Breslin Bound: Girls Report Week 12
February 24, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
March is almost here, warm weather downstate has given us at least a reminder of spring, and the final week of girls basketball regular season is another indication that the most exciting part of a long winter is nearly upon us.
Of course, there are a few championship to decide before next week’s start of the MHSAA Tournament, and a few more big-time nonleague matchups to get in as teams prepare to take their best shots at becoming Breslin Bound.
We offer a glance at some of those below. Next week we’ll come back with previews of three Districts of particular interest in each Division as we move closer to our final destination at Michigan State. “Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com. Send corrections or missing scores to [email protected].
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Hartland 36, Brighton 33 – The Eagles (17-1) and Miss Basketball Award finalist Whitney Sollom avenged their lone loss, 41-33 on Jan. 24, to move past Brighton (16-2) and clinch the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West championship.
2. Lake City 36, Manton 26 – The Trojans (18-1) finished a perfect run through the Highland Conference to win their first league title since 2000, downing second-place Manton and then third-place McBain two days later.
3. Port Huron 42, Grosse Pointe North 39 – The Big Reds capped a 20-0 regular season by downing North (13-6) to win the Macomb Area Conference Red/White Tournament.
4. Farmington Hills Mercy 51, Bloomfield Hills Marian 40 – After a regular-season split that led to a shared Detroit Catholic League Central championship, Mercy (17-2) clinched the Bishop Tournament title with this deciding game over the Mustangs (14-4).
5. Montague 59, Hart 46 (3OT) – The Wildcats (15-4) clinched the West Michigan Conference championship after previously losing to Hart (16-4) on Jan. 17, 39-31.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
East Kentwood (15-3) The Falcons are carrying an eight-game winning streak since suffering their only Ottawa-Kent Conference Red loss, 45-41 to Hudsonville on Jan. 17, and will earn a shared league title if both teams win out this week. East Kentwood is the reigning league champion and beat this week’s opponents Grand Haven and Caledonia by 37 and 43, respectively, the first time through the schedule. The Falcons’ only other losses came to two other Division 1 contenders – Detroit Renaissance by two and East Grand Rapids by seven, both in mid-December.
Hudsonville (17-1) The Eagles’ only defeat this season came to East Kentwood on Feb. 14, 53-46, and a shared league title would give them their first league championship since 2015-16. They beat their opponents for this week, Holland West Ottawa and Grandville, by 35 and 41, respectively, during the first round of league play. In addition to defeating East Kentwood in January, Hudsonville also handed recently-clinched O-K Gold champion East Grand Rapids (18-1) its only loss, on Dec. 13.
DIVISION 2
Detroit Edison (17-0) We’ve highlighted one of Edison’s wins in the above section of this report nearly every week – which is what happens when a team goes undefeated against a slate of opponents with a combined .810 winning percentage. Among those, Edison has beaten arguably the top three teams in Division 1 – Ann Arbor Huron, East Lansing and Detroit Renaissance – with its only two single-digit in-state wins to Renaissance by two and last week to reigning Division 4 champion Adrian Lenawee Christian 67-62. Standout senior Gabrielle Elliott also is one of three Miss Basketball Award candidates.
Freeland (14-4) The Falcons defeated Frankenmuth (13-5) on Friday 43-39 to clinch the Tri-Valley Conference East outright, continuing a courageous run this season after the unexpected death of highly-respected coach Tom Zolinski on Nov. 22. Freeland opened the season 3-3, but has lost only once since Dec. 18, to Division 1 Saginaw Heritage (12-6) by four. The Falcons avenged one of those early defeats by beating TVC East second-place Standish Sterling 60-54 on Jan. 28, and they also own an impressive win over Kingsley (13-6).
DIVISION 3
Flint Hamady (18-2) Last season’s Division 3 runner-up is back in tournament form and closed its regular season by clinching the Genesee Area Conference title outright with a 63-54 double-overtime win over Morrice (13-4). Hamady swept the Orioles and rival Flint Beecher (12-6) in league play, and also earned solid wins over Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (12-6) and Grand Blanc (10-8) during the first weeks of the season. The only losses came to Division 1 Flint Kearsley (13-5) and Davison (11-7), the Davison defeat by just a point.
