Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 11
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 10, 2025
One of the most anticipated moments of every basketball season is coming up Sunday, when the MHSAA will publish this winter's Boys Basketball District brackets, this season for the first time with all teams seeded based on Michigan Power Ratings (MPR).
MPR is calculated using wins and losses for games played between teams entered into the MHSAA Tournament. Scores of games, margin of victory and location of games are not included in the MPR formula. The final MPR number is 25 percent of the team's winning percentage, plus 50 percent of its opponent's winning percentage, plus 25 percent of its opponent's opponent's winning percentage – the total rewarding both success and strength of schedule.
We're still seeing plenty of movement up and down our statewide MPR lists, and more is sure to come as teams continue to finish off regular-season schedules and play in league tournaments that will conclude over the next seven days (including three we've noted below).
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Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Warren Lincoln 66, Detroit U-D Jesuit 65 It wouldn’t be stunning to see both of these teams playing at Breslin Center next month, and Lincoln (15-4) can build on this boost as it plays for a Division 2 title repeat.
2. East Lansing 62, Lansing Waverly 60 East Lansing (17-1) made a major move toward securing the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue, adding to an earlier 10-point win over the Warriors (15-3) to take a two-game lead with three to play.
3. Marquette 76, Detroit Cass Tech 59 This has to be Marquette’s most significant win on a statewide stage in some time, as the Sentinels (15-2) met Cass Tech (16-2) at the Northern Michigan Showcase at Traverse City St. Francis and showed they’re capable of contending in Division 1.
4. Pewamo-Westphalia 56, Grand Blanc 39 P-W (16-2) opened a three-game week by putting more distance between itself and second-place Fowler in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference and closed it with this big win over the Division 1 Bobcats (11-7).
5. Grand Blanc 71, Flint Powers Catholic 69 Before the loss to P-W noted above, Grand Blanc moved into a tie for first in the Saginaw Valley League by handing Powers (15-1) its only defeat.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (12-6) Despite losing Mr. Basketball candidate Trey McKenney to injury Jan. 9, St. Mary’s has climbed to No. 3 in statewide Division 1 MPR and gone 5-2 since the injury (not counting the team’s loss in the game during which he was injured). The two losses during that time were by one point to East Lansing (17-1) and two points to Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (18-1), and the Eaglets face Brother Rice again Tuesday in a Catholic High School League Bishop Tournament semifinal. The third in-state loss was to Detroit U-D Jesuit, a potential Bishop championship game opponent. St. Mary’s handed Rockford (18-1) its only loss, Wayne Memorial (16-2) one of its two, and also downed Grand Rapids Northview (14-4) and Auburn Hills Avondale (12-7) among others.
Wayne Memorial (16-2) The Zebras have won 12 straight, losing only to St. Mary’s and Birmingham Groves (14-5) both in December. Wayne can clinch a share of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East title against Westland John Glenn on Tuesday and has two wins over Dearborn (15-3) and a first over Belleville (14-4) in league play with that rematch coming up Friday. The Zebras also are coming off a 69-60 win over Traverse City West (14-3) at the Northern Michigan Showcase and will close the regular season with a crossover (and potentially overall KLAA championship game) against a counterpart from the KLAA West.
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids South Christian (14-4) The Sailors opened this season 1-3 but have only one loss since mid-December – 57-55 to Grand Rapids Northview on Jan. 23. Northview leads the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold and South Christian is just a game behind, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 18. The Sailors most recently downed Belleville (14-4) at the Battle in the Igloo at Portage Northern, 58-46, and also owns wins over Pewamo-Westphalia (16-2), Holland Christian (12-6) and Grand Rapids Catholic Central (12-6). A possible District opponent is Grand Rapids Christian (11-7), which defeated South Christian in the season opener. The other losses came to Hudsonville Unity Christian (18-1) and Byron Center (13-6).
