Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Weeks 1 & 2
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 9, 2024
A late Thanksgiving this year led to the first week of boys basketball games this 2024-25 season being played during the short week, and even a few days before the final football championship games of the fall.
But with that rare crossover out of the way, we’re on track and moving forward on another four-month trip that for 16 teams will end at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center in March.
We’ll catch up with several of the highlights from the last two weeks as we debut this winter’s “Breslin Bound” reports with our traditional look back at some key results, teams on the move and games to go see during the week to come.
“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. Warren Lincoln 56, Ann Arbor Huron 51 Reigning Division 2 champion Lincoln (2-0) is off to another impressive start with this Horatio Williams Tip-Off Classic win over Huron (0-1), which made the Division 1 Semifinals last season.
2. Grand Rapids Christian 72, Grand Rapids South Christian 55 Grand Rapids Christian (2-0) – last season’s Division 2 runner-up – put much more distance between itself and the Sailors (1-1) this time compared to last year’s three-point District Final win.
3. Alcona 54, Hillman 44 Both are reigning league champions (different divisions) in the North Star League, and Hillman (1-1) also had finished 22-3 last season while Alcona (2-1) is looking to build off an 18-6 run.
5. Detroit Catholic Central 69, Saginaw United 55 The Shamrocks (4-0) spoiled the program debut for United (0-2), which formed from the previous Saginaw High and Arthur Hill.
5. Detroit Martin Luther King 53, East Kentwood 46 This was another Williams Tip-Off Classic matchup as King (3-0) earned a notable early win against another Division 1 team with tons of potential in the Falcons (1-1).
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Livonia Churchill (3-0) A 68-64 win over Gibraltar Carlson on Friday kept Churchill undefeated under first-year coach Cameron Scott – and it’s been an incredible turnaround already. The Chargers didn’t win a game last season, with their only victory over the last two coming by forfeit, and this is guaranteed to finish as their first season with at least three victories since 2017-18. Churchill opened with an 84-46 win over Dearborn Heights Annapolis and also has a 64-54 victory over Garden City.
Oxford (4-0) Jake Champagne became the program’s all-time leading scorer at 1,146 points with 26 in a 46-32 win over Grosse Pointe North at Sunday’s D Zone Rising Team Tip Off, and all four of the Wildcats’ victories have come by double digits – including as well a notable 64-39 victory over Davison last week. Oxford is in the Oakland Activities Association White this winter after finishing second in the Blue and 14-9 overall last season.
DIVISION 2
Cheboygan (3-0) Coming off a 9-13 run last season – which concluded with a 10-point District-opening loss to Kalkaska – Cheboygan is off to a fast start capped Friday by a 66-60 victory over the Blazers. That also was the league opener for the new Northern Shores Conference, which Cheboygan joined after previously playing in the Straits Area Conference. A 76-63 season-opening win over Rudyard also avenged a pair of defeats from last season.
Marshall (3-0) A 62-60 victory over Hanover-Horton at the Carl Lee Invitational at Albion College gave Marshall its first three all by six points or fewer, to go with a 53-49 win over Battle Creek Lakeview and 48-42 victory over Battle Creek Harper Creek. Those had to generate plenty of excitement as the Lakeview win avenged a loss from last season – when Marshall finished 9-14 – and Hanover-Horton was a league and District champ last winter.
DIVISION 3
Ithaca (3-0) The Yellowjackets also picked up a couple of close wins last week – 54-52 over Standish-Sterling and then 49-43 over Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary – as they began building on last season’s 16-9 campaign that included a second-place finish in the Tri-Valley Conference White and District championship. Ithaca had started 2-4 a year ago and will get a chance to avenge one of those losses, to Beal City, next week.
North Muskegon (3-0) The Norsemen traveled to Benzie Central over the weekend and won the Will Lynch Season Tip Off with a 49-37 victory over Menominee – a Division 3 quarterfinalist last winter – followed by a 52-34 win over Division 1 Lapeer. North Muskegon is coming off a 24-1 run last winter, when its only loss came in overtime, 43-40, to Pewamo-Westphalia in a Regional Semifinal.
DIVISION 4
Dollar Bay (4-0) The Blue Bolts are coming off three straight sub-.500 finishes, including 10-14 last season. But they are quickly making those distant memories with this start that’s included wins over Chassell, Painesdale Jeffers, Houghton and Hancock. The Houghton win was by just four points in overtime, but the other three were all by 18 or more – more impressive as Dollar Bay went a combined 0-5 against Chassell, Jeffers and Houghton last season, losing to Jeffers by more than 30 points twice and Houghton by 28.
