Breslin Bound: 2021-22 Boys Report Week 5
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 10, 2022
Every basketball season, with little research needed, we can list at least a handful of elite teams we’ll be talking about often as they make their way toward possible March trips to the Breslin Center.
But as we reach mid-January, teams big, small, north, south and all points between are still in the early stages of creating the stories of their seasons. And this week’s report includes a pretty good mix of regulars and others we haven’t highlighted for quite a while.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com. Send corrections or missing scores to [email protected].
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Flint Beecher 75, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 69 The reigning Division 3 champion Bucs (6-0) ended reigning Division 2 champ GRCC's winning streak at 27 games.
2. Muskegon 84, Benton Harbor 58 This Big Red Classic win moved host Muskegon to 4-0, and it should earn the Big Reds some significant attention as it also was the first defeat for the Tigers (6-1).
3. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 65, Grand Blanc 62 The reigning Division 1 champ Bobcats may be only 1-3, but at their Classic they gave the Eaglets (4-2) the latter’s toughest challenge so far this season.
4. North Farmington 45, Clarkston 43 The Oakland Activities Association Red is one of the strongest leagues in the state, and this opener was a big first step for the contending Raiders (7-1).
5. Detroit Edison 66, Harper Woods Chandler Park 60 The Pioneers (2-3) have played four teams either unbeaten or with one loss, and Chandler Park (2-1) is one of two teams to which they’ve dealt that first defeat.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
Division 1
East Lansing (6-1) After opening with a loss to another of the top teams in Division 1, North Farmington (see above), the Trojans have won six straight with four of those victories against teams with winning records. They handed Hamtramck (5-1) its lone loss during the Motor City Roundball Classic after edging Kalamazoo Central by three at Cornerstone University. East Lansing made the Division 1 Quarterfinals last season.
Grand Haven (6-0) The Buccaneers are following up last season’s District title run with a fast start this winter. They defeated Traverse City St. Francis and West to win their Lakeshore Cup at the end of December, and have dealt the lone defeats to St. Francis (5-1) and Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (4-1).
Division 2
Marshall (6-0) Five of Marshall’s six opponents are sitting .500 or better, making this start even more impressive. But it appears to be a continuation of last season’s surge. The Redhawks finished last winter 10-6 and on a 9-3 run, and Tuesday they get a chance to avenge their season-ending loss with a road trip to Battle Creek Pennfield.
Ovid-Elsie (6-0) The Marauders have won league titles four of the last five seasons, with a runner-up finish in the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference a year ago. They’re back in the thick of things, tied with Chesaning for first at 4-0 in league play and with a 37-31 win over another possible contender in Durand (4-2).
Division 3
Blanchard Montabella (5-0) The Mustangs already are in line for their best season since 2018-19 after winning seven games a year ago and six the season before. The best victory so far came in mid-December, 51-43 over Mid-State Activities Conference foe Breckenridge, which remains the Huskies’ lone loss. Montabella lost to Breckenridge by seven and 32 last season.
Union City (6-1) The Chargers won six games last season and a combined 10 over the last two. But after opening with a loss to still-undefeated Olivet this winter, Union City has yet to lose again – with a two-point win over Buchanan on Dec. 18 its only single-digit victory of the run.
Division 4
Ellsworth (7-0) The Lancers are seeking a fifth-consecutive Northern Lakes Conference championship this winter, and they’re off to the right start with five wins by double digits and one of the single-digit victories last week over league foe Mackinaw City. Coming off a District title as well from last season, they’ve gotten rolling again quickly as well; Ellsworth is one of only eight teams statewide that has reached seven wins entering this week.
Ewen-Trout Creek (5-0) The Panthers are playing for a third-straight championship in the Porcupine Mountain division of the Copper Mountain Conference. Among their first five wins are the lone defeat for Wakefield-Marenisco and an avenging of last year’s District Final loss to Bessemer. E-TC opened the calendar year last week with a 35-point win over Dollar Bay, winner of 15 games a year ago.
