Breslin Bound: Boys Quarterfinal Preview
March 20, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
It's easy to enter this final week of the boys basketball season noting how many of last year's MHSAA champions are still around with possible repeats only three wins away.
That number is three, by the way: Detroit U-D Jesuit in Class A, Flint Beecher in Class C and Powers North Central in Class D. But isn't it more intriguing that 14 of 24 champions during this decade are still alive – and 14 of 18 in A, C and D, since no matter which team wins Class B, it will be for the first time since at least 1999.
The final Breslin Bound report – powered by MI Student Aid – looks at all 16 Quarterfinals that will be played Tuesday evening. Click below for brackets:
Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D
All games tip off at 7 p.m. unless noted below. All also will be available with subscription for viewing on MHSAA.tv.
CLASS A
West Bloomfield (16-8) vs. Troy (21-4) at University of Detroit Mercy
This will be Troy’s first Quarterfinal since 1989 and West Bloomfield’s since 2003. The Lakers emerged after finishing third in an Oakland Activities Association Red that also included Clarkston (below) and 2016 Class A runner-up North Farmington. Senior guard Kevin McAdoo leads with 24.1 points and 4.1 assists per game. Troy shared the OAA White title and is paced by junior guard Jason Dietz (17.2 ppg).
Clarkston (24-1) vs. Saginaw (21-4) at Davison, 7:30 p.m.
The Wolves won the OAA Red and are led by one of the winningest coaches in MHSAA history in Dan Fife (674-169 over 35 seasons) and one of the state’s top juniors in point guard Foster Loyer (25.1 ppg, 6.4 apg). Saginaw is a frequent qualifier at this stage, with this to be its third Quarterfinal in six seasons. Senior forward Henry Speight stars with 22 points, 14 rebounds and five assists per game for the Saginaw Valley League North champion.
Kalamazoo Central (21-3) vs. Grand Rapids Christian (25-0) at Lansing Eastern
For the second straight game, Grand Rapids Christian will play in arguably the most anticipated statewide. The Eagles feature star forward Xavier Tillman (13.2 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 4.1 bpg), but Kalamazoo Central will counter with Mr. Basketball Award winner Isaiah Livers (17.5 ppg, 14 rpg) as it looks to avenge a 53-51 overtime loss to Christian on March 2. The Eagles downed previously-undefeated Muskegon and then needed a buzzer beater against Holland West Ottawa last week.
Romulus (20-4) vs. Detroit U-D Jesuit (20-3) at University of Detroit Mercy, 5 p.m.
Romulus is another regular during the final week, making its fifth Quarterfinal appearance this decade but first since 2014. Junior guard Kaevon Merriweather and senior forwards Dylan Price and Jaren English all average between 16 and 19 points per game. Reigning Class A champion U-D Jesuit has won 12 straight and again has a major post presence in 6-foot-9 Greg Eboigbodin (13.4 points, 13 rebounds per game).
CLASS B
Detroit Osborn (16-9) vs. New Haven (24-1) at Marysville
Osborn won its second Regional title and will play in a Quarterfinal for the first time since 2007 after finishing fourth in a Detroit Public School League East Division 1 that included Class A powers Detroit Martin Luther King and East English and Class C quarterfinalist Edison Public School Academy. New Haven is playing in a third straight Quarterfinal and seeking to advance for the first time. Senior Eric Williams (20.9 ppg) and sophomore Romeo Weems (18.1 ppg, 12.6 rpg) provide a powerful 1-2 punch.
Benton Harbor (21-3) vs. Spring Lake (19-6) at Caledonia
The Tigers won one of the state’s strongest Regionals to make the final week for the first time since 2014. Freshman 6-6 center Carlos Johnson leads four scoring in double figures at 14.2 points, 14.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocked shots per game. Spring Lake is making its second Quarterfinal appearance in three seasons and also second ever; the Lakers upset Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the Regional Final after finishing third behind the Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue champion in their league.
Williamston (21-4) vs. River Rouge (23-1) at Chelsea
This is a rematch from 2016, with Williamston winning last season 53-46. The Hornets are one of the surprise teams still around this week, not because of lack of success but because they eliminated presumed Class B favorite Wyoming Godwin Heights in a Regional Semifinal for the second straight season. Williamston has won 10 of its last 12 games and three of its losses are to Class A schools. River Rouge owns win over Class A quarterfinalists West Bloomfield and Romulus and Class D quarterfinalist Southfield Christian.
