Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys District Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 24, 2025
March is finally on the horizon, our state finally seems to be thawing out from a long, snowy winter – and all signs point to East Lansing as Districts tip off the MHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament tonight for more than 700 teams.
We always switch up our “Breslin Bound” format once the MHSAA Tournament starts, as last week’s most intriguing results below are followed this time by glances at three District brackets of note in each division. Host sites are bolded, and teams playing in those brackets are listed by seed as determined by Michigan Power Ratings (MPR).
Everything you could want to know this week about tickets, brackets and more can be found on the Boys Basketball page. To watch any of several games online, visit the NFHS Network.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid 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. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 76, Detroit Renaissance 73 Catholic High School League champion St. Mary’s (15-6) claimed its second-straight Operation Friendship victory, in a close one this time over the Detroit Public School League-winning Phoenix (14-8).
2. Novi 66, Wayne Memorial 64 After edging Northville by two points four days earlier to clinch the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West title outright, Novi (18-4) moved past East winner Wayne (19-3) for the overall league championship.
3. Flint Kearsley 75, Goodrich 73 Kearsley (16-6) jumped from third in the Flint Metro League Stripes last season to a three-way tie for first this winter, then edged Lake Fenton by three and Goodrich (17-5) by a bucket to claim the overall league title.
4. Kingsford 72, Marquette 60 The Flivvers (17-3) avenged a 58-53 loss to Marquette (19-3) from Jan. 3 to pull even with the Sentinels and share the Great Northern Conference championship.
5. Hartford 61, Centreville 50 The Huskies (19-2) avenged their lone league defeat, 59-50 on Jan. 27, to pull even with Centreville (18-3) and share the Southwest 10 Conference title.
Districts at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold, and teams are listed by seed:
DIVISION 1
Auburn Hills Avondale
1. Waterford Mott (19-3), 2. Auburn Hills Avondale (15-7), 3. Clarkston (15-7), 4. Lake Orion (15-7), 5. Waterford Kettering (1-21).
Clarkston would be the favorite most seasons but enters after finishing fourth in the Oakland Activities Association Blue and having been swept by its Wednesday opponent, league runner-up and District host Avondale (15-7). On the other side, Mott was the co-champion from the Lakes Valley Conference and fell just a pair of overtime losses from a perfect league run. Lake Orion was runner-up in the OAA White and fell to Clarkston 49-38 on Dec. 4 – a few months ago but sure to be mentioned if they meet again Friday.
Grosse Pointe South
1. Detroit Martin Luther King (17-4), 2. Detroit Cass Tech (19-3), 3. Grosse Pointe North (18-4), 4. Grosse Pointe South (7-14), 5. Detroit East English (9-10), 6. Detroit Western (2-15).
King/Cass Round 3 is likely the expected Friday title matchup. They’ve met in District play the last three seasons and split their meetings this season with Cass winning 54-42 on Dec. 17 and King taking the rematch in the Detroit Public School League Tournament 58-52. Grosse Pointe North will do its best to crash the party coming off a Macomb Area Conference Blue championship and riding an 11-game winning streak that’s included a 58-43 win over Adrian (18-4).
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
1. Rockford (20-2), 2. Muskegon (19-2), 3. Greenville (21-1), 4. Muskegon Mona Shores (10-12), 5. Cedar Springs (9-13), 6. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (6-16).
A potential championship matchup of Ottawa-Kent Conference Red champion Rockford and O-K Green title winner Muskegon is what most will anticipate, and that makes sense – all four of their combined losses came to teams ranked among the top seven in statewide Division 1 or MPR, and traditionally they are two of the strongest West Michigan programs in any division. But River Cities Alliance champion Greenville definitely gives this bracket an intriguing wild card – its only loss came to Allendale (16-6), and 17 of the Yellow Jackets’ wins were by double digits.
DIVISION 2
Adrian
1. Onsted (20-1), 2. Adrian (18-4), 3. Adrian Madison (18-3), 4. Tecumseh (16-6), 5. Milan (5-17).
The top two teams from the Lenawee County Athletic Association and Southeastern Conference White top this bracket, as Onsted and Madison shared the LCAA title and Adrian High was first and Tecumseh second in the SEC White. Onsted and Madison split, with Madison winning the second meeting Jan. 30, and that may become notable if they meet one more time as that was Onsted’s only loss. Adrian defeated Tecumseh by 11 and 19 and also Madison by 16 on Dec. 16 – but the Maples are coming off a 73-60 loss to Brooklyn Columbia Central (18-4).
