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Class A-B Preview: Chasing Favorites
March 25, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Similar to the Class C and D Semifinals to be played Thursday, Friday's Class A and B games will feature five teams aspiring to win their first MHSAA championships.
But the field also includes four teams that advanced to Breslin Center in 2014, the undefeated top-ranked team in Class A and the reigning champion from Class B complete with its heroes from last season's run.
All four Class A and B Semifinals will be played Friday, with all four championship games Saturday.
Semifinals - Friday
Class A
Lansing Everett (24-2) vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill (23-3), 1 p.m.
Detroit U-D Jesuit (22-3) vs. Detroit Western International (24-0), 2:50 p.m.
Class B
Milan (24-2) vs. Wyoming Godwin Heights (24-1), 6 p.m.
Cadillac (18-8) vs. Detroit Henry Ford (20-5), 7:50 p.m.
Finals - Saturday
Class A - Noon
Class B - 6:30 p.m.
Class C - 4:30 p.m.
Class D - 10 a.m.
Tickets cost $8 per pair of Semifinals and $10 per two-game Finals session. All Semifinals will be streamed live on MHSAA.TV on a pay-per-view basis. All four Finals will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Detroit, the Class D and A title games on FOX Sports Detroit's primary channel and the Class C and B games on FOX Sports Detroit-PLUS. Free radio broadcasts of all weekend games will be available on MHSAANetwork.com.
And now, a look at the semifinalists in Class A and B. Click on the name of the school to see that team’s full schedule and results from this season. (Statistics are through teams' Regional Finals.)
Class A
DETROIT U-D JESUIT
Record/rank: 22-3, No. 8.
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central.
Coach: Pat Donnelly, seventh season (115-42).
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 56-54 over No. 5 Clarkston in the Quarterfinal, 52-34 over No. 10 North Farmington in the Regional Final, 72-57 over No. 6 Saginaw Arthur Hill, 69-56 over Class B No. 1 Milan.
Players to watch: Cassius Winston, 6-1 jr. G (22.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.7 apg); Gary Collins, 6-2 sr. G (9.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.6 apg).
Outlook: Jesuit will attempt to take the next two steps after winning its first Regional title and making the Semifinals last season with Winston also the leading scorer on that team. Although in a 58-49 loss to end the regular season, Jesuit has faced Semifinal opponent Western, which should be beneficial, and also defeated Arthur Hill on Feb. 7. The only other defeats were to Romulus and Catholic League Central runner-up Birmingham Brother Rice.
DETROIT WESTERN INTERNATIONAL
Record/rank: 24-0, No. 1.
League finish: First in Detroit Public School League West D1 and overall.
Coach: Derrick McDowell, fourth season (46-35).
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 58-49 over No. 8 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 69-57 over No. 6 Saginaw Arthur Hill, 72-55 over Class B honorable mention Detroit Henry Ford.
Players to watch: Brailen Neely, 5-10 jr. G (15.9 ppg, 4.3 apg); Josh McFolley, 6-1 sr. G (14.5 ppg, 3.2 apg).
Outlook: This has been a season of milestones for Western under former Detroit Redford coach McDowell. The Cowboys won their first Detroit PSL championship since 1922 and will play in their first Semifinal since 1974. They’ve beaten two of the three teams left in Class A and present a variety of challenges to opponents this weekend – including 6-8 senior center Gerald Blackshear, averaging 11.8 points and 5.2 blocks per game.
LANSING EVERETT
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 9.
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Blue.
Coach: Desmond Ferguson, third season (36-33).
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2004).
Best wins: 75-52 over No. 2 Muskegon in the Quarterfinal, 91-78 over No. 7 Kalamazoo Central in the Regional Final, 82-77 over honorable mention Ann Arbor Huron in the Regional Semifinal, 57-51 (District Final) and 82-78 over honorable mention Grand Ledge, 64-57 over Class B No. 10 Benton Harbor.
