Countdown to Calvin: Regional Preview
March 5, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We're just days removed from one of the most highlight-filled and upset-loaded Girls Basketball District weeks in recent memory. We could spend this entire "Countdown to Calvin" report noting every single game that sent a wave through the brackets.
But the tournament is about advancing and looking ahead, and we've got plenty to preview as Regional Semifinals tip off tonight.
Below we mention five of the District results that especially made an impression, plus look at three Regionals of particular note in each class – all powered by MI Student Aid. Host sites are bolded, and matchups shown are for Regional Semifinals. (Click for brackets for every Regional in all four classes.)
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Caledonia 46, East Kentwood 45 – A last-second basket pushed Caledonia past the reigning Class A runner-up and undefeated Falcons after East Kentwood has won the first two meetings between the teams.
2. Manchester 46, Pittsford 45 – In Class C, Manchester ended Pittsford’s winning streak at 76, two wins short of the MHSAA record.
3. Big Rapids 49, Stanton Central Montcalm 34 – In Class B, Big Rapids handed Central Montcalm its only loss after falling twice to the Hornets during the regular season.
4. Dexter 41, Ann Arbor Huron 36 – The Dreadnaughts knocked out a Class A contender in the District opener, ending the River Rats’ 18-game winning streak.
5. Ishpeming Westwood 59, Negaunee 44 – Westwood ended the Class C contender Miners’ perfect season after also falling twice to Negaunee earlier this winter.
Regionals at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold:
CLASS A
Mount Pleasant
Marquette (16-6) vs. Saginaw Heritage (22-1), Flint Carman-Ainsworth (21-2) vs. Davison (11-12)
All three of Heritage’s District opponents last week had winning records, and things of course aren’t going to get easier. Marquette was the Great Northern Conference champion, and Carman-Ainsworth finished second to Heritage in the Saginaw Valley League. The Cavaliers’ losses came to the Hawks 60-44 on Jan. 5 and reigning Class B champion Detroit Country Day the next day 65-59. Davison had lost seven of nine to close the regular season, but bounced back at the right time to win three and the title last week.
West Bloomfield
Utica Eisenhower (19-3) vs. Waterford Kettering (16-6), Clarkston (18-4) vs. Bloomfield Hills Marian (18-4)
Eisenhower won the Macomb Area Conference White, Clarkston shared the Oakland Activities Association Red title and Marian shared the Detroit Catholic League Central championship. Kettering only finished second in the Lakes Valley Conference but then won its fifth straight District title. Marian has a 52-38 win over Kettering from Nov. 30 and some tournament experience as well having won the Catholic League A-B title and its seventh straight District championship.
Zeeland East
Caledonia (18-5) vs. Muskegon (21-2), Hudsonville (16-7) vs. East Grand Rapids (20-3)
Caledonia should be riding high after shocking previously undefeated and reigning Class A runner-up East Kentwood last week, and the Fighting Scots ran their winning streak to six in clinching the District title one game later. Next up is Muskegon, which hasn’t lost since Dec. 22 and survived a three-point scare against Grand Haven in their District Final. Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold runner-up East Grand Rapids has won 11 straight, and Hudsonville was one of six teams from the seven-team O-K Red that finished the regular season with a winning record.
CLASS B
Goodrich
Corunna (16-6) vs. Birch Run (20-3), Goodrich (18-4) vs. Freeland (21-2)
Half of the six-team Genesee Area Conference Red won District titles, including champion Goodrich and third-place Corunna. Next up they face two of the best from the Tri-Valley Conference – East champion Birch Run and Central title winner Freeland. The Falcons downed the Panthers 70-55 in a crossover Jan. 30, and also have a 61-43 win over the Martians from Jan. 16.
Grant
Comstock Park (19-4) vs. Muskegon Oakridge (20-3), Grand Rapids South Christian (18-4) vs. Howard City Tri-County (15-8)
Oakridge has won six straight West Michigan Conference titles and four Districts during that time, but is seeking its first Regional championship during this string of successes. It won’t come easy if this is the year. Comstock Park won the O-K Blue and has improved 11 wins this season from 2016-17. On the other side of the bracket, South Christian won the O-K Gold and is only two seasons removed from finishing Class B runner-up. And Tri-County is dangerous too; the Vikings claimed a trophy last week after finishing third in the Central State Activities Association Gold behind Stanton Central Montcalm (20-1) and Big Rapids (21-2).
