1,000-Point Pair Setting Tone for Watervliet's Hoops League Champions
By
Wes Morgan
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2022
Watervliet High School’s varsity boys basketball team was trailing Fennville on the road Feb. 8 when senior shooting guard Andrew Chisek reached 1,000 career points. His milestone was acknowledged during the contest, but Chisek reduced the cheering to a low-frequency buzz as he went back to work — like that of the faint mechanical hum from furnaces and lights bouncing around the walls of an empty gymnasium.
Gym rats know that sound.
The Panthers (15-3) ended up losing that night, a rarity this season for coach Dan Hoff’s re-energized program, which shared the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore title. Watervliet won just nine games combined during Chisek’s first two seasons. The Panthers won 13 games during last year’s COVID-shortened slate and have a shot at 16 this winter with one regular-season game remaining.
Like all the hours spent with a shooting machine and no one there to witness it, Chisek wasn’t concerned about individual praise.
“I’ve just been focusing on the next game, but I’m sure it will hit me after the season how crazy that is,” Chisek said. “I just want to play more and more games. I haven’t really focused on my achievements as much as team achievements. It’s kind of a next-game mentality. It’s an effort thing. I’m hoping to win a District championship.”
Hoff, who took over in 2019-20, explained how Chisek’s example set the tone for a rebuilding process at Watervliet.
“The biggest adjustment for Andrew was he began playing with players who were capable of scoring like he was,” Hoff said. “He did a wonderful job of getting them more involved in the scoring part of the game. Previous to that he didn’t have to and shouldn’t have because he was such an important scorer for the team.”
Chisek’s production this season includes 13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He’s the third 1,000-point scorer on the boys side in Watervliet history, joining the likes of Kevin Bryce (1,114 points in 2009), Dan Hutchinson (1,016 points in 1983) and Jason Forrester (1,158 points in 1992).
“To Andrew’s credit and the type of person he is, it appeared to me that he just wanted to help the team try to win the game (against Fennville),” Hoff added. “It was a brief moment of recognition, but his focus was immediately back on what we can do to be successful. The team approach of these guys has been remarkable. With all of my years of coaching I’ve had, I’ve been amazingly impressed with how these guys have buried their egos, buried their personal goals and really focused on what we can do every day to get better.
“When you’re working to start a new program like we have in my first three years, to have one of your best players be so dedicated to improving himself while having other kids join him, has been so instrumental in our progress.”
The student-athletes who do the extra work when nobody’s around are often the ones that require the least attention.
Samantha Dietz, a junior forward for the Watervliet girls squad, knew she was approaching the same feat this past Saturday after leading the team in scoring the last three seasons, needing eight points to join the exclusive club. After she knocked down a free throw in the second quarter at Paw Paw, the public address announcer made note of the accomplishment and Dietz admitted the pause in action rattled her. She missed the second free throw and was happy the moment had passed so she and the Panthers could get back to the task at hand. They closed out the game for a 54-37 win — their 18th of the year.
“It was cool that it happened,” she said. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect, I guess. It was good to get it out of the way before tournament time. Now I can just focus on that. What has helped the most is having those rough years. It was a struggle my freshman year. It helped to go through that. We all play all the sports we can, and we’ve all been together and work hard.”
Her father, Watervliet athletic director and varsity girls coach Ken Dietz, has had the best seat in the house during this journey. In an undoubtedly proud dad moment, he didn’t stray from his role of coach. The two can look back on the memory as father and daughter later.
“It was just business,” said Ken Dietz, whose team is preparing for a Division 3 District Semifinal matchup Wednesday with Cassopolis. “I fist bumped her after the game and told her ‘Congratulations,’ but we keep it separate. We just keep it that way. It has worked that way. It sounds simple. It’s fun and it’s not stressful at all. I don’t think I treat her any different than anyone else on the team. I’m one of the blessed ones.
“I’m just so proud of her work ethic. If your best player doesn’t work hard every day in practice and doesn’t work hard in the game, it’s tough to get everybody to work hard. In high school, if you work harder than everybody, you’re going to be a better-than-average player. Her work ethic is impressive, and it has created a standard for our kids. She’s a good teammate. When she’s not playing, she’s cheering for the other kids. That’s infectious to everybody else.
