When young players get under the bright lights of the Breslin Center for the first time, often times the basket seems to shrink.

That can be what makes teams getting there with those same players for a second time so much fun.

Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest needed that experience going up against Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, D3 champs two of the past three seasons, in this year’s title game.

The Crusaders, who had the mindset of crashing the party when they ran to the Final Four last season, had a sort of bravado about them when they returned to East Lansing several weekends ago and defeated Calumet to reach the final.

And though they couldn’t deny the Gators another state championship, it was another valuable experience that anyone associated with the program won’t soon forget.

“I’m upset we lost,” Crusaders senior Bella Truskowski said, “but also, look where we are. We’re in the Breslin. This was an amazing experience and I love each and every one of the girls so much. I’m excited to see what’s gonna come for everybody else next year. They will be back. They will.”

It’s not as though this sentiment is wishful thinking from Truskowski, either.

The schedule wasn’t all cupcakes in 2023-24, but this year’s 21-7 team (improved from 18 wins in 2023-24) essentially didn’t slip against programs of its own size. The Crusaders had losses to teams like Utica Eisenhower, Lake Orion and Avondale. Their only loss heading into the matchup with Arbor Prep to a team of equal or lower division was to Clarkston Everest Collegiate, the eighth-ranked D4 team heading into the playoffs.

That meant that Lutheran Northwest had not only those experiences of playing at the Breslin Center on the biggest stage from last season, but also the feeling that it belonged there.

It was an internal boost when coupled with the immense support from the Crusaders’ peers and the community as a whole.

“Our school has been super supportive of us,” Lutheran Northwest senior forward Ashley Cadicamo said. “Even our alumni. Literally everyone you would think. From a small school from Rochester Hills, yeah, we did it. We made it here two years in a row, and our school has been behind us since day one, believed in us, and always been our No. 1 supporters.”

As the group corroborated following the finals’ loss, that included teachers who brought their whole family to watch in East Lansing despite being on spring break. Various individuals were headed directly to the airport after the title game having booked flights in advance, actually.

They may hold off on those flight plans next year.

Consider that guard Morgan Griswold, who had a dozen points and a team-high 11 rebounds in this year’s semifinal victory over Calumet, and Cadicamo, one of the first bigs off the bench, will join Truskowski as the only players to graduate from this year’s team.

It’s important to bring back the sheer numbers from a squad whose scoring is remarkably balanced, and got experience to bench players by having some games in the bag early throughout the regular season. Forward Addie Troska led the team this year by averaging just a shade over 10 points, the only Crusader in double figures. She’ll be a senior next year, as will Gramzow, who led the team in rebounding against the Gators.

Paige Macavage was arguably the team’s most clutch shooter deep in the playoffs and rounds out the trio of to-be senior starters returning.

The fourth returning starter, Keaira Speihs, was just a sophomore this year. Lutheran Northwest’s young post presence averaged a team-high 8.8 rebounds and was a double-double threat every night. Another sophomore, guard Scarlet Brown, picked up a collective 15 minutes between the semifinal and the championship game.

Jimmy Mehlberg, the Crusaders’ head coach, has a lifetime of experience that culminated in these moments. He spoke following the semifinal about sitting next to his dad Ed, a BCAM Hall of Famer, when his father coached Auburn Hills Oakland Christian to a Class D title back in 1992. Jimmy’s words regarding motivation for teams who have gone far and are hoping to do so again were ones to heed.

“Our future is great,” Mehlberg said. “We’ve got quite a few key pieces coming back, and we just can’t take it for granted, you know, being here two years in a row. Getting here, it’s not easy. I hope we enjoy the moment, but it’s hard to get here. We have the potnetial to do it again, but it’s going to be harder next year because we got here this year.”

Only time will tell how hungry Mehlberg’s players are to try and make a third Final Four appearance in as many years, but the reaction from the Crusaders’ players even immediately after the season had ended demonstrated incredible poise.

“I think this adds to our fire,” Gramzow said. “Being able to be a part of this team these two years and make it to the semifinals, and the state championship (this year) builds so much more motivation for the girls returning to come back and get back here. We know what it’s like and we don’t want to back down.”