Grand Rapids Catholic Central
1. Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (19-3), 2. Hudsonville Unity Christian (20-2), 3. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (15-7), 4. Allendale (16-6), 5. Grand Rapids West Catholic (9-12), 6. Wyoming Lee (8-14).
Covenant Christian moved into Division 2 this season after reaching the Division 3 Quarterfinals a year ago, and the Chargers loaded their schedule with several Division 1 and 2 teams and contenders from Divisions 3 and 4 – notably handing North Muskegon its only loss but also falling to Unity 46-39 on Dec. 3. That was some time ago but will provide some familiarity if Covenant and the O-K Black champion Crusaders meet again. Don’t count that as a sure thing, however. Unity saw potential Wednesday opponent GRCC at Calvin University on Dec. 14, winning but in overtime 53-49. And Covenant saw its potential Wednesday opponent Allendale on Dec. 20, winning 58-52 in another close matchup.
Otsego
1. South Haven (17-3), 2. Paw Paw (19-3), 3. Parchment (19-3), 4. Plainwell (14-6), 5. Allegan (9-11), 6. Otsego (5-15).
The top four-seeded teams in this bracket either won or finished runners-up in their respective leagues – Parchment winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley, Paw Paw winning the Wolverine Conference, Plainwell placing second in the Wolverine and South Haven second in the SAC Lakeshore but still earning the top seed this week. South Haven did defeat Parchment 57-45 at Kalamazoo College on Nov. 30, and also has notable wins over Galesburg-Augusta (18-4) and Berrien Springs (17-4). Parchment has won 17 of its last 18 games, falling only to Battle Creek Pennfield (18-4) by three during that time.
DIVISION 3
Bark River Harris or Higher Seed (non-traditional)
1. Iron Mountain (19-3), 2. Munising (19-2), 3. Menominee (11-11), 4. Gwinn (9-13), 5. Bark River-Harris (7-15), 6. Manistique (4-18).
Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East champion Iron Mountain has pairs of wins over Gwinn and Manistique and a 16-point victory Feb. 3 over Menominee, which knocked the Mountaineers out of the District a year ago. Munising won the large schools division of the Skyline Central Conference and also has a pair of wins over Manistique and one over Gwinn – and may have to defeat Menominee in the District Semifinal to reach Friday’s championship game. Bark River-Harris is the named host for this non-traditional bracket and will host all games it plays; otherwise the highest seed in each game will host that contest.
Hanover-Horton
1. Jackson Lumen Christi (19-3), 2. Grass Lake (21-1), 3. Hanover-Horton (14-8), 4. East Jackson (11-11), 5. Napoleon (9-13), 6. Vandercook Lake (4-18).
Lumen Christi has emerged as a basketball contender the last two seasons, reaching the Quarterfinals a year ago and finishing CHSL AA runner-up this season to another Division 3 contender in Riverview Gabriel Richard. Grass Lake has made a jump too after finishing 11-13 a year ago, winning the Cascades Conference East and overall championships with its only loss last week to Clinton, 42-40. Grass Lake has a Dec. 3 53-48 win over Hanover-Horton, a possible Wednesday opponent and the runner-up from the Cascades Conference West. East Jackson finished fourth in the Cascades East, also enjoying a nice bump after going 8-15 a season ago.
Quincy
1. Schoolcraft (16-6), 2. Centreville (18-3), 3. Union City (14-8), 4. Bronson (11-11), 5. Quincy (11-10), 6. Homer (5-17).
This could be one of the most evenly-matched brackets in any division. Schoolcraft was the SAC Valley runner-up but defeated Centreville 62-54 on Feb. 5. Centreville shared the Southwest 10 Conference title. Union City was one of three runners-up in the Big 8 Conference (where Bronson finished fifth and Quincy sixth), sweeping Bronson but winning the second meeting only 63-61 and splitting with Quincy losing the second meeting 58-48 just last week – although those two are on Schoolcraft’s side of the bracket and Union City must instead defeat Homer and Centreville to get to Friday. Schoolcraft reached the Regional Final a year ago before falling to eventual Division 3 champion Niles Brandywine.
DIVISION 4
Crystal Falls Forest Park or Higher Seed (non-traditional)
11. Crystal Falls Forest Park (20-2), 2. Norway (17-5), 3. Powers North Central (10-11), 4. Stephenson (15-7), 5. Hannahville Nah Tah Wahsh (15-7), 6. Carney-Nadeau (6-16).
