C-D Preview: Chasing the Champs
March 23, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Two storylines jump out immediately from this weekend’s MHSAA Class C and D Semifinals at the Breslin Center.
Reigning Class D champion Powers North Central has won 53 straight games – and with two more wins this weekend will tie the fourth-longest streak in MHSAA history and set up a run next winter at Chassell’s record of 65 straight victories.
Reigning Class C champion Flint Beecher, meanwhile, is only going for its fourth championship in five seasons.
Six more teams would love to ruin these scenarios.
All four Class C and D Semifinals will be played Thursday, with all four championship games Saturday.
Semifinals - Thursday
Class C
Grandville Calvin Christian (20-4) vs. McBain (26-0), 1 p.m.
Flint Beecher (23-2) vs. Detroit Loyola (21-5), 2:50 p.m.
Class D
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (20-5) vs. Waterford Our Lady (21-4), 6 p.m.
Fulton (19-6) vs. Powers North Central (26-0), 7:50 p.m.
Finals - Saturday
Class A - Noon
Class B - 6:30 p.m.
Class C - 4:30 p.m.
Class D - 10 a.m.
Tickets cost $8 per pair of Semifinals and $10 per two-game Finals session. All Semifinals will be streamed live on MHSAA.TV on a pay-per-view basis. All four Finals will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Detroit-PLUS. Free radio broadcasts of all weekend games will be available on MHSAANetwork.com.
And now, a look at the semifinalists in Class C and D. Click on the name of the school to see that team’s full schedule and results from this season. (Statistics are through teams' Regional Finals except for Tri-unity Christian’s, which are through 18 games.)
Class C
DETROIT LOYOLA
Record/rank: 21-5, honorable mention
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League AA
Coach: John Buscemi, 12th season (171-75)
Championship history: Has not played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 58-47 over Hanover-Horton in Quarterfinal, 66-53 over No. 10 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in Regional Semifinal, 69-45 over No. 8 Detroit Allen Academy in District Semifinal, 56-49 over Detroit Martin Luther King.
Players to watch: Romari Ennis, 5-11 sr. G (13.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.2 spg); Dequan Powell, 5-10 sr. G (13.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg).
Outlook: Loyola is no longer just a football school. The Bulldogs built on their third District title in eight seasons with a first Regional championship and will be prepared for more having faced a schedule loaded with larger schools – after falling to Southfield Christian by nine in its opener, Loyola’s other four losses were by a combined eight points to three Class A teams and a Class B. Sophomore guard Pierre Mitchell adds another 11.1 points per game to a balanced starting five.
FLINT BEECHER
Record/rank: 23-2, No. 2
League finish: First in Genesee Area Conference Red
Coach: Mike Williams, 12th season (229-71)
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2015), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 72-45 over honorable mention Ithaca in Quarterfinal, 78-65 over No. 9 Southfield Christian in Regional Final, 68-62 over Flint Hamady in District Quarterfinal, 58-48 over Class B No. 6 River Rouge, 72-69 over Class A No. 6 Detroit East English.
Players to watch: Malik Ellison, 5-8 jr. G (statistics not submitted); Levane Blake, 6-8 jr. C (statistics not submitted).
Outlook: Beecher has returned to the elite and then some under Williams, who will attempt to lead the Bucs to their fourth title in five seasons. Ellison, Blake and 6-4 senior guard Aquavius Burks all started in last season’s Final as well and key a lineup that lost this season only to reigning Class A champion Detroit Western International and current top-ranked Class A Detroit U-D Jesuit.
GRANDVILLE CALVIN CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 20-4, unranked
League finish: Third in Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver
Coach: Ryan Stevens, 18th season (269-146)
Championship history: Class C champion 1994, Class B runner-up 1992.
Best wins: 64-42 over No. 5 Kalamazoo Hackett in Quarterfinal, 39-35 over Muskegon Heights in Regional Final, 52-45 over Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian in District Final, 63-52 over Class D No. 8 Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, 59-52 over Hudsonville Unity Christian.
Players to watch: Tony DeWitte, 6-2 sr. G (18.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.3 apg); Blake Verbeek, 6-9 soph. C (11.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg).