Players to watch: Trevor Manuel, 6-9 sr. F; Jamyrin Jackson, 6-3 jr. G. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: The Vikings have played their way through a strong field after going only 5-16 a year ago; they’ve also avenged both losses from the season's first half, to Grand Ledge and Kalamazoo Central. Manuel was part of a Class B championship team at Lansing Sexton as a freshman before transferring out-of-state as a junior and then moving back to Michigan last summer. He finished third in the Mr. Basketball voting and has signed to play at the University of Oregon next season.
SAGINAW ARTHUR HILL
Record/rank: 23-3, No. 6.
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley Association North.
Coach: Greg McMath, 13th season (251-52).
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2006), five runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 78-59 over Walled Lake Central in the Quarterfinal, 88-66, 90-81 and 83-47 (District Semifinal) over Saginaw, 67-62 over Class B No. 7 Flint Northwestern.
Players to watch: Eric Davis, 6-3 sr. G; Brian Bowen II, 6-7 soph. F; De’Quevion Johnson, 6-4 sr. F. (Statistics not submitted).
Outlook: Arthur Hill enters under the rare scenario of having played all three teams also left in the Class A bracket. Although those three teams dealt the Lumberjacks their losses, Arthur Hill will be plenty prepared for rematches. Davis, who will play next season at the University of Texas, was the Mr. Basketball runner-up. The Lumberjacks are in the Semifinals for the first time since 2006, having dispatched familiar postseason foe Saginaw High during the District.
Class B
CADILLAC
Record/rank: 18-8, unranked.
League finish: Fourth in the Big North Conference.
Coach: Ryan Benzenberg, first season (18-8).
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 59-50 over Essexville-Garber in the Quarterfinal, 48-36 over Petoskey, 50-44 over Class C honorable mention McBain.
Players to watch: Andrew Emington, 6-1 sr. G (12.8 ppg, 36 3-pointers); Quinn Crago, 6-6 jr. C (9.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg).
Outlook: Cadillac is back at the Semifinals for the third straight season and first under Benzenberg, who formerly coached Fife Lake Forest Area and lower levels at Elk Rapids. The Vikings are 13-2 over their last 15 games after a tough start in the mostly-Class A Big North Conference. Emington brings some experience back to Breslin after averaging just fewer than 10 points per game last season.
DETROIT HENRY FORD
Record/rank: 20-5, honorable mention.
League finish: Second in Detroit PSL West D1.
Coach: Kenneth Flowers, eighth season (108-59).
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 61-55 over No. 2 New Haven in the Quarterfinal, 80-73 over Class A honorable mention Ann Arbor Huron, 54-51 over Class C No. 1 Flint Beecher, 59-54 over Class C honorable mention Detroit Loyola.
Players to watch: Joshua Davis, 6-5 sr. F (17 ppg, 6.8 rpg); James Towns, 6-0 jr. G (16.5 ppg, 3.5 apg).
Outlook: Henry Ford is at the Semifinals for the first time, having played in only one other Quarterfinal (1984) before Tuesday’s defeat of previously-undefeated New Haven. Ford bounced back from two straight sub-.500 records with its first District title since 2009 and finished second in its league only to Detroit Western International. The team has only three seniors, including 6-1 guard Antaun Carter, who adds another offensive threat scoring 8.5 points per game.
MILAN
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 1.
League finish: First in Huron League.
Coach: Chris Pope, first season (24-2).
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2014).
Best wins: 69-60 over No. 9 Otsego in the Quarterfinal, 54-43 and 65-49 over Class C No. 9 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Latin Davis, 6-0 sr. G (19.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.6 apg); Nick Perkins, 6-9 sr. C (16.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg).
Outlook: Milan was a feel-good story of last season’s Finals, winning its first championship since 1948. The main change this winter was the coach – longtime assistant Pope took over a squad returning top scorers Davis and Perkins and a third starter from last season’s championship game, 6-4 senior forward Lance Lewis. He adds another 7.3 points per game, and senior guard Thomas Lindeman chips in 7.9. Davis has signed to play next season at Youngstown State University, and Perkins has signed with the University of Buffalo.
WYOMING GODWIN HEIGHTS
Record/rank: 24-1, No. 3.