Skyline Central Conference small-schools division champion Forest Park swept third-place Powers North Central and also has a pair of wins over Norway and one over Stephenson as the Trojans seek to match and surpass last season’s run to the Quarterfinals. Their only losses were to Great Northern Conference co-champions Marquette and Kingsford. Norway finished second to Munising in the SCC large-schools division, with four of its five losses to teams with at least 19 wins. North Central has won only three of its last 11 games, but two straight including last week over Hannahville Nah Tah Wahsh 68-63. Stephenson also has a win over Nah Tah Wahsh and split with North Central – avenging a 34-point loss with a 12-point win a month later.
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
11. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (18-3), 2. Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (13-8), 3. Coleman (13-9), 4. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (13-9), 5. Merrill (5-17), 6. Midland Calvary Baptist (5-16).
Mid-State Activities Conference champion Sacred Heart is seeking to return to the Division 4 championship game after finishing second last season, and went 2-2 in nonleague play this winter stacking the schedule with Beal City, Marine City Cardinal Mooney, Maple City Glen Lake and Jackson Lumen Christi. Nouvel finished second in the Tri-Valley Conference Blue but played Ithaca (17-4) last week for a share of the title and loaded its nonleague schedule as well. Among potential stoppers, Coleman is enjoying its first winning season since 2019-20, and MLS its first since 2020-21 and with a split with Nouvel – although the Panthers avenged losing the first game by seven points by winning the second by 15.
Vestaburg
1. Fowler (19-3), 2. Fulton (17-5), 3. Portland St. Patrick (14-7), 4. Vestaburg (12-8), 5. Breckenridge (10-11), 6. Ashley (1-21).
While Fowler may be the favorite – the Eagles finished second in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference to Division 3 Pewamo-Westphalia (19-3) and have double-digit wins over Fulton and St. Patrick – there are opportunities to shake things up. Fowler did win its one matchup with Fulton 62-32, but the Pirates went on to finish second in the MSAC and downed Sacred Heart 70-62 last week. St. Patrick finished third in the CMAC and cut its deficit against Fowler from 22 to 13 between their first and second meetings. Vestaburg was fourth in the MSAC, losing the second meeting to Fulton by 11 but winning the first by six, and Breckenridge took Fulton to overtime in their second game.
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PHOTOS (Top) Haslett's Wardrell Wicker (5) gets in defensive position as Okemos' Branden Pruitt (21) considers his options during a 58-48 win Feb. 3. (Middle) Flint Carman-Ainsworth's Jaden Green (5) drives to the basket during his team's 90-88 triple-overtime win over Flint Powers Catholic on Tuesday. (Haslett/Okemos photo by John Johnson. Carman-Ainsworth photo by Terry Lyons.)
Longtime Friends 'Living Dream' Leading Top-Notch Brandywine Hoops Teams
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
March 5, 2024
NILES – Niles Brandywine’s Josh Hood and Nathan Knapp spend countless hours in the gym shaping the lives of young people.
And the two long-time Bobcats basketball head coaches, along with their respective family members, wouldn't have it any other way.
Not only have Hood and Knapp, both Brandywine alumni, built a winning culture within the program, but their passion and enthusiasm have sparked pride and support from the community as well.
Hood is 318-36 over 15 seasons at Brandywine as varsity girls coach following successful stints in the boys programs at Coloma and Cassopolis.
Brandywine, which hosts a Division 3 District this week, has won 10 titles between the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph League and Lakeland Conference, 10 Districts, seven Regionals and advanced to the MHSAA Semifinals twice (2010, 2016) under Hood.
The Bobcats, 20-1, suffered its lone loss in early February to Vicksburg, a Division 2 school, 46-38. They were No. 1 in The Associated Press state rankings for a few weeks before finishing in the No. 2 spot behind Ypsilanti Arbor Prep.
Brandywine has played a difficult schedule and owns wins over 2023 Division 3 runners-up Blissfield (45-43) at the Michigan Hardwood Classic in Romulus over holiday break and last year quarterfinalist Hart (62-52) at Brandywine on Jan. 2. Brandywine’s regular-season schedule included five conference champions and 12 Division 1 or Division 2 opponents.
"We built our schedule this year to be the toughest in the state and get us well prepared for what could be a magical run," Hood said.
Just like any other coach, Hood says a successful program just doesn't happen overnight.
All 14 of Brandywine's varsity girls players began by participating in the Kiddie 'Cats Youth Basketball Program.
