Breslin Bound: Girls Report Week 1

December 9, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Just like that, fall is done – and so is the first week of MHSAA girls basketball season.

“Breslin Bound” also is back, giving fans a quick lowdown each week on 10 teams that impressed me over the seven days prior.

What’s below isn’t a statewide ranking by any means – simply a top-10 list of notables that stuck out last week and a little info on each as we start the yearly quest to learn more about the teams we’ll be watching most when our tournament begins during the final week of February.

This week’s list (records/results based on those submitted on MHSAA.com):

1. DeWitt (2-0, Class A): The Panthers are expected to do big things this winter again, but may not have been expected to beat Grand Ledge 62-51; the Comets are considered a Class A championship contender.

2. Marquette (3-0, Class A): The Redettes are building off last season’s fine finish with another quick start that included wins over downstate Brighton and U.P. power St. Ignace at Petoskey’s Invitational.

3. Midland Bullock Creek (2-0, Class B): The Lancers have had an excellent run in girls basketball over the last decade, and it’s looking good to continue after a 10-point win over Saginaw Nouvel and a 12-pointer over Frankenmuth to open 2013-14.

4. Farmington Hills Mercy (2-0, Class A): The Marlins always are in the hunt, but another 2-0 start was noteworthy because it included avenging last season’s loss to Canton.

5. Eaton Rapids (2-0, Class B): The Greyhounds opened by beating potential Class A power Haslett by 13 and followed with a five-point win over solid Corunna.

6. Olivet (2-0, Class B): The Eagles long have been a girls basketball power, but rarely have opened with and beaten a Class A team like Lansing Waverly, which went on to finish the week with a win over frequent contender East Lansing.

7. Frankfort (2-0, Class D): A quick start for the Panthers included a 42-38 likely-to-be-considered upset of solid Class C Traverse City St. Francis.

8. Reese (2-0, Class C): The Rockets restarted after last season’s 23-1 finish with wins over traditionally strong Class B Frankenmuth and Millington.

9. Rock Mid Peninsula (2-0, Class D): The Wolverines won six games in 2012-13, but opened with a 38-point victory over Rapid River and an eight-pointer over Carney-Nadeau.

10. Warren Mott (3-0, Class A): The Marauders are nearly halfway to last season’s eight wins thanks to three quick victories during the first week. 

PHOTO: A Saginaw Valley Lutheran player (left) looks to pass around a Freeland defender during the Falcons' win last week. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

Moment: Freshman Shows Star Power

March 24, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Two years later, we all know Bree Salenbien to be one of the state’s elite basketball stars.

But heading into Adrian Lenawee Christian’s Class D Semifinal against Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart on March 15, 2018, she was known mostly in southeastern Michigan for helping relaunch one of her area’s top small-school programs.

Then she sank the game-winning shot to send the Cougars past annual power Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 46-44 – and by the end of that March weekend, many more were anticipating what Salenbien might accomplish in seasons to come.

Said Salenbien that day: “It’s really fun. But I think the whole team is showing the state who we are, not just me. We’ve battled through so many games this year. … “We knew we’d have to fight like that to the end.”

Click to read Second Half's coverage – Classic Finish Delivers Statewide Stardom and watch the game-winner below with coverage from the NFHS Network.