Teams of the Month: Hart Girls & Boys Basketball
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 23, 2023
Few communities in Michigan this winter celebrated as many sizable basketball achievements as small-town Hart.
The 2,000-resident Oceana County seat, about seven miles off the Lake Michigan shore and sitting about 20 miles south of Ludington and 30 north of Muskegon, celebrated accomplishments by both its girls and boys basketball teams that carried statewide significance – and made choosing either over the other’s impossible.
The Hart girls and boys basketball teams are the MHSAA/Applebee’s “Teams of the Month” for February, and this announcement is coming toward the end of March as both just kept winning and adding to their season-long lists of feats.
The Pirates girls made the first major headline when they defeated second-place Mason County Central 51-32 on Feb. 10 to clinch the outright West Michigan Conference Rivers championship. The Hart girls had also won the formerly one-division WMC in 2021-22, and this year’s run ran their league winning streak to 31 games.
Then the boys took their turn, clinching a share of the Rivers championship Feb. 17 with a 67-51 win over North Muskegon and then the title outright by defeating Mason County Central 63-45 on Feb. 23. This league title received some statewide buzz as it was the Hart boys’ first since 1963.
A week later, Hart’s boys finished a 22-0 regular season – becoming the only boys team, and joined by only three girls teams – to go 22-0 this first season that MHSAA member schools were allowed to play 22 games instead of the previous longtime maximum of 20.
The Hart boys then drew into one of the strongest Districts in the state in any division, with the Division 2 group at Big Rapids including four league champions. The Pirates opened with a win over the host Cardinals – winners of the Central State Activities Association – before ending their season at 23-1 with a loss to Big North Conference co-champ Cadillac in the District Final.
The Pirates girls, meanwhile, had clinched their Division 3 District with a third win over Mason County Central, and then won a Regional by edging two-time reigning Finals runner-up Kent City 37-34 – in the process also avenging Hart’s first loss of this season, from Dec. 20. The Regional title was the Hart girls' first since 1992.
Next up was 23-1 Buchanan – and Hart made its biggest statewide splash by handing the Bucks a 45-41 Quarterfinal defeat that sent the Pirates to the MHSAA Girls Basketball Semifinals for the first time.
Hart would end up falling to eventual champion Hemlock 57-26 at Breslin Center, finishing the season 24-4.
“I said it the other day: We’re kinda overlooked. Last year we had a really good team, probably one injury away from another run like this,” said Hart girls basketball coach Travis Rosema during the press conference after the Semifinal. “It started with people investing into the girls. Now that players like Aspen (Boutell) and Abbey (Hicks) have made this run, I saw so many young faces. … We left this morning, the elementary school was packed, and every kid had a sign. It’s a positive impact (and) it’s going to be a lot moving forward.”
The Pirates girls were keyed by Hicks, a junior, sophomore Addi Hovey and Boutell, one of three senior starters.
The boys were paced by senior Parker Hovey, who went over 1,000 points for his career and will continue at Hope College.
Past Teams of the Month, 2022-23
January: Taylor Trillium Academy bowling - Report
December: Byron Center hockey - Report
November: Martin football - Report
October: Gladwin volleyball - Report
September: Negaunee girls tennis - Report
(PHOTOS by Kara Raeth/CatchMark SportsNet.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Quarterfinal Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 11, 2025
Championship week has begun as this MHSAA boys basketball season rolls toward its conclusion, and 32 teams are seeking to add to their season-long stories with tonight’s Quarterfinals.
Below are quick glances at all 16 matchups. Games tip off at 7 p.m. unless noted. Details on tickets, brackets and more can be found on the Boys Basketball page. To watch all 16 games online, visit the NFHS Network.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com. (Abbreviations below denote ppg - points per game, rpg - rebounds per game and apg - assists per game.)
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Wayne Memorial 72, Detroit U-D Jesuit 70 Wayne (23-3) clinched its first Regional title since 1997, downing another popular Division 1 championship pick in ending the Cubs’ season at 22-4.
2. Warren Lincoln 59, Detroit Old Redford 44 Reigning Division 2 champion Lincoln (20-4) won this Regional Final matchup of teams that played at Breslin Center last season, as Old Redford (19-3) was the reigning Division 3 runner-up.
