Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 3
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 16, 2024
If you’re looking to spend some free times during holiday break watching high school boys basketball, does the state of Michigan have a show for you.
Beginning Friday and continuing until most schools return to class Jan. 6, there are 58 boys hoops events over 13 dates featuring teams from all over both peninsulas playing hundreds of games to keep you in game shape until we get back into the regular routine next month.
We highlight just a few of those matchups below; find the rest on the Scores page of this website. “Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and 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. East Lansing 69, Warren Lincoln 54 East Lansing (4-0) has championship aspirations in Division 1, and handing the reigning Division 2 champion Abes (3-1) their first loss at the Moneyball Tip Off Classic was a strong early statement.
2. Belleville 47, North Farmington 45 The Tigers (3-1) also impressed, downing the reigning Division 1 runner-up Raiders (3-2) at the Northville Showcase.
3. Grand Haven 78, Grand Rapids Christian 61 Grand Haven (3-1) is bouncing back nicely from last year’s 11-12 finish, including with this win over last season’s Division 2 runner-up Eagles (3-1) at The Invite at Calvin University.
4. Saginaw United 58, Freeland 49 After opening with a pair of losses, United (2-2) earned its first victory in program history over a Freeland team that won 20 last season.
5. Birmingham Groves 82, Wayne Memorial 78 The Falcons (5-0) already are gaining quickly on last season’s 13 wins, with this one at the KLAA/OAA Challenge arguably the most impressive so far.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Dearborn (5-0) The Pioneers are a combined 64-17 over the last three seasons plus the start of this one and finished 23-1 a season ago. They handed Grand Haven (see above) their only loss this winter, 60-59 on Dec. 6, and last week outlasted Chelsea for a 70-67 triple-overtime victory. Wayne Memorial on Thursday to kick off the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East schedule should tell us more; Wayne was third in the league last winter.
Rockford (4-0) The Rams also are off to quite a start, with Saturday’s 57-49 win over Grand Rapids Northview at The Invite their only single-digit win during these first few weeks. Rockford was 18-5 a season ago, winning the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red but losing its District opener. This impressive start should make that quick end a distant memory – Northview won 18 games last winter – and the Rams also closed the first week with a 27-pointer over Grand Rapids Catholic Central, a 20-win team in 2023-24.
DIVISION 2
Hudsonville Unity Christian (5-0) Back-to-back overtime victories on back-to-back days has Unity still undefeated, as the Crusaders downed Grand Rapids South Christian 62-56 on Friday and came back Saturday with a 53-49 win over Grand Rapids Catholic Central at Calvin. Unity is seeking to build on last season’s 18-5 run and has to be excited already – two of those 2023-24 losses, including the season-ender in a District opener, came to South Christian.
South Haven (5-0) The Rams have busted through the gates winning their first five games by an average of 19.6 points. The most notable victory had to be 70-56 over Watervliet on Dec. 6, as Watervliet swept South Haven last season and they finished first and second, respectively, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore. Up next is Kalamazoo Christian on Tuesday and another chance to avenge a 2023-24 defeat, as the Rams fell by nine to the Comets a year ago.
DIVISION 3
Harbor Springs (5-0) A pair of close wins last week has these Rams also undefeated, as Harbor Springs came off three big victories during the first two weeks to edge Boyne City 59-53 and Charlevoix 50-47. The latter was especially notable, as the Rams split with the Rayders last season as they tied for second in the former Lake Michigan Conference. They’ve both moved to the Northern Shores Conference this season, as has last season’s LMC champion Elk Rapids.
Springport (5-0) The Spartans quickly have pushed to the top of the Big 8 Conference standings as the only team undefeated in league play after three games. They edged new league member Stockbridge 49-47 on Friday after earlier in the week getting past Union City 58-53; Springport and Union City split last season. Last week’s win is Union City’s only loss this winter, and the Spartans also have handed Hillsdale its only defeat.
