Breslin Bound: 2022-23 Girls District Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 27, 2023
The three-week journey to East Lansing everyone hopes to travel starts tonight with 169 District openers all over the state.
“Breslin Bound’ switches up a bit as we drive toward next month’s championship events at Breslin Center. See below for some of the results from the last week of the regular season that made the biggest impressions, and then check out three Districts in each division that could be the most interesting from this first round of the MHSAA Tournament.
Everything else you could want to know 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 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. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 53, Detroit Renaissance 52 (OT) The Operation Friendship game featuring the Detroit Catholic League and Public School League tournament champions saw the Irish (19-3) continue a 10-game winning streak by handing Renaissance (18-1) its only defeat.
2. Salem 74, Wayne Memorial 71 (OT) Salem (16-6) was 2-15 just two seasons ago, but added the overall Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship to its quick ascension with this win over the Zebras (17-5).
3. Lansing Catholic 65, Ypsilanti Arbor Prep 38 The Cougars (17-5) have won 15 of their last 16, highlighted by this one over the reigning Division 3 champion Gators (15-6).
4. Sault Ste. Marie 44, Escanaba 38 The Blue Devils (17-2) have a strong case as best in the Upper Peninsula this season after avenging a December loss to the Eskymos (18-2).
5. DeWitt 48, Holt 43 The Panthers (20-2) were perfect in February after losing to the Rams (18-4) to end January; this win in the rematch set DeWitt up to clinch a shared Capital Area Activities Conference Blue title with Holt in its regular-season finale.
Districts at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold:
DIVISION 1
Marquette (non-traditional)
1. Traverse City Central (16-6), 2. Sault Ste. Marie (17-2), Petoskey (14-8), Marquette (9-12), Alpena (8-14), Gaylord (13-9), Traverse City West (5-16).
As noted above, Sault Ste. Marie is arguably the best from the Upper Peninsula and moved to the top of this District in MPR by the end of the regular season. But when Districts were drawn two weeks ago, Traverse City Central had earned the top seed. These two met Feb. 7, with the Blue Devils winning 49-37. But Sault Ste. Marie can’t look ahead to a rematch with Petoskey the possible opponent Wednesday. The Northmen swept TC Central to win the Big North Conference, clinching the title outright with a 58-47 victory last week.
North Farmington
1. Farmington Hills Mercy (19-3), 2. North Farmington (22-0), Southfield Arts & Technology (4-14), Farmington (11-9), Detroit Henry Ford (4-13).
The most anticipated matchup, of course, is a possible District Final between Mercy and the host Raiders. Only four of North Farmington’s wins were by single digits, while Mercy’s only losses were to Father Gabriel Richard (see above) and Division 2 favorite Detroit Edison. North Farmington does open with a rematch against Southfield A&T, which it defeated 53-42 in its regular-season opener. Also of note, Farmington has won five of its last seven and finished second in the OAA Blue.
Wyoming
1. Byron Center (19-3), 2. East Kentwood (14-7), East Grand Rapids (14-8), Caledonia (6-16), Wyoming (12-10), Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (5-16), Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (5-17).
Byron Center is carrying a 17-game winning streak and Ottawa-Kent Conference White title into this week and a possible rematch with East Kentwood, which handed the Bulldogs a 43-40 loss to start this season. The Falcons had a tough closing week of the regular season with losses to Holland West Ottawa and Hudsonville, but it’s relative as those teams both are 16-6. East Grand Rapids started 8-1 this season and could be an interesting opponent potentially seeing Byron Center for a third time Wednesday – if the Pioneers get past Wyoming in an opener.
DIVISION 2
Eaton Rapids
1. Haslett (21-1), 2. Lansing Catholic (17-5), Williamston (13-8), Eaton Rapids (6-16), Charlotte (4-18), Lansing Eastern (5-17).
The Vikings’ work has included wins over Jackson Northwest and DeWitt – both 20-2 – and the lone loss to another Division 1 contender, Rockford (21-1). Haslet also defeated Lansing Catholic 59-49 on Feb. 7 – but as noted above, the Cougars are coming off a week that included a win over Arbor Prep, and they own more impressive victories over Father Gabriel Richard, Frankenmuth (19-2) and Lowell (16-6) among others. Lansing Catholic could see Williamston on Wednesday; their regular-season matchup was canceled, but the Hornets finished runners-up to Haslett in the CAAC Red.