Can't-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (6-0) at Warren De La Salle Collegiate (7-0) – The Detroit Catholic League Central will do some initial sorting out this week, with this one of a handful of contests that could reshape the early standings. (In another, Brother Rice faces Detroit U-D Jesuit on this night.)
Tuesday – Dexter (4-0) at Ann Arbor Huron (4-1) – These are the early co-leaders in a Southeastern Conference Red featuring four teams unbeaten or with one loss.
Tuesday – Alma (6-0) at Freeland (5-0) – Three teams remain undefeated in Tri-Valley Conference 8 play, and Freeland gets the third, Frankenmuth, on Friday.
Tuesday – Napoleon (6-0) at Vandercook Lake (6-0) – These are two of three teams tied for first in the Cascades Conference, and also the only two in the league with overall winning records.
Friday – Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (6-0) at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (6-0) – This pits the two Catholic League Central teams that arguably have generated the most buzz.
Second Half’s weekly “Breslin Bound” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTO Orchard Lake St. Mary’s traveled to Grand Blanc on Saturday and won 65-62 in one of the week’s most notable games. (Photo by Terry Lyons.)
Breslin Bound: 2023-24 Boys Report Week 9
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 29, 2024
It’s final four time for all 729 of Michigan’s boys basketball teams.
This one doesn’t have all the glitz and glam of March’s, of course. But only four weeks remain this regular season, and every team is involved as league titles are being decided, seeding scenarios are shifting, and even the hundreds not involved in either can build toward a fresh start when District play begins.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Detroit Cass Tech 50, Detroit Martin Luther King 45 (OT) The Technicians (12-1) set themselves up to clinch a share of the Detroit Public School League Blue title two days later against Pershing, but like last season could see King (12-4) again in the PSL Tournament.
2. Warren Lincoln 62, East Lansing 54 The Abes (12-2) may have cemented themselves as midseason favorites in Division 2 by handing the Division 1 Trojans (13-1) their only loss, at Detroit Cass Tech’s Downtown Showdown.
3. Grand Rapids Northview 57, North Farmington 51 Northview (11-1) continued its Division 1 climb at the 2K24 Showcase at Aquinas College by handing North Farmington (13-1) its only defeat.
4. East Lansing 66, Okemos 54 While Saturday’s loss no doubt was disappointing, the Trojans (13-1) were coming off a massive win locally as Okemos (12-2) might be next up in the conversation for the Lansing area’s best.
5. Jackson Lumen Christi 62, Riverview Gabriel Richard 49 The Titans (12-1) took over first place alone in the Catholic High School League AA by handing Richard (12-2) its only league loss.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Ann Arbor Huron (10-2) Few teams statewide had a better week than Huron, which vaulted to the top of the Southeastern Conference Red standings by a half-game by handing the first league losses to Ypsilanti Lincoln (58-45) and Saline (65-52). The River Rats then downed Hamtramck 68-47 at Belleville’s Fast Break Invitational, adding to a growing resume as they look to build on last season’s Quarterfinal run.
Grand Rapids Northview (11-1) As noted above, Northview is coming off handing North Farmington its only loss, and they will face a similar challenge in Ann Arbor Huron (above) on Saturday as part of the second round of 2K24 Showcase games. The Wildcats’ only loss came to another Division 1 contender, Detroit King, 54-53 at East Kentwood two weekends ago. All of those matchups are great prep for the MHSAA Tournament, but in the meantime Northview is tied for first with Grand Rapids Christian in the Ottawa-Kent Conference White with their matchups coming up Feb. 9 and 14.
DIVISION 2
Hudsonville Unity Christian (10-4) Unity Christian is 6-0 for the 2024 calendar year, corresponding with a 6-0 start to the O-K Blue schedule that has included handing Coopersville (12-2) its only league defeat, 58-56. The early going saw nice wins over Grand Rapids Covenant Christian and Schoolcraft and also solid losses to Zeeland West, Grandville, Grand Rapids South Christian and Hudsonville High. The Crusaders’ biggest game left surely is the Coopersville rematch, Feb. 16 at home.
