Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Girls Report Week 10
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 17, 2026
Three months of Michigan high school girls basketball results are soon to be poured into the sorting of 128 District brackets, which will be published Sunday on the Girls Basketball page after teams are seeded based on their Michigan Power Ratings this winter.
A week’s worth of games certainly still can make a difference, and there are plenty of matchups coming up that could tilt how teams line up at several locations. Follow along on the MPR page and see below for some of what we’re watching as we move toward one of the most highly-anticipated days of the season.
“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. Belleville 56, Wayne Memorial 54 The Zebras (15-2) made this much closer than Belleville’s 28-point win in their first meeting, but the Tigers (20-0) still prevailed to clinch the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East title.
2. Jackson Lumen Christi 48, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 36 The Titans (15-2) claimed the Catholic High School League Bishop Tournament championship, adding to their CHSL Central East title by downing the CHSL Central West champion Eaglets (15-3).
3. Detroit Renaissance 63, Detroit Mumford 37 The Phoenix (15-2) finished an undefeated run through the Detroit Public School League with a second win this winter over Mumford (8-8), this time in the PSL Tournament championship game.
4. Mio 50, Au Gres-Sims 46 These North Star League Little Dipper rivals played each other twice in four days, Au Gres-Sims (16-3) winning the first matchup 53-46 before Mio (14-4) took this one; both have just the one loss, to each other, in league play.
5. Brooklyn Columbia Central 59, Hanover-Horton 52 (OT) Columbia Central (15-2) earned a one-game edge atop the Cascades Conference West with these two set to meet again tonight and Hanover-Horton (15-3) playing to secure a share of the title.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Muskegon (15-2) The Big Reds have clinched the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green championship with two league games to play and after finishing third and 11-12 overall just a season ago. Muskegon certainly is a contender statewide in Division 1 as well with wins over Rockford (16-1) and Hudsonville (12-7) and losses to only Wayne Memorial (15-2) and Grand Haven (16-2) – the latter by just a point. Haslett (15-2) and Holt (14-3) are league champions and will provide two more solid prep games heading into the postseason.
Saginaw Heritage (15-5) The Hawks have won four straight to clinch the outright Saginaw Valley League North championship after finishing second in the one-division SVL a year ago. Heritage also has moved up to No. 3 in statewide Division 1 MPR with its success coming against opponents with a combined .688 winning percentage and the five losses to teams that all have at least 13 wins. The team’s final two regular-season games are against league champions – Flint Powers Catholic (18-2) and Yale (17-1).
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids West Catholic (14-4) Last season’s Division 2 runner-up can’t catch Grand Rapids South Christian in the O-K Gold but still has plenty of chances to make noise this season and plenty of quality wins showing what’s possible – including victories over reigning champion Tecumseh (17-2), Saginaw Heritage (15-5), Parma Western and Wyoming (both 13-5). Two of West Catholic’s losses came to the undefeated Sailors, with the others to Muskegon (15-2) and Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (10-7). Thursday’s matchup with Grand Rapids Catholic Central (16-2) should be especially interesting heading into seeding.
Redford Westfield Prep (12-5) The Warriors defeated Hamtramck on Friday to win the Charter School Conference Tournament, and they have only one loss this season to an in-state school – Riverview (15-4), by a point – with the other four coming against opponents from Chicago. All but an earlier win over Hamtramck came by double digits, and Westfield went from defeating the Cosmos by two on Jan. 30 to 22 last week. Tonight’s matchup with Milford (14-4) highlights the final weeks of the regular season.
DIVISION 3
Hemlock (17-1) The Huskies are enjoying another dominating run in the Tri-Valley Conference Blue, carrying a 37-game league winning streak into this week as they seek to clinch a fourth-straight title Friday against second-place Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Hemlock has five wins over opponents with at least 12 victories this season, including by 20 points the first time it faced MLS (14-4) and more recently over Beaverton (16-2) on Feb. 9. The lone loss came to Division 2 Freeland (12-6). The Huskies will head into the postseason seeking a second-straight District title.
