Fraser girls basketball playing off 2023 momentum

FRASER — Anytime a team puts an end to a drought, there’s a shift in momentum moving forward.

For Fraser girls basketball, a district championship win last season closed the book on a 15-year streak that blanketed the program with its existence.

Currently unbeaten at 10-0 and having returned almost every player from the district-winning roster, Fraser’s confidence is at an all-time high as they remain unbeaten in the Macomb Area Conference Gold (5-0) with a strong hold on first place.

“It was huge, especially since we were so young last year,” Fraser head coach Robert Fulgenzi said. “We only had one senior and eight of the ten girls returning this year were all a part of the team that won 15 games, made a run in district and won a title, and made it to regionals. I think coming into this year, I think the continuous aspect of it is huge being able to return your whole starting five and have key contributors off your bench ready to go.”

Fraser may not have the ranking status or players who garnished all-state recognition, but their ability to operate as a cohesive unit has the Ramblers dominating the opposition on both sides of the floor.

The Ramblers defensive unit is where the success starts and where most opponents’ chances end as Fulgenzi’s squad currently allows the lowest points per game average in the Macomb Area Conference (27.8).

“A big progression for us this year was improving on the defensive end,” Fulgenzi said. “I think we ended last year playing some pretty good defense, but going into this year we knew we needed to be more physical. The games we lost last year in league play were because of physicality on the inside. We needed to toughen up inside and have our guards help inside, and I think we’ve done a great job of that.”

Headlined by senior captains Isabella Norbeck (center), Claire Wise (guard), Jaida Oxendine (guard) and Kiera Quinn (guard) experience is everything when it comes to Fraser’s performance on the court.

Wise, a four-year varsity player and three-year starter, is the veteran of the squad, and currently leads the team in steals while Oxendine, Norbeck and Quinn all carry varsity experience as well.

Norbeck is as solid as they come commanding the glass defensively, and Fraser is lucky enough to have another Norbeck up front as sophomore Brynn Norbeck finalizes the Norbeck-led frontcourt.

The sisters may clash at times like any siblings would, but their chemistry on the court has been vital to the Ramblers’ success.

“It’s definitely interesting, but it’s an opportunity a lot of people don’t get,” Isabella Norbeck said. “Me and Brynn just take advantage of it, and we love it. We work well together, and we have so much fun. It’s just something we try to soak in because it’s not going to last forever.”

While the seniors make their mark on defense, Fraser’s sophomore class has been explosive on the offensive end.

Brynn Norbeck and sophomore Alaynah Quinn handle the bulk of the scoring, averaging over 10 points this season.

“They’re just continuing to evolve their game and be super sophomores, if that’s what you want to call them,” Fulgenzi said. “Those two girls are basketball-first players. They play year-round, they commit themselves to the game, and they commit themselves to the program, so they got a lot of heavy lifting on their shoulders.”

Sophomore guard Samantha Smith, who was called up to varsity before Fraser’s district run, is currently the team’s third leading scorer while sophomore Francesca Sines, the spark plug off the bench, averages around five points per game. Junior Natasha Smith and sophomore Camilla Dawood have also been contributors.

Every sophomore has a role and is playing up to their potential, and Quinn, who is the younger sister of senior guard Kiera Quinn, said the seniors continue to be role models.

“I think our seniors set a positive example for me and the younger players,” Alaynah Quinn said. “They’re always looking out for us when we’re having a bad game by making jokes with us and telling us to keep our heads up. I think it is really important as we continue this season because we’ve been playing more as a team, and it takes the weight off our shoulders knowing we have a team to rely on.”

Fraser’s team-first mindset has them poised for a MAC Gold title, which they currently have a comfortable 1 1/2-game lead over second-place Marine City, and have also defeated Marine City earlier this season.

The Ramblers last won a league title in the 2014-2015 season, so ending another drought would be a perfect note for the senior class to end on, and maybe a trip to the regional championship stage as well.

“When me and the other seniors were freshman, we had an undefeated season,” Isabella Norbeck said. “That was a great way to start out our high school basketball careers. Since then, we’ve worked really hard and have put a lot of time and effort in. It even comes off the court as we’re texting all day long and we’re watching film and we’re analyzing other teams. It just means so much to us.”