Milan
Ida (19-3) vs. New Boston Huron (20-2), Michigan Center (20-2) vs. Dearborn Henry Ford Academy (16-6)
Ida won the Lenawee County Athletic Association, Huron shared the Huron League title, Michigan Center won the Cascades Conference outright and Henry Ford Academy finished second in the Charter School Conference. Ida finished the regular season with a 19-point win over Huron co-champ Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, and that could be telling. Henry Ford Academy has the most losses for a reason – all but one came against teams that went on to win District titles as well. Michigan Center and New Boston Huron both found success after playing in different classes last year, Michigan Center Class C and Huron in Class A.
CLASS C
Bridgman
Schoolcraft (23-0) vs. Kalamazoo Hackett (15-8), Niles Brandywine (21-2) vs. Bronson (17-6)
Schoolcraft has followed up its Quarterfinal run of a year ago with perfection, including wins of 13 and 18 over Hackett as they finished first and second, respectively, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley. All but one of the Eagles’ win have been by double digits; that lone single-digit win came 62-61 over Bronson on Dec. 12. The Vikings tied for third in the strong Big 8 Conference and face Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference Red runner-up Brandywine, which has won Regional titles five of the last six seasons. The Bobcats’ only losses this season were to Class B Comstock (19-2).
Escanaba
Iron River West Iron County (18-4) vs. Ishpeming (19-3), St. Ignace (21-1) vs. Houghton (15-7)
Ishpeming – which finished runner-up to Negaunee in the Mid-Peninsula Athletic Conference – emerged from their District last week after rival Westwood ended the undefeated Miners’ season. Now the Hematites could get their chance to topple another undefeated power; first up is Western Peninsula Athletic Conference runner-up West Iron, but St. Ignace looms on the other side of the bracket. The Saints open with West PAC champ Houghton, annually one of the Upper Peninsula’s best as well. But St. Ignace’s only loss was to reigning Class C champ Detroit Edison, and it put up an impressive 87-56 win on Class B Goodrich (also noted above) on Feb. 10.
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian
Pewamo-Westphalia (22-0) vs. Laingsburg (20-2), Grandville Calvin Christian (11-11) vs. Hemlock (20-3)
Reigning Class C runner-up Pewamo-Westphalia has been all but unstoppable, winning by an average margin of 41 points per game. Springport, falling only 34-27 in the District Final, gave the Pirates by far their toughest test; two teams, including Class A District champ Detroit Renaissance, got within 23 during the regular season. Laingsburg got within 24 on Feb. 15, and both of its losses this season were to P-W – this matchup could be even closer. On the other side, Calvin Christian finished second in the O-K Silver despite playing a number of larger schools. Hemlock won the TVC West, with its losses to Class B Freeland and Birch Run (see above) and league runner-up Saginaw Valley Lutheran. The Huskies made the Quarterfinals last season.
CLASS D
Big Rapids Crossroads Academy
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (22-0) vs. Onekama (12-10), Fruitport Calvary Christian (19-3) vs. Bear Lake (17-5)
Sacred Heart is arguably the favorite to win the entire Class D tournament after falling to reigning champion Pittsford in either the Semifinals or Final the last two seasons. Onekama has been on a roll, though, with five wins in its last six games and seven over its last 10 – with the three losses during that run to Class B Kingsley (23-0) and Benzie Central (17-5) and Class C Maple City Glen Lake (20-2). Bear Lake shared the West Michigan D League title and has rattled off nine wins over its last 10 games. The Lakers open against Alliance League champion Calvary Christian, which has won 15 straight and avenged one of those three losses by beating Muskegon Heights Academy in the District Final.
Kingsford
Bark River-Harris (17-5) vs. Crystal Falls Forest Park (13-9), Munising (22-1) vs. Chassell (22-1)
The second game of the night pits the Skyline Central Conference large-school division champion Mustangs against the Copper Mountain Conference Copper Country title winner Chassell. The Panthers haven’t lost since falling to L’Anse by four in their opener. Munising’s lone defeat came Jan. 4 to Gwinn. Tonight’s first game is a rematch of SCC-Large rivals – the teams split 12-point wins, with Forest Park’s coming in the regular-season finale Feb. 22 as part of a six-game winning streak. Bark River-Harris has won nine of its last 11, however.