Traverse City Christian (4-0) The Sabres averaged nearly 16 wins per season over the last three, finishing 16-7 last winter, and could take another step if this start is an indication – all four wins came by at least 14 points. A 45-26 victory over Mio gave Traverse City Christian the Battle of the Bridge championship at Mackinaw City, after it had defeated Cedarville 66-42 to advance.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Niles Brandywine (2-1) at Schoolcraft (2-0) – This is a rematch of a Regional Final from last season won by Brandywine 41-32 on the way to claiming the Division 3 championship.
Saturday – East Lansing (2-0) vs. Warren Lincoln (2-0) at Lansing's Don Johnson Fieldhouse – The Moneyball Tip-Off Classic features this matchup of the reigning Division 2 champion Lincoln against an East Lansing team that reached the Division 1 Quarterfinals last season.
Saturday – Grand Rapids Catholic Central (2-1) vs. Hudsonville Unity Christian (2-0) at Calvin University – These two are annually two of the best in West Michigan and will meet in The Invite in the second of the day’s four games.
Saturday – Rockford (2-0) vs. Grand Rapids Northview (2-0) at Calvin University – These two also will meet at The Invite, capping off the evening.
Saturday – Detroit Catholic Central (4-0) at Hudsonville (2-0) – This matchup at the Hudsonville Showcase should provide a nice indication of potential for both promising teams.
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) Ishpeming's Caden Luoma (1) scoops in a shot for two points, but the Hematites lost 67-59 to Gladstone on Dec. 2. (Middle) An Otsego player attempts to get to the lane while defended during a 72-54 season-opening loss to Vicksburg. (Top photo by Cara Kamps. Otsego/Vicksburg photo by Gary Shook.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 10
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 3, 2025
We are only three weeks away from the start of MHSAA Boys Basketball District Tournaments, and just under two weeks away from publishing those brackets – and movement up and down statewide Michigan Power Ratings (MPR) lists should continue to be captivating as we advance on our Feb. 16 pairings announcement.
Among notable risers over the last week were Romulus Summit Academy North in Division 2 and Fowler in Division 4, and we highlight both below along with several more continuing to make a hard drive toward pole position for the start of the postseason.
“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 49, Grand Rapids Northview 48 Even without injured all-stater Trey McKenney, St. Mary’s (10-6) can play with the elite and edged a good one in Northview (12-4) at the Red Hawk Showcase at Aquinas College.
2. Adrian Madison 43, Onsted 37 The Trojans, just 10-13 a year ago, moved into a tie for first in the Lenawee County Athletic Association at 12-3 overall by handing Onsted (15-1) its only defeat.
3. Elk Rapids 56, Harbor Springs 39 The Elks (12-4) avenged a 61-59 loss to Harbor Springs (12-3) from Jan. 10 to move into first alone in the Northern Shores Conference.
4. Detroit Cass Tech 77, Grand Rapids Christian 62 (OT) Cass Tech (14-1) forced overtime during the final seconds of regulation, then pulled away from the Eagles (9-7) in overtime of this game at Aquinas.
5. Cadillac 60, Traverse City West 53 Cadillac (11-4) handed West its only Big North Conference loss and put itself in strong position to at least share the title with three league games left (and one BNC loss as well) compared to five games remaining for the Titans (12-2).
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Detroit Martin Luther King (14-3) The Crusaders enter this week’s Detroit Public School League Tournament coming off a third-place finish in the PSL Blue but still definitely a favorite for the city championship. League losses came by two points to champion Renaissance (10-7) and eight to second-place Cass Tech (14-1) in mid-December. The third defeat came at the end of November to Illinois state contender Chicago Kenwood Academy. In the meantime, King has defeated nonleague Birmingham Groves (12-5), Saginaw United (13-5), Auburn Hills Avondale (11-6), Kalamazoo Central (12-2), Flint Carman-Ainsworth (11-4) and most recently Grand Rapids Catholic Central (10-5).
Muskegon (14-2) The Big Reds are in pursuit of a fourth-straight Ottawa-Kent Conference Green title and lead after sharing the championship with Mona Shores a year ago. Muskegon also has loaded its nonleague schedule again and is the only team to defeat East Lansing (16-1), with other solid wins over Hudsonville (12-3), Green second-place Byron Center (12-5) and over the weekend Ann Arbor Huron (12-4). The two losses – Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (16-1) and Warren Lincoln (12-4) – no doubt provided good looks as well. The Byron Center rematch is Friday, and dates against Grand Blanc and Kalamazoo Central also are notable coming up.
