Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Boys Report Week 2
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 15, 2025
The calendar year may be drawing to a close, and schools soon shutting down for break. But there will be little rest for basketball fans seeking to see several of the state’s title contenders in action over the next three weeks.
Several leagues have either started play or will over the next few days, and this weekend starts full schedule of boys hoops showcases that will see many teams across the state playing at least once over the holidays before the regular-season schedule falls into routine in January.
“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. Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac 60, Warren Lincoln 59 Last season’s Division 3 runner-up Lions (2-0) earned one of their most impressive wins over the last two winters by edging reigning Division 2 champ Lincoln (2-2) at the Best of Michigan Tournament at Detroit Mercy.
2. East Lansing 41, Detroit Martin Luther King 40 The reigning Division 1 champion Trojans (4-0) answered their closest call of the early season to win one of the most notable matchups at the Moneyball Tip-Off Classic at Don Johnson Fieldhouse.
3. Ishpeming Westwood 59, Kingsford 54 These two both made Semifinals at Breslin Center last season, and Westwood (5-0) came back from 17 points down to avenge a seven-point loss from last year to the Flivvers (3-1).
4. Lansing Sexton 86, Detroit Cass Tech 81 Sexton (2-1) opened this season with a loss at East Lansing but has rebounded to make a statement about its potential to build on last season’s Division 2 Quarterfinal run with this win over the Division 1 Technicians (3-1) at Don Johnson.
5. Grand Rapids Northview 50, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 44 The Wildcats (3-1) returned to The Invite at Calvin University and downed the Cougars (0-2), also Division 2 semifinalist last season.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Auburn Hills Avondale (4-0) Winners of 16 games both of the last two seasons and runners-up in the Oakland Activities Association Red last winter, the Yellow Jackets may have more in store after this solid start including a 69-51 win over West Bloomfield on Thursday. Avondale’s holiday break slate is loaded with notable matchups against Freeland, Grand Blanc, Detroit Mumford and Hamtramck.
Jackson (3-0) The Vikings are off to a solid start as they look to build on last season’s 12-12 finish and tie for second in the Southeastern Conference White. Jackson opened league play Friday with a 60-47 win over Tecumseh, one of the other two teams that also tied for second in the league last season, and will get a first look at reigning champion Adrian on Friday.
DIVISION 2
Ludington (5-0) The Orioles’ fast start has included handing Spring Lake it’s only loss, 55-46 on Dec. 4, and delivering a first defeat to Fremont on Friday, 73-67 in overtime. Ludington lost to Spring Lake twice last season on the way to finishing 16-9, and the Orioles also are the early leaders in the West Michigan Conference Lakes after finishing second to Whitehall last winter.
Romulus Summit Academy (6-0) Last season’s Division 2 runner-up has not slowed down a bit, with a 35-29 win over Warren Fitzgerald on Saturday adding to a 65-59 overtime win over Detroit Edison and 65-54 victory over Detroit U-D Jesuit among notables during a busy but successful opening two weeks. Friday’s home game against Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac could end up deciding the Charter School Conference Gold title.
DIVISION 3
Gobles (4-0) The Tigers have improved from four, to nine, to 12 wins over the last three seasons and could add to that climb after four double-digit victories to open this one. The team’s fast start included last week a 55-45 win over Bloomingdale – avenging a last season loss – and a 50-36 victory over Delton Kellogg, with which Gobles split Southwestern Athletic Conference Central meetings last winter.
Onsted (4-0) The Wildcats have won at least 18 games every season this decade and finished 21-2 in sharing the Lenawee County Athletic Association title with Adrian Madison last winter. Onsted split with Madison last season and won their first meeting again this time, 45-38 on Friday, with the rematch Jan. 29. Also worth noting: Onsted is in Division 3 this season after previously playing in Division 2 and Class B before that.
DIVISION 4
Concord (5-0) A 53-51 win over Bronson on Friday kept Concord perfect to start this season, with that also their first single-digit game of this winter. The Yellow Jackets finished the last one 17-10 and tied for second in the Big 8 Conference, and the Bronson win also avenged a December loss from a year ago – as did the 67-57 victory over Battle Creek St. Philip on Dec. 5. Concord will see reigning league champion Stockbridge for the first time Jan. 8.