Outlook: Calvin Christian will play in its first Semifinal since the championship season of 1994, with DeWitte pacing a group that has improved eight wins from a year ago. The Squires avenged two of their regular-season losses by beating reigning Class C runner-up NorthPointe during the District, and their other two losses came to reigning Class B champion Wyoming Godwin Heights. Senior guard Braden Stevens adds another 9.4 points and 3.3 assists per game for a lineup that sees all five starters average at least six ppg.
MCBAIN
Record/rank: 26-0, No. 3
League finish: First in Highland Conference
Coach: Bruce Koopman, 22nd season (408-116)
Championship history: Class C champion 2002, runner-up 2011.
Best wins: 60-55 over No. 7 Beaverton in Regional Semifinal, 61-54 over Class D No. 5 Frankfort, 55-52 over Big Rapids.
Players to watch: Craig Sterk, 6-7 jr. F (15.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.2 bpg); Cole Powell, 6-3 sr. G (14.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg); Logan Elling, 6-0 jr. G (14.4 ppg, 54 3-pointers).
Outlook: McBain is nearly a regular during the final week of the season and is back in the Semifinals for the first time since 2011 with its best record at this point during Koopman’s impressive run. Only five games have been closer than 10 points, and three of those five came over the last three weeks. In addition to the three double-figures scorers, five more players average between 3-5 ppg in providing the Ramblers with reliable depth.
Class D
FULTON
Record/rank: 19-6, unranked
League finish: Second in Central Michigan Athletic Conference
Coach: Todd Walden, 19th season (249-178)
Championship history: Class D runner-up 2011.
Best wins: 51-41 over No. 6 Bellaire in Quarterfinal, 66-54 over Baldwin in Regional Semifinal, 55-42 over Fowler in District Final.
Players to watch: Colton Antes, 6-0 sr. G (19.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.9, apg, 92 3-pointers); Caleb Walden, 5-11 jr. G (9.3 ppg, 44 3-pointers).
Outlook: Fulton is making its third Semifinal appearance in six seasons and second straight, and like a year ago is dangerous to every opponent because of its ability to shoot from the perimeter – Antes will finish this winter with entries on the MHSAA single-season and career lists for 3-pointers. All of the losses were to Class C teams, and the Pirates have won 10 of their last 11 games overall.
POWERS NORTH CENTRAL
Record/rank: 26-0, No. 1
League finish: First in Skyline Central Conference West
Coach: Adam Mercier, 10th season (158-78)
Championship history: Class D champions 2015 and 1984.
Best wins: 75-52 over Onaway in Quarterfinal, 75-45 (Regional Final), 64-61 and 68-54 over No. 4 Crystal Falls Forest Park, 79-54 over No. 6 Lake Linden-Hubbell in Regional Semifinal, 60-48 and 64-60 over Menominee.
Players to watch: Jason Whitens, 6-5 jr. G (22.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 5.8 apg); Dawson Bilski, 6-2 jr. G (15.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.9 apg, 3.1 spg, 2.0 bpg).
Outlook: Powers North Central hasn’t lost since the 2014 Quarterfinals and shows no signs of slowing with its two leading players both juniors. As makes sense for a team averaging 76 points per game, Whitens and Bilski get plenty of help – junior Bobby Kleiman adds 10.5 points, while seniors Troy Ekberg and Morgan Cox round out the starters at 8.4 and 7.3 ppg, respectively, and top-scoring junior sub Marcus Krachinski averages 6.9. The only scare came in the four-point win over Menominee; the Jets have won their tournament games by an average of 35 points per.
WATERFORD OUR LADY
Record/rank: 20-4, No. 3
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Intersectional #1
Coach: Paul Robak, third season (63-10)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 52-46 (Quarterfinal) and 61-58 over Marine City Cardinal Mooney, 58-46 and 48-46 over Royal Oak Shrine, 83-68 over Macomb Lutheran North.
Players to watch: Andrew Kline, 6-4 sr. G (18.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.7 apg, 3.1 spg); Devin Senerius, 6-2 sr. G (11.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg).