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver.
Coach: Tyler Whittemore, first season (24-1).
Championship history: Two MHSAA runner-up finishes (most recent 1960).
Best wins: 63-56 over No. 6 Wayland in the District Final, 76-39 over honorable mention Alma in the Regional Semifinal, 75-61 over No. 9 Otsego, 65-55 over Class A No. 10 North Farmington, 62-53 over Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian.
Players to watch: Delaney Blaylock, 6-5 sr. G (16.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg); Michael Williams, 6-4 sr. F (10.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg).
Outlook: Godwin Heights is seeking its first championship game appearance in more than a half-century, but has been circling for some time with three straight Quarterfinals and now two Semifinal berths in three seasons. The team lost only to league rival NorthPointe Christian, a Class C semifinalist, and avenged that loss. The Wolverines make nearly 50 percent of their shots from the floor and get another 9.8 points per game from junior guard Leon Redd, one of five averaging at least 8.3. Blaylock also started in the team’s 2013 Semifinal, and Whittemore, a first-year head coach, was the varsity assistant for seven seasons before the promotion.
PHOTO: Saginaw Arthur Hill standout Eric Davis drives to the hoop during his team’s Regional win over Davison. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
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Preview: On Course Again for Historic Victories
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 7, 2021
A number of teams at Thursday’s Boys Basketball Semifinals finished last season with wins as COVID-19 abruptly ended their postseason runs during District play.
But all 16 teams this weekend have another opportunity to close with a win – and this one accompanied by an MHSAA Finals championship.
Nine are seeking their first titles, including all four teams contending in Division 1. Others are seeking their first championship since 1939, 1945, 1966 or 1975.
Below is a schedule of all Semifinals and Finals – Semifinals are Thursday at Breslin Center in East Lansing and Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, and all four championship games will be Friday at Breslin.
DIVISION 1 - Breslin Center
Ann Arbor Huron (19-0) vs. Warren De La Salle Collegiate (14-3), 3 p.m.
Forest Hills Northern (17-1) vs. Grand Blanc (13-2), 5:30 p.m.
DIVISION 2 - Van Andel Arena
Ferndale (14-4) vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (18-0), 3 p.m.
Bridgeport (17-2) vs. Battle Creek Pennfield (20-2), 5:30 p.m.
DIVISION 3 - Breslin Center
Hanover-Horton (20-1) vs. Flint Beecher (14-1), 10 a.m.
Schoolcraft (19-1) vs. Iron Mountain (18-0), 12:30 p.m.
DIVISION 4 - Van Andel Arena
Rudyard (18-2) vs Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (13-2), 10 a.m.
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (20-1) vs Detroit Douglass (15-5), 12:30 p.m.
Finals – Friday
Division 1 - 12:30 p.m.
Division 2 - 5:30 p.m.
Division 3 - 3 p.m.
Division 4 - 10 a.m.
Spectator limits remain in effect, but all Semifinals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv and viewable with subscription, with free audio broadcasts via the MHSAA Radio Network. All four Finals will be broadcast by Bally Sports Detroit (formerly FOX Sports Detroit), the first three on the primary channel and the Division 2 Final on delay at 1:30 a.m. All four also will be available live on the FOX Sports Detroit Website and the FOX Sports Go! app.
Below is a glance at all 12 teams contending this weekend. Click for the full program. (Statistics below are through Regional Finals. Rankings are based on the Michigan Power Ratings generated to seed teams at the District level.)
Division 1
ANN ARBOR HURON
Record/rank: 19-0, No. 9
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference Red
Coach: Waleed Samaha, 17th season (282-94)
Championship history: Class A runner-up 2010.
Best wins: 44-34 over No. 28 River Rouge in Quarterfinal, 77-45 and 70-36 over No. 29 Ypsilanti Lincoln, 56-33 over No. 24 Dexter in Regional Semifinal.
Players to watch: Julian Lewis, 6-6 sr. G (12.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg); Devin Womack, 6-2 sr. G (12.6 ppg, 35 3-pointers, 3.6 apg); Kingsley Perkins, 6-7 sr. F (9.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 4.1 bpg).
