ANN ARBOR — The final buzzer sounded and the Fireballers gathered in front of their bench, jumping and cheering to celebrate their season-opening win.

After a slow start, the Fireballers beat the Firefoxes 16-12 at Lillie Gymnasium inside Tappan Middle School on Sunday afternoon. It was a fantastic performance for the home team, especially considering many of the players were competing in their first official game.

“We’ve got some things to work on,” head coach Megan told her players in the postgame huddle. “But that was a great game!”

The first basket came after unselfish passing: Ania found Shea, who dished to an open Claire for a layup. The Fireballers trailed 4-2 after the first quarter before finding their rhythm. Claire passed to Nai for a basket. Claire grabbed her own rebound twice and finally converted for another basket.

The players on the bench cheered them on: “Let’s go Fireballers, let’s go!”

Substitutions happened throughout, coordinated by Renee. Marianna worked the scorer’s table as Megan orchestrated the on-court action.

Simona had a near miss after a great pass by Emi. Ania grabbed an offensive rebound and scored. Ellie hit the offensive glass and scored on a layup off the backboard to make it 10-4 just before halftime.

Coach Megan’s fiery speech kept the Fireballers motivated. Harper stole a pass near midcourt and drove the rest of the way for a layup. Emi grabbed a monster rebound in traffic. Hazel and Julia were active on defense and always looking to make the right pass.

The fourth quarter started well: Shea scored twice from the same spot, the second after a nice pass from Claire. A few defensive breakdowns and poor passes let the Firefoxes creep back in, but Nea's big rebound secured the win.

As Coach Megan mentioned, there’s plenty to work on at Wednesday’s practice. But the Fireballers looked great in their season debut. 

ANN ARBOR — The Penguins couldn’t handle the Fireballers hot shooting. The Fireballers trailed early before a scorching run gave them control for good in Sunday’s 22-12 win.

The Penguins, from Burns Park, caused confusion with the opening tip and scored the first two baskets. The Fireballers didn’t flinch. They scored the next 18 points thanks to aggressive defense, strong rebounding and efficient offense.

Claire’s two putbacks tied the game at 4 at the end of the first quarter. Hazel’s incredible dribbling set her up for a clean shot; it somehow rolled off, but Shea was there for a rebound and score to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.

Emi dove to the floor for a steal that set up Harper’s buzzer-beating basket. The Fireballers led 8-4 at halftime.

The strong offense continued in the second half. Claire passed to Simona; the ball got deflected back to Claire for a basket. Nea showed great form on a long-range shot, making it a 12-4 lead. The bank was open on Sunday for Shea to keep the run going.

The fans inside Tappan Middle School’s Lillie Gymnasium went wild. Sunday’s supporters included those from as far away as New York and even South America. They had plenty to cheer about.

Emi grabbed a rebound in traffic and just missed a layup. Ellie snatched it and her shot rolled off the rim before Claire scored. Simona and the rest of her teammates played smart defense, sticking with their player even as the Penguins dribbled around for long stretches.

In the final quarter, Harper grabbed a rebound and went coast to coast for a score. It would be another minute before the Fireballers finally allowed another basket. They answered right back, with Ania’s great pass setting up Harper for a score. Ania then found Ellie, who got to her spot in front of the basket and converted. The Penguins scored the final six points but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Coach Megan was unaware her team had scored 18 unanswered points. She wasn’t surprised by the final result. “Great rebounding, a lot of second-chance points,” she said. “I loved the hustle.”

The Fireballers will practice on Wednesday before next Sunday’s game back at Tappan.

ANN ARBOR — A wild, high-scoring game that required two extra periods ended with the Fireballers on the losing end.

They shook off a slow start and fought to the end in Sunday’s 34-28 double-overtime loss to the St. Francis Mustangs. It was the Fireballers first loss this season in three games.

“I'm proud of all of you, and you should be, too.” Coach Megan told the team after. She reminded her players not to panic at the end of a close game and remember what they’ve learned at practice.

The game was a defensive battle early with the Fireballers trailing 4-2 after the first quarter. Claire got them going with some nice baskets and Harper kept the offense going. Claire made a great pass to Simona on the wing; Simona dribbled to an opening and just missed. Julia’s defense stopped her player from getting the ball and kept the Mustangs from finding a rhythm. The Fireballers led 12-10 at half.

Ania grabbed an offensive rebound and scored. The Fireballers made some really smart passes: Emi found Shea for a basket; Simona dished to Harper for another score. Nea snatched an offensive rebound to keep a possession alive.

With the game tied late in the fourth quarter, Shea grabbed a rebound, dribbled coast-to-coast and scored with 15 seconds left. A defensive lapse allowed the Mustangs to tie the game before the buzzer.

Had the game ended in a tie? Coaches, players and fans waited for the verdict from the referee. He announced his ruling: Overtime!

Ellie and Ania scored in the three-minute period, with each basket tying the game. The buzzer sounded again. Double overtime? DOUBLE OVERTIME.

That’s when the most impressive shot of the game occurred, though it didn’t officially count. Hazel made a baseline jumper from behind the hoop, though the ref ruled her out of bounds. The Mustangs scored a few baskets to seal the victory.

The Fireballers will practice again Wednesday. They have some things to work on and plenty to be proud of.

ANN ARBOR — The Fireballers lost blood, teeth and who knows what else. They did not lose the game.

The Fireballers overcame adversity to beat the Lakewood Gray Pandas 26-14 on Sunday inside Lillie Gymnasium to improve to 3-1.

The girls in blue started strong. Hazel soared for a rebound and started a fast break. Claire found Ellie for the game’s first basket. Substitutions were made and that’s when some trouble began. Emi bumped into a Panda and suffered a bloody nose. Shortly after play returned, Nea had to leave with an undisclosed illness.

The Fireballers kept their composure. Six different players scored the first six baskets. Claire’s patience paid off with a basket and the Fireballers led 4-2 after the first quarter.

They found a better rhythm in the second quarter. Ania went coast to coast and swished a basket; she finished with a career- and game-high eight points. Harper connected from inside the paint. Emi returned from her injury, checked back into the game and immediately grabbed an offensive rebound and scored, her first basket of the season. That kind of resiliency is what the Fireballers are all about.

They’re unselfish too. Shea passed to Simona, who passed it back to Shea for a long-range jumper. The Fireballers led 14-10 at half, nearly executing a length-of-the-court play with 3.8 seconds left.

Harper’s third basket, off the glass, kept the momentum going after halftime. Julia grabbed an incredible rebound and made a great pass for an open shot. Julia attempted the Fireballers’ first free throws of the season, with both attempts somehow rolling off the rim. Hazel went to the floor for a loose ball. Simona defended the top-scoring Panda, cutting her off as she tried to dribble to the hoop. Ania went coast to coast again, this time beating the final buzzer for the game’s final points.

The excitement didn’t end there. After Coach Megan’s postgame speech — in which she reminded players there is no practice or game this week — Claire lost a tooth.