St. Ignace
Harbor Spring Harbor Light Christian (19-2) vs. Cedarville (19-3), Gaylord St. Mary (21-1) vs. Rudyard (9-13)
Cedarville has taken a big jump this season after going 13-9 a year ago. Not only did the Trojans win the Eastern UP Athletic Conference, but their lone losses were twice to Class C contender St. Ignace and once to Sault Ste. Marie, a Class B District champ. But Northern Lakes Conference champ Harbor Light Christian will provide an immediate challenge this week. Rudyard, which plays in two leagues including the EUP, upset Engadine to win its District and has won five of its last six games. Gaylord St. Mary has won 21 straight, with a perfect run through the Ski Valley Conference, as it looks to get back to the final week of the season after falling in its Regional Final by three points a year ago.
PHOTO: Unionville-Sebewaing celebrates its Class C District title after defeating Cass City in overtime last week. (Click to see more from Varsity Monthly.)
Rockford's Miss Basketball Caps Career Among State's Top Shooters, All-Time Winners
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 19, 2025
Rockford’s Anna Wypych finished her high school career in March with four record book listings earned during her four-year varsity career and Miss Basketball Award-winning senior season.
She made 94 3-pointers last winter, good for fifth all-time, and finished her career with 203. She also made the career games played list with 107 and career wins list helping the Rams to a 99-8 record. Rockford won the Division 1 championship in 2023, finished runner-up last winter and also made the Semifinals when Wypych was a freshman and junior.
She’s continuing her career this season at Butler.
See below for several recently-added listings to the girls basketball record book, and click the heading to see the record book in full. Several more applications have been received and are in the process of being confirmed.
Girls Basketball
Mia McGregor is up to 26 listings in the record book after her first two seasons at Mio. Her 58 points in a game against St. Helen Charlton Heston as a freshman is tied for ninth and one of her 12 games scoring 45 or more points. Her 866 points (41.2 ppg average) that debut season rank second all-time, and she’s already on the career 3-pointers (160) and free throw (345) lists. She also made the single-game assists list with 14 against Atlanta last season.
Jaxi Long’s heroics at the end of a 61-54 win over Muskegon Western Michigan Christian on Jan. 4, 2022, have her second on a record book list. She scored 29 points, including 22 in the fourth quarter, as Newaygo came back from an 11-point deficit that period. She’s playing at Cornerstone.
Baraga senior Kara Roberts made the single-season 3-pointers list as both a sophomore (74) and junior (70). Baraga as a team also made multiple 3-pointer lists over the last few seasons, including with 13 in a game last winter. Roberts has committed to continue at Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Morrice’s Aubrey Rogers totaled 20 steals during a Feb. 2, 2024, win over Burton Bendle, tying for second-most in one game. She was a senior and has continued at Spring Arbor.
Ishpeming’s march to the Division 4 championship in 2024 includes several record-book accomplishments as a team and individually. As a team, Ishpeming tied the single-season record of 28 wins in finishing 28-1, and made lists with 195 3-pointers and 710 attempts from beyond the arc. Then-junior Jenessa Eagle made the record book with 72 of those 3-pointers. She has signed with Michigan Tech.
Evart junior Kyrah Gray made the single-season steals list with 15 in a Dec. 6, 2024, game against Beal City, and finished the season with 188 over 25 games – the season total ranking fifth all-time.
Averie Zinn has entered her senior season at Genesee with 20 record book listings – and a chance to add several more. Zinn’s best from her first three seasons included 851 points scored (32.7 per game) last winter, which rank third all-time; 186 free throws last season, which rank 10th; and 218 steals also from last season that rank third on that list. She has committed to Wayne State.
Charlotte senior Peyton Howarth cemented her name in the record book with nine 3-pointers in a Dec. 7, 2024, game against Quincy. She finished with 29 points.
Vivian Idziak earned Grand Rapids Union’s first record book entry in this sport with 15 blocked shots against Muskegon Reeths-Puffer on Jan. 16, 2024, and added a second with 27 rebounds against Wyoming Kelloggsville this past Feb. 25. She graduated this spring and will continue at Grand Rapids Community College, where she will run cross country.
