Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Girls Regional Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 10, 2025
The first week of this girls basketball postseason proved to be a notable rematch season as well – and some familiar opponents will face off again as we move into Regionals tonight.
Our top two "Week in Review" games below were reversals of regular-season series, and multiple brackets we preview also feature rematches from the regular season or the 2024 MHSAA Tournament.
Find everything you need to know this week about tickets, brackets and more as the tournament continues on the Girls 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. Gladstone 50, Negaunee 47 Gladstone (22-2) avenged its only two losses of the regular season, downing the Miners (22-1) in a Division 2 District Final after previously losing their matchups by 17 and 14.
2. Midland Dow 58, Midland 49 The Chargers (16-8) had finished tied for fifth in the Saginaw Valley League and fallen to Midland (19-4) by three and 15 during the regular season before providing this jolt to the rivalry in their Division 1 District Final.
3. South Lyon 55, Northville 47 The Lakes Valley Conference’s Lions (20-2) won a matchup of league champions in this Division 1 District Final, ending the season for the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West’s Mustangs (15-9).
4. Blissfield 57, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 42 The Royals (21-2) entered the postseason off a loss but finished a Division 3 District title run by handing St. Mary (22-2) just its second of the season.
5. Harbor Beach 44, Cass City 39 The Pirates (14-7) avenged a 15-point loss from Dec. 11 and also District losses from the last three seasons in edging the Red Hawks (21-3) in this Division 3 decider.
Regionals at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold:
DIVISION 1
Howell
South Lyon (20-2) vs. Hartland (19-5)
Dexter (18-6) vs. Belleville (23-1)
It would be easy to assume KLAA East co-champion Belleville is the favorite – and tough to argue as the Tigers play to reach Breslin for the second-straight season. But it’s also not that simple. As noted above, South Lyon also a league champion, and Hartland avenged a pair of losses to Howell (17-7) on Friday with a 10-point win to advance. Dexter finished second in the Southeastern Conference Red but has won 12 of its last 13, the only defeat during that time by one point to Chelsea (18-4). But bringing things back to Belleville, it’s only loss was to Wayne Memorial, avenged two weeks later, and only one other opponent has come within single digits of catching the Tigers this season.
Traverse City Central
Traverse City Central (16-6) vs. Midland Dow (16-8)
Saginaw Heritage (21-3) vs. Rockford (23-1)
The Big North Conference champion Trojans host coming off their 14th win over their last 15 games – including also defeating Midland in their regular season finale – and now get the surging Chargers who have won 10 straight. Heritage finished second to Midland in the SVL and also has won 10 straight and defeated Dow by 11 just before that streak began. All three will hope their momentum pays off as Rockford is bringing a 21-game winning streak into this week as it continues to pursue a fourth-straight trip to Breslin. The Rams have lost only to Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (23-1) while playing one of the state’s strongest schedules.
Westland John Glenn
Farmington Hills Mercy (19-4) vs. Wayne Memorial (18-6)
Detroit Renaissance (21-2) vs. Bloomfield Hills Marian (10-15)
This bracket includes three league champions – Wayne sharing in the KLAA East, Renaissance from the Detroit Public School League Blue and Mercy from the Catholic High School League Central West. Those three also have not played each other this season but have common opponents, adding to the intrigue. Wayne has won 16 of its last 18, Mercy 14 of its last 15 and Renaissance’s defeats both came to opponents with at least 19 wins. Marian is a great story too, emerging from fifth in the CHSL Central West to build a run of seven wins over its last 10 games, and with nine of its losses to teams that won at least 14 games during the regular season.
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids South Christian
Paw Paw (20-4) vs. Grand Rapids South Christian (22-2)
Edwardsburg (15-9) vs. Vicksburg (22-2)
The Wolverine Conference has shown its power this postseason with champion Vicksburg, runner-up Paw Paw and fourth-place Edwardsburg claiming District titles last week. Vicksburg’s lone defeat was 50-47 to Paw Paw on Jan. 31 after defeating the Red Wolves 66-65 on Dec. 6, and a third meeting between them no doubt would be a gem. Edwardsburg did take a win from Paw Paw as well, on Jan. 15, and fell to Vicksburg only 33-29 in their second meeting Feb. 21. South Christian, meanwhile, shared the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold title with Grand Rapids West Catholic (20-3), with the Sailors’ only other loss this season by two in December to Hudsonville (17-7) – which won a District title in Division 1.