3. Flint Carman-Ainsworth 64, Rockford 60 (OT) Carman-Ainsworth (21-5) would go on to defeat Marquette two days later for a Division 1 Regional title, but this was an eye-opener among Regional Semifinals as Rockford (22-3) was considered a Finals contender.
4. Lansing Sexton 73, Chelsea 71 Sexton (19-5) claimed its first Regional title since 2012 on a buzzer beater in Division 2 that ended Chelsea’s run at 17-9.
5. Flint New Standard Academy 64, Harbor Beach 56 In Division 3, the Warriors (16-8) claimed their first Regional title by handing the Pirates (23-2) just their second defeat.
Quarterfinals at a Glance
DIVISION 1
East Lansing (25-1) vs. Ann Arbor Huron (21-4) at Mason
This is a rematch of a 2024 Quarterfinal won by Huron, 54-48. Senior guard Macari Moore remains a dominant force for the River Rats, averaging 19 points per game while making 59 percent of his shots from the floor. East Lansing is paced by a pair of standouts, junior guard KJ Torbert (20.3 ppg) and senior guard Cameron Hutson (18.5 ppg, 7.4 rebounds per game).
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (19-6) vs. Macomb L’Anse Creuse North (19-8) at University of Detroit Mercy, 5:30 p.m.
The reigning Division 1 champion Eaglets continued to build through a stretch without senior wing Trey McKenney (22.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg) during the regular season but are back at full strength – and McKenney received the Mr. Basketball Award on Monday. Junior guard Julius Wilson paces a balanced LCN team scoring 16 points per game.
Detroit Martin Luther King (21-5) vs. Wayne Memorial (23-3) at University of Detroit Mercy
Wayne edged Detroit U-D Jesuit 72-70 in their Regional Final last week and can turn to multiple scoring options led by junior guard Carlos Medlock Jr. (24.9 ppg, 4.8 assists per game) among three starters averaging double-digit scoring. Three King starters also average at least 10 points per game, led by Steven Jones (15.6 ppg).
Flint Carman-Ainsworth (21-5) vs. Byron Center (20-6) at DeWitt
Carman-Ainsworth also defeated a much-anticipated contender last week, defeating Rockford 64-60 in overtime in their Regional Semifinal. Seniors Donovan Hamlin (14.8 ppg) and MarQuinn Weston II (14.5) give the Cavaliers multiple go-to options. Senior guard Keane Hinkle is Byron Center’s leading scorer at 16 points per game, with 76 3-pointers while making more than 45 percent of his tries beyond the arc.
DIVISION 2
Kingsford (21-3) vs. Freeland (22-3) at Gaylord
Kingsford is playing in a Quarterfinal for the second-straight season and can turn to Gavin Grondin, who averages 24.3 ppg and has made 79 3-pointers. Freeland also has a long-range shooting standout in junior guard Wilson Huckeby, who is averaging a team-high 20.2 ppg and has connected on 87 shots from 3-point range.
Lansing Sexton (19-5) vs. Romulus Summit Academy North (22-3) at Jackson
Sexton junior guard Keyshawn Summerville sent his team to this week with a longer-than-halfcourt buzzer-beater to get past Chelsea 73-71 in their Regional Final, and he’s averaging a team-best 19.6 ppg. Summit has four players scoring between 10-14 points per game – led by junior wing Chance Houser (14.3 ppg) – as it seeks a second trip to Breslin over the last three seasons.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (20-7) vs. Marshall (20-6) at Hamilton
Catholic Central graduated last season’s Mr. Basketball but is another returning quarterfinalist with junior forward Izaya Larthridge (15.5 ppg, 61 3-pointers) leading the way. Marshall has emerged from a three-way title share in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference paced by senior forward Austin Miller (15.4 ppg, 54 3-pointers).
Warren Lincoln (20-4) vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (14-10) at St. Clair County Community College
Reigning Division 2 champion Warren Lincoln has won 15 straight games and brings a starting lineup of all seniors into championship week. Notre Dame Prep will play in its second Quarterfinal over the last four seasons, led by stars from the Division 5 champion football team including senior guard Joey DeCasas (19 ppg).
