Ferndale Nets 51-44 Win over Berkley in Battle for Second Place in OAA Blue

FERNDALE – Two months ago it didn’t seem possible that Ferndale would be playing a game for second place in the Oakland Athletic Association Blue division.

On Thursday night that’s exactly where the Eagles girls varsity team found themselves.

In the regular season finale for both teams, Ferndale played Berkley for sole possession of second place behind Farmington. The Eagles (13-7; 10-4 OAA Blue) were able to hold on to a late five-point lead and put away the Bears 51-44.

The win capped an amazing turn around story. The Eagles tragically lost their coach Shawn Patrick just weeks before the season when he was murdered outside of his home in Detroit.

Coach Berwyn Ellis took over the program just two weeks before the first practices were scheduled.

On the court, Ferndale started the season 1-4, losing three of the four games by double digits. They also lost one of their best returning players, Patrick’s daughter Ashley, to injury. She was one of the only upper classman on the team and missed most of the season after surgery on her arm. 

The team kept a positive attitude and persevered despite the tough circumstances.

“When you look at what happened coming into the season with coach getting killed and having three freshman that are playing integral roles, Coach (Berwyn) Ellis has done a phenomenal job getting the kids to buy into each other and become a team,” Ferndale Athletic Director Shaun Butler said.

In the past eight years the team has never had more than 10 wins or come close to sniffing the top of its division. The Eagles did both this year facing a tremendous amount of adversity.

“I told them I believe we were the best team in the conference even though the record didn’t show it,” Ellis said. “We’ve been playing hard and from where we’ve come, this was a big step.”

The accomplishment wasn’t lost on the players.

“I feel proud,” freshman Ariel Walker said. “I think my team really came together, we’ve become a family. We worked together as a team and made it through. I feel proud that we are in second place. We deserve this.”

The team dedicated the season to Patrick, who would’ve turned 39-years-old on Thursday. 

“I’m sure the win would’ve made him proud,” Ellis said.

It was a win that exemplified the type of team Ferndale has been all season. They got after the boards, hustled and played physical basketball.

The Eagles had three players in their frontcourt score in double digits. Janecia Jenkins, Elissa Parker and Ariel Walker proved too much to handle for Berkley (10-11; 9-5 OAA Blue).

In the fourth quarter, Walker scored the first seven points for the Eagles and scored nine of Ferndale's 19 points in the quarter. She also had a key block down the stretch on Berkley’s leading scorer Lucy McNally.

“I just felt we can’t lose to them,” Walker said. "We beat them already (61-45 on Jan. 25) and we’re a tough team, we shouldn’t lose. I had a mentality where I’m going to go out and play hard, make sure we get the win.”

Berkley opened the game with a 10-0 run. Shannon Farlow had two 3-pointers in the opening four minutes to give the Bears an early cushion.

Ferndale came back in the second quarter when Elissa Parker established her presence. Parker gave Berkley all sorts of problems on the inside. She scored eight of her 11 points in the quarter and had over a half dozen rebounds.

February has been the 6-foot-2 center’s best month of the season. She has improved her footwork and her newfound consistency on offense has given the Eagles a powerful one-two punch with Janecia Jenkins.

Ferndale scored four points in the final 20 seconds of the second quarter to cut Berkley’s lead down to two at halftime.

In the third quarter, Farlow picked up her third foul less than two minutes into the half and had to go to the bench. Berkley missed the senior guard’s shooting touch as Ferndale railed, taking its first lead of the game at 29-28 with 4:57 left in the third quarter on layup from Janecia Jenkins.

The Eagles were able to maintain a small lead for the rest of the game. Berkley was within four points with 1:53 left to go, but a couple of missed 3-pointers ended any chance of a comeback.

Ferndale now will prepare for its game against Warren-Lincoln in the first round of Districts. The Eagles play at Warren Fitzgerald on March 2 (5:30 p.m.) and if they win play one of three teams – Detroit-Mumford, Warren-Fitzgerald or Hazel Park – in the District finals.

Walker said teams in their District could expect more of the same brand of Ferndale basketball.

“Play hard, play tough and show no mercy,” she said, smiling.

Notes – Ferndale’s leading scorers were Jenkins and Walker, who both had 12 points. Parker had 11. Micaela Ellis had eight points in the win. At half time, the school honored the seniors on the squad and recognized the group’s parents. Capreece Holland, Shinia Malloy and Keyana Hurst were introduced to center court with their parents. Ferndale’s junior varsity team also won on Thursday beating Berkley in the opener 46-28.