Lake Fenton (20-5) vs. Ludington (23-2) at Mount Pleasant
Lake Fenton rolled into its first Quarterfinal after downing 20-win Freeland and 21-win Frankenmuth last week, but maybe those shouldn’t be considered upsets – the Blue Devils tied for second in the Genesee Area Conference Red behind only reigning Class C champion Flint Beecher. Senior forward Jalen Miller leads with 20.9 points per game. Ludington is in its first Quarterfinal since 2009 looking to advance for the first time since 1971. Senior guard Calvin Hackert leads the balanced Lakes 8 Activities Conference champion at 13.3 points per game.
CLASS C
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (24-0) vs. Detroit Edison PSA (13-11) at Tecumseh, 6 p.m.
This will be Monroe St. Mary’s fourth Quarterfinal this decade – the Falcons have made the final week every odd year over the last seven, and advanced to the Semifinals in 2013. Senior 6-7 forward Nick Welch leads at 20.7 ppg, and he could face an interesting matchup with 6-8 Deante Johnson. Edison, as noted above, came from the same PSL division at Osborn and lost four of its last five regular-season games – but then upset expected contender Cornerstone Health & Technology in the Regional Final. DEPSA did earn regular-season rematch wins over Detroit King and East English after losing first games to both, and split with Osborn as well.
Flint Beecher (20-5) vs. Beaverton (20-5) at Bay City Central
Beecher has won two straight Class C titles and played in nine straight Quarterfinals, and is led again by standout Malik Ellison (23.8 ppg). The Buccaneers’ only losses since mid-January were to Class A Ypsilanti Community by two and Class B quarterfinalist New Haven in overtime. Beaverton has enjoyed a history-making winter as coach Roy Johnston took over the MHSAA lead for career wins, and the Beavers have bounced back from a four-game losing streak in early February to make their first Quarterfinal since 2013. Johnston's grandson Carter leads with 23.7 ppg.
Kalamazoo Christian (18-7) vs. Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (19-5) at Holland West Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
This is another matchup of schools advancing for the first time in at least a little while; Covenant Christian won its first Regional since 1994 in Class D, and Kalamazoo Christian advanced to this week for the first time since 2008. Senior guard Alex Visser and junior forward Jordan Katje both score 11 points per game to lead Kalamazoo Christian, while junior forward Carson Meulenberg paces Covenant at 13.4 ppg.
Manton (20-4) vs. Negaunee (20-4) at Petoskey
Manton has its best record in at least 11 seasons to go along with its first Regional title since 1998. Three players have made at least 48 3-pointers this season, paced by leading scorer Jayden Perry (16 ppg) with 53. In addition to upsetting formerly undefeated McBain in the District, Manton has a win over Beaverton. Negaunee is another frequent quarterfinalist, this being its fifth time in the final week this decade. The Miners hope to take the next step for the third time of this run led by big-time scorers Dre’ Tuominen (20.4 ppg) and Trent Bell (19.7), who both make more than 50 percent of their shots from the field.
CLASS D
Hillman (24-1) vs. Powers North Central (25-0) at Sault Ste. Marie
These two met in a 2015 Quarterfinal, two games before North Central claimed its first Class D title of this recent run, and they meet again with the Jets two wins from a third straight and carrying the nation’s longest active winning streak of 80 victories. Jason Whitens (22.6 ppg) and Dawson Bilski (19.7) have starred throughout the run and are part of a talented senior class finishing things up. But Hillman has an excellent senior as well in Gunnar Libby, who leads his team with 19.1 points and 5.5 assists per game.
Southfield Christian (20-5) vs. Fowler (17-7) at Imlay City, 7:30 p.m.