Traverse City Christian (5-0) The Sabres finished 23-3 last winter, when they also started 5-0 before running into Lake Leelanau St. Mary. Those two faced off Friday, and this time TC Christian handed St. Mary its first loss, 55-36. Onekama and Bellaire were the other teams to defeat the Sabres last season, and neither is on the regular-season schedule this time – but matchups against Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart on Jan. 19, Traverse City St. Francis on Feb. 6 and Lake Leelanau St. Mary again Feb. 10 should be circled.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Dec. 18 – Detroit Cass Tech at Detroit Martin Luther King (1-2) – They finished a combined 40-10 last winter, splitting their regular-season meetings. With Cass Tech defeating reigning champ Detroit Renaissance on Friday, this matchup could weigh much more heavily on the Detroit Public School League Blue title chase.
Dec. 20 – Grand Rapids Catholic Central (0-2) vs. Ann Arbor Huron (5-0) at Hazel Park – Arguably the top matchup at the D Zone Showcase will feature two teams that won Regional titles last season.
Dec. 28 – East Lansing (4-0) vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (5-0) at Ferndale – This Motor City Roundball Classic matchup will feature two of the favorites in Division 1.
Dec. 29 – Schoolcraft (2-1) vs. Grand Rapids South Christian (3-1) at Cornerstone University – These two are joined by Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern and Paw Paw in the Green bracket.
Jan. 3 – Clarkston (4-0) at Grand Blanc (3-0) – This matchup might be the best of a strong slate at the annual Carmody Classic.
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PHOTO Freeland senior forward Wilson Huckeby, right, navigates around a defender during the first quarter of last week's 70-47 Falcons win over Gaylord. (Photo by Kolleth Photo.)
South Christian Sails Into Latest Challenge, Earns Saturday Return
By
Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com
March 24, 2023
EAST LANSING – The Grand Rapids South Christian boys basketball team faced adversity when it lost standout sophomore Carson Vis to season-ending injuries in last week’s Regional Final.
The Sailors faced a different kind of adversity Friday in a Division 2 Semifinal, as they were tested for the first time since late January.
South Christian responded, and showed a steely resolve that put the team one step closer to a championship following a 40-35 overtime win over Romulus Summit Academy North at Breslin Center.
The Sailors will play Ferndale in Saturday’s Division 2 Final.
“We talk about adversity all the time, and we’re missing our 20 points a game star player, and so we’ve had some throughout the season,” South Christian coach Taylor Johnson said. “It builds character.”
South Christian had won 15 games in a row entering Friday, all by double digits. Summit gave the Sailors their closest game since losing to Grand Rapids Catholic Central on Jan. 24.
“We’ve been on a run here, and even as a coach, I feel like I haven’t done enough because we haven’t been in these situations,” Johnson said. “What a battle, and that’s what it’s all about. Two great teams with a lot of great players, and we found a way.”
Senior Jake DeHaan, who led the Sailors with 14 points, said he embraces playing in these types of games.
“This is what our team talks about, adversity, and we want to play in the biggest moments,” DeHaan said. “As a competitor, that's what you want to do. You want to play on the biggest stage against the best teams, and that's what we like to do.”
In a defensive struggle with points hard to come by, the Sailors maintained the lead throughout.
The Sailors took a 19-13 advantage into the half, but the Dragons rallied and cut the deficit to 23-21 with a minute left in the third quarter.
Summit’s Dominic Krzesowiak drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key to knot the score at 31-31 with 30 seconds remaining in regulation.
In overtime, Nate Brinks buried a 3-pointer for South Christian after Summit took its only lead of the game.
Junior Jake Vermaas, who finished with 12 points, then made 6 of 6 from the free throw line to keep Summit at bay.
“I just kept dribbling with my head up and knocking down free throws when we needed them,” Vermaas said. “Staying focused and locked in, and I think that’s a credit to being on a big stage like this in football and being comfortable.”
The Sailors, who won the Division 4 football championship in November, will search for their first basketball Finals title since 2005.
Summit Academy (25-3), which shot 35 percent (16-46) from the field, was playing in its first Semifinal.
“We expected it to be a defensive game and every possession to be tough,” Summit coach Mark White said. “We expected to be challenged to execute and to challenge them to execute.
“We knew it would come down to who executed the best and took advantage of their opportunities. We came to battle, and I’m very proud of our team and our program that we made it this far.”
James White led Summit with 13 points and seven rebounds. Krzesowiak finished with six points and six rebounds.
PHOTOS (Top) South Christian’s Jake Vermaas (0) makes a move toward the basket during his team’s Division 2 Semifinal win. (Middle) Summit’s Dontez Scott Jr. works to get past the Sailors’ Nate Brinks.