Class in Session: A History in Classification
July 24, 2017
By Rob Kaminski
MHSAA benchmarks editor
This is the first part in a series on MHSAA tournament classification, past and present, that will be published over the next two weeks. This series originally ran in this spring's edition of MHSAA benchmarks.
Conversation and discussion at the March 2017 MHSAA Representative Council Meeting leaned heavily toward the subject of 8-Player Football and how to properly balance its tournament with the growing number of schools sponsoring the sport.
While the proposal to split the tournament into two divisions beginning with the 2017 school year was adopted, the MHSAA then faced questions such as when to set the divisions, how to determine qualifiers and where to host the championship games.
The topic continues to create a buzz in Class D schools across both peninsulas, and likely will do into the start of school this fall.
Likewise, the lone holdouts still conducting tournaments by class – MHSAA Boys and Girls Basketball and Girls Volleyball – took center stage at the May Council discussion, and following the 2017-18 school year, class is out for good. Both genders of basketball, and girls volleyball, will move to divisional formats thereafter.
There is much to be decided to be sure; but as those in education are well aware, history is the best teacher.
Fortunately for the sports in flux and for all sports under the governance of the MHSAA, the Association more or less wrote the book on the subject of sport classification. Following is a history lesson, with a little advanced division thrown in.
Class structure
Credited with being the first state with multiple tournament classifications, Michigan’s attention to trends and shifts in philosophy aimed at fair play and equal tournament opportunity can be traced from 80 years ago to the present.
In the earliest years of the MHSAA, there were four classifications for elections and tournaments – Classes A, B, C and D. Classes C and D had far more schools than Classes A and B. For example, 80 years ago (1937), there were only 58 schools in Class A, 94 schools in Class B, 297 schools in Class C and 253 schools in Class D.
Gradually through the years, as Michigan’s major cities spawned suburbs, there was a shift in the other direction to the point 30 years ago (1987) when school size became more balanced: 173 Class A schools, 178 Class B schools, 179 Class C schools and 182 Class D schools.
Up until 1987, the MHSAA published the dividing line between each classification, after which schools submitted their enrollments. Then, for 1988 and thereafter, the MHSAA adopted the plan of gathering all enrollments first and then placing 25 percent of the schools in each of four classes. This completed the equalization of the number of schools in each class for elections.
However, the change for 1988 did nothing to equalize the number of teams actually entered by each class in each sport. And unlike the early years of the Association when there were many more Class C and D teams than A and B teams, there were more Class A and B teams than C and D teams entering MHSAA tournaments decades later.
Moreover, the difference in number of teams entered in the different classifications for a sport continued to increase as many small schools, the fastest growing portion of the MHSAA's membership, sponsor only a few sports, or they sponsor no sports at all but enter into cooperative programs with other schools.
Because of these differences, Class A or B schools sometimes had to win twice as many games as Class C or D schools to reach the MHSAA Finals in a sport. At times, the larger classifications had District Tournaments, even rat-tail games, and/or a Quarterfinal game, and the smaller classifications did not. Most Class D Districts have had four teams (some only three), while Class A Districts often had seven or eight teams. In Regional levels of individual sports, the number of entries in the larger classification once greatly outnumbered those in the smaller classifications of the tournament for the same sport.
Over the years, these dividing lines between classes escalated gradually, as did the differences in enrollments of largest and small schools in each class. In 1937 the dividing lines were 700, 300 and 100 between Class A and B, B and C, and C and D, respectively. By 1987, the dividing lines were 1,129, 571 and 298, respectively, leading to the current method of collecting enrollments and then setting the classification.
With the pendulum swinging well past center by the late 1980s, coaches associations, MHSAA sport committees, tournament managers and school administrators began discussion and offered proposals to correct what many believed had become a flawed system of MHSAA tournament classification.
At the 1996 MHSAA Update Meetings, ¾ of 858 respondents to that year’s annual survey indicated they favored a system that would divide schools which actually sponsor each sport into two, three or four nearly equal divisions.
Problem solving
At its meeting May 4-6, 1997, the Representative Council defeated a motion that would have adopted in one action a coordinated plan of reclassification for all sports to equalize the number of schools in each tournament for each respective sport. Instead, the Council discussed and voted on each proposal that had been presented from sport committees.