Springport (16-2) The Spartans have clinched the Big 8 Conference title for the second-straight season and run their league winning streak to 29 despite playing in a conference this winter with four other teams that have won at least 10 games. Total, Springport has won 10 games over teams with double-digit victories, with its only defeats to Cascades Conference co-leaders Grass Lake (16-2) and Michigan Center (15-3).
DIVISION 4
Fowler (14-4) The Eagles locked down second place in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference last week behind reigning Division 3 champion Pewamo-Westphalia. And if last season’s run to the Division 4 Semifinals was an indication, another high league finish should pay off for the Eagles. Five CMAC teams have at least 10 wins or more going into this final week, and Fowler swept the rest including Portland St. Patrick (14-4). The Eagles’ other losses were to reigning Division 4 champ Adrian Lenawee Christian (17-2) and Division 2 power Portland (16-3).
Ubly (17-1) The Bearcats have locked up the Greater Thumb Conference East title, their first league championship in at least a decade, after finishing fourth in the East and 11-11 overall last season. This winter’s run included sweeps of Sandusky (15-4) and Harbor Springs (13-5), and the only defeat came Dec. 17 to eventual GTC West champion Caro. Ubly is holding opponents to a mere 24.4 points per game.
Can't-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Monday – Brighton (16-2) at Wayne Memorial (15-3) – The KLAA East champion hosts the West runner-up, with the winner playing for the overall league title Thursday against either Hartland or Dearborn.
Tuesday – Williamston (15-3) at Michigan Center (15-3) – With Friday’s one-point win over Haslett, Williamston is in position to win at least a share of the Capital Area Activities Conference Red, but first faces a Michigan Center team in the same scenario in the Cascades Conference.
Thursday – Farmington Hills Mercy (17-2) at Detroit Renaissance (17-2) – The Detroit Public School League champion Phoenix host the Catholic League Bishop champion Marlins at the annual Operation Friendship games.
Thursday – Plainwell (13-5) at Edwardsburg (17-1) – The Eddies tied for first in the Wolverine Conference South and host North champion Plainwell; Edwardsburg winning their Feb. 11 meeting.
Friday – Midland Dow (16-2) at Flint Carman-Ainsworth (15-3) – Dow from the Red and Carman-Ainsworth from the Blue will play for the overall Saginaw Valley League championship.
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: East Lansing’s Aaliyah Nye, a Miss Basketball Award finalist, gets a shot up over two Okemos defenders last week. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Breslin Bound: 2022-23 Girls Semifinal Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 15, 2023
We can make some guarantees about this weekend’s MHSAA Girls Basketball Semifinals & Finals at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.
We will depart Saturday night with a first-time champion in Division 3, as all four contenders are seeking their first Finals title.
We will watch two reigning champions try to win it all again – West Bloomfield and Fowler – and a returning runner-up in Grand Rapids West Catholic led by a Miss Basketball Award finalist, Cadence Dykstra.
And we can almost guarantee – or at least excitedly anticipate – an incredibly lively Finals atmosphere as six teams attempt to reach Saturday’s championship games for the first time, and 11 of 16 teams playing this weekend pursue either their first titles or first in at least 25 years.
DIVISION 1 - Friday
Salem vs West Bloomfield - Noon
Detroit Renaissance vs Rockford - 2 p.m
DIVISION 2 - Friday
Frankenmuth vs Goodrich - 5:30 p.m.
Grand Rapids West Catholic vs Lansing Catholic - 7:30 p.m.
DIVISION 3 - Thursday
Madison Heights Bishop Foley vs Blissfield - Noon
Hemlock vs Hart - 2 p.m.
DIVISION 4 - Thursday
Baraga vs Fowler - 5:30 p.m.
Glen Lake vs Lenawee Christian - 7:30 p.m
Finals – Saturday
Division 1 - 12:15 p.m.
Division 2 - 6:15 p.m.
Division 3 - 4 p.m.
Division 4 - 10 a.m.