Outlook: After making the Semifinals last season for the first time since 1993, Our Lady is back for a second straight year and with three starters returning after finishing a point from making its first championship game. The Lakers bounced back big this time after losing the final two games of the regular season. Senior forward Clay Senerius joined Devin and Kline as starters in 2015 and averages 6.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, while freshmen guard Noah Robak averages 9.2 and three others average 4-6 ppg.
WYOMING TRI-UNITY CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 20-5, tied for No. 8
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Coach: Mark Keeler, 29th season (546-168)
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2011), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 54-43 over Adrian Lenawee Christian in Quarterfinal, 65-60 (District Semifinal) and 41-39 over honorable mention Wyoming Potter’s House Christian, 58-57 (OT) over Lansing Christian.
Players to watch: Willie Otole, 6-0 sr. G (15.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.9 apg); Braydon Sherrod, 6-2 jr. F (10.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg).
Outlook: Tri-unity is back at Breslin after last finishing runner-up in 2013, and with a team featuring only two seniors in Otole and starting guard Javi Cuevas. The Defenders have won 10 of their last 11 after falling to Class C semifinalist Grandville Calvin Christian on Feb. 12, with the only loss since to Class A Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills. Junior guard Collin Rosendall adds another 11.1 points per game.
The Boys Basketball Finals are presented by Sparrow Health System.
PHOTO: Powers North Central locks down Onaway's offense during Tuesday's Quarterfinal win. (Photo by Paul Gerard.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 8
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 20, 2025
Any given week of the boys basketball regular season, MHSAA teams play about 650 games.
Picking a few to highlight as potentially the most significant in the long run can be a bit of a guessing game – but this week’s educated guesses include an interesting variety, reaching the Thumb, Upper Peninsula, northern West Michigan and the shores of Lake Huron before we go heavy Metro Detroit for this week’s most intriguing matchups.
“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. Warren Lincoln 76, Muskegon 66 The reigning Division 2 champion Abes (8-4) have taken some tough losses from strong competition, but send this prevailing over the Division 1 Big Reds (10-2) to the top of their best-wins list.
2. Bay City John Glenn 70, Freeland 65 The Bobcats (11-2) moved into first place in the Tri-Valley Conference Red over the last week with this upset of the Falcons (10-2) followed by a similarly big win over Frankenmuth.
3. Ishpeming Westwood 64, Negaunee 48 The Patriots (11-3) sit atop the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East after avenging a double-overtime 77-76 loss to the Miners (8-3) from Dec. 20.
4. Grant 61, Big Rapids 47 Grant (10-0) remained undefeated and moved into first place alone in the Central State Activities Association Red, with the rematch at Big Rapids (9-3) on Feb. 21.
5. Bad Axe 60, Millington 54 The Hatchets (9-3) handed Millington (9-1) their first loss and in doing so moved into a tie with the Cardinals for first in the Big Thumb Conference White.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
East Lansing (12-1) The Trojans added another important win last week, getting past rival Okemos 78-67 in double overtime to stay atop the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue. East Lansing also can count wins over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Warren Lincoln among their best, with the lone loss to another Division 1 contender in Muskegon. A Saturday matchup against Romulus Summit Academy North at Detroit Cass Tech is the next big test as the Trojans prep to build on last year’s Quarterfinal run, and the league title will rest on how East Lansing does in rematches with Lansing Waverly and Okemos next month.
Traverse City West (10-1) The Titans – District winners a year ago – are unbeaten this winter since falling to Grand Haven 68-62 on the road to open the season. Wins over Marquette, Midland Dow and Traverse City Central have been among the most notable, and they’ll get an important test against Wayne Memorial on Feb. 8 at Traverse City St. Francis. West also leads the Big North Conference after finishing second a year ago, thanks to a 60-46 win over reigning champion Cadillac; the rematch is Jan. 31.