Standish-Sterling (16-2) The Panthers have clinched a share of a third-straight league championship, this time in their first season in the Jack Pine Conference Division 1 and thanks to last week’s 75-68 win over second-place Gladwin (15-3). Standish-Sterling is undefeated in league play, with its losses both during the first half of December to Ithaca (14-4) by two points and Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (12-5). The Panthers also have wins over Alcona (14-2) and Pinconning (15-3) and will see the JPC Division 2 champion Feb. 18. Gladwin also is in the District bracket Standish-Sterling will host.
DIVISION 3
Iron Mountain (16-2) The Mountaineers have a half-game lead in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East standings thanks to a split with second-place Ishpeming Westwood (14-5); Iron Mountain lost the first meeting 61-56 but won the rematch 58-32. The other loss was in December to Division 1 Marquette (15-2), and there are several strong wins including over Norway (14-4), Kingsford (13-5) and Negaunee (13-5). Iron Mountain has the opportunity to finish the regular season with plenty of momentum as well with rematches against Kingsford and Negaunee and a Feb. 20 meeting at Houghton (16-3) coming up.
McBain (15-1) The Ramblers are rolling again after missing out on the Division 3 championship game last season by a three-point overtime loss to eventual champion Niles Brandywine. Last week’s 79-64 win over Beal City pushed McBain into first place alone in the Highland Conference after the Aggies won their first meeting 57-48 on Dec. 13. McBain also finished a regular-season sweep of Evart (16-3) on Friday and has a second league game coming up against LeRoy Pine River (15-3) after winning the first one big Jan. 17. All 15 of McBain’s wins have come by at least 15 points, but the Ramblers could see Evart again in District play.
DIVISION 4
Battle Creek St. Philip (14-4) The Tigers have equaled last season’s 14 wins and lead the Southern Central Athletic Association West by a half game on Bellevue after finishing second to Bellevue last year. They’ve split their regular-season series, St. Phil winning the first game and Bellevue (11-3) the rematch, and they could see each other again at the District the Tigers are hosting. St. Phil also has a strong win over East Jordan (15-3) and a pair over third-place Colon (13-5) have provided a boost, as did a victory over Burr Oak (11-7) with that rematch coming up. The other losses were to Bronson, Union City (12-5) and Hillsdale Academy (14-4).
Clarkston Everest Collegiate (17-1) The Mountaineers have clinched their first league championship since 2021-22, in the CHSL Intersectional 1, and in a few weeks will attempt to add to a string of four straight District titles. The only loss this season came to Division 3 Jackson Lumen Christi (17-2), and 13 of Everest’s wins were by double digits – with one of the close ones a double-overtime victory over Division 2 Dearborn Divine Child. Everest will play in the CHSL St. Anne Tournament with Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (12-6), Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (9-9) and Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (8-7) and also could see host Our Lady in District play.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Freeland (15-2) at Bay City John Glenn (16-2) – John Glenn won the first meeting 70-65 on Jan. 14, and the winner of this rematch will be a massive step closer to claiming the Tri-Valley Conference Red title.
Friday – Catholic High School League Bishop Final at Detroit Mercy – Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (18-1), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (11-6), Detroit U-D Jesuit (17-2) and Warren De La Salle Collegiate (6-13) will play in Tuesday semifinals with a chance to advance.
Friday – South Haven (15-2) at Bridgman (12-5) – These two are both 7-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore with two league games to play and after Bridgman won the first meeting 55-53 in overtime.
Saturday – Charter School Conference Final at Schoolcraft College – Detroit Old Redford (16-1), Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac (14-0), Romulus Summit Academy North (18-2) and Detroit University Prep (15-5) play semifinals Tuesday to reach the final.
Sunday – Detroit Public School League Final at Wayne State – Cass Tech (16-2), Martin Luther King (16-3), Renaissance (12-7) and Central (15-3) play in Thursday semifinals with hopes of advancing to the title game.