Pinckney
Goodrich (21-3) vs. Eaton Rapids (13-10)
Haslett (21-3) vs. Chelsea (18-4)
Goodrich and Chelsea are coming off especially notable District Final wins, Goodrich over Flint Powers Catholic (18-6) and Chelsea over Parma Western (21-3) – and they won those games by 16 and 17 points, respectively. Goodrich’s defeats all came to teams with at least 18 wins, and Chelsea’s to opponents with at least 16 victories. Haslett defeated a familiar opponent in rival Williamston but, like Goodrich and Chelsea, has played several top teams over the course of the winter with a win over Detroit Country Day (18-5) and losses to three 20-win opponents. Eaton Rapids is bringing some juice as well with 10 wins over its last 14 games and some good losses along the way.
Tecumseh
Carleton Airport (17-7) vs. Tecumseh (22-1)
Romulus (15-5) vs. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (23-1)
This Regional includes two of the top contenders in Division 2 overall, as they played the second and fourth-strongest schedules during the regular season and still have just one loss apiece. Tecumseh defeated Airport 76-44 in both teams’ regular-season finale, but Airport has won 15 over its last 18 overall. The Jets were runners-up in the Huron League, and Romulus was runner-up in the Western Wayne Athletic Conference and has won 12 of its last 14. Father Gabriel Richard finished Division 2 runner-up last season after defeating Tecumseh in a Quarterfinal.
DIVISION 3
Grandville Calvin Christian
Grandville Calvin Christian (18-6) vs. Kent City (19-5)
Pewamo-Westphalia (24-0) vs. Saugatuck (23-1)
All four of these teams added District titles to league championships this season. Pewamo-Westphalia has prepped for its run by winning the Central Michigan Athletic Conference – which had three more winners of at least 17 games – and also defeated Flint Powers (see above) and New Lothrop (noted below). Saugatuck lost only to Lawton (15-6) in its first game of 2025 and owns an 11-point win over Kalamazoo Christian (also noted below), while annual contender Kent City has won 12 of its last 14 games and Calvin Christian bounced back from an 0-3 start to the season and two losses heading into the playoffs – avenging the second of those with a 45-42 win over Muskegon Western Michigan Christian in their District Final.
Niles Brandywine
Watervliet (11-13) vs. Kalamazoo Christian (20-4)
Niles Brandywine (14-0) vs. Bronson (22-2)
Reigning Division 3 runner-up Brandywine headlines a powerful field and defeated Bronson 69-37 on Jan. 14. The Bobcats’ closest game was eight points, and the rest of their wins were by double digits. Bronson hasn’t lost since – it’s only other defeat by three to Concord (19-4) – as it went on to share the Big 8 Conference title and build a 17-game winning streak. Kalamazoo Christian made it through a third matchup with rival Hackett Catholic Prep, winning the District Final 53-38 after those two split regular-season meetings, and the Comets’ other three losses were to Division 2 or 3 teams that won their Districts. Watervliet started this season 1-6 but has bounced back significantly and has six wins over its last seven games.
Springport
New Lothrop (21-3) vs. Hemlock (21-3)
Leslie (18-6) vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (17-6)
New Lothrop and Hemlock will face off in a meeting of league champions, Hemlock from the Tri-Valley Conference Blue and New Lothrop after sharing the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference title. New Lothrop’s losses this season were by a combined 11 points and all of its wins this calendar year have come by double digits. All 21 of Hemlock’s wins were by 10 or more points, with its losses to three Division 1 and 2 teams that are still playing as well. On the other side of the bracket, Leslie has emerged after finishing third in a strong Cascades Conference East, and Lumen the same from a tough CHSL Central East. Lumen defeated Cascades East champ Grass Lake (19-4) in their District Final, 59-52.
