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Schools

Sisters Shine for Liggett in Regional Semis

Madison and Haleigh Ristovski combine for 55 points in University Liggett's victory over Bishop Foley.

advances in the Class C regional girls basketball tournament thanks to some old-school, backyard basketball.

Sisters Madison and Haleigh Ristovski have played together and against each other on the driveway for years and it showed as the two combined for 55 points to lift the Knights to victory over Bishop Foley 74-38 Tuesday night. 

Madison scored 31 points, Haleigh scored 24, and when they weren’t scoring, they were dishing the ball off to each other with head fakes and stutter steps as if they’d done it a million times.

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“We’ve been playing one-on-ones against each other since we were five and six years old,” said Madison, a junior.   

The Knights started the game strong with two 10-point runs in the first quarter to all but put the game out of hand early for Bishop Foley. Liggett outscored Foley 22-10 in the early quarter.

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“That is the main thing we do, start strong,” University Liggett coach Wayne Gigante said.  “We always say that we’ve got to come out strong and start well. If we can do that, then they have to catch us. That’s our mentality.”

The dagger came shortly thereafter when an electric Madison Ristovski scored 13 points in just four minutes and added another four before going into the locker room. The halftime score was 50-22.

“I’ve been averaging about 29-30 points per game so this is an average night for me,” said Madison Ristovski. “I’m really excited now and I’m looking forward to the game on Thursday.”

In the third quarter, the Knights were making three-pointers at will. Sophomore Haleigh Ristovski converted on four treys and Madison added two as they outscored Foley 24-15. 

The fourth quarter showcased the bench players for both teams.

“If you guys can find me a better girl basketball player in the state of Michigan than Madison, bring her to me,” said Gigante. “Madison does everything well. She’s IQ smart and understands the game so well. She’s number one in the state. First and foremost, she controls the game by putting everyone back on their heels. She’s a serious player.”     

For Bishop Foley, the season ended on a tough note.

“Liggett had a good offensive effort that was hard to stop,” Bishop Foley coach Dave Joseph said. “I’m proud of my girls for their strong season.”

Senior Nikki Taylor had a team-high for Bishop Foley with 11 points.

Liggett advances to the next regional round and will face the winner of Cabrini-Allen Academy on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Lutheran High Northwest.

“We can’t look too far ahead,” said Haleigh Ristovski. “If you do, you’ll jinx yourself, psyche yourself out and you’ll end up losing, and we don’t want that to happen.” 

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