Esler Pilots DeLaSalle Back to Final Week
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
March 19, 2018
WARREN – There isn’t much that Greg Esler hasn’t seen or experienced as a coach and as a father.
Through it all he’s learned to take nothing for granted, in life and as a coach.
Esler, 63, coached St. Clair Shores Lake Shore to its first and only MHSAA boys basketball title in 1994, in Class B. That team was led by Travis Conlan, who finished second in the voting for Mr. Basketball that season. Conlan would go on to play at University of Michigan, one of a number of Esler-coached players who went on to the college – and for some – professional ranks.
Esler is in his 31st season as a head coach, with the last 24 at Warren DeLaSalle. Twenty-one times the Pilots have won a District title with Esler on the bench. In 2007, DeLaSalle reached a Class A Semifinal for just the second time in school history, as it lost to Manny Harris and Detroit Redford 56-50. (Note: In addition to two Class A Semifinal appearances, DeLaSalle also reached a Class B Final in 1982).
Consistency has been a hallmark of Esler’s programs, and even after all these years a fire burns in his stomach. He’s retained a burning desire to compete and to win. As the years have piled up, Esler has become more appreciative of the success his program has achieved and the experiences gained.
So when DeLaSalle defeated Macomb Dakota, 56-51, in a Regional Final last Wednesday, there was reason to celebrate. As good as DeLaSalle has been recently, it hadn’t won a Regional title since 2010. The Pilots have been to the Detroit Catholic League final each of the last three seasons and have won five District titles since 2010 including the last three. But the end of last season stung more than most. DeLaSalle reached a Regional Final and then lost to Troy, 48-40, in an ugly game where the Pilots shot less than 30 percent from the field.
Most of that team is back as the Pilots head into the final week of this season. Esler has nine seniors including two of the top players in the league in point guard Justin Fischer and guard-forward Luke Pfromm, the starting quarterback on the Division 2 championship football team.
Esler started coaching at Warren St. Anne grade school in 1983, then went to DeLaSalle for three seasons beginning in 1985 under then-coach Gary Buslepp. Esler got his shot as a head coach in 1987 at Lake Shore and quickly made that program relevant. Lake Shore reached the Class B Semifinals in 1993 before losing to coach Norwaine Reed and Saginaw Buena Vista.
Esler took over the DeLaSalle program at the start of the 1994-95 season. His career record stands at 530-216 heading into tonight’s Class A Quarterfinal against Detroit U-D Jesuit.
“We instilled a system here,” he said. “The first thing is to have your players in condition. Second is defense. I’ve always stressed defense. And third, and maybe this should be first, is talent. We’ve always had really good players here. And the players we’ve had want to get better.”
What often goes unnoticed in a basketball program is the work of the assistant coaches. Esler has been blessed with loyal and knowledgeable assistants. His top assistant is Tom Mehl, who played for Esler for two seasons at Lake Shore. Mehl was on staff for Esler’s last four seasons at Lake Shore and has been with Esler every step of the way at DeLaSalle.
Jeff Becker is in his 13th season as an assistant, and another, Dave Grauzer, recently left the program and now is an assistant at Traverse City West.
“Surrounding yourself with good people is at the top of the list,” Esler said. “One thing about Tom, there’s no one I’ve seen who can go to a game to scout and pick up something no one else would see. Like a player who takes two dribbles before driving to his right or left. For Becker, it’s organization. He works well with the kids, and he’s got the post players. Mehl has the guards.
“Over the years I’ve listened. Listened to other coaches. I don’t have all the answers. I talk to Steve Hall at (Detroit) Cass Tech all the time. He’s been a great friend over the years.”
This team has a closeness not always seen. The fact that there are nine seniors is one reason. Esler points out that he’s been with this group for more than 100 days this season, and when you’re around a group that long tempers can flare – so it’s important to keep the present in perspective and realize they all want to reach the same goal.
“We do a lot of things outside of basketball,” Esler said. “Last week four of my captains read to the students at (St. Clair Shores) St. Germaine grade school. My wife, Renee, is a fourth and fifth grade teacher there, and it’s way for the players to interact with the younger students.
“I read an article recently on (Michigan) coach (John) Beilein and how the game has changed. The kids have changed. We watch game film but not like we used to. Their attention span isn’t like it used to be. The technology now, with Facebook and texting, it’s unbelievable. We might watch film for 20 minutes where we used to watch for hours.
