PH Northern Measures Up Among State's Best
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
January 4, 2017
It wasn’t long ago that Port Huron Northern’s girls basketball team started scheduling measuring stick games.
The Huskies put teams like Detroit Country Day, Flint Powers and Detroit Martin Luther King on the schedule to see what it was like to play against the best in the state.
Now, in coach Mark Dickinson’s ninth season, the Huskies still have those games on the schedule. They’re just looking more like the “measuring stick” team for their opponents, instead.
“It’s a great feeling,” Northern senior Kendyl Keyes said. “A couple years ago, it’s hard to believe that we would have been at this point, because you’re coming in, you’re so young, and it’s like, ‘Wow, we really did make it.’
“All this work that we put in, that the coaches put in, it’s paid off.”
Northern is 7-0 to start the season, with big early-season wins against Farmington Hills Mercy and Williamston. The Huskies are ranked No. 2 in Class A and No. 4 in the Super 10 by Tom Markowski of State Champs! Sports Network.
The biggest early-season game, however, comes tonight when Northern plays host to reigning Class A champion Warren Cousino, a team it defeated twice a year ago to prove it belongs in the conversation of the state’s best teams.
“I think the kids are more and more confident that we can play with anybody as a team,” Dickinson said. “We pride ourselves on having a team. We don’t have Miss Michigan, but we have a lot of good players from top to bottom.”
It’s a long way from where the Huskies were less than 10 year ago.
Point Guard University
Dickinson’s tenure as varsity coach had humble beginnings. In his first season (2008-09), the Huskies went 1-20, and he and his coaching staff decided to focus on basic fundamentals.
“The first year, we were limited because three kids moved away,” Dickinson said. “We were playing with people who were out of position, so we said, ‘Hey, we’re going to play good D, we’re going to start with that. It’s like building a house, and laying the foundation.’ The first two or three years, that’s what we talked about, that we were going to lay one layer of bricks, lay another layer of bricks.
“The first two years, I had a segment of practice called Point Guard University, where we had them all do tons of ball-handling. We were having some struggles with ball-handling, so we made everybody improve their ball-handling, and it started growing from there.”
It worked. Over the next six seasons, Northern managed to win more games than it had the year before: 9-12 in 2009-10, then 11-10, 17-4 (with a conference title), 18-5 (conference title), 19-7 and 21-4 in 2014-15. Last season also saw 21 wins (21-5), and a co-Macomb Area Conference Red title shared with that eventual Class A champion Cousino.
While it was an entirely different set of girls doing the winning, Dickinson gives a lot of credit for the recent success to the girls who came before them.
“Even the groups before that that didn’t win Districts, they really started to compete and put themselves in position to win games. We just didn’t have quite enough depth at that time, or enough shooters,” Dickinson said. “They were the building blocks of the program. I look back at those early teams, those kids were the ones that kind of set the tone that we’re working in March and April; instead of sitting home and watching TV on Sunday, we’re going to be up here working. Those kids started it, and then it just kind of snowballed.”
Breaking through
While the program started taking off in 2012, its postseason breakthrough didn’t come until 2014 when it won a Regional title, its first under Dickinson. It was also the first District title under Dickinson, and the first of three straight.
Last season, Northern repeated the feat, winning another Class A Regional title before falling in the Quarterfinal against St. Johns. All of that in a season many saw as a rebuilding year, as Northern had graduated a strong senior class the year before.
Thanks to the foundation the Huskies have built, however, rebuilding has turned into reloading.
“I think, partly, we’ve got a really good coaching staff from top to bottom,” Dickinson said. “That’s huge for skill development during the season. During the offseason, we put a lot of time in, and the kids have bought into that. We’ve had kids that have made a commitment to come in year-round and work on their shot, work on their ball-handling. When we do our team stuff in the summer, I know a lot of teams have trouble getting their whole teams there, but I usually have everybody there.”
While the talent and depth continues to grow for the Huskies, the work ethic instilled on those early teams has remained the same.
“We’ve just been in the gym a lot together as a whole,” senior Jenna Koppinger said. “Whenever you want to come in, the coaches are here. If you want to go at 6 a.m., they’re here. If you want to go at 6 at night the same day, they’re back again. That’s really what’s founded it.”