This resulted in the Representative Council adopting four equal divisions for baseball and softball, four equal divisions for boys and girls tennis, four equal divisions for boys soccer and three equal divisions for girls soccer, effective with the 1997-98 school year. Helping in the decision was the success of the 1995-96 MHSAA Wrestling season, which saw the sport move to four divisions for its tournament structure
The Council delayed action on similar proposals for football and boys golf at that time to glean additional input. The same decision was made with respect to a proposal from the Ice Hockey Committee that would have split the Class A schools in two divisions and left the Class B/C/D Tournament unchanged.
“The gist of the move from classes to divisions was to equalize the path to championships for students of all schools, regardless of the size of those schools,” said MHSAA Executive Director Jack Roberts.
While the restructuring accomplished that goal for the majority of competitors, opposition exists now as it did then. The primary argument in opposition to the changes is that, in some sports, it increases the range between largest and smallest schools in the division for smallest schools, even as the range is usually reduced for other divisions.
Larger schools offered a counterpoint.
“The larger schools suggested that while they may have more students, they also attempt to sponsor more sports than the smaller schools, in some cases spreading the enrollment as thin as a much smaller school with fewer sports,” Roberts said.
“Even today, the idea of four equal divisions can be unpopular among some Class D schools which feel especially burdened by the equal division concept,” Roberts said. “There was enough opposition in 1997 that equal divisions were rejected for boys and girls basketball and girls volleyball, and some of that opposition remains.”
The numbers of schools sponsoring each MHSAA tournament are still close to the totals today, with the exception of soccer in both genders, which has enjoyed substantial increases. This spring, 466 girls teams were scheduled to compete in the MHSAA Soccer Tournament, while 473 boys teams will suit up this fall.
Since the beginning of MHSAA divisions in 1996 with wrestling, 147 additional team champions have been crowned and countless individuals have known the thrill of victory due to an extra level of Finals in various sports. Girls soccer has seen the most growth in opportunity, moving from two classes in 1987 to three divisions the following year, and then four divisions in 2000. Boys soccer had enjoyed four classes for two years prior to the new four-division format, and it was the sport of soccer that helped to create a caveat in the nearly equal division movement.
Lower Peninsula boys and girls swimming & diving expanded from two to three divisions in 2008, while boys and girls bowling are the most recent sports to enjoy increased tournament opportunity, adding a fourth division in 2010.
“Fairness is in the eye of the beholder. While having the same number of schools in each division is one kind of fairness, holding in check the enrollment range between the largest and smallest schools in Division 4 is another kind of fairness that is dear to a great number of people,” Roberts said. “Because more schools sponsor basketball and volleyball than other sports, Class D schools would have been least affected by the equal divisions concept in those sports; but that, and ‘tradition,’ did not dissuade the opponents in the 1990s.”
The shift to divisions not only paved the way for student-athletes, but also assisted administrators and schools hosting tournaments. MHSAA tournament mangers looked to equal divisions to more closely equalize the number of schools in District or Regional Tournaments and to better equalize the length of day required for these rounds of tournaments, both for management and participating teams and individuals.
Pinning down an answer
Wrestling became the first MHSAA Tournament to be conducted in nearly equal divisions when team and individual champions were crowned in Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 rather than Classes A, B, C/D for the 1996 winter championships.
The movement was well received, as schools saw more opportunity for success: four champions where there once were three at the District, Regional and Final levels, and a smaller range of enrollment between the smallest and largest school in all four tournaments, leading to the impetus for the Fall 1996 Update Meeting Survey of schools regarding similar movement in other sports.
Team champions that year were Holt (D1), Petoskey (D2), Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (D3) and Dundee (D4).
Getting their kicks
When the "equal divisions" concept was approved by the Representative Council for most MHSAA Tournaments for the 1997-98 school year, there was opposition from the smallest schools which, under the equal divisions, are forced to play against larger schools than reside in Class D. Compelling arguments were made – and still are – that an enrollment difference between schools with smaller enrollments (e.g., Class D) is more difficult to overcome in athletic competition than an even larger enrollment difference between schools with larger enrollments (e.g., Class A).
