West Bloomfield’s search for back-to-back titles powered by unity

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The story couldn’t be much sweeter for West Bloomfield girls basketball last season.

Acclimating to a new head coach in Darrin McAllister last season, West Bloomfield still had their eyes set on one goal.

“We set a goal before the first day of practice, and I let them set the goal, and they set the goal to win the state championship,” McAllister said. “I walked out of the practice like, ‘Woah. What did I just let them do?’ And they went out there and got it.”

Winning 25-straight games after their season-opening loss, the team’s “I believe” motto throughout the year inevitably led to the goal the players had their sights set on since day one of practice: the school’s first state title in women’s basketball. West Bloomfield had last reached the state finals in 1989, earning a runner-up finish.

Coming into the season without five seniors from last year, including all-State honorable mention and University of Detroit Mercy guard Myonna Hooper, West Bloomfield knew they were going to get every team’s best each night, and McAllister said the team’s new motto of “together” was fitting for this season.

“The reason I came up with that is because I told my players, when you’re successful, you’ll get outside forces telling you that you need to take more shots,” McAllister said. “I played sports and I get it, but I wanted to tell these players, ‘Hey, it’s only us.’ We’re together, and we play for us.”

West Bloomfield’s new-look starting five is the perfect formula for the unity that McAllister plans to strengthen, as a trio of sisters took the meaning of “together” to a whole new level.

Junior twins Indya and Summer Davis return for West Bloomfield after both earned all-State honors in 2022, and senior Sydney Hendrix and junior Kendall Hendrix lead the frontcourt for West Bloomfield. On top of all that, junior guard Destiny Washington is the younger sister of West Bloomfield assistant coach Tyler Washington.

Teams can build a family-like atmosphere, but McAllister said West Bloomfield has something that is irreplaceable.

“That’s the great part about it,” McAllister said. “A lot of people talk about family, and we really have it. When you have that type of atmosphere, it becomes contagious. That right there is a great thing for chemistry.”

West Bloomfield’s unbreakable bond has led them to a 14-2 start, sitting first in the Oakland Activities Association-Red and 32-straight wins over league opponents.

Starting off the season 3-2 in their first five games, Sydney Hendrix said the slow start was enough motivation for the team to leave last year behind and put things back on track.

“It was really to maintain,” Hendrix said. “Our biggest thing was to not let off the gas. Just because we won last year, that doesn’t mean anything this year. We took two losses early this year, and that was a wakeup call.”

West Bloomfield has gone on to win 11-straight, scoring 60 or more in nine of the games and allowing just under 31 points per game during the winning stretch.

There’s no secret as to why West Bloomfield’s high-powered offense operates so smoothly. McAllister said the team is just playing a different game when the sisters are on the court.

“Sometimes with twins, their mind is one,” McAllister said. “Sometimes I’m like, ‘Man, how did Summer know Indya was over there?’ And the same with the Hendrix sisters: They always know where each other are.”

It doesn’t hurt, either, when Washington, who stepped into the starting guard spot after Hooper graduated, has been facilitating the offense at an extremely high level alongside Summer Davis.

McAllister said Washington is a special talent.

“Destiny Washington stepped in and has been that and more,” McAllister said. “Wherever she goes or whoever offers her, they’re getting a good one.”

Freshman forward Sheridan Beal has also made a significant contribution for West Bloomfield this season.

With a two-game lead in the league, West Bloomfield will face league rivals Rochester and Lake Orion to end the season. The OAA-Red provides enough of a boost, but West Bloomfield’s out-of-conference schedule of Detroit Edison, South Bend Washington (ranked No. 5 in Indiana, according to MaxPreps), Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, and Chicago Kenwood Academy (ranked No. 11 in Illinois, according to MaxPreps) have the players battle-tested for the state tournament. West Bloomfield is 2-2 against their top-four opponents, earning wins over Detroit Edison and Kenwood Academy.

Sydney Hendrix said the team is hungry for every challenge.

“Nobody wants to blow anyone out,” Hendrix said. “It’s nice to get excited for a game and think, ‘This is going to be the one.’ … When you go up against the teams with heart, that’s when real basketball is played.”