Source: Hometown Life

Author: Colin Gay

Gary Morris, like many head coaches, is focused on the day-to-day journey of a season. The 15-year head coaching veteran at Mercy High School tries not to dwell on long-term goals or what "could be." The focus is on the next game. 

But when looking at his current roster, he can’t help but think back on 2013. 

Finishing the regular season with a 15-6 record, the Marlins cruised through districts, beating each opponent by double digits. That success continued into the regional semifinals, beating Southfield-Lathrup by 19. 

However, a five-point overtime loss to Detroit King in the regional final thwarted the Marlins’ chance of getting to the state semifinals. 

But they had another summer. 

Morris had no seniors on the team, so coming back in 2014 the squad advanced to the Final Four, losing in the state semifinal to rival and eventual champion Marian. 

For Morris, the 2019-20 season is a lot like the 2012-13 season. This season’s team has no seniors, but five returning athletes, four of which are three-year varsity starters: Julia Bishop, Ellie Tisko, Alexis Roberts and Jillian Smith. 

And while the journey remains the same, the expectation for this group, according to his head coach, is much higher. 

“It’s just natural, you are going to think a little bit about if these kids continue to get better. That’s the big thing, if they continue to get better, are they going to reach a ceiling?” Morris said. “Definitely, the kids that played last year are definitely better this year, individually and collectively.” 

Midway through the regular season, experience seems to be in Mercy’s favor. 

The Marlins have won 11 of 12 games, suffering their first loss of the season Jan. 28 to rival Marian on Jan. 28. 

Despite the loss, Mercy basketball feels different. It opened the season with an 11-game win streak, beating the Mustangs for the first time since the 2016-17 season. 

Roberts said it's due to knowing the strengths and weaknesses of her teammates. 

Morris said improved team chemistry helps, too, allowing the Marlins to share the basketball, leading to seven different leading scorers in the first 11 games of the season. 

All in all, it’s a comfort that Mercy knows what it has. And, after this season is over, the Marlins will have it again next year. 

“You don’t have to worry about that senior night where you are letting seniors go on to the next chapter of their lives,” Bishop said. “It’s really great to be able to know that everyone’s still going to be coming back and still being able to grow that bond that we have together already, and keep growing that one step at a time. 

“That happens each practice, that little one percent that we get better every time, and we know by the end of next year, who knows.” 

If Mercy added anything to its roster, it was more talent. 

Roberts, a team captain, said this is the deepest Marlins team she has been a part of, giving them an advantage that many area teams do not have. 

“You can put anybody out there, we can go out there and compete,” Roberts said. “I feel like this is a really big advantage to any team that we play against because not every team can say ‘We can play 10 players.’” 

That advantage allows different players to step up at different points, from the four three-year varsity players to junior Madeline Kenney, who Bishop calls an “energy booster.” 

This, according to Roberts, takes the pressure off of every individual player on the roster. 

“We don’t have to score 15 a night,” Roberts said. “We can relax.” 

Bishop, a team captain, put Mercy’s mindset into a succinct statement: this year has potential, but if it doesn’t end the way the Marlins want it to, 2020-21 can be just as great, if not better. 

To Roberts, that’s not pressure. It’s a bittersweet opportunity Mercy is ready to take on. 

“We’re ready,” Roberts said. “We have waited this long, and this is our opportunity to take advantage of it. I guess you will see.” 

Contact reporter Colin Gay at cgay@hometownlife.com or 248-330-6710. Follow him on Twitter @ColinGay17. Send game results and stats to Liv-Sports@hometownlife.com.