Breslin Bound: 2022-23 Boys Report Week 1
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 12, 2022
Several of Michigan’s anticipated boys basketball contenders wasted no time last week opening with matchups against more of the best our state is expected to offer this winter.
And we’re wasting no time talking about it.
Below is our first installment of “Breslin Bound” for the 2022-23 boys season, and we’ll again highlight intriguing results and teams on the rise all the way through their season-ending trips to Breslin Center in March.
“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. Lake Leelanau St. Mary 63, Menominee 45 In a matchup of teams that finished last season at Breslin, 2022 Division 4 semifinalist St. Mary (3-0) got off to an impressive start against the reigning Division 3 runner-up Maroons (1-1).
2. Detroit U-D Jesuit 57, Ferndale 55 One of the most anticipated first-week games statewide saw Jesuit (2-0) trail nearly the entirety before a big fourth quarter pulled them just ahead of the Eagles (0-2).
3. Rockford 68, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 64 The Rams (2-0) edged the reigning Division 2 runner-up Cougars (0-1) at Calvin University.
4. North Farmington 49, Detroit Martin Luther King 36 Another highly-anticipated opener saw teams that combined for 37 wins last season face off with North Farmington (2-0) earning the early boost.
5. St. Ignace 79, Boyne City 74 (OT) The Saints (1-0) avenged last season’s 68-50 loss to Boyne City (1-1) with Jonny Ingalls scoring 36 points including 16 during overtime.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Dearborn Fordson (2-0) The Tractors more than reversed their 2020-21 record of 6-11 in improving to 15-6 last season, and they’re off to the right start again. They defeated Dearborn Edsel Ford by 23 and Allen Park by 24, and have a few more tests coming up as they prepare to take on Belleville, Dearborn and more in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East.
Petoskey (2-0) The Northmen are coming off a 17-8 finish that included a Regional Final appearance against eventual Division 1 runner-up Grand Blanc, and they’re off to a strong start winning their home invitational over the weekend. Petoskey defeated Brighton 74-66 on Friday and then Grand Ledge 70-68 in overtime to clinch the title.
DIVISION 2
Kingsford (2-0) The Flivvers improvement from 8-6 two seasons ago to 15-7 last winter was substantial, especially considering those seven losses came to just three teams. Three of the defeats were to Escanaba, but Kingsford took an early step in Great Northern Conference play this time with a 67-50 win over the Eskymos.
Ogemaw Heights (2-0) After starting 0-2 and then 2-4 last season, Ogemaw Heights rallied to finish 11-9. The Falcons have reversed that start so far this winter, starting with a 63-57 win over Sanford Meridian, which won 16 games last season.
DIVISION 3
International Academy of Flint (3-0) The Phoenix finished 8-11 last season, and after a week they’re nearly halfway toward equaling that success. What’s more, those first three victories over Genesee, New Haven Merritt Academy and Burton Atherton all came by at least 17 points.
Mason County Central (2-0) The Spartans are seeking their first winning season since 2017-18, and they improved four wins last season from the year before to 7-15. They remain on the right track, with a 25-point win over Manistee last week followed by a 51-44 victory over North Muskegon – which handed Mason County Central two of its defeats last winter.
DIVISION 4
Fowler (2-0) The Eagles were a solid 13-8 last season, but quickly made themselves a team to watch for potentially more this winter. They opened with a 39-36 win over Carson City-Crystal – 17-4 last winter – and followed with a 47-39 win over Dansville after splitting with the Aggies in 2021-22.
Pittsford (2-0) Last season’s 11-11 finish began with an 0-2 start, but Pittsford has reversed that to open this winter. Those losses came to Britton Deerfield and Athens, but last week the Wildcats edged Britton Deerfield 54-53 in overtime and then defeated Athens by 45.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Thursday – Hamtramck (2-1) at North Farmington (2-0) – These two both are expected to be among the Division 1 elite this winter, with the only first-week loss between them Hamtramck’s to King by two in double overtime.
Friday – Flint Carman-Ainsworth (1-1) at Warren De La Salle Collegiate (2-0) – The reigning Division 1 champion Pilots have loaded December with nonleague tests, and this might be one of the tougher ones.