Onsted (9-4) The Wildcats trail only Dundee in the Lenawee County Athletic Association, and talk about good losses – Onsted’s defeats were to the Vikings (14-1), Stockbridge (11-4) and Freeland (12-1). Onsted also has notable wins over Michigan Center (11-3), Wayne Memorial (7-4) and Ida (10-4) among others and will host Dundee in the rematch Feb. 10 as the Wildcats look to keep their league title streak alive with at least a shared championship this time.
DIVISION 3
Benzie Central (11-2) After tying for second in the Northwest Conference and finishing 12-12 overall last season, Benzie took major steps last week toward regaining the title and eclipsing last season’s overall win total. A 60-51 victory over reigning champ Glen Lake left the Huskies as the only undefeated team in league play, and they capped the week with a 58-55 overtime win over Division 1 Bay City Western at the Jeff McDonald Memorial Showcase at Cadillac. December losses to Big Rapids (9-4) and Menominee (10-3) gave Benzie early looks at tough competition as well.
Sanford Meridian (10-2) The Mustangs have a two-game lead in a Jack Pine Conference where five of eight teams have eight or more wins, and after finishing runners-up in the league the last three seasons. They’ve earned all 10 of their wins by at least 13 points. The losses came to Division 2 Frankenmuth and Division 1 Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, both before the new calendar year began, and Meridian will test itself against likely its toughest regular season challenge Feb. 13 at Freeland.
DIVISION 4
Bellevue (10-1) The Broncos are a one-point December loss to Delton Kellogg from a perfect first half of the season, and they’ve won 39 straight league games (and eight straight championships) as they sit atop the Southern Central Athletic Association West standings. Bellevue also is halfway to a seventh 20-win season over the last eight, with the lone sub-20 season when it finished 13-4 in COVID-shortened 2020-21. Second-place Battle Creek St. Philip hosts the Broncos on Friday, and next week’s matchup with Hillsdale Academy is on the radar as well.
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (10-2) Last season’s Division 4 runner-up is revving for another run, having defeated Wyoming Godwin Heights and handed Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart its only loss while falling only to Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (10-5) by two and Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (11-4) by four points. The Godwin win avenged a 2022-23 loss, and two dates to circle are Friday against Wyoming Lee and Feb. 22 against Potter’s House Christian. Both also defeated Tri-unity last season as Lee went on to win the Alliance League instead.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (12-1) at Muskegon (10-0) – Reeths-Puffer got within four points of the Big Reds in last season’s Division 1 District Final, and this time they meet tied for first in the O-K Green.
Tuesday – Benton Harbor (16-0) at Kalamazoo Central (8-3) – The Division 2 Tigers’ perfect season will be on the line when they visit the Division 1 Maroon Giants.
Friday – Traverse City West (11-4) at Cadillac (12-1) – The Vikings bounced back from their lone loss by defeating Dearborn Fordson in overtime Saturday, and they can take a sizable step toward wrapping up the Big North Conference title by finishing a season sweep of second-place West.
Saturday – Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (12-1) vs. East Lansing (13-1) at Aquinas College – The second round of this season’s 2K24 Showcase should end up one of the most exciting single days of hoops competition in the state this regular season, with this 6 p.m. tip offering arguably the premier matchup.
Saturday – Muskegon (10-0) vs. Grand Rapids Christian (11-1) at Aquinas College – 2K24 finishes with this 7:30 p.m. meeting of potential Breslin-Bound contenders in Divisions 1 and 2, respectively.
MHSAA.com's weekly “Breslin Bound” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTOS (Top) Muskegon’s M’Khi Guy (3) gets to the basket during his team’s 63-45 win over Ferndale on Jan. 6. (Middle) Beal City and LeRoy Pine River face off Jan. 22; the Aggies won 67-39. (Top photo by Tim Reilly; middle photo by High School Sports Scene.)