DIVISION 4
Burr Oak (4-0) The Bobcats have created some momentum early, most notably with Thursday’s 63-45 win over Colon after falling to the Magi by five and 10 points last season. All four of Burr Oak’s wins have come by at least 15 points as they look to build on last winter’s jump that saw the Bobcats finish 14-10 after going 8-14 in 2022-23. Coming up this Thursday is Bellevue, which defeated Burr Oak by 24 and 17 points during 2023-24.
Peterburg Summerfield (6-0) There are only six 6-0 teams in the state so far, and Summerfield has been on an absolute tear winning its games by 34 points on average. Among those victories in a 67-54 turn back of Erie Mason after those two split last season on the way to Summerfield finishing 19-5 overall. Circle Jan. 17, when the Bulldogs meet Adrian Lenawee Christian for the first time after losing three times to the Cougars last winter.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Birmingham Groves (5-0) at North Farmington (3-2) – Although both play major showcase games over break, this could be part of deciding the Oakland Activities Association Red title in a few months.
Saturday – Detroit U-D Jesuit (4-0) at Clarkston (4-0) – The host Wolves play one of the premier games with this 1:45 p.m. tip at the D Zone Invitational.
Saturday – East Lansing (4-0) vs. Muskegon (2-0) at Clarkston – This is the 7 p.m. game at the D Zone Invitational and features another pair of Division 1 contenders.
Saturday – Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (2-1) vs. Rockford (4-0) at Clarkston – This D Zone Invitational finale tips off at 8:45 p.m. and showcases two more of the best in Division 1 including the reigning champion Eaglets.
Jan. 4 – Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (3-1) vs. Adrian Lenawee Christian (5-0) at Schoolcraft – These appear to be two of the best in Division 4 again, and they’ll match up in the Schoolcraft Champions Classic; Tri-unity is the reigning D4 champion and Lenawee a 20-game winner a year ago.
MHSAA.com's weekly “Breslin Bound” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). 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 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.
PHOTOS (Top) Mason’s Cason Carswell (5) considers his options during a 65-63 win over Haslett on Friday, as the Vikings’ Wardrell Wicker (5) and Rishon Karikalan (21) defend. (Middle) Flint Powers Catholic’s Jesse Cull (13) gets up a shot during his team’s 69-59 win over Flushing on Tuesday. (Mason/Haslett photo by John Johnson. Powers/Flushing photo by Terry Lyons.)
Bellaire's 'Captain' Robinson Making Senior-Year Impact Sure to Last
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
February 18, 2022
Oh, the glory days.
When Paul Koepke took over Bellaire basketball, he stepped into some mighty big coaching shoes.
He’s got the Eagles on the right track as they work to return to being a powerhouse program. The culture almost fits the visions he’s had since taking over for legendary and hall of fame coach Stan Sexton. They’re 8-7 overall and 6-5 in Ski Valley League play.
But today he’s preparing to lose his only senior starter, Cole Robinson, perhaps better known as The Captain. Robinson may not be as famous as the professional athletes whose careers led to being known as The Captain — baseball’s Derek Jeter and hockey’s Steve Yzerman —but he is to the locals.
“I have a bunch of freshmen,” noted Koepke, who’s been around the Eagles since the early 2000s as a middle school and varsity assistant coach. “I couldn’t ask for a better set up than having him as my captain.”
Robinson, a three-sport star for the Eagles, joined Bellaire’s 22-2 varsity team his freshman year as the postseason run ended with a 50-41 upset loss to Suttons Bay in the Regional. That loss ended a string of deep postseason runs covering decades. It was Koepke’s first year at the helm.
Today the Eagles are preparing to host Fife Lake Forest Area with their captain possibly on the sideline. He suffered an ankle injury in this week’s 44-32 win over Pellston. Koepke helped the senior guard off the floor after his first career injury.
He saw a glimpse of how things could be next year without The Captain, but he loved how his Eagles responded and how Robinson handled it.
The Eagles immediately went into a “win it for Cole” mode. Bellaire hopes tonight’s game will be the only game the 6-foot, 205-pounder needs to sit for a full recovery.
“Cole was on the bench cheering like a mad man after the injury,” Koepke said. “The kids were high-fiving him, and he was coaching kids up.