Outlook: Huron has booked its first trip to the Semifinals since that runner-up season of 2010, and its second trip in program history – although last year’s team had high hopes entering its District Final with a 21-1 record. Lewis earned an all-state honorable mention as a junior and is part of a balanced, experienced and sizable attack – he’s one of nine seniors and one of five players standing 6-5 or taller. Senior 6-5 guard Tyson Edmondson also is part of all three groups averaging nine points per game with 35 3-pointers entering this week.
GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS NORTHERN
Record/rank: 17-1, No. 11
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference White
Coach: Joe Soules, 10th season (153-68)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 66-56 over No. 10 East Lansing in Quarterfinal, 53-49 over No. 16 Zeeland East in Regional Final, 62-54 (District Final), 62-42 and 82-71 over No. 30 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 67-46 over Division 2 No. 14 Grand Rapids Christian.
Players to watch: Trinidad Chambliss, 6-1 sr. G; Ethan Erickson, 6-1 sr. G. (Individual statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Forest Hills Northern has won 15 straight games to reach the Semifinals for the second time and first since 2008. The only loss was early to Williamston, by just two points, and a tough tournament path has included dealing Zeeland East its only defeat. Erickson and Chambliss both earned all-state honorable mentions last season.
GRAND BLANC
Record/rank: 13-2, No. 5
League finish: Second in Saginaw Valley League
Coach: Mike Thomas, fourth season (66-17)
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1952.
Best wins: 58-53 over No. 1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in Quarterfinal, 77-61 over No. 28 River Rouge, 85-58 over No. 19 Marquette in Regional Final, 91-52 (District Final) and 82-44 over No. 14 Davison.
Players to watch: Ty Rodgers, 6-6 jr. F (17.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.6 apg); RJ Taylor, 5-11 soph. G (16.8 ppg, 29 3-pointers, 7.2 apg); Timonte Boyd, 6-3 soph. G (9.7 ppg).
Outlook: Grand Blanc is back at the Semifinals for the first time since 1953 and after last season’s team was forced to end at 18-3. Rodgers earned an all-state honorable mention last season and has been considered among the top players in his class throughout high school. He’s got lots of help, with Taylor another big scorer and 6-2 senior guard Jacob Carlson (8.1 ppg) and 6-0 sophomore guard Amont’e Allen-Johnson (8.0 ppg) also adding to the balanced attack. The Quarterfinal win over St. Mary’s avenged a 65-52 loss from Feb. 16. Thomas formerly led Kalamazoo Central to Class A titles in 2010 and 2011.
WARREN DE LA SALLE COLLEGIATE
Record/rank: 13-3, No. 13
League finish: Third in Detroit Catholic League Central
Coach: Gjon Djokaj, first season (16-3)
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1982.
Best wins: 64-59 over No. 2 Detroit U-D Jesuit in Regional Final, 53-51 over No. 6 Detroit Martin Luther King in Regional Semifinal, 59-42 over No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 56-18 over No. 24 Dexter.
Players to watch: Linden Holder, 6-1 sr. G (17.7 ppg, 28 3-pointers, 3.6 apg); Triston Nichols, 6-4 soph. G (9.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Caleb Reese, 5-10 jr. G (12.5 ppg, 3.5 apg).
Outlook: De La Salle is back at the Semifinals for the second time in four seasons, thanks in part to avenging a two-point overtime loss to Jesuit from March 11. Five players average at least eight points per game – 6-0 sophomore Nino Smith (8.6 ppg) and 6-7 sophomore Michael Sulaka (8.2) bolster the scoring and also are part of a starting lineup that will graduate only one player. Djokaj formerly led Walled Lake Northern and Livonia Franklin’s programs and has a 73-35 record overall.
Division 2
BATTLE CREEK PENNFIELD
Record/rank: 20-2, No. 16
League finish: First in Interstate 8 Athletic Conference
Coach: Nate Burns, fourth season (60-30)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 54-49 over No. 12 Romulus Summit Academy in Quarterfinal, 56-53 over No. 2 Williamston in Regional Final, 57-45 and 44-41 over Division 1 No. 41 Coldwater.