The early-season tests against top-level competition have helped take the Huskies to their current level, but so has playing in the Macomb Area Conference Red, which Dickinson considers one of the best conferences in the state. The Huskies also have traveled throughout the summer to play against the best and in big venues, including at the legendary St. Cecelia’s in Detroit.
All of that combined has created a team that isn’t afraid to play on the biggest stages or wildest environments.
“It’s so exciting – it’s fun,” senior Bree Bauer said. “It gives you a lot of adrenaline, and I think it makes me play better.”
This year’s team features six seniors – Keyes, Koppinger, Bauer, Cassidy Koschnitzke, Brooke Austin and Kathleen O’Connor – as well as an experienced, play-making junior in Sami Klink. But beyond the experience, there’s a large group of girls waiting for their turn.
Dickinson said several members of his junior varsity team would be varsity players most years, but with his current depth he simply can’t bring them up. His JV squad was a perfect 20-0 a year ago, and spent the summer holding its own against varsity teams, so don’t expect the Huskies to fade away any time soon.
Of course, there’s still plenty to accomplish in the present. With its foundation solidly built, Northern can now look to break through its ceiling, something recent results show it’s more than capable of doing.
“A lot of people think you can’t win a state championship in Port Huron,” Dickinson said. “I’m not going to go that far. We have to keep getting better, and it would nice to make a run at it – we’ve been close. If you get to Breslin Center, you never know what’s going to happen, so we’re knocking on the door. I don’t know if we’re ever going to get there, but we’re working towards it. If you don’t have a goal like that, you’re never going to achieve it.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Northern's Sami Klink moves the ball around the perimeter against Detroit Cass Tech on Dec. 28 at the Motor City Roundball Classic. (Middle) The Huskies hoist the championship trophy after defeating Croswell-Lexington on Dec. 22 to win the Port Huron Holiday Tournament. (Photos by Jill O'Connor.)
Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Girls Report Week 8
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 2, 2026
The final month of the girls basketball regular season has begun, and the whirlwind is underway as teams will spend the next four weeks finishing off league schedules, filling in previously-postponed matchups, and all the while readying for MHSAA Tournament play that begins March 2.
Our Michigan Power Ratings page will be among the most popular on this website over the next month; check it out for rankings both statewide but especially within individual Districts, updated as games are played. This season’s District brackets will be posted Feb. 22, and there are plenty of details on the process for drawing them on the MPR FAQ page.
“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. Rockford 64, Grand Haven 48 The Rams (10-1) moved into first place alone in another competitive Ottawa-Kent Conference Red race, sending Grand Haven (11-1) into second with its first defeat.
2. Negaunee 30, Gladstone 19 This matchup of arguably the two best in the Upper Peninsula turned into a low-scoring battle, as Negaunee (14-0) held an opponent below 20 points for the sixth time – but Gladstone (11-3) also caused the Miners to tie their season low.
3. Ludington 49, Fremont 48 (2OT) Fremont (8-3) had won 29 straight West Michigan Conference Lakes games, including defeating new league leader Ludington (9-5) by 12 when they faced off Dec. 11.
4. Shelby 40, Ravenna 39 This was for first place in the WMC Rivers, and Shelby (11-1) has a narrow lead after winning by this narrowest of margins, with Ravenna (12-3) getting another chance Feb. 16.
5. Holland Christian 46, Spring Lake 35 Holland Christian (9-3) put itself in strong position to repeat as O-K Black champion, opening the second half of the league schedule with a second win over second-place Spring Lake (8-3).
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Midland (10-4) Although the Chemics did fall last week to Haslett, a highly-regarded team in Division 2, they finished the week with a 46-41 win over Saginaw Heritage that avenged their eight-point loss to the Hawks from December and created a tie between the two for first in the Saginaw Valley League North. The only other losses this winter were to reigning Division 2 champion Tecumseh and Division 1 runner-up Rockford, and there are more challenges immediately ahead this week with Flint Powers Catholic (14-1) and Grand Haven (11-1).
Sturgis (11-2) The Trojans won three games just four seasons ago, improving to nine the following winter and 12 a year ago. With one win this week they’ll equal last season’s total, and they’ve moved up to second place in the Wolverine Conference with their only losses both to league leader Otsego – and by a combined six points. Sturgis also has handed Plainwell two of its three losses, gave Mendon one of its two defeats and Kalamazoo Christian one of its three this winter. The Trojans should end on a roll as only two of Sturgis’ final eight opponents have winning records.