DIVISION 4
Marlette
Genesee Christian (21-2) vs. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (15-6)
Kingston (20-2) vs. Ubly (9-14)
Kingston finished Division 4 runner-up a year ago and loaded up to prep for another run losing only to Division 1 Saginaw Heritage (see above) and Division 2 Imlay City. The Cardinals interestingly have a 42-38 win over Ubly from Feb. 3, and the Bearcats stunned in downing Deckerville (18-6) to clinch a District title. Genesee Christian also has played several larger opponents this season, losing only to Division 2 Flint Hamady (20-1) and Adrian Lenawee Christian (12-11). The Soldiers advanced with a District Final win over Clarkston Everest Collegiate (18-3), a common opponent with Our Lady, which won its first District title since 2021 and is enjoying its winningest season since 2019-20.
McBain
Gaylord St. Mary (20-3) vs. Mio (18-5)
Buckley (17-7) vs. Frankfort (16-6)
This bracket also includes three league champions plus three repeats from a year ago. Start with Frankfort, which won the Northwest Conference but faces fourth-place Buckley for the third time after losing their first meeting by one point but winning the rematch Jan. 31 by 13. The Panthers have won 11 of their last 13 games, and Buckley has won nine of its last 11. St. Mary won the Ski Valley Conference just ahead of another 20-win District champ in Indian River Inland Lakes but faces a unique but familiar challenge in Mio. The Thunderbolts won the North Star League Little Dipper title and feature Mia McGregor, who averaged 41 points per game last season as a freshman, but St. Mary did win their Regional matchup last year 61-54 before falling to Frankfort 64-37 in the Regional Final.
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (20-0) vs. Onekama (20-4)
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (18-6) vs. Fowler (22-2)
Fowler reached the Division 4 Semifinals last season, and its only losses this winter were to Division 3 Pewamo-Westphalia (see above) – with a recent win over Division 1 Holt (17-7) another reminder of the Eagles’ potential. Sacred Heart’s undefeated run came in part against a Mid-State Activities Conference that produced four more teams with 13 or more wins, and Onekama finished second in a Northwest Conference that produced three District champs. MLS finished second in the TVC Blue to Hemlock (see above) and has wins over the second and third-place teams from the MSAC – St. Charles and Merrill, respectively – with four losses to teams that have won 21 games.
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PHOTOS (Top) Gladstone players including Lillie Johnson (21) and coaches celebrate their Division 2 District Final win over Negaunee on Friday. (Middle) DeWitt’s Golden Nicholson (24) drives to the basket with Lundyn Elam (4) defending during the Panthers’ 55-35 District title win over East Lansing in Division 1. (Gladstone/Negaunee photo by Cara Kamps. DeWitt/East Lansing photo by Terry Lyons.)
Paw Paw Hoops Heroes Closing in on Milestones, Rewriting School Record Book
By
Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com
November 19, 2024
PAW PAW — With a basketball pedigree that goes back a generation, Paw Paw’s Grace Mitchell is one of two seniors closing in on personal and school records.
Mitchell is just 164 points shy of joining the 1,000-point club.
“After my sophomore year I was over 500 (points), so I knew I could get another 500 my last two years,” said Mitchell, adding that the milestone is one of her long-time goals.
And she’s not the only one pursuing it.
Teammate AJ Rickli, a 6-foot-2 center/power forward, needs just 110 points to hit the 1,000-point mark.
Rickli stacked up her points in just over two seasons, after moving up from junior varsity near the end of her freshman year.
Scoring isn’t the only strength the players bring to the team.
Mitchell, a 5-10 guard, needs just four 3-pointers to break the school record of 156, something second-year head coach Dan Thornton said could happen when the Red Wolves open the season Dec. 3 by hosting Mattawan.
She holds the school’s season record for treys with 72 and swished eight in one game, tying another school record.
