Tecumseh's freshmen trio bring spark to program

TECUMSEH — Coming into this season, the Tecumseh girls basketball team was welcoming back a good portion from the 2020-21 team.

Seniors Allie Barrett and Jaden Benschoter, along with junior Chesney Wilke and sophomore Bella Juozapaitis, all played in every game for Tecumseh a season ago. Junior Jada Moore was also a regular on the floor for head coach Kristy Zajac.

Those five returners, plus juniors Emma Abbott and Natalie Bullinger who saw limited playing time last season, would be enough to keep Tecumseh as one of the premier teams in Lenawee County and put them in the mix to compete with Chelsea for the Southeastern Conference White Division title.

But Tecumseh, along with the seven returns, has three big additions to the squad in freshmen Alli Zajac, Ashyln Moorehead and Madison Morris.

And they aren't your typical freshmen.

"I love that they're confident," coach Zajac said. "They're freshmen, but they don't play like freshmen. They've played a lot of games with travel ball. They're confident in their game."

Not only have the three played a lot in the summer, they've played together.

All three played for Michigan Premier in the summer where they've grown to be able to almost seamlessly make the transition to varsity basketball now.

"With other teams when they have a freshman point guard we would always say 'pressure her she doesn't know what she's doing'," Benschoter said. "With us, I feel if teams did that, we'd demolish them even more. As soon as they start pressuring our freshmen, they know how to handle it and they really step up and they've shown it in the first two games."

Two games into the season Tecumseh is 2-0 with a 64-34 win at Monroe and a 68-29 win at home against Manchester.

Last season Tecumseh only scored into the 60s once.

Leading the way on the scoreboard for the first two games has been Alli Zajac.

At 6-foot-1-inch, the forward is the most touted of the freshmen as she is already been named as one of the top-100 players in the nation for the Class of 2025 by a couple outlets.

Zajac posted 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals in her debut at Monroe. Thursday against Manchester, Zajac went for 16 points, four rebounds, three steals, an assist and a block. She showed her ability to shoot from beyond the arc as well against the Flying Dutch with a pair of 3-pointers.

"I like how she's being aggressive," coach Zajac said, who is also her mother. "She's working hard, doing what she's got to do. She's got a great shot from outside and hit some (Thursday). I think she's doing a great job."

Then there is Moorehead, who has been giving the keys to the offense as the starting point guard.

She had 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal against Monroe and followed it up with 10 points and three steals in Thursday's win.

"It feels good," Moorehead said. "We've worked all summer and we have good connection. I think we're going to be good."

Morris is the lone freshman who comes off the bench, but she brings a spark when she hits the floor.

She had three points, two rebounds and an assist in her debut and against Manchester she had nine points to go with four rebounds while deflecting passes to create steals for her teammates.

"Madison is not scared to take it to the hole and she's rebounding," coach Zajac said.

With the addition of the three freshmen, it brings a bit of a change for Tecumseh.

A typical Tecumseh team under coach Zajac would have seven girls on the roster and really only six would play significant time.

This team has 10 on the roster and all 10 have played in both games. It is by far the deepest and most talented team Zajac has had while coaching Tecumseh.

"It's so different," she said. "In the past we've had to slow the game down. I love having people on the bench we can just go to and they'll make an impact like our starters."

With only two seniors, there is a lot to be excited about for Tecumseh.

But also, the team is exciting right now.

With 6-1 Zajac, 6-1 Benschoter, 5-9 Moore and 5-8 Wilke in the starting lineup, along with Moorehead at the point, Tecumseh is tall and long team, which will pose a problem for any opponent.

While young, the team does have experience and it has its sights set on Chelsea and challenging for the SEC White and a Division 2 district title.

"My biggest goal is to beat Chelsea and win the district championship," Alli Zajac said. "They are my biggest rival. I have some friends from that school and I really want to beat them. It would be so nice to rub it in their face."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Tecumseh girls basketball freshmen making instant impact