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PHOTOS (Top) East Lansing's BJ Windham (1) prepares to pass to a teammate during his team's win over Lansing Waverly. (Middle) Grand Blanc's Isaiah McCree (1) makes a move toward the lane against Flint Powers Catholic. (East Lansing/Waverly photo by John Johnson. Grand Blanc/Powers photo by Terry Lyons.)
Breslin Bound: Boys District Preview
March 3, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Picking the teams to beat in the MHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament has been particularly difficult this winter. It appears there are plenty of favorites to go around.
We’ll begin to find out if that’s true when Districts begin tonight all over the state – and know for sure when we see which teams end up at Michigan State’s Breslin Center for Finals weekend on March 20.
Follow as the teams advance on MHSAA.com. Below are some that could reach the final 16 lines of those brackets.
Class A
Detroit Pershing (18-2) – It’s hard to believe Pershing hasn’t won Class A since 2009 since the Doughboys always seem to be in the mix. They came back from a two-point loss to Detroit Southeastern at the end of January to beat Southeastern – the reigning Class A runner-up – 57-56 in the Detroit Public School League Tournament Final. Pershing also has impressive wins over Ypsilanti, Detroit Douglass (twice) and Illinois’ Chicago Orr and Morgan Park. Center Justin Tillman, a 6-foot-7 force in the paint, is a Mr. Basketball candidate.
Detroit U-D Jesuit (17-2) – The Cubs tied for the Detroit Catholic League regular-season championship but cruised through the tournament with wins of 50, 28 and 16 points, respectively. They followed with a 10-point win over reigning Class A champion Romulus. U-D Jesuit would win its first Regional title and Quarterfinal on the way if it makes it to Breslin. Considering that could mean defeating both Pershing and Southeastern, it's a tall task that would be considered an even more impressive accomplishment.
Muskegon (20-0) – This is a football school, right? Not entirely anymore given the Big Reds’ basketball success over the last two seasons. Muskegon has improved from 11-11 in 2011-12 in 19-7 and a Quarterfinal run last season to perfection heading into this tournament. Guard Deshaun Thrower, the quarterback that led the football team back to Ford Field this fall, is a Mr. Basketball candidate. Teammate Deyonta Davis could be in 2015. Aside from winning the O-K Black title, the Big Reds have impressive wins over Saginaw Arthur Hill, Mount Clemens and Illinois’ Chicago Curie among others.
Ypsilanti (18-2) – The Grizzlies' only Southeastern Conference loss came to rival Ypsilanti Lincoln in mid-January and was avenged with a 12-point win a month later. Ypsilanti also fell to Pershing by three in December, but owns an eight-point win over a strong Detroit Southeastern team. Ypsilanti won its first Regional title last winter since 1981, but looks to have a good shot at making it two in a row, although the road could include Lincoln again plus Romulus and tough Westland John Glenn among others. Senior center Jaylen Johnson is a mobile 6-9 force and Mr. Basketball candidate.
Class B
Detroit Country Day (13-7) – It’s nearly impossible to not mention the reigning Class B champion, even if the Yellowjackets’ record is a bit down from the usual at the end of the regular season. But consider that Country Day is on an 8-1 run, its losses are against some strong opponents including Detroit Consortium and Class A Romulus and Walled Lake Western, and it features Mr. Basketball candidate Edmond Sumner, a 6-5 guard and scorer. Oh, and Country Day avenged that Consortium loss with a one-point win three weeks later.
Grand Rapids South Christian (19-1) – The Sailors have been MHSAA title contenders in seemingly every sport lately, and that’s grown to include boys hoops. After finishing 13-9 a year ago, South Christian fell this year only once, by three points, to O-K Gold runner-up Wayland. South Christian then won the rematch by 10 and also owns nice wins over Holland Christian and East Kentwood – although undefeated Wyoming Godwin Heights (see below) is a likely District opponent this week.
Jackson Lumen Christi (19-1) – The Titans have been building toward a run at their first Semifinals appearance since 1975 after reaching the Quarterfinal last season and falling in that game by only three points. Their only loss this winter was by five two weeks ago to Class A Lansing Waverly, a team Lumen Christi beat by seven earlier this season. The Titans also this season avenged 2012-13 losses to Flint Powers Catholic and rival Jackson, beating the latter twice.
