Breslin Bound: Girls Report Week 2
December 17, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Those who regularly contend for MHSAA titles or monitor high school sports statewide always are on the lookout for surprise teams making an impression at the beginning of a season or showing signs of contending at the end.
A number of teams making this week’s report would qualify. Read on for why.
1. Pittsford (4-0, Class C) – The Wildcats have won their last three games by at least 18 points apiece, including by 18 over last season Class D Semifinalist Climax-Scotts.
2. Ann Arbor Huron (4-1, Class A) – Huron has rebounded from an opening loss against powerful Goodrich to put up some solid wins including a 26-pointer over Temperance Bedford.
3. Jackson (4-1, Class A) – The Vikings also started last season 4-1, but look a lot better this time with a big win over perennial power East Lansing.
4. Flat Rock (4-0, Class B) – The Rams are on another run after going 22-2 last season, already posting an impressive win over Flint Southwestern.
5. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (5-0, Class D) – The Irish have cruised after an opening two-point win, and beat reigning Class D runner-up Waterford Our Lady by 30 last week.
6. Mackinaw City (5-0, Class D) – The school has only 61 students but five girls hoops wins including three by 40 or more points.
7. Flint Southwestern (3-2, Class B) – Southwestern won only five games last season; its victories so far include an impressive one over Muskegon, while the losses were to Flat Rock (mentioned above) and last season Class B runner-up Flint Powers.
8. Plymouth (3-0, Class A) – The Wildcats have beaten three teams with winning records to reverse paths after opening last season 1-3.
9. Hemlock (4-0, Class C) – The Huskies have won their first four games by 50, 19, 40 and 43 points, respectively, after opening last season 2-4.
10. Twining Arenac Eastern (4-0, Class D) – The Eagles have beaten soundly some bigger opponents already, with three victories by 25 or more points.
PHOTO: Saginaw Heritage, in green, got past Saginaw 61-48 last week and stood at 2-1 entering this week. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Breslin Bound: Girls Report Week 12
February 19, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The girls basketball season has entered its final week, and teams are finishing historical runs and preparing to start anew Monday with the beginning of Districts all over the state.
Below are 10 teams that have been riding high of late, and for the most part all season.
1. Detroit Martin Luther King (17-0) – This team is making a strong argument to join the list of top-notch King achievers over the years, and beat Detroit Cass Tech 45-38 in the Detroit Public School League championship game.
2. Niles Brandywine (18-0) – Brandywine survived a small scare against Bronson with a 34-28 win and will be one of the most intimidating teams in Class C when Districts begin.
3. Marquette (16-3) – The Redettes have only one loss since falling to Brighton and Petoskey during opening week – to Houghton two weeks ago. But Marquette evened that series by beating Houghton on Thursday in the rematch, 58-55.
4. Clarkston (17-1) – A 50-43 win over Southfield-Lathrup capped a three-victory week and might be the best of an impressive run this winter.
5. Ann Arbor Huron (13-4) – Huron did lose to Clarkston last week, but has won 10 of its last 11 including beating reigning Class B champion Goodrich on Thursday, 55-53.
6. Burton Bendle (16-2) – Although the Tigers did drop their second game with New Lothrop this season, on Feb. 7, they won a rematch last week against Flint Hamady, 57-55, after falling to Hamady on Jan. 8.
7. Carson City-Crystal (16-2) – The Eagles are having one of their finest seasons ever, and last week’s 41-37 win over powerful Saginaw Nouvel is the best Carson City-Crystal win in recent (and perhaps distant) memory.
8. Pickford (11-6) – Save for a pair of losses to championship contender St. Ignace, Pickford’s other four losses are by a combined 19 points. The Panthers avenged one last week by beating DeTour 42-28.
9. Grand Haven (17-0) – The reigning Class A champion is closing in on a perfect regular season, about the only that that eluded the Buccaneers in 2011-12 when they finished 27-1.
10. Gaylord St. Mary (18-2) – Combined with last season’s regular-season finish, St. Mary is 37-3 over the last two and looks like a Class D contender again coming off a two-point loss in its 2012 Quarterfinal.
PHOTO: Detroit Martin Luther King's Antania Hayes was named Miss PSL last week and led King to the Detroit Public School League championship at Detroit Mercy. (Photo courtesy of the Detroit PSL.)