Senior Standout Squires Knows Role, Relishes it as Petoskey Seeks to Rise
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
February 17, 2023
A year can make a big difference.
But a year of hard work can make a much bigger difference.
It certainly did for Petoskey senior Michael Squires.
“Petoskey boys basketball will ‘go down swinging’ with the Michael Squires of this world,” said second-year Northmen coach Matt Tamm. “Michael is a great teammate and even better person.
“Michael is a great young person that I have had the honor of coaching for three years.”
The first year Squires played for Tamm was as a sophomore on the junior varsity team. The second, Squire’s junior season, began to make Squires think about not returning for his senior year. He opted instead for a year of hard work before coming back to the court.
Northmen fans are glad he did. Squires is the team’s leading rebounder and strongest defender.
“After my junior year, I debated coming to play my senior year after my limited play time, but I am glad that I did,” Squires said. “The work that I put in my junior year paired with an increase in size and strength allowed me to earn a role on the team and contribute to the success we have had.”
Squires, who sports a 3.98 GPA while taking honors and advanced placement courses, is finding tremendous success on the court after a stellar fall soccer season filled with postseason honors. He’s also looking to wrap up his senior year helping his golf team reach the Finals this spring.
The Northmen are 12-5 overall and 5-3 in Big North Conference play heading into tonight’s home contest with Cadillac, the conference leader. Petoskey lost to Cadillac in the first meeting, 68-65 in overtime, as Jaden Montague hit a 3-pointer well outside of the arc with just four ticks remaining. The Northmen’s last shot in regulation was blocked by Cadillac.
A win tonight and another over second-place Traverse City Central next week could wreak havoc on the title race. Petoskey lost to Central 72-59 earlier this season, and its other conference loss was in double overtime at Traverse City West.
“Our focus is on playing good basketball,” Tamm said. “If we play good basketball, winning and losing will take care of itself.
“Cadillac is a quality opponent, and we look forward to the challenge.”
The Northmen are also looking forward to postseason play after winning their District last year. Four Big North Conference opponents, along with Marquette and Sault St. Marie, are the initial competition.
A postseason run could be in the cards again, Squires believes.
“This year I believe that the District is open for us to win, but once we reach the Regional round we will likely play teams such as Grand Blanc who are very good,” Squires said. “If we play to the quality of basketball that we have shown earlier in the season, and I know we are capable of, winning the region is something that I think we can accomplish.”
Squires’ senior-season success wasn’t exactly anticipated — due to his first three seasons at Petoskey. His freshman year featured his offensive side. His sophomore season saw most all of his playing time recorded as a substitute.
Limited playing time on the varsity as a junior led to thoughts of no more basketball. But all that changed.
Tamm has always focused on individual roles. He and Squires believe they found the right one for the 6-foot-2 standout.
“The biggest difference between this year and last year for me, I believe, was my mentality toward basketball and how I would contribute to the team,” Squires said. “As many people do, I would love to score a lot of points – but this year the realization that that’s not my role was key in my development.
“That realization allowed me to put forth all my effort into what I’m best at – defense and rebounding,” he continued. “This year I took my role of shutdown defender and rebounder more to heart and committed myself to doing what I am good at and what our team needs me to do for us to be successful.”
Tamm said Squires plays the exact role the Northmen need.
“Michael understands and accepts his role on the team,” Tamm said. “He is not our strongest offensive player — he understands that.
“But he plays excellent defense, rebounds, sets screens, slashes at the basket and dives after loose balls,” Tamm continued. “Michael does not take the ill-advised shot. … He seldom — if ever — misses a defensive assignment or box out and generally takes care of the ball and makes the right pass.”
Tamm also points to Squires’ work ethic and positive attitude as keys to his success. Squires worked closely with Mike Zenk, the Petoskey boys basketball strength and conditioning coach, and made gains.
“Michael grew, and he filled out,” Tamm said. “He shows up every day – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually – and he always remained positive.”
Squires, who prides himself on playing outstanding defense and attacking the offensive boards, finds tremendous joy in shutting down the opposing team as Tamm normally assigns him the other team’s best player to defend.
“Some people find the most enjoyment in scoring points but I equally enjoy stopping someone from scoring and throwing someone off their game,” Squires said.
When basketball ends next month, Squires will turn his thoughts to his last career sports goal, and likely move on to study mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan. He’s also been accepted at Michigan State and Purdue.
“Before I graduate I would like to make it to the state tournament in golf as we missed out on it last year,” Squires said. “This year we have a pretty good team, and I feel we have a good shot at making it.”
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Petoskey’s Michael Squires rises above a pair of Traverse City Central defenders for a shot. (Middle) Squires elevates again, this time on the soccer pitch against Traverse City West. (Below) Squires officiates during a Petoskey youth tournament earlier this month. (Photos by Billy McNamara.)
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.)