“I shoot a lot,” Mitchell said. “I’ve always like shooting the farther shots since I was little, but sophomore year I really got good at my 3-point shots.”
She is not a one-dimensional player, either, with 126 assists and 150 steals heading into her fourth varsity season.
That’s where the two seniors complement each other.
“She’s a guard; I’m a post,” Rickli said. “Where I slack, she picks up. Where she slacks, I pick up. I get her rebounds.”
Thornton said both players could reach other school milestones this season.
“Grace potentially could be closing in on marks for steals, assists, on top of her shooting percentage from the free throw line and 3-point line,” he said, adding that Rickli could break the records for rebounds and blocks.
The coach is not surprised he has two players heading into 1,000-point territory.
“Last year we averaged about 75 points per game, and we had four different players average about double figures,” he said. “There were a lot of games where we’d get three, four and some games six people in double figures.
“It also meant everyone was scoring between 10 and 13 or 14 points per game. It made it very challenging on opposing defenses because if they focus too much on one, the other four would get very favorable matchups.”
Just two days into practice, Thornton said he plans to fill out his roster after Wednesday’s practice, laughing, “(Grace and AJ) both have a chance to make varsity.”
The Red Wolves graduated five seniors in the spring, two of them starters, from last year’s 22-3 team that advanced to a Division 2 District Final.
“It’s going to take a lot of determination and drive from everybody on the team (to move past Districts),” Rickli said. “Everybody has to contribute. Everybody has to want it the same, and we’ve got to have a team goal. And we will.”
Thornton will rely on Rickli and Mitchell for leadership, especially for those brought up from the junior varsity team.
“The two girls bring veteran leadership,” Thornton said. “They’ve both been through playing on varsity, playing in big games for a number of years.
“Both have had huge success over the years. I expect them to help nurture along younger players, guide them through our goals throughout the season.”
Rickli said the most important thing for new players is to let them know their roles.
“I’ll help the posts in their position. Grace will help the guards in their position and give them confidence,” Rickli said. “We’ll help them in practice. We’re not going to take it easy on them, because that won’t help them at all. We’ll push them in practice to get them used to varsity play.”
'Batman and Superman'
Rickli and Mitchell have been best friends and on the same hoops teams since second grade.
“We work really good together because we’re each other’s best friend, and we’ve played together forever,” Mitchell said. “We know what each other wants.
"I know how to get (the ball) in to her, and she knows when to kick it out to me. When I miss my shot, she gets my rebound and puts it back up, so it works out pretty good.”
Rickli, whose formal first name is Arin Jolyn, also plays volleyball and competes in the shot put and discus, but prefers basketball.
“Basketball just comes to me easier than the other sports,” she said. “I like the contact sports.”
Mitchell, who has committed to Alma College for golf and basketball, is keeping up her family hoops tradition.
“She comes from a very, very heavy basketball family,” said Thornton, who has been involved in coaching for 35 years and needs just 12 more varsity wins for 400. “Her father (Rick Mitchell) is legendary in basketball throughout most of Southwest Michigan. Her Uncle Gary (Mitchell) was a longtime coach (at Paw Paw), the same as her father, who is in the Paw Paw Hall of Fame.
“To have that kind of constant exposure at a young age to basketball from her family, be it her siblings or uncle or dad, probably helped Grace.”
Both girls are unselfish and supportive of their teammates, he said, adding, “They do a good job helping each other be successful. They’re very much Batman and Superman, you could say, because one of them excels in a certain area of the game and the other excels in another area.
“The fact that the players, the team, aren’t selfish really speaks to the parenting with these players, how they’ve been raised and how they are willing to give up a good shot for themselves to give someone else a great shot.”
Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
PHOTOS (Top) At left, Paw Paw senior AJ Rickli gets a shot up against Otsego last season; at right, senior Grace Mitchell releases a jumper. (Middle) From left: Paw Paw coach Dan Thornton, Rickli and Mitchell. (Action photos by René Rodriguez; head shots by Pam Shebest.)