Flint Powers Catholic
1. Lake Fenton (22-0), 2. Goodrich (19-3), Flint Powers Catholic (15-7), Linden (14-7).
Lake Fenton and Goodrich met for the third time Friday in the Flint Metro League championship game, and Lake Fenton finished a regular-season sweep with a 41-38 victory. The Blue Devils also own a pair of wins over Linden, which will face Goodrich on Wednesday after the Martians took their regular-season meeting 43-27. Powers, fourth place out of the Division 1-loaded Saginaw Valley League, is something of a wild card because of the strong competition it’s faced. Few teams have as many good losses, and a win over Bay City Western (15-7) was among highlights.
Pinckney
1. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (19-3), 2. Wixom St. Catherine (21-1), Chelsea (21-1), Pinckney (7-13), Canton Prep (14-6), Fowlerville (4-18).
FGR’s winning streak has included two wins over Mercy, the Renaissance victory and a pair over Dearborn Divine Child (15-6) as well. The team’s losses were to Mercy (twice avenged), Lansing Catholic and Arbor Prep. St. Catherine’s only defeat came to Detroit Country Day during the first week of December, and the Stars went on to win league and league tournament titles as well – and 14 games total over teams with double-digit victories. Chelsea’s only loss this season came to a team from Ohio, Laurel, and it has 11 wins over teams with double-digit victories including Arbor Prep. Chelsea also has two over Tecumseh (18-4), which it outpaced to win the Southeastern Conference White. The Bulldogs open against another league champion, Canton Prep from the Detroit Metro Athletic Conference.
DIVISION 3
Coloma
1. Buchanan (19-1), 2. Niles Brandywine (20-2), Cassopolis (16-6), Bridgman (16-4), Coloma (2-7).
The Bucks are considered a statewide Division 3 contender with arguably the top player in Miss Basketball Award finalist Faith Carson. But things will be tough right away as they await a District-opening result from Bridgman and Cassopolis – the latter the champion from the Southwest 10 Conference South. On the other side of the bracket is Brandywine, which finished second to Buchanan in the Lakeland Conference with its only losses this season to the Bucks – 49-45 in overtime Dec. 15 and 52-41 on Feb. 2. Brandywine also has a 64-39 win over Cassopolis. Buchanan’s only loss was to still-undefeated Vicksburg (22-0) in the season opener, and it defeated Watervliet (18-4) – which swept Bridgman.
Gwinn
1. Hancock (19-1), 2. Calumet (16-4), Negaunee (18-4), Ishpeming (15-6), Gwinn (6-14), Ishpeming Westwood (8-13).
All six of these teams play in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference, with Hancock and Calumet the top two from the West and Negaunee and Ishpeming first and second, respectively, from the East. Hancock also has an argument this winter as the U.P.’s best team, its lone loss 50-49 to Escanaba in January. Calumet defeated Escanaba 59-57 a few weeks later and lost to Hancock by only three and six points. Negaunee got all of its defeats out of the way in December, falling to Hancock and Calumet but avenging the latter 44-43 on Feb. 7. Ishpeming lost to Negaunee by a point only three days later. Hancock and the Hematites are on the top of the bracket, while Calumet and Negaunee are on the bottom. So is Westwood, which has won five of its last six.
Sanford Meridian
1. Hemlock (19-3), 2. Sanford Meridian (19-1), Saginaw Valley Lutheran (19-3), Beal City (14-7), St. Louis (13-9).
This District features three league champions – Hemlock from the Tri-Valley Conference West 10-1, Valley Lutheran from the TVC West 10-2 and host Meridian from the Jack Pine Conference. Meridian’s only loss was in overtime to Division 2 Marysville (18-4), and it has wins over Freeland, Farwell and Evart, which all have won at least 17 games. The Mustangs open with St. Louis, while on the other side Hemlock will await either Valley Lutheran or Beal City. Hemlock defeated Valley Lutheran by 25 only two weeks ago, but the Chargers showed they can bounce back in avenging an early loss to Ithaca to share their league title. Beal City could show the strength of the Highland Conference, which had three teams contending into last week. Those three handed the Aggies six of their seven losses.