Tickets for this weekend’s games are $12 for both Semifinals and Finals and available via the Breslin Center ticket office; for information and links visit the Girls Basketball page.
All Semifinals will be broadcast and viewable with subscription on MHSAA.tv, and all four Finals will air live Saturday on Bally Sports Detroit – Divisions 4 and 2 on the primary channel and Divisions 1 and 3 on BSD Extra – as well as on the BSD website and app. Audio broadcasts of all Semifinals and Finals will be available free of charge from the MHSAA Network.
The Girls Basketball Semifinals & Finals are sponsored by Sparrow Health System.
Here’s a look at the 16 semifinalists (with rankings by MPR and statistics through Regional Finals unless noted):
Division 1
DETROIT RENAISSANCE
Record/rank: 23-1, No. 2
League finish: First in Detroit Public School League Blue and overall
Coach: Dashaun Wood, first season (23-1)
Championship history: Class B champion 2005, four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 52-37 over No. 6 Grosse Pointe North in Quarterfinal, 43-33 over No. 3 Farmington Hills Mercy in Regional Final, 41-39 over No. 19 Wayne Memorial, 66-54 over Division 2 No. 12 Detroit Country Day.
Players to watch: Anaya Hardy, 6-3 jr. SF/PF (12.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg); Christian Sanders, 5-7 jr. PG (14.1 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.3 spg); Amyah Espanol, 5-7 PG/SG sr. (11.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.2 spg). (Statistics through 18 games.)
Outlook: The Phoenix most recently finished Division 1 runner-up in 2021, and Sanders started on that team as a freshman. Wood, a 2003 Detroit Crocket grad, took over the program having starred at Wright State and enjoyed a successful professional career in Europe. Renaissance’s only loss this season was 53-52 in overtime to Detroit Catholic League champion Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, and the Phoenix also earned notable wins over East Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Lake Orion among others. Espanol is one of only three seniors, so there likely are big things to come next season as well.
ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 26-1, No. 1
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Brad Wilson, sixth season (106-33)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 53-43 (Regional Final) and 61-44 over No. 5 Byron Center, 59-40 and 45-28 over No. 8 Hudsonville, 61-49 and 40-28 over No. 12 East Kentwood, 61-47 and 52-30 over No. 18 Holland West Ottawa, 50-36 over Division 2 No. 9 Haslett, 71-39 over Division 2 No. 12 Detroit Country Day.
Players to watch: Anna Wypych, 6-0 soph. G (14.2 ppg, 47 3-pointers); Grace Lyons, 5-8 jr. G (11.7 ppg, 47 3-pointers); Alyssa Wypych, 5-10 sr. G (12.8 ppg, 65 3-pointers).
Outlook: Lyons and Alyssa Wypych started and Anna Wypych came off the bench last season as Rockford fell just three points shy of defeating eventual champion West Bloomfield in a Semifinal, 66-63. Alyssa Wypych and Lyons earned all-state honorable mentions, and the trio this season has keyed a lineup that went undefeated in one of the toughest leagues in the state and also picked up solid wins over Muskegon, Lowell and Holt – with the Rams’ only loss to Division 2 semifinalist Grand Rapids West Catholic. Rockford’s 231 made 3-pointers entering the Quarterfinal ranked sixth all-time, with freshman guard Sienna Wolfe (9.6 ppg) connecting on another 32.
SALEM
Record/rank: 21-6, No. 13
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West and overall
Coach: Rod Wells, second season (32-16)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 55-52 over No. 17 Riverview in Quarterfinal, 46-42 over Saline in Regional Semifinal, 67-64 (OT) over No. 19 Wayne Memorial, 59-37 over No. 14 Brighton.
Players to watch: Shahd Bakkar, 5-7 sr. G (11.2 ppg, 3.9 spg); Madison Morson, 5-9 jr. G (22.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg); Ashley Kopacko, 5-8 sr. G (8.2 ppg).