Wyoming Godwin Heights (20-0) – The Wolverines haven’t lost since last season’s Class B Semifinals at Breslin Center. They beat solid Holland to cap the regular season after romping through the O-K Silver with only three of 14 games decided by single digits. But any potential run will have to go through Grand Rapids South Christian (see above) in the District.
Class C
Boyne City (18-1) – The Ramblers haven’t advanced to the season’s final week since 1990, but have looked up the challenge cruising through the Lake Michigan Conference undefeated after finishing 11-11 overall a year ago. The tough part this week likely will come in leading off the District tonight against league rival Elk Rapids, which Boyne City beat by three and then 12 earlier this season. Charlevoix also could be a tough out despite its 6-13 record – the Ramblers beat the Rayders by only four and six (in overtime) during the regular season.
Detroit Consortium (16-2) – Consortium has won Regional titles two of the last three seasons and just missed making it farther a year ago, falling by two in the Quarterfinal to eventual Class C champion Flint Beecher. The Cougars’ slate of wins this season includes many of the best from the Detroit PSL, including Southeastern and Douglass, plus wins over Class A Saginaw, Romulus, Saginaw Arthur Hill, and Class B Country Day. The lone losses were in a rematch against Country Day, by a point, and by two to Class A contender Pershing.
Mount Clemens (19-1) – It’s fair to call the Battling Bathers the favorites since the start of this season, or at least one of a few, and they haven’t fallen below that expectation. Mount Clemens won the Macomb Area Conference Gold title by four games after taking on a number of Class A schools including Detroit Martin Luther King and Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills during the season's first month. Only undefeated Class A Muskegon was able to give the Bathers a loss this winter.
Negaunee (19-1) – The Miners have reached at least the Quarterfinals the last three seasons and fell to Laingsburg in last season’s Semifinal by only two points. The only loss this season came in December to Class A Marquette, and was avenged with a six-point win three weeks ago. Negaunee played the biggest and many of the best in the Upper Peninsula and handed rival Ishpeming its only two losses in the Mid-Peninsula Athletic Conference – which Negaunee won.
Class D
Bellaire (20-0) – The Eagles faced only a few bumps in rolling to a flawless regular season record, needing a two-point win over second-place Mancelona and a three-pointer over third-place Onaway on Thursday to claim the Ski Valley Conference title outright. But perfection is nothing new to this bunch; Bellaire’s only loss last season came to Frankfort in the Regional Final, and the Eagles were perfect until the Quarterfinal in 2011-12.
Peck (18-0) – The Pirates’ success during their 8-player football championship run apparently is carrying over to basketball. Or maybe it was the basketball team’s success that carried over to football – the Pirates’ hoops team made its Regional Final last season before falling to eventual MHSAA Semifinalist Lansing Christian. Peck’s three single-digit games this winter came against rival Kingston and Class B Armada and Richmond.
Powers North Central (20-0) – Coming off its first MHSAA Semifinal appearance since 1985, North Central has crushed most of its competition this winter with 11 wins by 30 or more points. Only Skyline Conference foe Carney-Nadeau and Munising got within single digits of the Jets, and no opponent did so before February. Carney-Nadeau does also play in the same District, however, after falling to North Central by only a point in their rematch.
Southfield Christian (19-1) – The back-to-back reigning champion looks good to go for three, losing only to Class A contender Saginaw Arthur Hill this season while beating Walled Lake Western and Detroit Community among solid bigger opponents. The Eagles haven’t allowed an opponent within single digits since Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (14-6) on Jan. 10.
PHOTO: Detroit Consortium found the rim plenty during a 66-38 win over Jenison at the Breslin Center in December, and hopes to return to East Lansing at the end of this month. (Click to see more fromHigh School Sports Scene.)