Players to watch: Ryne Petersen, 6-1 sr. G (15.6 ppg, 32 3-pointers, 5.9 rpg, 6.3 apg, 3.1 spg); Luke Davis, 6-1 jr. G (11.2 ppg, 25 3-pointers, 3.6 apg); Gavin Burns, 5-11 sr. G (12 ppg, 51 3-pointers).
Outlook: Pennfield has been one of the stories of the tournament, first winning a Regional title for the first time since 1972 and now making the Semifinals for the first time ever. The team’s only league loss this winter came against Marshall, and the Panthers avenged in the District Final. Petersen earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
BRIDGEPORT
Record/rank: 17-2, No. 36
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference 8
Coach: Kevin Marshall Sr., fourth season (85-6)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 52-41 over Escanaba in the Quarterfinal, 54-53 (Regional Final) and 55-54 over Carrollton, 53-33 over Frankenmuth in District Final.
Players to watch: Jaylen Hodges, 6-4 sr. G (16.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, 3.1 spg, 1.5 bpg); AJ Pipkins, 5-8 sr. G (9.6 ppg, 57 3-pointers, 3.3 apg, 3.6 spg); Omarion Wilkins 6-4 sr. F (9.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg).
Outlook: After opening the season 1-2, Bridgeport avenged both of those losses and has won 16 straight games on the way to its first Semifinal since 2009 and third in program history. Hodges made the all-state second team last season and is one of eight seniors total and four who start. Senior 5-7 guard Ramaureon Arthur is another offensive key averaging 8.2 points and 4.3 assists per game.
FERNDALE
Record/rank: 14-4, No. 5
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Juan Rickman, third season (43-19)
Championship history: Class A champion 1963 and 1966.
Best wins: 73-68 (2OT) over No. 4 Croswell-Lexington in Quarterfinal, 56-49 and 51-43 over Division 1 No. 17 Clarkston, 60-55 over Division 1 No. 15 North Farmington, 94-74 over Division 4 No. 17 Detroit Douglass.
Players to watch: Jason Drake, 6-2 jr. G (16.5 ppg, 25 3-pointers); Christopher Williams, 6-3 soph. G (7.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg); Treyvon Lewis, 6-5 jr. G (19.3 ppg, 37 3-pointers, 7.0 rpg).
Outlook: Ferndale won its first league and second District titles under Rickman, who formerly led Detroit East English Village/Detroit Crockett, and have reached the Semifinals for the first time since 1985. The Eagles lost only once in their league, in their rematch with North Farmington, and three of their four defeats this season were by five points or fewer. Lewis earned an all-state honorable mention last season and is part of a starting lineup made up of all juniors and sophomores.
GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 18-0, No. 8
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Coach: T.J. Meerman, eighth season (116-63)
Championship history: Class B runner-up 2018.
Best wins: 83-72 over No. 1 Benton Harbor in Quarterfinal, 68-50 (Regional Semifinal), 58-56 and 49-46 over No. 23 Grand Rapids South Christian, 71-52 over No. 10 Hudsonville Unity Christian in District Final, 59-44 over No. 14 Grand Rapids Christian.
Players to watch: Jack Karasinski, 6-6 jr. G (19.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg); Kaden Brown, 6-0 soph. G (19 ppg, 4.5 apg); Durral Brooks, 6-1 fr. G (10 ppg, 5.0 apg, 7.0 rpg, 3.5 spg).
Outlook: GRCC has advanced to its first Semifinal since 2018 and is seeking its first championship after falling by a point in overtime in that year’s Class B Final. Karasinski made the all-state second team last winter and is part of a lineup with a variety of contributors – junior 6-2 guard Jordan Brooks (9.5) and senior 6-9 forward Gabe Quillan (8.5) also score nearly in double digits per game. GRCC had only three single-digit games this season – two against South Christian.