DIVISION 4
Fowler
1. Fowler (15-7), 2. Portland St. Patrick (14-7), Morrice (16-3), Lansing Christian (10-12), Webberville (8-14).
The first steps for Fowler during its back-to-back Division 4 championship runs the last two seasons both required District wins over longtime rival St. Patrick. The teams split their series this regular season, but the Shamrocks are on a roll with six straight wins including 39-36 on Friday over Central Michigan Athletic Conference champion Dansville (18-2). That said, the early St. Patrick loss was Fowler’s only one to a Division 4 team as it loaded the schedule, and the Eagles have seen just about everything they might encounter. Morrice is intriguing; it has won eight straight since a loss to St. Patrick on Jan. 19 and also avenged its long league loss to Genesee. Morrice and Fowler would meet Wednesday if the Orioles can get past Lansing Christian, which also played mostly bigger schools this winter.
Pittsford
1. Pittsford (18-3), 2. Morenci (17-4), Adrian Lenawee Christian (12-10), Waldron (11-10), Camden-Frontier (8-11).
Pittsford has won seven straight to clinch the Southern Central Athletic Association East title, including 41-40 in overtime against Hillsdale Academy which ended up deciding the league championship outright. On the other side of the bracket Morenci has had a tough run of late, with four losses over the last seven games – but the Bulldogs still shared the title in the Tri-County Conference. Morenci gets SCAA Central champion Waldron in its first game Wednesday, while Pittsford could see a Lenawee Christian team that has won seven of its last 10 with a victory during that stretch over Bronson (18-3).
St. Ignace
1. Mackinaw City (21-1), 2. Cedarville/DeTour (15-4), St. Ignace (12-9), Pickford (9-11), Mackinac Island (7-5), Pellston (1-20).
Playoff time generally is St. Ignace time, and the Saints are home this week and have tested themselves again against competition of all sizes from both peninsulas. But the difference this time is St. Ignace split a regular-season series with Cedarville/DeTour – and Cedarville/DeTour won the second meeting 44-38 on Feb. 14. Mackinaw City also no doubt is eager to show it’s taking another step with its lone loss to Division 3 Ovid-Elsie (18-4) and a 57-46 win over the Islanders in early December. The Comets are on top of the bracket, with Cedarville/DeTour, St. Ignace and Pickford on the other side.
MHSAA.com's weekly “Breslin Bound” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. 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 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as 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.
PHOTO Grand Ledge and Caledonia tip off a game this regular season. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Girls Report Week 7
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 20, 2025
We've reached the midpoint of this girls basketball season, but the second half is just the start of the buildup for the most exciting part of every year.
Most teams have played their league opponents once, with upcoming rematches set to decide champions. As noted earlier, for the first time this season District brackets will be seeded completely, meaning every team is playing to affect its position for when the MHSAA Tournament starts in seven weeks. And below we continue to detail several of the latest moves in league play and District ranking for teams hoping to be in a championship mix.
“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. DeWitt 62, Haslett 50 – The Panthers (10-1) broke a two-game losing streak against their longtime rival Vikings (8-2), picking up great momentum heading into one of DeWitt’s toughest weeks of the regular season.
2. Frankenmuth 65, Detroit Country Day 39 The Eagles (9-2) have won eight straight and handed Country Day (10-1) its lone loss in a matchup of Division 2 hopefuls.
3. Grass Lake 49, Leslie 39 Grass Lake (9-3) sits alone atop the Cascades Conference East after handing Leslie (6-3) its only league loss and after delivering the same to Michigan Center a week earlier.
4. Midland 56, Midland Dow 41 After last month ending an 11-game losing streak against rival Dow, Midland High (9-1) finished its first regular-season sweep of its rival in 11 years.
5. Detroit Renaissance 67, Grand Blanc 43 The Phoenix (13-1) are soaring again with three straight double-digit wins since suffering their lone loss, this victory coming at the Martin Luther King Showcase at West Bloomfield.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Rockford (12-1) The Rams have reached at least the Division 1 Semifinals the last three seasons – winning the title in 2023 – and they are prepping well for another run despite playing a schedule of opponents with a combined .750 in-state winning percentage. The lone loss came Dec. 14 to Division 2 contender Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, and Rockford has handed the only losses to Tecumseh and Grand Haven. The 51-45 win over Tecumseh on Jan. 11 was the only win decided by fewer than 12 points.
Temperance Bedford (8-1) The Kicking Mules have moved into first alone in the Southeastern Conference Red with wins over contenders Dexter and Saline over the last week – and after splitting with Saline last season, when those two shared the league title. Bedford reached the Quarterfinals a year ago, finishing 24-3, and opened this winter by avenging last year’s loss to Sylvania Northview. The only defeat this time has against Tecumseh to finish the season’s first week, and all but one of Bedford’s victories have come over opponents with at least a .500 record.