Outlook: Salem will be playing in its first Semifinal since 1990 and finished 2-15 only two seasons ago. Wells previously led Ypsilanti Arbor Prep to the Class C championship in 2016 and has guided the turnaround and a bounce-back as well after a 2-5 start this season. Salem finished first in a KLAA that saw five teams win 14 or more games, with a sweep of Howell and split with Northville also among strong performances and the Brighton win avenging an early loss. Morson earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
WEST BLOOMFIELD
Record/rank: 25-2, No. 4
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Darrin McAllister, second season (50-3)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2022, Class A runner-up 1989.
Best wins: 66-34 over No. 7 Flint Carman-Ainsworth in Quarterfinal, 59-49 over Division 2 No. 1 Detroit Edison, 86-83 over Chicago Kenwood Academy, 48-30 and 60-20 over Lake Orion, 81-40 and 53-33 over Rochester.
Players to watch: Summer Davis, 5-9 jr. G (19.1 ppg, 3.3 apg, 4.0 spg, 74 3-pointers); Indya Davis, 5-9 jr. G (15.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.3 spg); Sydney Hendrix, 5-11 sr. F (10.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg).
Outlook: West Bloomfield returns to Breslin Center with three starters and its top two subs from last year’s championship team. Both Davis twins earned all-state honorable mentions last season and have committed to sign with Michigan State, and Hendrix has signed with Florida A&M. Juniors Destiny Washington (8.1 ppg) and Kendall Hendrix (7.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg) were those top subs and successfully have moved into the starting lineup. The Lakers’ only losses were in December, to Arbor Prep by four and Indiana power South Bend Washington.
Division 2
FRANKENMUTH
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 7
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference 8
Coach: Joe Jacobs, third season (65-7)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 1996), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 51-36 over No. 16 Houghton in Quarterfinal, 54-27 (Regional Final), 46-39 (OT) and 62-31 over Freeland, 41-37 over Division 1 No. 9 Grand Blanc, 55-35 over Division 3 No. 4 Hemlock.
Players to watch: Lexi Boyke, 6-1 sr. F/G (13 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.9 bpg); Mia McLaughlin, 5-8 jr. G (10.6 ppg, 3.9 apg, 41 3-pointers); Clare Conzelmann, 5-8 soph. G (9.8 ppg, 3.2 spg).
Outlook: The Eagles are making their first trip to the Semifinals since that last championship season of 1996 but have reached at least the Regional Finals all three seasons under Jacobs, who formerly coached the boys varsities at Saginaw Nouvel, Clio and Flushing before returning to his alma mater. McLaughlin made the all-state second team last season and is committed to Ferris State, and Boyke made the all-state first team two seasons ago before missing last year with a knee injury; she’s signed with Central Michigan. The lone losses came to Lake Fenton (23-1) and Lansing Catholic, a possible championship game opponent.
GOODRICH
Record/rank: 24-3, No. 10
League finish: First in Flint Metro League Stars
Coach: Jason Gray, 24th season (473-94)
Championship history: Class B champion 2013 and 2012.
Best wins: 76-71 (3OT) over No. 12 Detroit Country Day in Regional Final, 54-53 over No. 4 Lake Fenton in District Final, 52-43 over Division 3 No. 10 Ovid-Elsie, 65-31 over Imlay City.
Players to watch: Riley Place, 5-7 sr. G (13.2 ppg, 77 3-pointers); Kalen Williams, 5-11 sr. C (8.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg); Alexis Kosmowski, 5-6 jr. F (10.2 ppg).
Outlook: Goodrich is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 2015, thanks in part to handing the only loss this season to Lake Fenton after losing their first three meetings this winter. No other opponent has defeated the Martians, and only Country Day and Ovid-Elsie came within single digits of doing so. Goodrich also has built one of the best 3-point shooting totals in state history, with its 202 heading into this week tied for ninth all-time and Place’s 77 tied for 24th on the individual record list. Kosmowski was second with 32, and three others have sunk at least 22. Place has committed to sign with Rochester University.
GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 26-0, No. 5
League finish: First in O-K Blue
Coach: Jill VanderEnde, ninth season (144-55)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 1990), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 53-45 (OT – Regional Final) and 51-37 over No. 20 Grand Rapids Christian, 61-54 over Division 1 No. 1 Rockford, 55-50 over Division 1 No. 8 Hudsonville, 49-35 over Muskegon, 49-41 over East Grand Rapids.
