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.
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) 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.)
Northwest Draws Closer to Dream Finish
March 16, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
GRAND RAPIDS – Like kids in every community, future Jackson Northwest athletes grow up dreaming of winning championships.
But there’s something more to say about the opportunity earned by the Mounties with their 56-47 Class B Semifinal win Friday over Michigan Center.
A championship Saturday would be the first in program history. It would be the second in school history, in any sport – joining the Division 2 girls bowling title won in 2013.
“It would be good for our community, because everybody has brought so much support,” Northwest senior Sydney Shafer said. “And the fact that we’ve never done this makes it better because we’re making history.
“We’re hanging numbers – that was our thing, kind’ve – and it’s just surreal. Not many people get to experience what we’re going through right now.”
The Mounties already will hang a few “numbers” – maybe a few 18s on the banners in their gym for winning their first Regional and making their first girls basketball championship game this winter.
They’ll get a chance to add one more against Detroit Country Day in Saturday’s 6:15 p.m. Class B Final at Van Noord Arena.
Northwest (25-1) has put together a nice run in girls basketball with a combined 79-17 record and three District titles moving between Class B and Class A over the last four seasons.
The Mounties fell four points shy of claiming that first Regional title in Class A in 2016, losing to East Lansing by four points in the Regional Final.
“This has been our goal the last four years. This year, this team is special,” senior Ella Bontrager said. “We knew that from the beginning. We’ve taken one game at a time, worked hard on offensive and defensively, and this team play together more than any team too. We want it, every single game, and we don’t want to be done.”
Northwest came out Friday draining shots. Bontrager knocked down two 3-pointers during the game’s first two minutes, and sophomore sister Jozie Bontrager’s 3-pointer two minutes later made the score 13-4.
Jozie Bontrager connected on a pair of 2-pointers during the second quarter to keep Northwest’s lead at 31-22 by halftime.
But Michigan Center, a Class C runner-up twice last decade, had some shooting bottled up for the second half. Despite trailing by 17 during the first minute of the fourth quarter, the Cardinals cut that deficit to seven over the next two minutes in part on 3-pointers by senior Brianna Wolvin, sophomore Morgan Morris and senior Masyn Shannon.
The comeback wasn’t unexpected, as the two schools are 14 miles apart and a number of players know each other from the offseason circuit.
“Every game we’ve played, we seem to allow those runs,” Northwest coach Ryan Carroll said. “I know that’s not a strong trait, but we also then respond.
“These guys are fearless. It’s just another game for them, just another run. We knew Michigan Center was very capable of knocking down shots.”
In the end, Northwest knocked down a few more, especially at the line. The Mounties connected on 13 of 23 free-throw attempts, but Michigan Center was only 7 of 18.
Schafer finished with 21 points, along with 13 rebounds and six steals. Jozie Bontrager had 13 points and 12 rebounds and Ella Bontrager added 11 points. Senior Masyn Shannon had 14 points and seven rebounds to lead Michigan Center (23-3) and was the only senior to see the floor for her team.
The Cardinals finished a combined 43-7 over the last two seasons after going 6-15 in 2015-16. They’ve most recently been in Class C, but moved into Class B this school year.
“It was such a journey for us,” Shannon said. “We were excited every single game. Every game we won in this tournament, we bawled our eyes out because we were so happy. It’s something to be excited about, something to be nervous about – a lifetime experience and something me and the rest of the team will never forget.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Jackson Northwest players celebrate Friday’s Semifinal win over Michigan Center. (Middle) Michigan Center’s Morgan Morris works for position in the post with Jozie Bontrager guarding her.