Kalamazoo Christian (13-3) The Comets clinched a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley title Friday with a 35-33 win over Schoolcraft and can make the championship outright against Lawton this Friday. The league crown is K-Christian’s fourth-straight, and the Comets will head into the postseason seeking at least a fourth-straight District title. The only losses came against Division 1 and 2 opponents that are a combined 42-12. They see second place Hackett Catholic Prep (15-3) one more time Feb. 24 and could see the rival Irish as well in the District.
DIVISION 4
Ewen-Trout Creek (16-2) Last season’s Division 4 runner-up has played like a contender again, with a six-point loss to Division 2 Negaunee (17-1) just like last winter and also one against L’Anse (15-2), but with wins over Baraga (16-3), Norway (14-4) and Wakefield-Marenisco (12-5) twice – and with W-M likely to be the second seed in E-TC’s District in two weeks. Division 2 Houghton (13-5) on Feb. 24 will be another nice test heading into the playoffs.
L’Anse (15-2) The win over Ewen-Trout Creek noted above appears likely to decide the overall Copper Mountain Conference championship in favor of the Purple Hornets and came after they lost to E-TC by 24 a year ago. L’Anse did finish 18-6 last season so this progression may be just the next step, and they’ve shown it even during this winter avenging an early 12-point loss to Baraga with a 16-point win Jan. 29. The other defeat came to Division 1 Marquette, by just three points, also in mid-December.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Friday – Grand Haven (16-2) at Rockford (16-1) – The Rams’ third game in four days this week could clinch them the outright title in the O-K Red, as they look to add to a 64-48 win over the second-place Buccaneers from Jan. 30.
Friday – Pewamo-Westphalia (14-2) at Bath (16-2) – The Pirates’ 37-game Central Michigan Athletic Conference winning streak will be on the line as they look to finish a repeat championship and after defeating Bath 64-41 on Jan. 15.
Friday – Morley Stanwood (15-2) at Kent City (15-4) – Morley Stanwood can clinch the Central State Activities Association White title outright, or Kent City can move into a first-place tie with one league game left for both.
Friday – Beaverton (16-2) at Standish-Sterling (17-1) – These two are set to meet in next week’s Jack Pine Conference championship game as well, but this matchup could provide a preview.
Saturday – Cascades Conference Championship at Spring Arbor – Grass Lake (16-1), Michigan Center (15-3), Brooklyn Columbia Central (15-2) and Hanover-Horton (15-3) all remain in the mix to reach this game.
MHSAA.com's weekly “Breslin Bound” reports 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. Click to connect with MI Student Aid and find more information on Facebook and X @mistudentaid.
PHOTOS (Top) Belleville’s Sydney Savoury (21) pulls up for a shot during her team’s 56-54 win over Wayne Memorial. (Middle) Holt’s Olivia Gadson (11) follow’s a teammate’s screen during the Rams’ 51-42 win over Okemos on Feb. 10. (Belleville/Wayne photo by KMS Photography. Holt/Okemos photo by John Johnson.)
Summer Strides, Preseason Confidence Showing in Escanaba's Excellent Start
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
January 27, 2023
ESCANABA — So far, so good for the Escanaba girls basketball team. The Eskymos are 13-0 after rolling to a 65-36 triumph at Bark River-Harris last Friday, with three more wins already than all of last season.
Coach Tracy Hudson said everything started in a cornfield in Carney during the summer.
“We lost to Ewen-Trout Creek, West Iron County and Bark River-Harris in summer tournaments,” he added. “We were taking a step back and a step forward. We kind of found ourselves in a small gym at Carney-Nadeau. We had to go through some growing pains, but played real well at Michigan Tech and Marquette. We came out of the summer feeling we could be all right.”
They’ve been outstanding.
Coming off a 10-10 finish last season, Escanaba has won nine of its games by double digits under Hudson, who took over the girls program this season after leading the varsity boys from 1997-2022.
The Eskymos improved to 5-0 in the Great Northern Conference with a 62-46 triumph over Menominee on Jan. 16 and have a two-game lead in the league standings with three GNC games to play.
“It feels great to be where we are,” said senior forward Mari Bink, who averages 15.1 points a game. “We were confident coming into the season, but you never know what can happen. We enjoy playing together, and we’re having fun. It’s crazy, but we get excited.”