DIVISION 2
Carleton Airport (12-2) The Jets completed the first half of the Huron League schedule undefeated as they seek to move up from second place last season. They lead second-place Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central by a game and face the Kestrels on Thursday. Airport also entered this winter seeking a third-straight District title and has defeated four teams in that bracket during this regular season. The only in-state loss was to 14-win Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, and four days later the Jets jumped back into nonleague play with a solid victory over 11-win Milford.
Flint Powers Catholic (14-1) The Chargers have almost entirely dominated this season, claiming all but one of their 14 wins by double digits and with the only loss to Detroit Renaissance. Powers bounced back from that defeat to down Pewamo-Westphalia, Midland Dow, Davison and Clarkston over their next four games, and the Chargers have a one-game lead over Davison in the SVL South with their rematch set for Feb. 10. Only four opponents have reached 40 points, and none over Powers’ last eight games.
DIVISION 3
Blissfield (11-2) The Royals have won at least 22 games the last three seasons, claimed three straight league championships and four straight District titles. They’re on the right track to do all three again, sitting atop the Lenawee County Athletic Association standings with a multiple-game lead and wins as well over two of the teams in their upcoming District bracket – although Blissfield also has a Dec. 12 loss to Brooklyn Columbia Central, a possible opponent during the first round of the postseason. The Royals’ only other loss came to Tecumseh.
Niles Brandywine (13-0) The Bobcats are stacking wins again coming off last year’s run to the Division 3 Semifinals, and Kent City with an 18-point margin has come the closest to catching them. Kent City also is the only opponent to reach 40 points, and five have scored 20 or fewer. Brandywine leads the Lakeland Conference as well, but there are a few intriguing challenges ahead – most notably this weekend when the Bobcats face second-place Berrien Springs on Friday for the second time and then Wolverine Conference leader Otsego the next afternoon.
DIVISION 4
Gaylord St. Mary (12-1) The Snowbirds are leading the Ski Valley Conference thanks to a 58-35 win over second-place Indian River Inland Lakes on Jan. 21, and the lone loss – 42-38 to Division 2 Petoskey – keeps looking better and better as the Northmen are tied for the lead in the Big North Conference. A league title would be the second straight for St. Mary, but the Snowbirds do see Inland Lakes again in the regular-season finale Feb. 26 and will take on third-place Bellaire to start this week.
Newberry (9-1) A 48-42 win over St. Ignace on Thursday has Newberry undefeated in Eastern Upper Peninsula Athletic Conference play through the first half of the league schedule, and after finishing second to the Saints last season – when it also lost to St. Ignace in a Regional Semifinal. Newberry’s only loss this season was Jan. 16 to Munising, by three points, and after defeating Munising by four in their first meeting nine days earlier. Circle the St. Ignace rematch on Feb. 9 as the big one the rest of the way, and the pair against Cedarville should be key as well.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Monday – Beaverton (11-0) at McBain (12-0) – There are 10 undefeated teams left in Michigan, and these are two of them.
Tuesday – South Lyon East (14-0) at Milford (11-3) – East owns first place in the Lakes Valley Conference thanks to a 52-47 win when these teams met Jan. 13 for the first time this season.
Tuesday – Grand Rapids South Christian (13-0) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (11-2) – South Christian leads an O-K Gold with four contenders, and West Catholic could shake things up if it avenges its 73-62 loss to the Sailors from Jan. 6.
Friday – Negaunee (14-0) at Ishpeming (11-1) – Negaunee has a slim lead over Ishpeming in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East after winning their Jan. 9 matchup 54-44.
Friday – Belleville (13-0) at Livonia Stevenson (12-2) – The reigning Division 1 champion Tigers have played one 10-point game and won most of the rest by many more, but Stevenson surely will be looking forward to the challenge.
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) Negaunee's Liliana Saunders (14), Paige O'Donnell (4), and Clare O'Donnell (44) defend Gladstone's Malia Quigley as she seeks an open teammate during the Miners’ 30-19 win last week. (Middle) Freeland’s Joz Begick drives to the basket during the fourth quarter of her team’s December victory over Essexville Garber. (Negaunee/Gladstone photo by Cara Kamps. Freeland/Garber photo by Kolleth Photo.)