Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Girls Report Post-Break
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 5, 2026
Holiday break is over, and school is back in session – and the great majority of Michigan’s high school girls basketball teams will be through the first quarter of their seasons by the end of this week.
There’s plenty to catch up on from the last two, so we’ll jump right in with our first “Breslin Bound” report of the 2026 calendar year.
“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. Grand Rapids West Catholic 54, Tecumseh 52 The Falcons (6-1) avenged their 54-44 loss to Tecumseh (6-1) in last season’s Division 2 championship game.
2. Rockford 52, Howell 36 The Rams (5-1) handed the Highlanders (6-1) their lone loss this season in a semifinal of their Cornerstone University Holiday Classic Gold bracket.
3. Freeland 57, Hemlock 43 The Falcons moved to 3-2 at the Huskie Holiday Classic in handing host Hemlock (6-1) its only defeat.
4. Niles Brandywine 60, Kent City 42 These two were undefeated when they met Dec. 30 at Kalamazoo College, and Brandywine remains 5-0 while Kent City is 4-2.
5. Tecumseh 41, Detroit Edison 28 Although Tecumseh did finish holiday break with a loss, it started with this notable win over Edison (4-3) at the Detroit Renaissance Phoenix Classic.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Belleville (5-0) The reigning Division 1 champion Tigers defeated host Detroit Renaissance at the Phoenix Classic at the start of break and followed that up with their most impressive victory to date – a 65-50 win over Indianapolis Lawrence Central, arguably the top team in Indiana after winning a state championship in 2024 and finishing 22-2 a year ago. Belleville finished 28-1 last season, and will have a chance to avenge that lone loss a second time when it travels to Wayne Memorial on Jan. 16.
Wayne Memorial (5-0) The Zebras also own a win over Renaissance and have allowed only Muskegon to come within double digits, downing the Big Reds 55-48 at the West Michigan Hoop Summit at Aquinas College. Wayne and Belleville both play in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East and will see each other twice, and the Zebras nearly made it a third time last winter falling a win shy as their playoff run ended in the Division 1 Semifinals.
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids South Christian (6-0) The Sailors defeated Coopersville and Muskegon Reeths-Puffer in Cornerstone University Holiday Classic games, the latest victories from a start that’s seen every win by double digits and the closest 10-pointers over Hudsonville Unity Christian and Holland Christian. South Christian finished 24-3 a year ago with two losses to Grand Rapids West Catholic – Tuesday’s opponent – including by two points in a season-ending Quarterfinal.
Negaunee (7-0) This team surely entered this winter extra motivated after suffering its only loss last season in a District Final. The highlight of the Miners’ strong start arguably has been a 45-39 win over reigning Division 4 runner-up Ewen-Trout Creek as part of Negaunee’s Irontown Holiday Bash. The Miners had defeated Kingsford the day before, and have won the rest of their games this winter by at least 11 points.
DIVISION 3
Jackson Lumen Christi (5-1) The Titans defeated Detroit Edison 50-49 on Saturday at the Detroit Cass Tech Showcase to add to an impressive start that’s also included double-digit wins over Michigan Center, Salem, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard and Mio. All but Salem currently have winning records, and Salem is 4-4. The only loss under first-year coach Scott Stine – who led Ypsilanti Arbor Prep to last year’s Division 3 title – came against Ohio’s Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, an Ohio state runner-up last season.
Union City (7-0) The Chargers already have surpassed last season’s 6-17 finish, avenging last-winter losses to Napoleon, Homer and a pair to Springport. Last year did provide a sign of improvement – Union City won more than four games for the first time since 2017-18 – and these first four weeks of 2025-26 could be signaling a big jump in process. Five of these first seven wins came by double digits.
DIVISION 4
Baraga (6-0) A pair of 12-point wins over L’Anse and Houghton have been the toughest challenges so far for the Vikings, who are seeking to advance past their District this season for the first time since finishing Division 4 runner-up in 2022-23. On Thursday they’ll face Hancock, which ended Baraga’s season at 16-7 last March. A trip to Ewen-Trout Creek on Jan. 13 could decide the Copper Mountain Conference title, as Baraga finished second and a game back of E-TC a year ago.
Petersburg Summerfield (7-0) Summerfield tied for second in the Tri-County Conference last season and ended its playoff run at 17-7 with a District loss to TCC champion Morenci – but will get its first opportunity to avenge last winter’s three losses to Morenci on Thursday at home. The only single-digit wins so far this winter came against Division 1 Ann Arbor Skyline and Monroe, and the Bulldogs also see Division 1 Allen Park on Tuesday before hosting their league rival.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Monday – Pewamo-Westphalia (4-0) at Flint Powers Catholic (5-1) – Powers is coming off its first loss, but can rebound quickly by avenging last year’s 53-50 loss to the Pirates.
Tuesday – Grand Rapids West Catholic (6-1) at Grand Rapids South Christian (6-0) – These two shared the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold title last season, and West Catholic won their third meeting in a Division 2 Quarterfinal.
