The Lady Raiders of DeTour celebrate the 1983 Class D State Championship. Photo courtesy of Annette Callaghan Wilson from the 1984 DeTour High School Yearbook.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association started the girls basketball tournaments in 1973 and during the 32 years of the tourney there have been just three championships won from the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

DeTour, coached by Dave Miller, won the first crown in 1983 and St. Ignace, with Coach Dorene Ingalls at the helm, captured consecutive titles in 1999 and 2000.

Teams must have the right combination of coaching, talent, and sometimes, a little bit of luck to reach the final four, let alone win the state title.

The Raiders won the Class D crown after falling to Leland in the state semi-finals during the 1981 and 1982 tournaments.

The Saints groomed their championships with strong showing in the tourney during the previous three years, including a quarterfinal appearance in 1997.

Coach Miller and his squad won the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference, district, and regional crowns and the quarterfinal contest before locking horns with Leland for the third straight year.

The Raiders downed the Comets in the semi-finals and went on to defeat Wyandotte Mt. Carmel 49-37 to bring the title back to the Eastern Upper Peninsula with a perfect 28-0 overall mark.

The red and white team was led by Gwen Wilkie, Erica Ledy, Rebecca Bailey, Jayne Cross, Marian LaPoint, Wendi Klamerus, Pixie Fairchild, Gretchen Postula, Annette Callaghan, Bev Lucas, Becky Sasso, Pam Kott, Missy Mannisto, Morri Barrette, and Leslie Opalka.

Coach Ingalls and her team won the Straits Area Conference (SAC), district and regional crowns, and the quarterfinal match-up before defeating Saginaw Nouvel 43-42 in the semifinals, and upending Sandusky 65-40 for the first Class C crown by a team from the Upper Peninsula while compiling a 26-1 overall mark.

The Saints were led by Randi Johnson, Katie Harris, Kate Ruegg, Melisa Massaway, Karolyn Getzen, Emily Evashevski, Eryn Mercer, Micaela Kelso, Liz Elliott, Mandi Johnson, Meghann Savard, Jessica Martin, Adria West, Samantha Litzner, Kathleen Peterson, Holly Cole, and Marielle Calcaterra.

St. Ignace posted another 26-1 record en route to a second Class C state championship. The Saints won the SAC, district, and regional titles, won the quarterfinals, defeated Niles Brandywine 79-46 and downed Detroit Communication and Arts 74-56 in the championship game.

The black and gold were led by Mandi Johnson, Krista Clement, Holly Cole, Kate Ruegg, Melisa Massaway, Karolyn Getzen, Meghann Savard, Emily Evashevski, Eryn Mercer, Micaela Kelso, Adria West, Kathleen Peterson, Samantha Litzner, Jessica Martin, Jennifer Sword, and Marielle Calcaterra.

During an eight-year span from 1980 to 1987, DeTour compiled a 180-24 overall record and won eight EUPC and district crowns, six regional titles, four quarterfinal victories, one semifinal win, and the state championship.

The Saints tournament run continued with two additional final four appearances, one state runner-up, and five more district crowns while compiling a 141-13 record during the last seven years.

Coach Miller and Coach Ingalls are still leading their respective teams on the hardwood and remain at the top of their game.