“My players will tell you, I love the practices much more than they do. Games are like taking a test. If you didn’t win, maybe you failed at some area that cost you. They love each other and they do a good job of listening. All five starters have scored 20 points or more in a game this season. And they don’t get rattled. We were down four to Dakota with four minutes to go and Pfromm came to me in the huddle and said, ‘Don’t worry coach. We got this.’ I can see why they won a state title in football.”
Fischer has matured significantly as a leader and force offensively. A three-year starter, he has signed with Lake Superior State.
Fischer came into the program as a skinny 5-foot-10 freshman. By the time he was a junior, he had grown five inches. Now he’s 6-4 and weighs 185 pounds.
“I was a pass-first guard as a sophomore,” he said. “I’ve worked on my shooting, just working on my total game.
“We were pumped up for that Dakota game. We got the crowd going crazy. We were down and Luke hit a couple of 3s. I had a dunk and hit four free throws late.”
DeLaSalle (18-7) will play Catholic League Central rival Detroit U-D Jesuit (22-3) next. The Class A Quarterfinal will be played Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Calihan Hall, the site of the Catholic League final. Jesuit won that game, 71-64. In fact, Fischer has lost nine consecutive games to U-D as a varsity player.
He shouldn’t feel alone. DeLaSalle hasn’t defeated U-D since 2014 when the teams tied for the Catholic League Central regular-season title – a streak of 14 straight defeats to the Cubs. U-D won this season’s meetings 64-45, 59-57 and 64-55.
Esler keeps U-D recent domination of his program on the light side.
“I’ve said I’d have to coach until 2031 to get to .500 against them,” he said.
Tom Markowski is a columnist and directs website coverage for the State Champs! Sports Network. He previously covered primarily high school sports for the The Detroit News from 1984-2014, focusing on the Detroit area and contributing to statewide coverage of football and basketball. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Warren DeLaSalle coach Greg Esler talks things over during his team’s Regional Final win against Macomb Dakota. (Middle) Justin Fischer launches a free throw during the 56-51 victory.
Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Boys Regional Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 3, 2026
Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian Academy won its first District championship in boys basketball last week. Fruitport won its first since 1938.
Yale defeated Croswell-Lexington and Marshall defeated Battle Creek Pennfield in District Final matchups of teams that shared league titles. Ann Arbor Pioneer, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Colon and Detroit Cass Tech all finished second in their leagues this season but won their Districts as well, defeating their respective league champions to advance to this week’s Regionals.
Districts offer every team new life and second chances – and after a week full of those, 128 hopefuls are only three more wins from booking a trip to Michigan State.
Find everything you need to know this week about tickets, brackets and more as the tournament continues on the Boys Basketball page. To watch any of several games online, visit the NFHS Network, and see below for several of the intriguing matchups. Host sites are in bold.
“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. Detroit Cass Tech 66, Detroit Martin Luther King 23 The Technicians (18-6) avenged a pair of regular-season losses to rival King (18-6) in a big way in this Division 1 District final after previously falling by seven points Jan. 21 and then 68-63 in the Detroit Public School League Tournament championship game on Feb. 15.
2. Rockford 83, Muskegon 70 The Rams (20-3) won this Division 1 District Final matchup for the second-straight season, ending Ottawa-Kent Conference Green champion Muskegon’s run at 20-3.
3. Hudsonville Unity Christian 60, Grand Rapids South Christian 39 This Division 2 District Final pitted the champs from the O-K Black and Gold, with Unity (21-3) adding to its 17-point win over the Sailors (20-4) from Dec. 12.
4. Colon 54, Mendon 47 The Magi (20-4) had finished second to Mendon in the Southern Central Athletic Association West after losing in overtime both times they faced the Hornets (22-2) during the regular season, but got past them in regulation in this Division 4 District Final.
5. Grand Rapids Catholic Central 44, Grand Rapids Christian 41 The Cougars (18-6) had fallen to Grand Rapids Christian (17-6) by nine points just 10 days earlier to lose the O-K White title to the Eagles, but rebounded to win a Division 2 District title for the third-straight season.
Regionals at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold:
DIVISION 1
Caledonia
Grand Rapids Northview (20-4) vs. Grandville (14-10)
Holland West Ottawa (13-11) vs. East Kentwood (21-2)
Grandville and West Ottawa deserve nods for reaching this week, the Bulldogs for avenging two regular-season losses to Hudsonville with a 49-37 District Final win and the Panthers as they added to a nice streak of four wins in five games by joining Grandville, East Kentwood and Rockford as one of four District champs from the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red. But the most anticipated matchup this week would see O-K Gold co-champion Northview take on the Falcons, who won that O-K Red that also will see all six teams finish with winning records this season.