DIVISION 3
Ishpeming Westwood (21-5) vs. McBain (23-2) at Boyne City
McBain is on another run after reaching the Semifinals last year and falling to eventual champion Niles Brandywine in overtime at Breslin. Sophomore Clayton Heuker has taken on a starring role at 19.7 ppg and can play all over the lineup. Westwood defeated teams last week that finished with a combined 44-6 record and is led by junior guard Ethan Marta (27 ppg, 50 3-pointers).
Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac (19-1) vs. Flint New Standard Academy (16-8) at St. Clair County Community College, 5:30 p.m.
ATAP has jumped from 8-7 last season to the Quarterfinals, with the lone loss to Division 1 Hamtramck and freshman guard Lewis Lovejoy (17.9 ppg) leading four players scoring at least 12 points per game. New standard has followed previously-longtime Saginaw Arthur Hill coach Greg McMath to this week, with junior guard Jeffrey Turner (15.8 ppg) and senior forward Jhirnea Harris (13.6) leading a lineup that includes two freshmen.
Jackson Lumen Christi (23-3) vs. Riverview Gabriel Richard (22-2) at Ypsilanti Lincoln
This is another Quarterfinal rematch from last season, and will even be played on the same floor. Gabriel Richard won last year’s meeting 58-44 and then its two with Lumen this winter 88-65 and 82-48 on the way to claiming Catholic High School League AA and Cardinal Tournament championships.
Pewamo-Westphalia (23-3) vs. Schoolcraft (20-6) at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
After missing out on the Quarterfinals with a one-point Regional Final loss last season, P-W has advanced to championship week for the third time over the last four seasons. Junior guard Grady Eklund leads at 17.5 ppg. Schoolcraft is making its third Quarterfinal trip in five seasons with senior guard Tucker Walther (16 ppg, 5.0 apg) guiding a balanced attack.
DIVISION 4
Crystal Falls Forest Park (24-2) vs. Pickford (23-2) at Gladstone
Forest Park will play in a Quarterfinal for the second-straight season and is led by the Giuliani brothers – senior forward Kevin (14.6 ppg) and sophomore forward Vic (22 ppg) – among standouts from the 8-player Division 2 football champion in the fall. Pickford was the 8-player Division 1 football runner-up and several of those playmakers are driving this run as well with senior forward Eli MacDonald the lead scorer at 16.6 ppg.
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (24-2) vs. Adrian Lenawee Christian (22-4) at Richland Gull Lake
The reigning Division 4 champion Tri-unity will attempt to send out retiring coach Mark Keeler with one more title this week. Senior 6-foot-7 center Joey Mellon leads another balanced lineup at 13 ppg. Junior forward Jaxon Salenbien is the latest high-scoring talent from his school and family, averaging 24.3 ppg with 52 3-pointers as he attempts to follow his two older sisters’ previous paths to Finals weekend.
Bellaire (22-4) vs. Fowler (23-3) at Houghton Lake
A pair of senior standouts has Bellaire playing in its first Quarterfinal since 2016, as Drake Koepke (16.8 ppg) and Jayden Hanson (16.1) are setting the pace. Fowler is making its first trip to this round since 2017 with two of its losses this season to Pewamo-Westphalia, playing tonight in Division 3.
Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (23-3) vs. Kingston (18-6) at West Bloomfield, 6 p.m.
This is one more rematch from last year’s Quarterfinals, which Inter-City Baptist won 58-46. Junior guard Ethan Esse is starring again for Inter-City, averaging 22.3 ppg with 64 3-pointers, and senior center Austin DeRoseau also is back among Kingston’s leaders with a team-high 18.6 ppg and three blocked shots as well per contest.
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PHOTOS (Top) Pewamo-Westphalia’s Reece Thelen (3) launches a 3-pointer this season. (Middle) Macomb L'Anse Creuse North's Julius Wilson (1) drives during his team's 68-65 Regional Final win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate. (Below) Carman-Ainsworth’s Anthony Mull (20) drives during last week’s win over Rockford. (P-W photo by Jim Pivarnik. LCN/De La Salle photo by Adam Sheehan. Carman-Ainsworth/Rockford photo by Terry Lyons.)