Dietz is averaging 17.4 points and 13.3 rebounds per game this year, and she’s the sixth girls basketball player at Watervliet to eclipse 1,000 career points. She joins Nicole Winter (1,086 points in 2013), Rachel Sheffer (1,490 points in 2009), Kim Gear (1,062 points in 2005), Lisa Ashton (1,299 points in 1997) and Kim Carney (1,057 points in 1981) on the esteemed school list of all-time scorers.
But after experiencing only five wins as a freshman in 2019-20, it is how the program has made such a stunning turnaround that is most impressive.
“It wasn’t too long ago that we couldn’t get the ball across half court,” Ken Dietz said. “We played Schoolcraft four years ago when I first took over and we could not get the ball across half court in the first half. It was just ugly. So, we have come a long way in a few years. I’ve told the girls, ‘You’ve built this place, so live in it, enjoy it and have fun. You deserve to be here.’”
Putting his AD hat back on, Ken Dietz is thrilled to see where the school is as a whole.
“We’re headed in the right direction,” Ken Dietz said of Watervliet athletics. “One, we have great kids representing our school right now. Andrew and Sam are obviously two of those. There is nobody who has shot more baskets and put more time into boys basketball than Andrew the last few years. He has set that standard. They are leaders because they work hard and do the right things.”
Wes Morgan has reported for the Kalamazoo Gazette, ESPN and ESPNChicago.com, 247Sports and Blue & Gold Illustrated over the last 12 years and is the publisher of JoeInsider.com. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Samantha Dietz and Andrew Chisek both have reached 1,000 career points for Watervliet this season. (Middle) Chisek pulls up for a jumper; he’s averaging 13.4 points per game this season. (Below) Dietz gets a shot up over a pair of Gobles defenders. (Photos courtesy of the Watervliet athletic department.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Girls District Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 3, 2025
Nearly 700 Michigan girls basketball teams will begin their quests this week to finish as one of four holding up championship trophies three weeks from now at Michigan State University.
We always switch up our “Breslin Bound” format once the MHSAA Tournament starts, as last week’s most intriguing results below are followed this time by glances at three District brackets of note in each division. Host sites are bolded, and teams playing in those brackets are listed by seed as determined by Michigan Power Ratings (MPR).
Everything you could want to know this week about tickets, brackets and more can be found on the Girls Basketball page. To watch any of several games online, visit the NFHS Network.
“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. Farmington Hills Mercy 61, Detroit Edison 58 This win over the reigning Division 2 champion Pioneers (14-6) combined with a Thursday win over Detroit University Prep sent Mercy (17-4) from No. 15 to No. 6 in final Division 1 MPR.
2. Negaunee 58, Gladstone 44 The Miners (21-0) completed a perfect regular season, and Gladstone finished 20-2 with its only losses to Negaunee.
3. Jackson Lumen Christi 59, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 53 The Titans (15-6) handed the Kestrels (21-1) their lone defeat of the regular season.
4. Belleville 70, Northville 48 Bellville (21-1) repeated as overall Kensington Lakes Activities Association champion, following up on its shared title in the East by downing West winner Northville (14-8).
5. Freeland 51, Midland 49 (OT) The co-champion of the Tri-Valley Conference Red, Freeland (19-3) earned another boost into the postseason by downing Saginaw Valley League winner Midland (18-3).
Districts at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold, and teams are listed by seed:
DIVISION 1
Hartland
1. Howell (16-6), 2. Hartland (17-5), 3. Brighton (12-10), 4. Milford (13-9), 5. Fenton (12-10).
It wouldn’t be a stretch to see any of these teams shake up the bracket. Howell finished second in the KLAA West and Hartland third, and Brighton fifth, and Hartland actually moved past Howell in MPR after seeding with wins last week over White Lake Lakeland and Livonia Stevenson. Howell did sweep Hartland during the regular season; Hartland split with Brighton, and Howell swept Brighton. Milford finished fifth in the Lakes Valley Conference but defeated Midland Dow early, LVC co-champion Lakeland in their second meeting and lost a pair to the other co-champ South Lyon by a combined seven points. Fenton finished third in the Flint Metro League Stripes.
