News Group

MADISON HEIGHTS | Having beaten Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett by 34 points just two weeks prior, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest wasn’t quite putting the same distance between them at halftime of Tuesday’s playoff rematch.

But that all changed in a hurry to begin the third quarter as the Crusaders rekindled some of their previous magic to produce a 23-1 scoring surge. The improved play turned Lutheran Northwest’s modest five-point halftime lead into a 56-34 victory to secure a place in Thursday’s Division 3 regional finals.

“I’m pleased with the adjustments we made in the second half and for the chance we have to play for a regional title now,” Crusaders coach Jimmy Mehlberg said.

While impressed with his team’s third-quarter performance, Mehlberg said he didn’t recognize until later just how dominant the eight-minute stretch was.

“I didn’t realize it was that big,” he said. “(Liggett) made some adjustments tonight to take away some of the things away that we usually get. We didn’t make adjustments until after halftime.

“We played them before and we beat them, so maybe we we were thinking it wouldn’t be that difficult (tonight). I think we just calmed down.”

Early in the third quarter, back-to-back field goals by junior Jena Maniaci pushed Lutheran Northwest’s lead to double digits for the first time. A 3-pointer by sophomore Genna Schomaker capped off the 19-1 frame to put the Crusaders up by 23.

Maniaci led all scorers with 16 points, while junior Sabrina Gottschalk contributed 12 points, Schomaker finished with eight, and freshman Emily Grulke added seven.

Prior to Tuesday, the Crusaders had last appeared in a regional semifinal in 2016 and 2017 under Mehlberg. The Crusaders have never won a regional title in program history, but will have the opportunity Thursday against Royal Oak Shrine (17-6). Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Bishop Foley High School.

“I didn’t envision this, but I knew we had what it took,” Mehlberg said of his preseason expectations. “We just had to bring it all together. We’re still kind of young. A lot of juniors, a couple freshmen, a couple sophomores. We haven’t been here before. Coming into this game, it’s different. You win or go home.”

Lutheran Northwest (19-5) will put its 10-game winning streak on the line against Shrine, which was a 55-14 winner over Dearborn Advanced Tech in the second semifinal Tuesday.

PLEASE NOTE: The MHSAA has suspended all winter tournaments, effective immediately & indefinitely, due to concerns related to COVID-19.

GO CRUSADERS!

Article originally posted by The Oakland Press.