Division 3
FLINT BEECHER
Record/rank: 14-1, No. 1
League finish: First in Genesee Area Conference Red
Coach: Mike Williams, 17th season (336-93)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA titles (most recent 2017), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 89-58 over No. 3 Reese in Regional Final, 84-54 over Division 2 No. 20 Goodrich, 73-68 (2OT) over Division 2 No. 5 Ferndale, 65-63 over Division 1 No. 4 Flint Carman-Ainsworth.
Players to watch: Keyon Menifield Jr., 6-1 sr. G; Carmelo Harris, 5-11 jr. G; James Cummings II, 6-2 jr. F. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Beecher is making its first Semifinals appearance since its last championship season of 2017, although the Bucs were 20-2 last season when it was halted. Menifield earned an all-state honorable mention last season and leads a team that lost only to Division 1 top-ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the second game of the regular season. Carman-Ainsworth and Ferndale were the only other opponents to get within single digits.
HANOVER-HORTON
Record/rank: 20-1, No. 20
League finish: First in Cascades Conference
Coach: Chad Mortimer, 23rd season (453-97).
Championship history: Hanover was Lower Peninsula Class D runner-up in 1941; Horton was LP Class D runner-up in 1936 and 1937.
Best wins: 41-29 over No. 9 Ypsilanti Arbor Prep in Quarterfinal, 50-45 over No. 8 Leslie in Regional Final, 69-38 (Regional Semifinal), 66-52 and 45-44 over No. 28 Michigan Center, 70-45 over No. 23 Homer in District Final.
Players to watch: Carson Sanders, jr. G (18.5 ppg, 33 3-pointers); Brogan Brockie, sr. G (13 ppg); Conner Mortimer, sr. G (13.2 ppg, 3.8 apg). (Heights not submitted.)
Outlook: The Comets saw last year’s run end as they stood 20-1 when COVID struck. But this time they’ve reached the Semifinals for the first time since 2015 and fourth time in program history. Hanover-Horton graduated three players who earned all-state honorable mentions last season, but the next set of standouts has filled right in. Four of the team’s eight seniors join Sanders in the starting lineup.
IRON MOUNTAIN
Record/rank: 18-0, No. 14
League finishes: First in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference and Mid-Peninsula Conference.
Coach: Harvey Johnson, 21st season (315-155)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 1939), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 53-50 over No. 2 McBain in Quarterfinal, 63-52 over No. 6 Oscoda in Regional Final, 71-50 over No. 7 Painesdale-Jeffers in Regional Semifinal, 79-48 over No. 15 Menominee in District Final, 58-52 over Division 2 No. 3 Escanaba.
Players to watch: Foster Wonders, 6-5 sr. G; Ricky Brown, 6-0 sr. G; Jurgen Kleiman, 6-4 sr. F. (Statistics not provided.)
Outlook: Iron Mountain was the Division 3 runner-up in 2019 and 21-1 last season when it was forced to end. But Wonders has led the charge back into the Semifinals with incredible scoring numbers in going over 2,000 points for his career. The Mountaineers have downed previously-unbeaten teams their last two games, and Jeffers had only one defeat when they met. Only McBain and Escanaba got within single digits.
SCHOOLCRAFT
Record/rank: 19-1, No. 17
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley
Coach: Randy Small, 16th season (306-64)
Championship history: Class C champion 2011, runner-up 2009.
Best wins: 59-47 (Quarterfinal) and 60-55 over No. 10 Grand Rapids Covenant Christian, 56-38 over No. 4 Niles Brandywine in District Final, 55-49 over No. 5 Pewamo-Westphalia.
Players to watch: Bryce VanderWiere, 6-7 sr. C (15.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg); Shane Rykse, 6-1 fr. G (11.6 ppg, 43 3-pointers); Tyler DeGroote, 6-6 jr. F (13.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg).
Outlook: Schoolcraft is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 2012 and was 21-0 when last season came to a close. The only loss this winter was to Division 2 top-ranked Benton Harbor. VanderWiere earned an all-state honorable mention last season and is part of a sizable frontcourt that also starts 6-6 junior forward Ty Riske and brings 6-6 senior center Harmon DeVries off the bench.
