Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Girls Report Week 7
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 26, 2026
The frostiest winter in recent memory disrupted about half of last week’s girls basketball schedule across Michigan.
But there are still plenty of highlights to pass on – and we can look forward to a busy February for many teams as snowed-out games are worked into the open dates remaining. Stay tuned.
“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. Holt 40, DeWitt 37 The Rams (9-2) avenged an 11-point loss to the Panthers (10-2) from Dec. 16 and reset the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue race with DeWitt and Holt now with one loss in league play.
2. Gaylord St. Mary 58, Indian River Inland Lakes 35 The Snowbirds (10-1) stand alone atop the Ski Valley Conference standings after Inland Lakes (9-2) also entered this matchup tied for first.
3. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 54, Farmington Hills Mercy 22 OLSM (11-2) solidified its place atop the Catholic High School League Central after also defeating second-place Mercy (9-2) by 12 points on Jan. 2.
4. Goodrich 53, Saginaw Heritage 37 The Martians (13-0) won a matchup of league leaders and handed Heritage (10-3) its only double-digit defeat this winter.
5. Midland 65, Detroit Edison 46 The Chemics (9-3) loaded their nonleague schedule with several annual statewide contenders and earned a notable win in downing the Pioneers (4-4).
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Grand Haven (10-0) The Buccaneers are looking good to push for a first Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title since 2012-13 as they continue to build off last season’s 22-4 overall finish. They’ve started 3-0 in league play but with a tough week ahead hosting Muskegon (9-1) on Tuesday, and then Rockford (8-1) on Friday with first place on the line. Only O-K Black contender Spring Lake has gotten within single digits of catching Grand Haven, with the Bucs winning that Dec. 19 matchup 35-28.
South Lyon East (12-0) Last week’s win over Walled Lake Western gave South Lyon East as many victories as all of last season and kept the Cougars atop the Lakes Valley Conference standings after they finished third a year ago. Only second-place Milford and 10-win Plymouth have gotten within single digits, and East also has a notable 58-44 win over Southeastern Conference Red contender Saline. A closing run including games with Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Farmington Hills Mercy and Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard will be great tournament prep.
DIVISION 2
Holland Christian (7-3) The Maroons are undefeated in O-K Black play, in part thanks to a 38-34 win over Spring Lake and 55-51 overtime victory over Hudsonville Unity Christian. They are playing for a second-straight league title but also have climbed the statewide Division 2 MPR list in part because of losses to strong opponents Grand Rapids South Christian, Wayland and Grand Rapids Catholic Central – which are a combined 30-3. Holland Christian has another notable nonleague matchup coming up Feb. 3 against undefeated Grand Rapids Covenant Christian.
Wayland (8-1) The Wildcats have strung together seven straight winning seasons and have an opportunity to shake up the O-K Gold this winter. Wayland fell two weeks in its first matchup against still-undefeated Grand Rapids South Christian, but can look forward to a rematch Feb. 10 and games as well against Grand Rapids West Catholic on Feb. 3 and 17. A 51-44 victory over Holland Christian on Dec. 19 avenged last year’s District loss, and a 15-point win over Wyoming to start January also was among the most notable.
DIVISION 3
Beaverton (9-0) After finishing second and four games back of Sanford Meridian in the Jack Pine Conference Division 2 last season, Beaverton quickly has a 2.5-game lead thanks in part to a 67-27 win over Meridian on Jan. 15. Meridian had swept Beaverton last season, and the Beavers also have a victory over St. Louis after splitting with the Sharks in 2024-25. Beaverton has several big nonleague games coming up, including against undefeated McBain, Evart, Standish-Sterling and Jackson Lumen Christi.
Grass Lake (10-1) The Warriors have won seven straight league championships and lead the Cascades Conference East thanks to handing Michigan Center its only league loss, 61-55 on Jan. 15. Grass Lake also has wins over league leaders Hanover-Horton and Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, with the only loss to Division 1 contender Rockford. The Michigan Center rematch on Feb. 13 and home game against Parma Western on Feb. 24 will be intriguing as the postseason approaches.
DIVISION 4
Kingston (11-0) The Cardinals are perfect through the first half of this regular season and have celebrated a new all-time leading scorer in Molly Walker. A 53-34 win over second-place Deckerville last week sent Kingston into first place alone in the Big Thumb Conference Blue, and the Cardinals are also the only team to defeat BTC Black co-leader Brown City. The closest an opponent has come is 19 points, and only one has reached 40 points.
Mendon (9-2) The Hornets have won 18 or more games five times since their last league championship season in 2015-16 – including going 23-4 and making the Division 4 Quarterfinals two years ago. But this could be the season they complete the title climb again as they lead the Southern Central Athletic Association West by a game over Climax-Scotts, which they defeated 30-24 last week. Mendon has allowed only two opponents to reach 40 points, in losses to Division 3 Union City (43-27) and Division 1 Sturgis (46-40).