Tuesday – Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (5-1) at Warren Regina (7-0) – St. Mary’s was a co-champion in the Catholic High School League Central West last season and Regina looks like one of the contenders this winter.
Wednesday – Evart (4-0) at McBain (4-0) – These two are tied early atop the Highland Conference after Evart finished first and McBain tied for second last season.
Friday – Ishpeming (5-0) at Negaunee (7-0) – These two look like the top contenders again in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East after Negaunee won it and Ishpeming was second a year ago.
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PHOTOS (Top) Livonia Stevenson’s Bella Sapia (23) drives into the lane during her team’s win over Berkley on Dec. 23. (Middle) Negaunee's Clare O'Donnell looks for an open teammate during her team’s Dec. 19 win over Ishpeming Westwood. (Stevenson/Berkley photo by Douglas Bargerstock. Negaunee/Westwood photo by Cara Kamps.)
Zion Christian Earns 1st District Title, Celebrates Much More During History-Making Run
By
Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com
March 21, 2025
BYRON CENTER – An elusive District title was always the main goal for the Zion Christian girls basketball team.
The Mountaineers accomplished that first-time feat this season, and didn’t stop there.
They made even more school history by following with a Regional title and advancing to Tuesday’s Division 4 Quarterfinals for the first time before closing their season at 20-7.
“We had it as a goal to win Districts the last several years, so it was hard to look at the beginning of the season beyond all that,” Zion Christian coach Derek Foltice said. “But I think we knew with this group of girls and the potential we had that we could have a pretty special season if they committed to playing defense and all those little things they progressively have done.”
This postseason provided plenty of firsts for Zion Christian, a tiny school located in Byron Center which plays in the Alliance League.
The Mountaineers knocked off Wyoming Tri-unity Christian to claim the District crown, and then routed St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran, 63-40, for their first Regional win.
“This has been insane,” Zion Christian senior Sam Deutschmann said last week. “If you were to tell me at the beginning of the season that I would be in this moment right now with my team, I wouldn't believe it.
“This has been such a roller coaster year and all of our hard work is just paying off right now.”
In the Regional Final against Climax-Scotts – which finished 19-6 – the Mountaineers’ magical run continued when junior Jayda Steenbergen dropped in a game-tying 3-pointer during the final seconds to send the game to overtime. She then drained another 3-pointer to propel her team to a 38-37 victory.
“Nothing was planned on that play and Audra (Kaptein) made a great pass, and I was wide open,” Steenbergen said. “The thrill of that was great.”
Added Foltice: “We didn’t have any timeouts, and the girls just made a play. Jada made a huge shot, and then in overtime we had to get some big stops on defense. It was hanging on for dear life after that.”
Foltice enjoyed watching the girls celebrate with family and friends after another historic win.
“This is new for us, and the girls are just going out and not overthinking and enjoying the moment,” Foltice said. “It was fun to see the reaction from the girls and the rest of the students.”
After dealing with a bout of sickness in February, the Mountaineers regrouped and entered the MHSAA Tournament on a six-game winning streak.
They opened with Muskegon Catholic Central, which had defeated them earlier in the season, and avenged that loss to move on.
“You just have to take it one game at a time,” Foltice said. “It was such an accomplishment to win our District playing two good teams, and it’s been fun to continue to play.”
Steenbergen said the team was hopeful to finally make it out of Districts this season.
“We’ve always been in a District that we didn’t have a chance (of winning) so it was fun to get into a District that we knew we could win,” she said. “And then we won Regionals, and it provided us with so much confidence and brought our team closer.
“We are so blessed to be in the spot we’re in, and the wins have been so crazy and so close. It’s just been so much fun, and it’s brought our school and community together.”
Despite a 54-26 loss to Concord in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal, the postseason journey allowed Foltice and his team extended time together.
“One of the most exciting things is just the fact that we get to keep on playing and keep on building on what we’ve been working toward,” Foltice said. “It’s been fun to see them click more and more as the season has gone on. I’m thankful that I get to coach them, and it’s a special group of unselfish and hard-working girls. To be able to spend a couple more weeks with them has been icing on the cake for the season.”
While the end was disappointing, the Mountaineers reflected on the success of the program’s first 20-win season.
“It’s been amazing and just a blessing to get as far as we did,” Deutschmann said. “I love these girls, and I love this team. I couldn’t think of a better year.”
Audra Kaptein, a junior guard and the team’s leading scorer, joined Steenbergen and Deutschmann on the all-conference first team. Sophomore Kenley Doezema was the team’s leading rebounder and an all-conference honorable mention pick, while junior Sadie Knott had a solid postseason.
Dean Holzwarth has covered primarily high school sports for Grand Rapids-based WOOD-TV for five years after serving at the Grand Rapids Press and MLive for 16 years along with shorter stints at the Ionia Sentinel and WZZM. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Zion Christian celebrates winning its first District title earlier this month. (Middle) Jayda Steenbergen directs her team’s offense. (Below) The Mountaineers take a team photo after claiming the program’s first Regional title. (Photos courtesy of the Zion Christian girls basketball program.)