Division 4
DETROIT DOUGLASS
Record/rank: 15-5, No. 17
League finish: Second in Detroit Public School League East
Coach: Pierre Brooks Sr., seventh season (103-50)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 68-56 over No. 1 Southfield Christian in Quarterfinal, 55-51 (2OT) over No. 29 Plymouth Christian Academy in District Final, 60-53 over Division 2 No. 1 Benton Harbor.
Players to watch: Pierre Brooks II, 6-6 sr. G (33.1 ppg, 50 3-pointers, 9.3 rpg); Javantae Randle, 6-10 sr. F (18 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.9 bpg); Damonn Tiggs, 6-0 sr. G (8.5 ppg, 31 3-pointers, 3.8 apg).
Outlook: Brooks II made the Division 2 all-state team last season and has signed with Michigan State, and Randle gives Douglass a second Division I college prospect in the frontcourt. The Hurricanes were 17-5 last season when it ended and will be playing in their second Semifinal and first since 2014. Brooks Sr. has guided the program to three District titles over the last six seasons and formerly coached Detroit Martin Luther King.
MOUNT PLEASANT SACRED HEART
Record/rank: 20-1, No. 9
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Coach: Justin Sherlock, first season (20-1)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 1975), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 59-53 over No. 13 Frankfort in Quarterfinal, 61-49 over No. 15 Hale in Regional Semifinal, 70-56 over Division 3 No. 29 St. Charles.
Players to watch: Zach Wentworth, sr. G (16.7 ppg, 37 3-pointers, 6.7 rpg, 3.4 apg); Luke Predum, sr. G (21.2 ppg, 47 3-pointers, 3.5 apg); Aidan Halliday, fr. F (7.8 ppg). (Heights not submitted.)
Outlook: Sacred Heart is a three-point loss to Division 3 St. Charles from being undefeated and is headed back to the Semifinals for first time since finishing Class D runner-up in 2006. Predum and Wentworth both earned all-state honorable mentions last season and provide 63 percent of the team’s scoring, although five players total average at least five points per game.
RUDYARD
Record/rank: 18-2, No. 7
League finishes: First in Straits Area Conference and Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference
Coach: Jim Suggitt, third season (44-19)
Championship history: Upper Peninsula Class D runner-up 1945.
Best wins: 78-55 over No. 34 Mackinaw City in Regional Semifinal, 74-32 and 49-31 over Division 2 No. 48 Cheboygan.
Players to watch: EJ Suggitt, jr. G (20.3 ppg, 53 3-pointers); Cam Peterson, fr. G (7.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.7 apg); Tate Besteman, jr. C (15.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg).
Outlook: Rudyard has improved from 11 to 15 to now 18 wins over the last three seasons and is making the trip to the Semifinals for the first time since 1963. The only losses this season came to No. 8 Munising, which finished 15-2, and Division 3 Roscommon. The Bulldogs have won their first five tournament games by an average of 33 points.
WYOMING TRI-UNITY CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 13-2, No. 5
League finish: First in Alliance League
Coach: Mark Keeler, 34th season (627-197)
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2011), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 56-44 over No. 20 Webberville in Quarterfinal, 60-32 over No. 28 Marcellus Howardsville Christian in Regional Final, 57-50 over Division 3 No. 10 Grand Rapids Covenant Christian.
Players to watch: Brady Titus, 5-9 jr. G (22 ppg, 30 3-pointers, 4.2 apg); Austin Treece, 6-7 sr. C (11.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Jaden Ophoff, 6-3 sr. G/F (6.5 ppg).
Outlook: Tri-unity will be making its second Semifinals appearance in three seasons and third in six years, and finished Class D runner-up most recently in 2013. Titus made the all-state second team last year and drives a team that starts three seniors but has only four total. The team’s only losses were to Division 2 Wyoming Godwin Heights and Muskegon Orchard View, which had one regular-season loss between them.
PHOTO: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, here against Grand Haven, is among nine teams playing this weekend hoping to win a championship for the first time. (Photo by Tim Reilly.)