Friday – Rockford (2-0) at Muskegon (0-0) – These two reigning league champions combined for 39 wins last season before both ran into eventual Division 1 semifinalist Grand Rapids Northview.
Friday – Chesaning (3-0) at Ovid-Elsie (2-0) – The Marauders edged Chesaning by a game last season to win the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference, but then lost to Chesaning by a point in their District Semifinal.
Saturday – Saginaw (2-0) at Kalamazoo Central (1-0) – The Trojans finish a busy week at the Maroon Giants’ Don Jackson Invitational after also hosting Grand Blanc and facing Lansing Everett at Delta College.
MHSAA.com'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 Otsego opened with wins last week over Portage Central and Niles. (Photo by Gary Shook.)
'Battle of Wills' Goes Williamston's Way in Title-Deciding OT Thriller
By
Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com
March 26, 2022
EAST LANSING – Before Saturday’s Division 2 Final, the Williamston boys basketball team hadn’t been challenged much during the MHSAA Tournament, winning every game by double digits.
But the unbeaten Hornets received all they could handle and more against reigning champion Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
Willamston withstood a furious rally by the Cougars and poor free throw shooting to pull out a dramatic 68-65 overtime win at Breslin Center.
It was the first Finals title for Williamston boys basketball since 1940, as the Hornets finished the season unbeaten at 27-0.
“These guys did something that people will remember forever,” said Williamston coach Tom Lewis, who brought out an old team photo of the 1940 champions before the game.
“And they took some heavy punches and most teams would have a hard time pulling that game out, but my guys had just enough counterpunch to get that done. I really don’t have the words to say how proud I am of my entire team.”
Torrid shooting in the second quarter, including five 3-pointers, helped stake the Hornets to a 36-28 halftime lead.
Williamston led by as many as 16 (53-37) in the third quarter, but the Cougars stormed back.
Catholic Central chipped away at the lead and outscored the Hornets 16-7 in the fourth quarter.
“When they were scoring and making that run and our lead was dwindling, we just kept talking about how we need to stick together,” said Williamston senior Mason Docks, who scored a team-high 27 points and knocked down six 3-pointers.
“We had to keep trusting each other and not get away from what we do. If we started being selfish, then we would've lost that game.”
Despite missing all five free throw attempts down the stretch in the fourth quarter and going a dismal 9 of 21 from the line for the game, the Hornets still had confidence in overtime.
“We had to have trust in our team,” said Hornets 6-foot-10 senior Max Burton, who had 23 points before fouling out. We had to trust that our guards would make the right plays, and we would just go out there and finish it.
“We haven’t had a lot of close games this year, but we knew how to handle these situations from AAU and in practice. We knew this wasn’t going to be a cake walk because Catholic Central is an extremely tough squad with great guards.”
Docks made a crucial 3-pointer in overtime to give the Hornets the lead for good.
Senior Jacob Wallace added 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists for Williamston.
The Cougars erased the 16-point deficit in part thanks to the stellar play of junior guard Kaden Brown, who had a game-high 33 points, including 25 during the second half and overtime.
He forced extra time with a 3-pointer from the corner with 44 seconds left in regulation that tied the score at 59-59.
“We’ve had a few games like that this year where we’ve been down big, but a lot of credit goes to our players in the huddle for staying calm at halftime and then just regrouping,” Catholic Central coach TJ Meerman said. “We kept battling, but tonight was an absolute battle of wills. Their will to take the game over early and our will to come back.”
The Cougars (25-2) lost for only the second time this season. Their only other defeat was to Division 3 semifinalist Flint Beecher.
Catholic Central senior and Mr. Basketball finalist Jack Karasinski had 16 points, but picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter and fouled out late in regulation.
Sophomore Durral Brooks had nine points and nine rebounds.
PHOTOS (Top) Williamston celebrates its Division 2 championship Saturday night at Breslin Center. (Middle) Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Kaden Brown (4) defends against Williamston’s Mason Docks (21). (Below) The Hornets’ Max Burton (10) goes strong to the basket. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)