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Gladstone (10-2) at Negaunee (12-0) – Both were league champions last year and could be again, but what makes this matchup especially intriguing is it’s the first since Gladstone defeated the Miners in last year’s District Final.
Tuesday – Brown City (9-1) at Sandusky (10-1) – These two are tied for first in the BTC Black and will meet again Feb. 19.
Wednesday – Morenci (8-1) at Adrian Lenawee Christian (9-1) – The Friday matchup between these two at Morenci was postponed, but they’re set to play this time at Lenawee Christian for first place in the Tri-County Conference.
Friday – Rockford (8-1) at Grand Haven (10-0) – The Rams have won three straight O-K Red titles, and this matchup could go a long way toward helping them secure a fourth in a row.
Friday – Shelby (9-0) at Ravenna (10-2) – They are the only teams still undefeated in West Michigan Conference Rivers play after finishing second and third, respectively, in the league last season.
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PHOTOS (Top) Wayne Memorial’s Micah Darling (23) drives into the lane during her team’s 55-40 win over Livonia Stevenson last week. (Middle) A Bath player puts up a shot as the Bees held on for a 35-33 win over Laingsburg on Wednesday. (Wayne/Stevenson photo by KMS Photography. Bath/Laingsburg photo by Team Arreguin Photos.)
Sophomores Shine in 'Slugfest' as Frankenmuth Reaches 1st Final Since 1996
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
March 17, 2023
EAST LANSING – Frankenmuth scored only 37 points Friday, but it was enough to win a defensive slugfest.
And, at least for coach Joe Jacobs, it was a thing of beauty.
“The game was exactly what we wanted,” said Jacobs after his team held on for a 37-30 win over Goodrich in Friday’s first Division 2 Semifinal at the Breslin Center.
“We wanted a slugfest. We’re a very good defensive team, and our emphasis tonight was always knowing where their shooters were.”
Frankenmuth sophomore guard Clare Conzelmann was the star on both ends of the court, using her length to get into the passing lanes and disrupt the Goodrich shooters, then converting two traditional three-point plays during the final 3:27 en route to a game-high 15 points.
Conzelmann’s stellar play helped the Eagles soar into the Finals for the first time since 1996. Frankenmuth, 25-2 and champion of the Tri-Valley Conference 8, advanced to Saturday’s 6:15 p.m. championship game against the Grand Rapids West Catholic vs. Lansing Catholic winner.
Conzelmann said she benefitted from Goodrich focusing its defense on shutting down junior guard Mia McLaughlin (Ferris State commit) and 6-foot-1 senior Lexi Boyke (Central Michigan signee).
“A lot of their focus was on Mia and Lexi,” said Conzelmann, one of three sophomore starters for Frankenmuth. “They wanted to try and make other players score. Today, my shots went in, which was great. Sometimes they don’t.”
Frankenmuth led 6-4 after the first quarter, then scored five quick points to open the second quarter on a bucket by Boyke and a 3-pointer by McLaughlin.
But the story of the first half, and the whole game for that matter, was the Eagles’ stifling 2-3 matchup zone defense.
Goodrich (24-4), which is one of the state’s best 3-point shooting teams and scored 60 or more points in three of its first five tournament games, went a stretch of 8 minutes and 5 seconds in the first half without scoring a point. The Martians, who shot 26 percent from the floor for the game and just 4-of-13 from behind the arc, had a similar scoreless stretch of 5 minutes and 35 seconds to open the fourth quarter.
Goodrich coach Jason Gray, in his 24th year, said Frankenmuth’s defense was the best they faced all season.
“Their guards are long and they were getting their hands out and throwing us off,” said Gray, who led the Martians to back-to-back Class B titles in 2012 and 2013.
“We weren’t able to get inside and kick it out, like we like to do. We hung around, but we were never able to take the lead, which might have changed things.”
Goodrich junior Alexis Kosmowski certainly did her part, scoring a team-high 14 points as the Martians stayed within striking distance, trailing by just three points, 22-19, entering the fourth quarter.
That was when a pair of sophomores stepped up for Frankenmuth.
In addition to Conzelmann’s two traditional three-point plays, sophomore forward Izzy Bernthal added a crucial mid-range jumper and then an offensive rebound and putback in the final minute to seal the win. Bernthal finished with six points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Goodrich senior Riley Place, who entered the game with 77 3-pointers, was held to just one on Saturday and six points. Her younger sister, sophomore Ella Place, also scored six points.
The Semifinal win was especially sweet for Boyke, who missed all of last season after injuring her knee in the opening game. She contributed six points and five rebounds, and was happy to be playing instead of watching from the bench.
“It feels good to be on the court with my teammates,” said Boyke. “Yes, I am very thankful for the opportunity.”
PHOTOS (Top) Frankenmuth's Clare Conzelmann (2) brings the ball upcourt with Goodrich's Kayla Hairston (12) providing pressure. (Middle) Goodrich's Kalen Williams (3) and Alexis Kosmowski (11) and Frankenmuth's Lexi Boyke (33) and Izzy Bernthal (4) work for position as they await a rebound.