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (13-2) The Chargers are in Division 2 this season after reaching the Division 3 Quarterfinals a year ago. Playing as an independent, they continue to line up strong opponents from all four divisions – four teams with double-digit wins highlight the remaining schedule, topped by North Muskegon (14-0) and Schoolcraft (12-4). Covenant is coming off a big win over Bellaire (13-4), with another over Allendale (11-4) also popping off the page and losses to Hudsonville Unity Christian (16-1) and reigning Division 4 champion Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (13-2) smart plays for postseason prep. Unity and Allendale are in the same District bracket.
Romulus Summit Academy North (16-2) The Dragons enter this week’s Charter School Conference Tournament after earning the Gold championship and did so winning all 10 of their league games by double digits including in handing last season’s Division 3 runner-up Detroit Old Redford (14-1) its only defeat. Summit’s only losses were to Walled Lake Central (15-3) and East Lansing, and the Dragons also have league wins over Detroit University Prep (13-5) and Detroit Lincoln-King (12-6) and nonleague victories over Renaissance and Groves. University Prep and Old Redford were two of three teams to hand Summit losses during its 22-3 run last season.
DIVISION 3
Centreville (13-1) The Bulldogs are undefeated against Michigan opponents, their only loss to an Indiana team, and coming off three wins last week including a 59-50 defeat of Hartford (13-2) that left Centreville in first alone in the Southwest 10 Conference as it pursues a repeat title. The rematch is Feb. 18, and the Bulldogs also have swept White Pigeon (10-5). Wednesday’s game at Schoolcraft will be a great nonleague test after defeating Centreville last season.
Riverview Gabriel Richard (15-2) The Pioneers are building toward a potential big finish again after reaching the Division 3 Semifinals a year ago. They’ve won 10 straight, and during this run handed Jackson Lumen Christi an 88-65 loss that not only was the Titans’ only defeat but eventually decided the Catholic High School League AA title. The losses were to Division 1 Grand Blanc (10-6) and Division 2 Flint Powers Catholic (14-0), both during December, and this winning streak also includes a 79-58 win over Division 1 Flint Carman-Ainsworth (11-4).
DIVISION 4
Fowler (15-2) The Eagles opened this season with a 62-59 victory over reigning Division 4 champ Tri-unity Christian and haven’t looked back, with 13 wins by at least 12 points. Fowler will have a chance Tuesday to avenge its first loss this winter, 51-49 to rival Pewamo-Westphalia from Dec. 18, and doing so would make the Eagles and Pirates tied atop the Central Michigan Athletic Conference with four league games remaining for both. Fowler’s other loss came to Division 2 Fruitport (13-3), and wins over Fulton (11-5) and Division 2 Marshall also have provided nice bumps.
Norway (12-4) A 65-64 win over Stephenson last week kept Norway in position to share the Skyline Central Conference large-school championship with Munising, which the Knights fell to in their season opener. The big test will be Crystal Falls Forest Park on Feb. 11 – the Trojans handed Munising their lone league loss and already defeated Norway nonleague Jan. 2. The Knights’ other losses were to Iron Mountain (14-2) and West Iron County, but they bounced back from the latter by downing Kingsford (11-3) and Stephenson (10-6) for the second time, and they also are benefitting from an early win over Felch North Dickinson (12-5).
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Detroit U-D Jesuit (16-1) at Warren Lincoln (12-4) – This has become one of the most anticipated matchups of this entire regular season, with the Cubs rising to become one of the top contenders in Division 1 and Lincoln sharp again after winning Division 2 last year.
Tuesday – Oxford (16-0) at Lake Orion (13-5) – The Wildcats can pull away a little more comfortably from second-place Lake Orion in the Oakland Activities Association Red, or the Dragons can avenge Oxford’s 57-37 win from Jan. 3 and move into position to share the title.
Tuesday – Beal City (12-3) at McBain (13-1) – Beal City’s 57-48 win in their first meeting remains McBain’s only loss, and the result of this rematch could eventually decide the Highland Conference title.
Friday – Lansing Waverly (14-2) at East Lansing (16-1) – East Lansing is first and Waverly second in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue thanks to the Trojans’ 75-65 win in their first meeting Dec. 19.
Friday – Bad Axe (13-3) at Millington (14-1) – These two are tied atop the Big Thumb Conference White standings with Bad Axe having won their first meeting 60-54 on Jan. 15.
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) A Mount Pleasant defender works to block Cortez Porter’s path to the basket during the Oilers’ recent 52-45 win over Davison. (Middle) Negaunee's Brady Mager (4) tries to wall off Marquette's Ford Richardson (11) as Richardson drives during his team’s Dec. 10 win over the Miners. (Davison/Mount Pleasant photo by Terry Lyons. Negaunee/Marquette photo by Cara Kamps.)