Braxcynn Baker finished her Lowell career in 2024 with several record book listings, including for 183 free throws (in 223 attempts) as a senior and 479 free throws (ranking eighth) in 587 attempts with an .816 percentage for her career. She also made the career 3-pointers list with 180 over 91 games. Her senior-season free throws contributed significantly to Lowell’s MHSAA-record 319 over 25 games that season. She’s continuing her career at Murray State.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s earned its first girls basketball record book listings during the 2023-24 season. As a team, the Eaglets made 171 3-pointers in 487 attempts – both totals making lists – and Allie Crighton made the single-season free-throw shooting list by connecting on 87 percent of her attempts. She’s a junior and has committed to Northwood.
Fallon Behrick launched a quick start on her 32-point night for Otisville-LakeVille Memorial against Mt. Morris on Jan. 23. The senior scored 21 first-quarter points to make the single-quarter scoring list.
Milan’s Emily Bladen scored 39 points on Dec. 10, 2024, against Britton Deerfield, with 27 coming on nine 3-pointers as she made that single-game list. She’s currently a junior.
Parc Liggins also earned a spot on the single-game 3-pointers list with 10 in 14 attempts for Grand Blanc against Lapeer on Jan. 24. She’s a senior this winter.
Parchment’s 61-30 win over Delton Kellogg on Jan. 28 saw the winning team tie for the sixth-most 3-pointers made in one game – 17 – while also making the single-game attempts list with 47.
Adelyn Moore finished her career at Caro in 2023 by making single-season lists with 150 steals and 336 rebounds – and also career lists with 442 steals and 1,047 rebounds over four seasons and 80 games. She played a season at University of Chicago and is now at Denison in Ohio.
Kent City added to its growing list of top 3-point performances when it connected on 16 – on only 37 attempts – in a Feb. 11 game against Howard City Tri County.
White Cloud’s Alexis Strait tied for the fourth-most 3-pointers in a game when she made 11 on the way to scoring 37 points total on Feb. 7, 2020, against Hesperia. She was a junior that season.
Tamerah Peterson capped her Sterling Heights Parkway Christian career last winter with 633 steals – good for second on the career list – over four seasons and 86 games. Her 213 steals as a sophomore rank fourth for a single season. She was joined in the records by now-junior Angelina Marchesi, who made the single-season rebounds list with 312 over 24 games. Peterson is running track at Spring Arbor.
Merrill’s Maddy Desmyter entered her senior season with a record book entry after grabbing 316 rebounds over 23 games last winter. She has committed to Adrian College.
Twice over five days in February, Analeis Ming made the single-season assists list with two of the highest-ranking performances in state history. She had 15 assists in Au Gres-Sims’ game Feb. 13 against Atlanta and 17 steals on Feb. 17 against Fairview. She is a senior and has committed to play soccer at Knox College in Illinois.
Jayna Schwartz capped her Battle Creek Calhoun Christian career last winter with 73 3-pointers over 21 games, making that single-season list. She just missed the single-season list as a junior with 64.
Madeline Pier tied for 13th all-time on the single-game rebounds list when she grabbed 30 in Swartz Creek’s win over Flint Kearsley on Jan. 31. She’s a junior.
Saline’s Keira Roehm drained 100 3-pointers last winter – third-most in MHSAA history – and had 238 entering her senior year to already rank 12th on the career list after 73 games. She contributed significantly to Saline’s team total of 174 over 24 games. She’s committed to Wayne State.
Hanna Vaughn added 46 more 3-pointers as a senior last season to finish her four-year Ironwood career with 201 over 92 games. She’s playing volleyball and basketball at Gogebic Community College.
Nearly 50 years later, the longest overtime game in MHSAA girls basketball history has been uncovered. Michigan Center defeated Grass Lake 57-50 in six overtimes on Oct. 11, 1978. Coincidentally, Michigan Center also played in a five-overtime game that was tied for the record before this result was added to the top of the list.
Niles Brandywine added to its several listings for 3-pointers attempted and made, connecting on 198 of 689 attempts over 28 games last season. Both rank among the top 15 in their respective categories.
Victoria Hauffe has entered her senior season at Hemlock already on the career 3-pointers list with 159 over her first three seasons and after connecting on 69 last winter. Hemlock as a team was added to the records for making 13 3-pointers against Essexville Garber last December and attempting 529 over 25 games.
Dena Droste played four varsity seasons for DeWitt through graduation in 2011, and finished on the career 3-pointers list with 152 in 415 attempts. She went on to play at Kent State and Ferris State.
PHOTO Rockford's Anna Wypych (2) makes a move toward the lane during last season's Division 1 championship game.