Hudson is happy with all the success as well but knows the Eskymos will be tested in the days to come. They visit Calumet (10-2) tonight and Houghton (12-1) on Feb. 3.
“The teams in the Keweenaw are very good,” he said. “We’re going to have to bring our A game. Our team motto is ‘All In.’ Coach (Lisa) Maki and the girls came up with it. We have to bring it every day. I think we still have a lot of room for growth.”
Still, Escanaba will enter those games having handed the lone loss to another of the elite teams from the Keweenaw. Sophomore center Grayson LaMarche scored the game-winner on a layup in the final 12 seconds of a 50-49 win over Hancock (11-1) on Jan. 13.
“They definitely have some good teams in the Copper Country,” said senior point guard Carney Salo, who was forced out of that game after hitting her head on the floor late in the third quarter. “I had a rough couple days, but it felt good playing in the Menominee game (three days later).
“I didn’t have any hesitation. We were able to take away (Menominee’s) passing lanes. Defense is the one thing you can control.”
Escanaba is giving up just under 46 points per game against a schedule that’s included wins over four teams with at least 10 wins and eight teams .500 or better. Rival Marquette would be a ninth over .500 if not for a sweep by the Eskymos.
Salo, who didn’t play last season due to an ACL injury, is averaging 7.3 points, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals per game.
“A personal highlight is just getting a chance to play after missing last year,” she said. “I think that makes me more motivated, although you always want to give it your all.”
Junior forward Keira Maki, a 49-percent field goal shooter, scored 24 points and LaMarche added 13 at BR-H.
“That has become a good rivalry,” said Maki. “They’re quick, and they put a lot of pressure on you. They don’t give up. They’re definitely well coached.”
Maki is averaging 17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocked shots, four steals and 2.8 assists per game. She went down with an ankle injury during a 49-33 triumph at Alpena on Dec. 13 but returned in time to help the Eskymos post a 74-44 triumph at Gladstone two weeks later.
“Gladstone definitely has a good freshman (Lillie Johnson), but we put it all together and got the ball moving a lot,” said Maki. “They had a few other players we also had to stop. I felt I wasn’t as well prepared as I could have been if I hadn’t gotten injured at Alpena.”
The Eskymos opened this season with a 65-50 triumph at Marquette, then defeated Gaylord St. Mary (60-45) and the host Ramblers (50-42) in the McBain Invitational.
“We felt we needed to get a win at Marquette,” said Hudson. “Gaylord St. Mary and McBain were polar opposites and got on a little bit of a roll after that. The game with Sault Ste. Marie (a 62-57 victory) was a very big game here. That was similar to Hancock. We couldn’t relax for a moment.
“We’ve separated from the rest of the GNC teams a little and found a way to win the close games. We’re excited about where we’re at. It’s like whipped cream right now, but we’ve told the girls to keep the eye of the tiger and keep improving.”
Junior guard Saylor Henderson has provided timely shooting from outside, hitting 37 percent of her shots from 3-point range and 44 percent inside the arc. She’s averaging 7.2 points.
“The 3-point shot is a big part of our game, and Saylor is a green-light shooter for us,” said Hudson. “Because we play uptempo, we get good looks in transition. We’re also a good free throw shooting team (averaging 67 percent).”
Hudson said he also appreciates the help from the assistant coaches.
“Coach Maki has done a real good job,” he added. “She understands the girls, and our younger coaches (C.J. Barron and Darren Landis) absorb everything like a sponge.”
John Vrancic has covered high school sports in the Upper Peninsula since joining the Escanaba Daily Press staff in 1985. He is known most prominently across the peninsula for his extensive coverage of cross country and track & field that frequently appears in newspapers from the Wisconsin border to Lake Huron. He received the James Trethewey Award for Distinguished Service in 2015 from the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
PHOTOS (Top) Escanaba's Keira Maki (12) leads a break against Menominee during a Jan. 16 victory. (Middle) Eskymos coach Tracy Hudson talks things over with his team during last Friday's win over Bark River-Harris. (Photos courtesy of RRNSports.com.)