Detroit Renaissance
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (19-5) vs. Detroit Cass Tech (18-6)
Farmington (12-12) vs. Warren Fitzgerald (18-6)
Brother Rice and Cass Tech have been in the statewide favorites conversation most of this decade, and although neither won its league this season it wouldn’t be shocking to see either playing at Breslin with an opportunity to win it all in two weeks. Only three of Rice’s losses were to in-state opponents – East Lansing (23-1), Rockford (20-3) and Detroit Catholic Central (17-6) – and Cass Tech’s six defeats came by a combined 21 points. Farmington has emerged after finishing fifth in the Oakland Activities Association Red and defeated Redford Thurston (20-3) to advance, and Fitzgerald has won 12 of its last 15 and claimed the Macomb Area Conference White title.
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
Jackson (18-6) vs. Kalamazoo Central (20-2)
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (16-7) vs. East Lansing (23-1)
Reigning Division 1 champion East Lansing has been stopped only once this season, by Grand Rapids Northview on Feb. 7. The Trojans also defeated Loy Norrix 78-50 two weeks ago, and last year downed Kalamazoo Central by 35 points in the Regional Final. The Maroon Giants are among the state’s elite again this season and perhaps even a step up from a year ago, with losses to only Detroit Martin Luther King (18-6) and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (19-5). The focus is on those two, but Jackson has won 11 of its last 12 games, and Loy Norrix has its most wins since 2011-12.
DIVISION 2
Fowlerville
Chelsea (18-5) vs. Marshall (19-4)
Lansing Sexton (22-2) vs. Michigan Center (20-3)
All of these teams are league champions, Sexton in the Capital Area Activities Conference White, Michigan Center in the Cascades Conference East, Chelsea sharing with two others in the Southeastern Conference White and Marshall as co-champion in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference. Marshall downed the other I8AC co-champ Battle Creek Pennfield to advance and also defeated Michigan Center 64-50 on Dec. 13. Sexton defeated Chelsea by two points last season in their Regional Final and has been even better this winter with its only losses to Division 1 East Lansing and Lansing Waverly. Michigan Center bounced back from two losses to end the regular season, and Chelsea has three defeats by one or two points and shared the SEC White title with Division 1 teams Ypsilanti Lincoln and Jackson.
Manistique
Kingsford (16-6) vs. Cheboygan (18-6)
Ludington (22-2) vs. Gladwin (23-1)
Gladwin won the Jack Pine Conference overall championship and is riding a 23-game winning streak since falling to Sanford Meridian (17-7) in its season opener. The Flying Gs take on another league champion in Ludington, which won the West Michigan Conference Lakes and has lost to only Division 1 Traverse City West (16-5) and North Muskegon (22-2). Those two will play one of the most intriguing Regional Semifinals in any division, but Kingsford or Cheboygan also will be formidable Thursday. The Flivvers made the Division 2 Semifinals a year ago, defeating Ludington by 40 in the Regional Final along the way. Cheboygan has doubled its win total this season from two years ago and got through close games with Grayling and Ogemaw Heights last week to advance.
Owosso
Flint Hamady (16-6) vs. Frankenmuth (23-1)
Freeland (21-3) vs. Portland (18-5)
This group is a complete repeat of last year’s Regional that saw Freeland advance to the Quarterfinals by defeating Portland. Heading into this year’s bracket, Frankenmuth finished first and Freeland second in the Tri-Valley Conference Red, and Freeland handed the Eagles their only loss, 54-48 on Feb. 13, after Frankenmuth had won their first meeting 47-43. Hamady won the Genesee Area Conference Blue and advanced to this week with a 17-point win over Flint Powers Catholic (16-7). Portland finished second in the CAAC White behind Lansing Sexton (22-2) and has won nine of its last 10 games.
DIVISION 3
Cass City
Reese (15-10) vs. International Academy of Flint (18-4)
Sandusky (16-7) vs. Harbor Beach (21-3)
Harbor Beach has totaled at least 20 wins the last three seasons and reached the Regional Final a year ago, but must defeat a familiar opponent for a third time to take that step again. The Pirates won the Big Thumb Conference Black and Sandusky finished third – and Sandusky also had a win over Reese just two weeks ago. The Rockets emerged by upsetting Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (19-5) in their District Final and now must take on another league champion in IAF, which won the Genesee Area Conference Red. The Phoenix bounced back from a pair of losses to end the regular season to earn their second District title over the last three years, and all of IAF’s defeats came to opponents with at least 18 wins.
