Breslin Bound: Boys Report Week 1
December 16, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This boys basketball season needed just a few hours of opening night to satisfy the anticipation that’s been building since last season’s MHSAA Finals finished a little more than eight months ago.
We’ll bank on that first week as an indication of what’s to come.
Below is our first “Breslin Bound” report of the boys season, powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com. Those results have become much more vital this winter – for the first time, there will be limited seeding of the top two teams at the District level based on their Michigan Power Rating (MPR). Check out how every team in the state ranks, and send corrections or missing scores to [email protected].
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. River Rouge 63, Ypsilanti Lincoln 53 – This high-profile matchup started the week and season, as reigning Division 2 runner-up Rouge handed reigning Division 1 champion Lincoln an opening defeat at Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center.
2. Grand Blanc 80, Detroit Douglass 77 – This Horatio Williams Showcase headliner featured one of the state’s best sophomores and juniors and two teams that should be making pushes in March in Divisions 1 and 2, respectively.
3. Saginaw 88, Saginaw Arthur Hill 76 – After scoring 101 points in its opener, Saginaw put up another big number in its first matchup of the season with the rival Lumberjacks.
4. Ferndale 66, Flint Beecher 55 – The Eagles also posted an impressive win at the Horatio Williams event, getting past a Beecher team looking toward contending in Division 3 again after making the Quarterfinals last season.
5. Ypsilanti Arbor Prep 48, Detroit U-D Jesuit 47 – Division 3 Arbor Prep started its season with a one-point win over the reigning Division 1 runner-up.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Ann Arbor Huron (2-0) Last season’s 13-8 record was a bit deceptive; two losses were one-pointers and its District defeat came in overtime. The River Rats are starting out on the positive end of those close games this winter, with their first win 53-50 over returning Division 3 semifinalist Detroit Edison.
Marquette (2-0) For the second straight season, Marquette opened with wins over Brighton and Petoskey – this time by eight and three points, respectively. Last season, that start turned into a 19-4 finish with league and District championships.
DIVISION 2
Detroit Communication Media Arts (2-0) CMA improved five wins from 2017-18 last winter to get to 11-10, and may be on its way toward taking another step. The Pharaohs opened with a 74-48 win over Pershing to avenge last season’s one-point loss to the Doughboys, then got past Farmington in overtime 70-68 after Farmington had opened with an impressive win over Wayne Memorial.
Imlay City (3-0) The Spartans are coming off two straight sub-.500 seasons but did improve two wins last winter to 10-12. The Harry Moore Tournament at Capac gave them an opportunity for three wins during the first week, and Imlay City capitalized by defeating Deckerville in the championship game.
DIVISION 3
Burton Bendle (2-0) The Tigers are halfway to equaling last season’s 4-17 success thanks to double-digit wins over Flint Southwestern and Flint New Standard Academy. The 84-74 win over Southwestern avenged last season’s one and 11-point losses to the Jaguars.
Farwell (2-0) The Eagles haven’t won more than five games in a season since 2013-14, and tied that high of five last winter. But they are 2-0 for the first time in at least a decade, opening with a 65-64 win over Remus Chippewa Hills after losing to the Warriors by 17 a year ago.
DIVISION 4
Mayville (2-0) The Wildcats over the last six seasons have gradually climbed, progressing to an 8-14 finish a year ago. Last week gave them their best start in at least a decade, as Mayville stacked double-digit wins over Akron-Fairgrove and Caseville.
Three Oaks River Valley (3-0) The Mustangs doubled their success last season from 2017-18, going from 6-15 to 13-9 and despite a 1-3 start. River Valley opened last week with double-digit wins over Decatur and White Pigeon and then avenged a pair of losses from last season to Marcellus Howardsville Christian.
Can't-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Sanford Meridian (1-1) at Beaverton (2-0) – Three wins over Beaverton last season played significant parts in Meridian winning the Jack Pine Conference title and reaching the Division 3 Quarterfinals.
Tuesday – Grand Rapids Catholic Central (1-0) at Grand Rapids Christian (2-0) – GRCC won the regular-season and District matchups between these two last season, the latter on the way to a Division 2 Regional Final.
Thursday – Pittsford (1-1) at Bellevue (1-0) – These two both won divisions of the Southern Central Athletic Association last season; Bellevue won their regular-season meeting and the rematch in the Division 4 Regional Final.
Friday – Kalamazoo Central (1-0) at Benton Harbor (2-0) – These annual southwestern powers are meeting for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
Saturday – Detroit U-D Jesuit (1-1) at Detroit Edison (1-1) – As noted above, both ended last season at Breslin Center, Jesuit in the Division 1 Final and Edison in the Division 3 Semifinals.
Second Half’s weekly “Breslin Bound” reports 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: Flint Carman-Ainsworth opened the season last week with an 81-45 win over Davison. (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.)