Breslin Bound: Boys Report Week 7
January 25, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
There may be 25 undefeated boys basketball teams left in Michigan.
But this week will be telling for a quite a few – both those expected to shine this brightly and also for some surprising us along the way.
Each week during the regular season, we’ll glance at four teams from each class that have caught our attention. Results and records below are based on schedules posted at MHSAA.com.
Class A
Canton (12-0) – The reigning league champion Chiefs look like they’ll be tough to stop in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association South again after winning every game of the first run through the division schedule by an average of nearly 15 points per.
Detroit U-D Jesuit (11-0) – Most people’s preseason favorite in Class A hasn’t disappointed – or had an in-state opponent come closer than 10 points. Last week’s lone win, over Detroit Catholic Central, gave the Cubs first place solo in the Detroit Catholic League Central.
Holland West Ottawa (10-0) – The Panthers moved into first place alone in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red with a 58-53 win over former co-leader East Kentwood on Friday – and long ago bested last season’s 6-15 finish.
Macomb Dakota (9-0) – The Cougars showed they were up for stepping into the elite during the first week with wins over West Bloomfield and Clarkston, teams they lost to during the first week last season. In addition to leading the Macomb Area Conference Red, Dakota also has added another impressive win over Lansing Everett.
Class B
Big Rapids (9-1) – The Cardinals picked up a pair of 40-point league wins to hold on to a one-win lead in the Central State Activities Association Gold, but may need to finish a sweep against Grant next week to repeat as champion and this time win the title outright after sharing with Newaygo a year ago.
Leslie (10-1) – Although they’re from one of the smallest schools in Class B, the Blackhawks are riding high with nine straight wins and atop the Greater Lansing Activities Conference after beating reigning champion Lake Odessa Lakewood and former co-leader Stockbridge last week.
Onsted (10-0) – University of Michigan recruit Austin Davis is the player everyone knows, but he’s getting plenty of help as Onsted sits atop the Lenawee County Athletic Association with only second-place Hillsdale coming within striking distance so far.
Whitehall (9-1) – After tying for third in the West Michigan Conference last season, Whitehall leads the league with a 7-0 record through the first round of conference games and has lost only to nonleague Spring Lake.
Class C
Beaverton (8-0) – The Beavers have won 27 straight Jack Pine Conference games and lead the field by two wins in the league standings as they look to repeat; they’ve beaten the three teams tied for second by five, seven and 15 points, respectively.
Iron Mountain (10-0) – The Mountaineers surely have been looking forward to this week for a while after falling to Negaunee in the regular-season finale a year ago – and by doing so, giving up first in the Mid-Peninsula Athletic Conference to the Miners. Both are undefeated as they prepare for this week's latest rematch.
Lutheran Westland (9-0) – The Warriors are another team that surely has prepped for this week; after sharing the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Red title with Sterling Heights Parkway Christian last season, they’re tied for first again and play Friday for the first time this season.
McBain (9-0) – The reigning Highland Conference champion is tied for first with rival McBain Northern Michigan Christian, making this week’s matchup much more meaningful than two one-sided Ramblers wins a season ago.
Class D
Alanson (9-0) – A 58-57 win over Boyne Falls to start the new year has Alanson just ahead of the pack in the Northern Lakes Conference; the Vikings tied for second in the league last season.
Lake Linden-Hubbell (9-0) – The Lakes won the Copper County Conference championship last year and have the upper hand in the new Copper Mountain Conference’s Copper Country division with only nonleague Calumet coming within 12 points.
Powers North Central (9-0) – The winning streak is up to 36 straight for the reigning Class D champion, which continues to score like few teams in the state are capable; the Jets have hit 87 twice and scored at least 70 five more times.
Vestaburg (7-0) – This week will be the biggest so far for the Mid-State Activities Conference co-leader as it faces co-leader Carson City-Crystal on Friday after finishing a win ahead of the Eagles for the league title a year ago.
PHOTO: Vestaburg sits tied for first in the MSAC thanks in part to a win over Coleman this winter. (Click for more photos from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Breslin Bound: Boys Report Week 8
January 28, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Eight weeks of success is enough to expect that any team still undefeated – like our top team among last week's high performers – should keep making noise over the month and a half to come.
But there's something to be said about starting anew on Jan. 1. And we've got a few on this week's list as well that have surged since the calendar year got a new start.
Remember, results and overall records below are those listed in our MHSAA Score Center. Are either incorrect? Please help us out after filling in this brief registration.
1. Big Rapids (11-0) – The Cardinals have won 20 straight regular-season games dating back to the mid-point of last winter and lead the Central State Activities Association.
2. Rochester Adams (10-1) – The Highlanders’ lone loss came against Oxford all the way back on Dec. 14; they’ve won four straight by double figures and are just two wins from equaling last season’s total.
3. Zeeland East (10-2) – The Chix are in first place by a win over two others in the O-K Black and have won four straight including beating league favorite Muskegon 67-61 on Friday.
4. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (10-2) – Before Saturday’s 14-point loss to Detroit Country Day, the Chargers had won three straight and earlier this month edged reigning Class D champion Southfield Christian by a point.
5. Lansing Waverly (9-2) – The Warriors opened this season with losses to Holt and Jackson Lumen Christi by a combined five points, but since have won nine straight including avenging that loss to the Titans on Friday.
6. Bessemer (10-1) – The Speedboys are undefeated in-state, with their only loss to Washburn, Wis., after winning 10 games total last season.
7. Crystal Falls Forest Park (6-3) – The Trojans opened this winter with two losses, but are on a roll and edged 2012 Class D Semifinalist Carney-Nadeau on Friday, 70-67.
8. Pittsford (9-2) – The Wildcats hit a rough patch from Jan. 11-15, when they lost two games; otherwise, they’re undefeated this season.
9. Temperance Bedford (8-1) – Despite losing to Sylvania Southview of Ohio on Saturday, the Kicking Mules opened with eight straight wins and beat Ann Arbor Pioneer 56-54 the night before.
10. Canton (7-5) – The Chiefs also are running well in January with five straight wins including Friday’s 55-50 victory over Westland John Glenn which avenged their last lost before the run, 53-48 to John Glenn on Jan. 4.
PHOTO: Canton players (in red) try to gather a loose ball during a game against Cincinnati Withrow on Dec. 28 at Detroit County Day. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)