"This year we had 102 girls in K-6th grade in our youth program. Our current varsity girls are all primarily multi-sport athletes, and their success has been a body of work since they were in second grade. Our commitment in the summer and offseason since we lost to No. 1 Buchanan last year in Districts is unlike anything I've ever seen since I've been here," Hood said.
This year before the girls basketball season began, each member of the team was required to put up 27,000 shots.
"This is a talented group, but make no mistake it's because these girls have put in the hard work to get themselves to this point. We've ran into a buzzsaw the last few years. Fortunately, we get to host Districts and this team wants to get their name on a banner. We know it's not going to be easy though," Hood said.
Brandywine is averaging 58.2 points per game while allowing just 29.6 at the defensive end.
"Our top 10 girls on this team have been on varsity since they were freshmen. Practices are a real brawl and very competitive,” Hood said. “We have former players who are successful women on our staff that our kids can look up to. Not many coaching staffs can say that.”
Mackenzie Cass, Hood's younger sister, coached the Brandywine junior varsity to a record of 18-0 this season. Hood's varsity staff also consists of former Brandywine playing standouts Tammy Lee, Kalie Wieger and Nicole Price, along with Frelen Gowen, Mike Troup and Dave Roeder.
Senior point guard Ellie Knapp, Nathan's daughter, leads the Bobcats at 14.2 points, 4.7 assists and 4.1 steals per game. She has verbally committed to play basketball at Holy Cross College, an NAIA school, in South Bend, Ind.
"Freshmen year was difficult because Brandywine had lost its entire starting lineup. Right away I had to be a leader and learn the offense and defense. That wasn't easy," Ellie Knapp said. "As a sophomore we were still young, but we matured a lot as juniors. Buchanan ended our season in Districts the last couple years. This year we're more experienced and everyone has bought in and worked hard for the success we've had. The last three years were tough, but I feel like you must lose first before you can learn how to win. It takes a lot of heart too."
Senior Kadence Brumitt, a Valparaiso University volleyball commit, averages 8.7 points and eight rebounds at the post position.
"I wasn't really a basketball player when I came in as a freshman. I stuck with it and I progressed,” said Brumitt, who plans to study nursing. “We struggled early on. This group of girls have played together for a real long time so there are no issues with chemistry."
While only two seniors in Ellie Knapp and Brummit, Hood says their contributions to the program the last four years have been immeasurable.
"Ellie and Kadence are both fierce competitors who come from great families and do things the right way. We've been very blessed to have such great role models in our program for future players," Hood said.
Another key player for Brandywine is junior Miley Young, who averages 8.8 points and 3.1 assists per game.
"It's great to have people like Miley who get even better going up against players like Ellie and Kadence every day in practice," Hood said.
Hood, who is Brandywine's Middle/High School assistant principal, didn't work in the same building his first six years in the school district.
"It's nice to be able to be here in the building now everyday and building those relationships with the students. Now I can also read the pulses of my players better. If one of them is having a bad day, I can pull them in and find out what's going on," Hood said. "Just being here now and being able to build the community support, it's like no other place. We call our gym the 'Bobcat Den.' It's a special place and is packed every Tuesday and Friday night. That's a tribute to the community. There's no city of Brandywine; the epicenter is Brandywine High School. This community does a great job of supporting our kids, and we're very grateful for that. It's a family here, and we support all the sports and the kids see that."
Hood and his Bobcats make a point to give back to the community each season.
"One of the things we talk about in our program is the opportunity to give back. We talk to the girls about servant leadership. Our kids have embraced that and like to thank the community for supporting us. We ring a bell at Christmas time for the Salvation Army and held a food drive at a local church this year," Hood said.
Brandywine held its annual Pink Game and Cancer Awareness Night at its final regular-season game against St. Joseph. The event raised money donated to the Brian Parker Cancer Foundation benefiting the local community.
Hood works well with his counterpart Knapp, Brandywine's boys' coach.
"How many coaches in the state can say that one of your peers was one of your best friends growing up and that you played high school basketball with them. There's nothing else, outside of our families, that we take more pride in than Brandywine," Hood said. "It's unbelievable. We can share the gym, build our schedules and between our two programs we have over 200 kids in our youth programs. I've learned so much from Nate. He's a phenomenal person. We're living out the dream."
Brandywine's boys team (21-3) is looking to return to the Breslin Center later this month after winning Friday's District final against White Pigeon. The Bobcats harbor hopes of duplicating last year's historic run.