Players to watch: Cadence Dykstra, 5-10 sr. G (13.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.3 spg); Elisha Dykstra, 5-10 soph. F (11.2 ppg); Reese Polega, 6-0 jr. G (9.9 ppg, 46 3-pointers).
Outlook: West Catholic finished Division 2 runner-up last season, graduated an all-state first-teamer who plays at MSU, and hasn’t lost again. Cadence Dykstra, who has signed with Toledo, made the all-state second team last season, and Elisha Dykstra earned an honorable mention. Senior Ellie Bies (6.7 ppg, 3.2 spg) and junior Emma Tuttle (6.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg) also started last year for VanderEnde, who previously coached at Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Findlay and Grand Valley State and has led this team to a combined 90-4 record over the last four seasons. The win over Rockford (see above) was the Rams’ lone defeat this winter.
LANSING CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 22-5, No. 19
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference White
Coach: Kacee Reid, 10th season (127-89)
Championship history: Class C champion 1995.
Best wins: 78-69 over No. 11 Redford Westfield Prep, 46-34 over No. 8 Chelsea in Regional Final, 54-42 over No. 9 Haslett in District Final, 74-42 over No. 7 Frankenmuth, 52-38 over No. 2 Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, 65-38 over Division 3 No. 2 Ypsilanti Arbor Prep.
Players to watch: Anna Richards, 5-10 jr. G (12.2 ppg, 60 3-pointers); Leah Richards, 6-0 jr. F (10.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg); Gabby Halliwill, 5-5 jr. G (8.6 ppg, 51 3-pointers).
Outlook: Lansing Catholic is making its first trip to the Semifinals since 2004 after playing one of the strongest schedules in the state. The Cougars opened 2-4 but are 20-1 since with that lone loss to Haslett and avenged in the District Final. Only two wins during the 20-in-21 run were decided by single digits – against Division 1 Lowell and Division 4 semifinalist Fowler. Anna Richards earned an all-state honorable mention last season and is the leading scorer of a balanced group with six players averaging at least 5.6 ppg entering this week – and five of those six juniors.
Division 3
BLISSFIELD
Record/rank: 26-1, No. 9
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Ryan Gilbert, 15th season (237-90)
Championship history: Class C runner-up 1973.
Best wins: 45-41 over No. 10 Ovid-Elsie in Quarterfinal, 50-38 over No. 2 Ypsilanti Arbor Prep in Regional Final, 43-27 and 47-27 over Brooklyn Columbia Central, 51-22 over Division 4 No. 13 Adrian Lenawee Christian.
Players to watch: Avery Collins, 5-6 jr. G (11 ppg, 4.5 apg, 4.0 spg); June Miller, 5-5 jr. G (8.7 ppg, 32 3-pointers); Julia White, 6-0 sr. C (10 ppg, 10 rpg, 1.4 bpg).
Outlook: After also reaching Quarterfinals in 2014 and 2017, Blissfield broke through for its first Semifinals trip since the first season of girls basketball in Michigan. The Royals’ only loss was Dec. 29 to Division 1 Grand Blanc, 45-39, and no other opponent has come within single digits or scored more than 43 points as Blissfield gives up 26.8 per game. Collins earned an all-state honorable mention last season and is surrounded by a balanced cast with seven players averaging between 4-11 ppg. White and forward Sarah Bettis (4.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.0 bpg) are the lone seniors.
HART
Record/rank: 24-3, No. 17
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference Rivers
Coach: Travis Rosema, fifth season (89-28)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 45-41 over No. 1 Buchanan in Quarterfinal, 37-34 over No. 16 Kent City in Regional Final, 43-34 (District Final), 51-32 and 54-38 over Mason County Central, 43-42 over Ludington.
Players to watch: Abby Hicks, 5-7 jr. G (14.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, 5.9 spg); Addi Hovey, 5-10 soph. G/F (16.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.4 spg, 1.6 bpg, 44 3-pointers); Aspen Boutell, 5-5 sr. G (10.8 ppg, 3.3 apg, 3.1 spg).