“We probably had better effort after that,” he continued. “We competed at a higher level, and I think we won that one for Cole.”
The injury didn’t hamper his leadership skills a bit. The Eagles beat Pellston with the same freshmen and sophomores Robinson’s had under his wings for some time.
Robinson has high hopes the young players will help win a District championship like the Eagles regularly did during their glory days. He has yet to win a District title – in any sport – during his years at Bellaire. He’s got this basketball season and his senior baseball season to experience it.
He did experience a first earlier this basketball season. Bellaire beat Gaylord St. Mary 69-62 on Feb. 8, the first win Cole and his senior teammates had experienced over the Snowbirds in any sport.
Robinson, who admits football is his favorite sport followed by baseball, likes helping his young teammates on the court. And he can’t wait to see them on the baseball field.
The Eagles have racked up more basketball wins this season than the previous two combined.
“For us, this is a big improvement,” Robinson said. “We’re a really young team.
“I think we’re going to surprise a few teams in the Districts,” he continued. “It’s going to be a tough one.”
Ellsworth, last year’s champion, will likely get the top seed in the 2022 tournament, hosted by Central Lake. Boyne Falls and Gaylord St. Mary also will vie for the title. The Eagles lost to Ellsworth 70-52 in the season opener. The freshmen were coming off just a two-game middle school season due to COVID-19 cancellations.
“Our record is starting to show we’re not just a bunch of freshmen just being freshmen,” Koepke said. “We’re starting to get pretty good.”
Bellaire starts three freshmen, a sophomore and The Captain.
“This man is selfless,” Koepke said about Robinson. “He’s the first one to come to me when I get there (to practice or games) to give me a fist bump and ask me how my day is going.
“Captain means a lot of things. He’s the last one to go off the bus. He cleans the bus. He’s the last one to leave the locker room.”
Robinson is averaging nearly six points and three assists per game. He also hauls in eight rebounds per contest. He’s coming from an outstanding football season as the Eagles’ tight end, tackle and defensive end. He had two touchdown receptions in the fall.
Jayden Hansen, a freshman, leads the team in scoring at more than 15 per game. Another freshman, Drake Koepke, averages 12 points. Hanson is among Northern Michigan’s leading rebounders. Koepke, the coach’s son, is among the area’s leaders in steals.
“We’re always looking for the third scorer,” Koepke said.
But the starting lineup is set.
“We finally kind of found out these are our guys, our lineup,” Koepke said. “We’re growing now.
“We understand who we are, and now we have to fix some things we struggle with,” he continued. “Right now we have a great attitude, and we are peaking.”
Robinson goes back a long way in Bellaire. He was a water boy for the varsity team when his father, Brock, was the Eagles’ head football coach. Brock died suddenly in 2020, and had served as The Captain’s youth football and baseball coach and high school football coach his freshmen and sophomore seasons.
The younger Robinson also lost his 2020 baseball season due to COVID. But he has persevered. Today he’s a regular on the court coaching youth basketball and his youthful teammates.
“You can say it’s been a little tough —I obviously miss him of course,” The Captain said. “He loved sports just as much as I do.
“I think about him usually before most sporting events – especially football games I’d think about him beforehand.”
Coach Koepke, who also assisted Coach Robinson in football, is amazed by his captain’s career and his contribution to the Eagles’ success.
“He is always a positive person,” Koepke said. “There are so many things he does.”
If the Eagles don’t make the great run this season as they have in the past, the veterans they’ll have next season along with others impacted by Robinson should help them return to the glory days.
“You are going to be a better person because you met Cole,” Koepke said. “That’s basically what Cole is.
“We’re all going to miss Cole. He’s made me a better person for sure.”
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Bellaire’s Cole Robinson looks for an open teammate during a game against Johannesburg-Lewiston. (Middle) Robinson works to bring down a Bear Lake ball carrier. (Below) Robinson works with players in Bellaire’s youth program on their shooting form. (Top and middle photos courtesy of the Antrim Review; below photo courtesy of the Bellaire athletic department.)