After two seasons – and two District titles – in Class C, Southfield Christian is back in Class D and seeking its fourth title this decade. Two of its losses were to quarterfinalists U-D Jesuit and River Rouge, and it beat West Bloomfield. Junior guard Bryce Washington leads four averaging in double figures with 18.5 ppg. Fowler is back in the Quarterfinals for the first time since finishing off five straight appearances in 2005, and it owns a win this season over Lansing Christian. Senior 6-7 center Jeremy Pung is a force, averaging 18 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Benton Harbor Dream Academy (11-7) vs. Lansing Christian (18-6) at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
Dream Academy has won 10 of its last 12 games, avenging its loss to St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic during that run with an overtime win over the Lakers in the District Final. Lansing Christian last made a Quarterfinal (and then Semifinal) in 2013, and after losing three of its final four regular-season games has bounced back with four double-digit wins in the playoffs. Seniors Matt Havey and Preston Granger average 17.9 and 15.4 ppg, respectively, for the Pilgrims.
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (16-8) vs. Buckley (24-0) at Cadillac
Tri-Unity is back in the Quarterfinals for the third straight season and fifth this decade, seeking its first championship since 2011. Four seniors start for a balanced attack; forward Braydon Sherrod and guard Collin Rosendall top the scoring at 10.2 and 10.9 ppg, respectively. Buckley has twice made Quarterfinals, in 1998 and 2010, and is looking to advance for the first time. Junior Denver Cade scores a team-high 21 ppg for a group that’s won all but two games this season by double digits – with a victory over Class C quarterfinalist Manton one of the two by fewer than 10 points.
PHOTO: Spring Lake's Cameron Ball (24) lays up a shot this season against Grand Haven. (Photo by Tim Reilly.)
Breslin Bound: 2023-24 Boys Report Week 8
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 22, 2024
Tuesday’s matchup of Cadillac (11-0) hosting Whitehall (12-0) would crack our five “Can’t-Miss Contests” for the upcoming week most weeks every season – and it's lined up to be a great one.
But perhaps indicating the decisive stretch we've reached this season, it falls just outside our preview list below – which is loaded with potential league title deciders, be they the first meetings between expected favorites or rematches from early-season faceoffs that now mean much more.
“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. Iron Mountain 48, Kingsford 47 Coming out of this matchup of arguably the top two teams in the Upper Peninsula, Iron Mountain (11-0) stands alone as the last undefeated team on its side of the Bridge after handing the neighboring Flivvers (11-2) just their second defeat.
2. Port Huron Northern 59, Warren Lincoln 57 The Huskies (10-2) drew even with Lincoln atop the Macomb Area Conference White by avenging an 80-46 loss to the Abes (9-2) from Dec. 15.
3. Zeeland West 61, Detroit Cass Tech 42 West (8-3) delivered the only defeat this season to the reigning Division 1 champion Technicians (9-1) during the Gottagetit Hoops Classic at East Kentwood.
4. Warren Lincoln 49, Grand Rapids Christian 47 Lincoln bounced back from its loss to PHN quickly, defeating Romeo on Thursday and then handing Grand Rapids Christian (8-1) its only loss, also at East Kentwood.
5. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 76, Detroit U-D Jesuit 68 The Eaglets (10-1) avenged their lone loss this winter, 60-55 to Jesuit on Dec. 18, to take a two-game lead in the Detroit Catholic League Central.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Detroit Martin Luther King (11-3) After opening this season with losses to a pair of strong opponents in Lansing Waverly and North Farmington, King has reasserted itself among the elite with 11 wins over its last 12 games (and the only defeat during that time to undefeated East Lansing). The Crusaders join Cass Tech at the top of the Detroit Public School League Blue heading into Tuesday’s matchup, and are coming off handing Grand Rapids Northview a 54-53 loss in East Kentwood on Saturday – adding to wins over Kalamazoo Central, Saginaw and Detroit Southeastern and Renaissance among others.
Rockford (9-3) The Rams also got off to a slow start, relatively speaking, opening 2-3 but with those losses to Muskegon by a point, Byron Center and Grand Rapids South Christian. Rockford has won its last seven games, defeating Zeeland West (see above) to win the Zeeland Holiday Tournament and last week moving into first place alone in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red by handing the only losses this season to Hudsonville (55-52 OT) and East Kentwood (61-56). Rockford tied for third in the league behind those two last season.