Outlook: After winning its second Regional title (and first since 1992), Hart is making its first trip to the Semifinals coming off its two best wins – with the Kent City victory avenging a Dec. 20 loss. All three defeats were to teams that won at least 19 games. The Buchanan win was the Bucks’ first loss since their season opener, and Kent City was the Division 3 runner-up the last two years. Hovey and Hicks are the leading scorers but joined by three seniors in the starting lineup including Boutell, who with Hovey earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
HEMLOCK
Record/rank: 24-3, No. 4
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference 10-1
Coach: Scott Neumeyer, 10th season (177-57)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 52-37 over No. 15 Elk Rapids in Quarterfinal, 60-56 (OT) over No. 8 Lake City in Regional Final, 67-52 over No. 7 Traverse City St. Francis in District Final, 54-45 over No. 19 Sanford Meridian in District Semifinal, 73-42 over No. 13 Ithaca, 60-26 over Division 4 No. 7 St. Charles.
Players to watch: Regan Finkbeiner, 5-6 sr. G (17.1 ppg, 3.5 apg, 4.8 spg, 60 3-pointers); Lauren Borsenik, 6-2 jr. F/C (10.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg); Chloe Watson, 5-10 sr. G/F (14.1 ppg, 3.5 apg, 71 3-pointers).
Outlook: Hemlock is getting the opportunity it also earned two years ago during the abbreviated 2020-21 season, when it reached the Semifinals but had to withdraw amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Few teams this season faced a tougher draw on the way to East Lansing. All five of the Huskies’ playoff opponents won 20 or more game this season, adding Saginaw Valley Lutheran to those listed above. But Hemlock also had defeated Valley Lutheran during the regular season, 21-win Standish-Sterling twice, Ithaca and St. Charles and lost to three Division 2 teams including Frankenmuth. Finkbeiner and Watson both earned all-state honorable mentions last season, and the team had 214 3-3-pointers entering this week, good for eighth-most all-time.
MADISON HEIGHTS BISHOP FOLEY
Record/rank: 21-6, No. 32
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Intersectional #1
Coach: Colleen Szakacs, first season (21-6)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 34-32 over Sandusky in Quarterfinal, 51-42 (District Final) and 44-26 over Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 36-26 over Macomb Lutheran North.
Players to watch: Ryan Moorer, 5-8 jr. G/F (11.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Alyssa Samartino, 5-8 sr. G (9.1 ppg); Abby Pasinos, 5-1 sr. G (5.3 ppg, 32 3-pointers).
Outlook: After reaching the Semifinals for the first time last season, Bishop Foley has returned under Szakacs, a past Foley standout who took over the program after previously coaching the junior varsity. Moorer and Samartino also were main contributors during last season’s run, and they’ve helped the Ventures return after closing the regular season with three straight losses to top-12 MPR teams in Divisions 1 and 2. Five of their six defeats total were to teams from those larger-school divisions, with the sixth to 2022 Division 3 champ Arbor Prep. Despite playing such a tough group, Foley is giving up only 33 points per game.
Division 4
ADRIAN LENAWEE CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 18-10, No. 13
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Coach: Emilie Beach, first season (18-10)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2019), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 52-43 over Hillsdale Academy in Regional Final, 51-43 over No. 11 Morenci in District Final, 51-44 over No. 9 Pittsford in District Semifinal, 59-52 over Bronson.
Players to watch: Isabelle Kirkendall, 5-10 sr. F (10.3 ppg); Avery Sluss, 5-8 sr. G (14.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 56 3-pointers); Selah Clymer, 5-9 jr. G (6.0 ppg).
Outlook: Lenawee Christian is returning to the Semifinals despite graduating four starters from last year’s Breslin team and losing leading rebounder Hannah Baker (8.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg) to injury near the end of the regular season. Sluss also was among leading scorers and 3-point shooters last winter, and she, Kirkendall and Dalay Ojeda are then lone seniors. They prepped with a tough schedule which included losses to three top-20 MPR Division 4 teams plus Blissfield, avenging a season-opening defeat to Morenci two weeks ago. Beach, a former Morenci standout, took over the program this season after previously coaching the JV.