Midland Dow
1. Midland (18-3), 2. Midland Dow (14-8), 3. Mount Pleasant (15-6), 4. Cadillac (15-6), 5. Bay City Western (11-11).
SVL champion Midland tops a bracket that also includes league rivals Mount Pleasant (tied for third), Dow (tied for fifth) and Western (tied for seventh) – and the Chemics defeated possible Friday opponents Dow by three and 15 and the Oilers by eight during the regular season. Cadillac was the runner-up in the Big North Conference and had won nine straight – including a 43-40 victory last week over Mount Pleasant – before falling to Bay City Western 37-26 on Thursday. Those two open against each other tonight.
West Bloomfield
1. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (17-4), 2. West Bloomfield (14-8), 3. White Lake Lakeland (16-6), 4. Walled Lake Northern (14-8), 5. Walled Lake Central (1-21).
Reigning Division 1 champion West Bloomfield fell off the radar a bit early with a 1-4 start, but is 11-3 over the last seven weeks and finished second in the Oakland Activities Association Red – and defeated champion Clarkston 44-43 last week to avenge an earlier 48-41 loss. All of the Lakers’ losses came against opponents that have won at least 14 games. St. Mary’s shared the Catholic High School League Central West title with Mercy, and its four losses were to opponents that have all won at least 16 games. Lakeland was co-champion in the LVC and Northern finished fourth, and Lakeland’s losses also came against a tough slate as well, as all of those opponents were at least 12-game winners.
DIVISION 2
Chelsea
1. Chelsea (16-4), 2. Parma Western (20-2), 3. Michigan Center (19-2), 4. Brooklyn Columbia Central (11-10), 5. Pinckney (14-8).
Western and Columbia Central are league champions, Chelsea and Michigan Center league runners-up, and Pinckney third from a strong Southeastern Conference White that included Chelsea and one of the overall Division 2 favorites in Tecumseh. Western actually moved past Chelsea in MPR after seeding, with its only losses to league champions Belleville and Grass Lake and a win over another title winner Haslett last week plus Edison on Jan. 23. Chelsea’s losses were to Edison on Thursday, Tecumseh twice and another overall favorite in Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard. Michigan Center’s only defeats were twice to Grass Lake.
Escanaba or Higher Seed (non-traditional)
1. Negaunee (21-0), 2. Gladstone (20-2), 3. Houghton (13-9), 4. Escanaba (9-12), 5. Kingsford (10-11).
The Miners reached the Division 2 Semifinals last season and have won District titles the last three seasons. And as noted above, Negaunee defeated Gladstone last week for the second time, and both of Gladstone’s losses were to Negaunee. There’s a strong argument they are the best teams in the Upper Peninsula this season, and they could meet for a third time Friday. But don’t forget Houghton, which had a bumpy February but started this season 12-3 and lost to Gladstone only 39-36 on Dec. 19. Those two will meet again in a District Semifinal.
Fremont
1. Big Rapids (19-2), 2. Fremont (20-2), 3. Newaygo (18-4), 4. Ludington (16-5), 5. Reed City (9-12).
This bracket includes two teams that have reached Breslin over the last four years – 2021 Division 2 runner-up Newaygo and 2022 semifinalist Ludington among an overall strong group. Big Rapids was the undefeated champion in the Central State Activities Association Red, with pairs of double-digit wins over second-place Newaygo and third-place Reed City. Fremont was first and Ludington second in the West Michigan Conference Lakes, with Fremont taking both of their matchups also by double digits. The Packers have won 12 straight games to reach 20 for the second-straight season, while Big Rapids can reach 20 victories for the second time in three seasons with a win Wednesday.
DIVISION 3
Blissfield
1. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (21-1), 2. Blissfield (19-2), 3. Ottawa Lake Whiteford (14-8), 4. Erie Mason (7-15), 5. Sand Creek (3-19).
St. Mary’s only loss, discussed above, came last week to Lumen Christi, and the Kestrels finished first in a Huron league that included five teams (of eight) with winning records overall. Among early victories was a 28-pointer over Ottawa Lake Whiteford, which tied for second in the Tri-County Conference. Those two could meet again, but only if Whiteford gets through Blissfield, which won the Lenawee County Athletic Association title with losses only to TCC champ Morenci on Thursday and Tecumseh on Dec. 18. Blissfield has defeated SMCC in District play the last three seasons, including in District Finals the last two.
Galesburg-Augusta
1. Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (19-3), 2. Kalamazoo Christian (18-4), 3. Lawton (15-5), 4. Galesburg-Augusta (14-7), 5. Comstock (1-20).