Clinton
Ottawa Lake Whiteford (21-3) vs. Onsted (22-2)
Jonesville (18-6) vs. Ecorse (18-5)
Whiteford/Onsted should be another Regional Semifinal with notable statewide interest as both are league champions – in the Tri-County Conference and Lenawee County Athletic Association, respectively – with only a handful of losses between them. Whiteford actually shared the TCC title but has won 11 straight games and lost only twice to in-state opponents. Both Onsted defeats came to Division 2 teams. Ecorse also is a league champion, in the Charter School Conference Silver, and only three years removed from a run to the Division 3 Semifinals. Jonesville was the runner-up in the Cascades Conference West and reached this week with two five-point wins in its District including a triple-overtime victory over Hudson.
Kingsford
Ishpeming Westwood (23-1) vs. Menominee (20-4)
East Jordan (22-2) vs. Elk Rapids (20-3)
This is another field of four league champs, starting with Western Peninsula Athletic Conference winner Westwood, which made the Division 3 Semifinals a year ago and defeated Great Northern Conference champ Menominee 55-52 on Feb. 6. That was one of three Maroons defeats against teams still playing this week, and Menominee is only two years removed from winning a Regional title. East Jordan won the Ski Valley Conference and defeated Mancelona (21-3) for the third time this season to win their District Final. Elk Rapids won the Northern Shores Conference and has lost to only Division 1 and 2 opponents. The Elks got past Northwest Conference champion Maple City Glen Lake by three points last week to advance.
DIVISION 4
Detroit Douglass
Detroit Douglass (17-7) vs. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (21-3)
Whitmore Lake (17-7) vs. Southfield Christian (19-5)
Inter-City Baptist defeated Douglass in a Regional Semifinal a year ago during its run to Breslin and has lost to only Division 1 and 2 teams this season that all have won at least 17 games. The host Hurricanes also have lost to only Division 1 and 2 teams, all with at least 14 wins – and Douglass nearly made the PSL championship game before falling to Cass Tech in overtime of their semifinal. Inter-City Baptist won the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue and has two victories over both Whitmore Lake and Southfield Christian, which split their regular-season series with Whitmore Lake winning the first game and the Eagles taking the rematch.
Hillman
Rudyard (14-10) vs. Pickford (23-0)
Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian (16-7) vs. Hillman (21-2)
As noted above, Northern Michigan Christian is coming off its first District championship in this sport. The Eagles also have a win over Rudyard this season and a 23-pointer over Posen – which shared the North Star League Little Dipper championship with Hillman. That adds another level of intrigue to this bracket as Hillman and Posen split and Hillman lost their second meeting – although the Tigers already avenged their other loss, to Rogers City, twice including last week. Pickford has 27 and 29-point wins over Rudyard this season and is pursuing a second-straight Regional title after missing a trip to Breslin last season with a two-point Quarterfinal loss. Rudyard has won 10 of its last 13 games and in its District Final avenged a 20-point loss to Brimley from 10 days earlier with a two-point win.
Merrill
Fowler (22-2) vs. Baldwin (20-4)
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (22-1) vs. Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (16-7)
This power-packed Regional starts with Tri-unity, the reigning Division 4 champion with its only loss this season to Division 2 Fruitport (21-3) on Dec. 20. The Defenders must first take on a Nouvel team that finished second in the TVC Blue and has won eight of its last nine games including 55-50 over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (18-5) in their District Final. And whichever team comes out of Fowler/Baldwin will provide a major challenge as well. The Eagles also ran into Tri-unity last year – in the Division 4 championship game, won by the Defenders 49-32 – and Fowler’s only losses this winter were to Division 3 Pewamo-Westphalia (22-2). Baldwin will do its best to prevent that rematch and is plenty capable after avenging an earlier defeat to clinch the outright West Michigan D League title while riding a run of nine wins over its last 10 games.
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PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Cass Tech’s Amari Wash (11) makes a move toward the lane during his team’s Division 1 District Final win over Detroit Martin Luther King on Friday. (Middle) Marquette's Ford Richardson gets up a shot while surrounded by Traverse City West's Ashton Royle (15), Jacob Banish (1), Blake LaFaive (5), and Carter Grubb (3) during the Sentinels’ 69-52 Division 1 District Final win. (Below) Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Ortonville Brandon face off in a Division 2 District opener. (Cass Tech/King photo by Olivia B. Photography. Marquette/TC West photo by Cara Kamps. Notre Dame Prep/Ortonville Brandon photo by Terry Lyons.)