BARAGA
Record/rank: 22-5, No. 14
League finish: First in Copper Mountain Conference - Copper Country
Coach: Tyler Larson, second season (46-7)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 40-36 over No. 4 Mackinaw City in Quarterfinal, 53-37 over No. 12 Norway in Regional Final, 47-39 over Ewen-Trout Creek in Regional Semifinal, 55-48 (District Final) and 57-36 over Lake Linden-Hubbell, 54-48 and 42-38 over No. 19 Ontonagon.
Players to watch: Corina Jahfetson, 5-5 sr. G (18 ppg, 3.2 apg, 4.2 spg, 90 3-pointers); Kylie Michaelson, 5-6 sr. G (12.5 ppg); Makenna Hendrickson, 5-6 jr. PG (9.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.7 spg).
Outlook: Baraga made the Semifinals last season for the first time since 1992 and now has made the winter’s last weekend both seasons under Larson while also winning a fifth-straight league title. Jahfetson earned an all-state honorable mention in 2022, and her 90 3-pointers entering this week rank seventh all-time. Although Baraga graduated an all-state first teamer, she, Michaelson, Hendrickson and senior forward Autumn Tembreull all started last season’s Semifinal as the Vikings came within six points of catching eventual repeat champion Fowler – and the two top subs from that game also are back.
FOWLER
Record/rank: 20-7, No. 8
League finish: Second in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference
Coach: Nathan Goerge, 13th season (178-121)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 47-43 over No. 1 Kingston in Quarterfinal, 61-42 over No. 18 Petersburg Summerfield in Regional Final, 40-35 (District Final) and 51-44 over No. 5 Portland St. Patrick, 46-42 and 44-37 over Pewamo-Westphalia.
Players to watch: Emma Riley, 5-7 sr. G (15.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Taylor Weber, 5-5 sr. G (8.4 ppg, 55 3-pointers); Avery Koenigsknecht, 5-4 sr. G (7.3 ppg, 3.0 apg).
Outlook: Fowler graduated last season’s Division 4 statewide Player of the Year but returned another all-stater in Riley, who with Koenigsknecht started on both championship teams the last two seasons while Weber was last year’s top sub. The Eagles have won 13 of their last 14 games, and only one defeat this season came to a Division 4 opponent – St. Patrick, with that loss since avenged twice. Fowler also gave Division 2 Lansing Catholic one of its closest games, lost to Division 3 Dansville in overtime and by just two points to Division 1 Midland Dow.
MAPLE CITY GLEN LAKE
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 2
League finish: First in Northwest Conference
Coach: Jason Bradford, 15th season (280-72)
Championship history: Class D champion 1978, runner-up 1979.
Best wins: 57-49 over No. 7 St. Charles in Quarterfinal, 54-45 over No. 3 Gaylord St. Mary in Regional Final, 51-45 over Division 3 No. 7 Traverse City St. Francis, 52-41 over Division 3 No. 15 Elk Rapids.
Players to watch: Ruby Hogan, 5-7 sr. G (19.1 ppg, 5.2 apg, 5.5 spg); Maddie Bradford, 6-0 sr. C (15.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.6 bpg); Eleanor Valkner, 6-0 jr. F (5.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg).
Outlook: Glen Lake is back at the Semifinals but in Division 4 this time after playing in Division 3 a year ago. Hogan, Maddie Bradford and senior guard Gemma Lerchen (4.8 ppg) all started during the last Breslin trip. The varsity is a combined 68-4 over the last three seasons. The only losses this time were to Division 1 Traverse City Central and Division 2 Cadillac, and Glen Lake has won its last 16 games – all but two during that run by double digits. Senior Olivia Mikowski adds 5.9 points and five rebounds off the bench.
PHOTOS (Top) Fowler's Grace Epkey (23) goes to the basket during her team's Tuesday Quarterfinal win over Kingston. (Middle) Detroit Renaissance's Imani Johnson prepares to shoot a free throw during her team's PSL championship game win over Detroit Cass Tech. (Top photo by Terry Lyons; middle photo by Olivia B. Photography.)