Hackett and Christian played to one of the most intriguing splits this season, Christian winning the first game 52-35, Hackett the rematch 56-55, but Christian winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley title by two games ahead of the Irish. Hackett’s loss to Parchment on Feb. 21 was its only defeat since Dec. 13, and Christian sharpened for the postseason with losses to Edison, Saugatuck and Paw Paw as well and a nice win last week over Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver champ Grandville Calvin Christian. Lawton finished third in the Valley, but its only non-Hackett/Christian defeat came to reigning Division 3 champion Niles Brandywine. Galesburg-Augusta was the runner-up in the SAC Central and will play on its homecourt.
Grass Lake
1. Grass Lake (18-3), 2. Jackson Lumen Christi (15-6), 3. Hanover-Horton (12-9), 4. East Jackson (14-8), 5. Napoleon (8-14).
Lumen’s win last week over Monroe St. Mary made a bracket full of surging teams even more interesting. Cascades Conference East champion Grass Lake has won 15 straight games since it’s most recent loss – Jan. 4 to Lumen Christi, 66-56. The Warriors rebounded with wins over Michigan Center and Detroit Renaissance and have rolled since. The Titans are riding an impressive five-game stretch that included a win as well over Columbia Central and with that loss to Tecumseh. Hanover-Horton was second in the Cascades West and has seven wins over its last nine games, and East Jackson – 5-17 just a season ago – has won six of its last seven with only a loss to Grass Lake during that string.
DIVISION 4
Dryden
1. Clarkston Everest Collegiate (17-2), 2. Genesee Christian (19-2), 3. Dryden (12-10), 4. Burton St. Thomas More Academy (9-9).
Everest won the CHSL Intersectional 1 and St. Anne’s Tournament championships, with its only losses to Division 2 Warren Regina and Wixom St. Catherine. But Genesee will provide a high-powered challenge, as the Soldiers are capable of putting up big numbers and have lost only to Division 2 Flint Hamady and Adrian Lenawee Christian. Dryden emerges from the Big Thumb Conference Blue, where it finished third and didn’t lose a game all season to an opponent that finished with fewer than 12 wins, taking on Sandusky and Brown City over the last two weeks.
Frankfort
1. Frankfort (14-6), 2. Leland (16-5), 3. Lake Leelanau St. Mary (14-6), 4. Grand Traverse Academy (14-7), 5. Suttons Bay (2-19), 6. Traverse City Christian (4-13).
Frankfort enters the postseason with two losses over its last three games, but got one that counted big-time as last week’s 18-11 win over Leland solidified an outright championship in the Northwest Conference. Frankfort also won their first meeting 33-26 on Jan. 29, but the Comets emerged from a tough run over the last three weeks to still finish third in the league. Lake Leelanau St. Mary could break up a potential third meeting between those two, having defeated Leland 31-26 on Jan. 14 and tested itself in losses to 20-game winners Evart and St. Ignace over the last two weeks. Grand Traverse has bounced back from a rough February stretch with three straight wins.
L’Anse or Higher Seed (non-traditional)
1. L’Anse (17-5), 2. Baraga (16-6), 3. Hancock (14-8), 4. Lake Linden-Hubbell (16-6), 5. Dollar Bay (8-14), 6. Chassell (4-18).
The second, third and fourth-place teams from the Copper Mountain Conference will contend in this bracket, and Hancock was the runner-up in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference West. L’Anse finished fourth in the CMC but has the top seed and a recent 14-point win over Hancock but also lost to Lake Linden-Hubbell last week 54-50. LL-H has jumped past CMC runner-up Baraga and Hancock in MPR since seeding but took an 11-point loss to Hancock on Feb. 13 to go with a split with Baraga and a sweep of L’Anse. Baraga was the Division 4 runner-up just two seasons ago and fell to eventual champion Ishpeming during last year’s District. The Vikings have won 10 of their last 12 games, with the pair of losses during that run by a combined six points.
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PHOTOS (Top) West Bloomfield defenders close in on Tecumseh’s Lauren Kilbarger (12) during her team’s win over the Lakers in December. (Middle) Houghton's Eva Gerard gets a hand up as Ishpeming Peyton Kakkuri take a shot during the Hematites’ 61-49 win Thursday. (West Bloomfield/Tecumseh photo by Team Arreguin Photos. Houghton/Ishpeming photo by Cara Kamps.