DIVISION 2
Benton Harbor (13-0) After stumbling a bit to end last season on a 3-6 streak, Benton Harbor has cruised to another magnificent start with Saturday’s 58-48 victory over Wyoming Lee in East Kentwood tying its closest win this winter. A 72-59 victory over Niles Brandywine on Jan. 11 has the Tigers atop the Lakeland Conference again as they look to repeat, with a 92-46 win over Detroit Douglass from Dec. 28 also among their most impressive. Big-time matchups await against South Haven, Kalamazoo Central, Watervliet, Brandywine again Feb. 16 and Niles in the regular-season finale after the Vikings ended Benton Harbor’s 2022-23 run.
Tecumseh (10-1) A nine-game winning streak last February and March was stopped by an overtime Regional Final loss to Chelsea, but Tecumseh picked right back up this winter with this start and its only defeat 55-51 to Riverview over the break. Tecumseh has avenged losses from last season to Adrian Madison and Temperance Bedford, can avenge another in Tuesday’s matchup with Pinckney, and sees Chelsea for the first time Jan. 30 after Chelsea dealt Tecumseh three defeats total during last season’s 20-7 campaign.
DIVISION 3
Alcona (9-4) The Tigers are showing a nice ability to rebound – first from a 1-3 start with their current 8-1 run, and more recently after falling 38-37 to Ogemaw Heights on Jan. 8 but coming back a week later to defeat Oscoda 47-36 to stand alone in first place in the North Star League Big Dipper. That was the closest of Alcona’s nine wins, and the second game in the Oscoda series is on the Tigers’ homecourt Feb. 6. Alcona was 10-12 but second in the league a year ago.
Iron Mountain (11-0) As noted above, Iron Mountain is the lone undefeated team left in the Upper Peninsula, and Kingsford was the first team to come within single digits of the Mountaineers since their 51-43 victory over Gladstone in the season opener. This is familiar territory for Iron Mountain, of course, and three more of these victories came over opponents that have won at least nine games. Iron Mountain does go to Kingsford Feb. 13, and circle as well a home game Feb. 5 against Menominee, which ended the Mountaineers’ seasons the last two winters.
DIVISION 4
Lake Linden-Hubbell (8-2) The Lakes have enjoyed a nice climb from seven to 13 to 17 wins over the last three seasons, respectively, and they could be ready to take another step. The losses came to Houghton and Painesdale Jeffers, which both have 11 wins this season, and Lake Linden-Hubbell welcomes Jeffers for a rematch Feb. 6. A 74-42 season-opening win over Chassell also was a highlight, and the Lakes travel to Chassell on Feb. 9 and for possibly another telling matchup a week later at Stephenson.
Saginaw Nouvel (9-3) The Panthers, coming off a Division 3 Regional Final run, tested themselves right away this winter and went 0-3 the first week against Essexville Garber, Pewamo-Westphalia and still-undefeated Cass City (falling 54-53). They haven’t lost again. Nouvel sits atop the Tri-Valley Conference White with just Ithaca to play to complete a first-half run through the league, defeated nine-win opponents Imlay City and Standish-Sterling, and will test itself again Feb. 20 at Chesaning, which is off to an 11-0 start.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Detroit Cass Tech (9-1) at Detroit Martin Luther King (11-3) – Both are undefeated in the PSL Blue, and Cass Tech won all three matchups last season: 57-55, 74-70 (OT) in the PSL championship game and 71-59 in a District Semifinal.
Tuesday – Pewamo-Westphalia (9-1) at Laingsburg (10-0) – The Wolfpack are first and the Pirates second in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference thanks to Laingsburg’s 59-55 overtime win Dec. 6.
Thursday – East Lansing (11-0) at Okemos (10-1) – These rivals split last season’s two matchups just three days apart, and they enter this one as the only two teams undefeated in Capital Area Activities Conference Blue play.
Friday – Riverview Gabriel Richard (11-1) at Jackson Lumen Christi (10-0) – This eventually could decide the Detroit Catholic League AA title as these two are undefeated in league play and the next contender has two conference losses.
Friday – Beal City (11-2) at McBain (9-1) – The Aggies also are trying to even the season score in this series, as McBain leads the Highland Conference thanks to its 60-43 win over Beal on Dec. 13.
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) Jayce Branson (3) gets to the rim during East Lansing's 52-29 win over DeWitt last week. (Middle) Flint Southwestern and Kearsley face off Jan. 5. (Top photo by Max McCallister; middle photo by Terry Lyons.)