DIVISION 2
Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (10-1) Coming off last season’s trip to the Division 2 championship game, and runner-up finish, FGR has played the toughest in-state schedule in any division with its Michigan opponents posting a combined .827 in-state winning percentage. The Irish gave Adrian Madison and Rockford their only losses, and are just a 46-45 loss to undefeated Belleville from being undefeated instead. FGR also is leading the Catholic High School League Central East and has another telling Division 2 challenger on the schedule with Chelsea making the trip to Ann Arbor on Feb. 18
Tecumseh (9-1) Coming off last season’s run to the Division 2 Quarterfinals, and right behind Father Gabriel Richard on that toughest schedules list, Tecumseh has played opponents with a combined .773 in-state winning percentage – second in the state regardless of division. As noted above, a 51-45 loss to Division 1 Rockford is all that is separating Tecumseh from being undefeated. Wins over Bedford and Blissfield remain those opponents’ only losses, and a 53-41 win over Chelsea on Jan. 9 has Tecumseh first in the Southeastern Conference White; the rematch is Jan. 31 at Chelsea.
DIVISION 3
Evart (9-1) The Wildcats have won 19 games both of the last two seasons and are pushing again for what would be a first league title in at least a decade. They are among three teams tied for the first in the Highland Conference, their lone loss to McBain and with that rematch coming up Feb. 7. No other opponent has come closer than nine points, and wins over Manton, Frankfort, Sanford Meridian and Fremont have been the most notable of another solid run so far.
Niles Brandywine (11-0) The Bobcats moved into first place alone in the Lakeland Conference last week with a 42-point win over previously-undefeated Berrien Springs, and the reigning Division 3 runner-up has won all of its games by double digits and nine by at least 30 points. The second half of the regular-season schedule presents a number of challenges as Brandywine gears up for another playoff run – most notably undefeated Division 1 St. Joseph and Division 2 Vicksburg, a Berrien Springs rematch and next week’s game against Division 1 Stevensville Lakeshore.
DIVISION 4
Concord (9-2) The Yellow Jackets made an incredible jump a year ago, finishing 20-6 after going 4-17 in 2022-23. They haven’t slowed down and already have avenged losses from last winter to Hanover-Horton, Bronson and Springport. The only defeats this time came to still-unbeaten Morenci by two points Dec. 9 and Division 2 Brooklyn Columbia Central during holiday break. Concord also leads the Big 8 Conference and can avenge another 2023-24 loss Jan. 27 at Michigan Center.
Kingston (7-1) A 44-40 loss to Division 2 Imlay City on Dec. 10 is all that’s kept the reigning Division 4 runner-up from being undefeated to this point, and a 53-46 win over Cass City has helped Kingston get there as well as it remains Cass City’s only loss. Kingston is tied atop the Big Thumb Conference Blue with Deckerville heading into Tuesday’s first of two matchups between them this season. The Cardinals also have solid February tests against Division 2 Croswell-Lexington and Division 1 Saginaw Heritage.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Monday – Goodrich (9-2) vs. Grand Rapids West Catholic (10-1) at Saginaw Valley State – These Division 2 contenders will face off in the 3 p.m. matchup at SVSU’s Martin Luther King Classic.
Tuesday – L’Anse (10-1) at Ewen-Trout Creek (11-1) – This could decide the Copper Mountain Conference championship as they are two of three teams undefeated in league play and this their only matchup.
Wednesday – Indian River Inland Lakes (9-1) at Gaylord St. Mary (9-1) – These Division 4 statewide hopefuls also are tied for first in the Ski Valley Conference heading into this first of two meetings.
Friday – Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (8-0) at St. Charles (7-1) – These two are undefeated atop the Mid-State Activities Conference heading into this first of two matchups this season after St. Charles won the league and Sacred Heart finished second a year ago.
Friday – Holt (8-3) at DeWitt (10-1) – As noted above, DeWitt has one of its toughest weeks ahead, but a rematch win would be a rewarding way to finish it as the Rams lead the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue after winning their first meeting 47-39.
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) DeWitt's Tara Kurncz (14) drives to the basket during her team's 48-38 win Friday over Lansing Waverly. (Middle) Detroit Edison's Isis Johnson Musah (2) make her move toward the lane during her team's 50-48 loss to Detroit Renaissance on Dec. 21. (DeWitt/Waverly photo by Terry Lyons. Renaissance/Edison photo by Team Arreguin Photos.)