Brandywine faces Union City in a Regional opener tonight in Watervliet. The winner takes on either No. 8 Schoolcraft or Watervliet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Regional Final.
Brandywine lost to Traverse City St. Francis 46-36 last year in its first Semifinal appearance.
Knapp, the Bobcats boys head mentor for 19 seasons, graduated four off a 25-2 team, but returned eight including seniors Byron Linley and Jaremiah Palmer, along with sophomore Nylen Goins.
Linley leads the Bobcats in scoring at 13.7 points per game, followed by Palmer (13.1) and Goins (11.5).
"Byron is our shooter. He does a lot of the intangibles like scoring and plays great defense. He's always going 100 percent and is the last one to leave the gym," Knapp said. "Nylen is very athletic and brings great energy to the floor. He's quick and can get up and down the court. When he does, we're amazing. He's still raw defensively, but he's getting there and can really shoot."
Senior Jamier Palmer, Jaremiah's twin brother, along with classmates Robert Whiting and Ja'Torian Smith play key roles as well, along with senior Brock Dye.
"Jaremiah and Jamier are our spark. They do anything we ask of them. They are two of the most unselfish and athletic players I've ever coached. They can score and are lock-down defenders," Knapp said.
Brandywine’s boys, co-champs in the Lakeland Conference with perennial state power Benton Harbor, beefed up their nonleague schedule as well.
The Bobcats' losses this season came to Riverview Gabriel Richard (57-55) in the Motor City Roundball Classic in Ferndale on Dec. 27, Benton Harbor (72-59) and Portage Central (71-67).
Brandywine avenged the earlier-season loss to Division 2 No. 3-ranked Benton Harbor with a 63-57 victory at the “Bobcat Den.” The Bobcats were ranked No. 3 in the final Division 3 AP poll, but were rated No. 1 at one point this season as well.
"Last year we won our first Regional. The glass slipper just really fit. This season we've had a target on our back from day one,” Knapp said. “We put a brutal schedule together for these guys. Our mindset was to play the better competition. We felt like St. Francis was a little long, and they kept getting a piece of the ball. This season we wanted to face teams like that before the tournament begins so we're ready for it. These kids have rose to the occasion every night and are warriors.”
Linley, a guard, feels the Semifinal loss to St. Francis served as big motivation this season.
"Since losing in last year's Semifinals I think that has just made us want to get back there (Breslin) even more. We just have to keep pushing one another in practice," Linley said. "Our coaches do a nice job daily of letting us know how good we can be and what we need to work on."
Jaremiah Palmer, a starting guard, feels his biggest assets on the court are his athleticism and quickness.
"I'm able to finish and get to my spots quick before opponents can stop me,” Jaremiah Palmer said. “Most of us have been playing together since middle school or longer. We have to translate what we learn in practice over to the game and play like it's our last one. Any team can beat you this time of year. No one on this team is selfish. We all work together."
Knapp (1991-1994) and Hood played their high school basketball at Brandywine for Al Westendorp.
"My senior year in high school we got upset in Districts by Marcellus. I tell our kids you have to be ready to play anyone every night," said Knapp, who runs Brandywine's CTE Program.
Knapp served as Hood's JV coach at Coloma before returning to Brandywine to become the varsity boys coach.
"We have great and amazing people around us here at Brandywine. It's a family atmosphere. My sons Austin and Carson are two of my assistant coaches, along with Brandon Glover, Casey Udell, Zach Livovich and Gabe Gouin. I'm older so when the kids don't get a point I'm trying to get across, the younger coaches help them understand what I'm trying to say," Nathan Knapp said.
The second game against Benton Harbor was a wake-up call and will serve as a big inspiration.
"We were down by 20 in the third quarter," Knapp said, "and the kids just stuck together, believed in themselves, played good defense and came back to win."
Scott Hassinger is a contributing sportswriter for Leader Publications and previously served as the sports editor for the Three Rivers Commercial-News from 1994-2022. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Kadence Brumitt (32) scores inside for Niles Brandywine against St. Joseph. (2) Niles Brandywine varsity girls' basketball team members and coaches pose for a photo during the Bobcats’ annual Pink Game on Cancer Awareness Night. (3) Niles Brandywine senior Byron Linley (11) drives between Buchanan defenders during last week's District game at White Pigeon. (4) The Brandywine boys basketball team poses with the trophy after defeating White Pigeon. (Linley photo by Kelly Sweeney/Leader Publications; all other photos by Scott Hassinger.)