DIVISION 2
Adrian (10-1) The Maples took the major step last season from solid to league contender, finishing 20-4 overall and second to Chelsea in the Southeastern Conference White. Two of those losses came to Chelsea, and Adrian already has a win over the Bulldogs this winter, 66-62 last week with the rematch Feb 4. The Maples also have handed the only league losses to second-place Tecumseh in Jackson, and downed Detroit Central 67-48 on Dec. 10, one of that team’s two defeats. Adrian’s came against 10-game winner Detroit University Prep.
Center Line (10-3) The Panthers, also 20-4 a year ago, enjoyed a highlight-filled week. First, during a 74-48 win over Eastpointe, standout Te’rez Holmes reached 1,000 career points. Two days later, Center Line edged St. Clair Shores South Lake 46-44 to move into first place alone in the Macomb Area Conference Silver. The Panthers have gotten other strong tests along the way, falling to Warren Fitzgerald, West Bloomfield and Detroit Central, and a rematch with South Lake on Feb. 6 will be one of the most important the rest of the regular season.
DIVISION 3
Grass Lake (12-0) The Warriors sit atop the Cascades Conference East, quite a jump after finishing third and winning just 11 games total last season. They have downed both of last year’s league co-champions, Michigan Center and Napoleon, and impressively Grass Lake has pulled out five wins by five points or fewer. The Warriors also own victories over both co-leaders from the Cascades Conference West, Hanover-Horton and Brooklyn Columbia Central.
Ironwood (7-2) Despite coming off a tough loss Friday at Houghton, Ironwood did down Dollar Bay 53-49 the night before to maintain the top spot in the Copper Mountain Conference after tying for fifth last season. The Red Devils also own an early 54-47 win over Ewen-Trout Creek, another CMC contender, and they play again Feb. 6. Ironwood started the season off right, downing Wakefield-Marenisco 50-48 after losing to W-M by four to end last season as District runner-up.
DIVISION 4
Adrian Lenawee Christian (9-2) The Cougars are coming off a tough 73-70 loss to Petersburg Summerfield, which sent Lenawee Christian into second place in the Tri-County Conference. But they get another shot at Summerfield on Feb. 4, and Lenawee also came back from an early league loss last season to win the title by three games. The Cougars do have a win this season over Britton Deerfield – which ended their 2023-24 in the District a year ago – and Lenawee’s only other loss this winter came to reigning Division 4 champion Wyoming Tri-unity Christian.
Onekama (9-2) The Portagers have gone from 12-12 and sixth in the Northwest Conference a year ago to approaching that win total already and one of three teams with only one loss in league play – although their face the other two over the next eight days and after falling to co-leader Maple City Glen Lake by 17 in their first meeting Dec. 13. Regardless, Onekama has handed defeats to Traverse City Christian and Pentwater – both 11-2 – and their three remaining games combined against Glen Lake and Frankfort are their only ones the rest of the regular season against teams currently with winning records.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Jackson Lumen Christi (12-0) at Riverview Gabriel Richard (10-2) – These are the only teams without a loss in the Catholic High School League AA, and this will be their only meeting of the league season.
Tuesday – Belleville (10-1) at Wayne Memorial (9-2) – This is the first of two meetings this season between the co-leaders of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East.
Wednesday – Ann Arbor Huron (9-2) at Detroit U-D Jesuit (11-1) – The Cubs lead the CHSL Central and in league play have seen some of the rest of the best in Division 1, but also will get a look at a semifinalist from last season with this nonleague matchup.
Friday – Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (10-1) at Southfield Christian (11-1) – These are the early leaders in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue, and their rematch won’t come until the league schedule finale Feb. 13.
Saturday – Warren Fitzgerald (11-1) vs. Flint Powers Catholic (11-0) at Detroit Cass Tech – This 1:30 p.m. matchup is the second game but arguably the most intriguing of a solid set at the Downtown Showdown.
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) Auburn Hills Avondale’s Qualaeb Ross (0) gets up a shot while surrounded by Detroit Martin Luther King defenders during King’s 51-41 win Dec. 30. (Middle) Flint Carman-Ainsworth’s Donovan Hamlin (1) gets to the basket during his team’s 78-61 win over Goodrich on Dec. 16. (Avondale/King photo by Team Arreguin Photos. Carman-Ainsworth/Goodrich photo by Terry Lyons.)