The opposition was most intense in soccer because of the number of students needed to field a team and the physical nature of the sport. As a result, from 2000-01 through 2010-11, soccer operated with a “20-percent modification.” This placed 20 percent of all schools that actually sponsored soccer in Division 4, and the remaining 80 percent were placed equally in Divisions 1, 2 and 3.
At the time the 20 percent modification was adopted, it was also established that soccer would return to four equal divisions when the largest Division 4 soccer school had an enrollment equal to or smaller than the mid point for Class C schools. That occurred in 2010.
Last class on the schedule
In the same volume of “history being the best teacher,” one can also find the adage, “times change.” While the division format was a welcome change in some sports, others were left to hold class without change.
In the sports of boys and girls basketball, and girls volleyball, the number of schools sponsoring the sports were so close to the overall membership of the MHSAA that divisions were not necessary; the enrollment breakdowns themselves were enough to delineate equal opportunity for tournament success.
That is no longer the case, according to MHSAA membership. The last move from classes to divisions occurred for the 2006-07 school year following Council action. Before this May, that is. Action at the most recent Representative Council meeting, May 2017, called for the shift to divisions for MHSAA Boys and Girls Basketball, and Girls Volleyball, beginning with the 2018-19 season.
“Because the MHSAA Volleyball Committee had requested this change several times a number of years ago, and because the Council felt the change inevitable, there should not be further delay,” Roberts said. “It is an important detail that the Class D maximum has dropped 50 students over the past decade so the objection that much larger schools would be competing in Division 4 isn’t very strong now.”
Using the 2017-18 enrollment figures, just eight Class C schools would be competing in Division 4 for boys basketball, 11 for girls basketball and 14 for girls volleyball.
Good things came of the previous most-recent switches in 2006-07. Competitive Cheer was re-classified from Class A, B and C-D into four equal divisions assisting in the rapid growth of sponsoring schools (approximately 80 schools per division). Alpine skiing was changed from Class A and B-C D to two equal divisions.
At that time, the MHSAA Basketball Committee had recommended to the Council the study of increased classifications, but status quo remained.
Back on the grid
As such, MHSAA Basketball and Volleyball remained the only holdovers of the MHSAA class structure. Discussion resurfaced periodically during the last two decades to bring those tournaments in line with the other MHSAA sports.
Regular-season football-playing schools are separated by class, then are reshuffled by divisions for the playoffs. Football, as we know, underwent a significant postseason facelift in the late 1990s.
While MHSAA Football also remained a class sport through 1998, it had expanded from four to eight classes from 1990-98, becoming the first MHSAA sport to crown more than four team champions. Member schools were asked to consider a pair of options in November of 1997. One called for eight equal divisions, and the second would leave Class D by itself as division 8, and split Class A, B and C schools into seven nearly equal divisions.
After much discussion, retooling, and crunching of formulas, the MHSAA unveiled its revised Football Playoff model that continues to roll today, nearly 20 years later. It was determined that 256 teams would qualify for the tournament based first on a minimum of six wins, then by Playoff Points determined by formula. From there, the field would be divided into eight divisions, with the field being filled out by a nearly equal number of five-win teams in each division as needed to reach 256.
Eight championships would indeed be enough, until football sponsorship among the MHSAA’s smallest schools – some with rich football traditions – began to trend downward. The MHSAA again went to the drawing board, examining the viability of 8-player football. After an experimental year in 2010 without a tournament, the 8-player game was playoff-ready for 2011, with a field of 16 qualifiers embarking on a four-week tournament.
Not only did the 8-player option restore recently canceled programs, but it also created teams in schools which previously had none, and convinced some 11-player schools that this new division was the best path to take.
What did this do for the Class D holdovers staying in the traditional 11-player game? Well, a couple of things, positive and negative. As two and three dozen Class D schools opted for the 8-player game, the remaining 11-player Class D schools at times found themselves in disrupted leagues and had to travel further to complete schedules. They also competed against larger teams in Division 8 of the 11-player MHSAA Football Playoffs.
However, the growth of the 8-player game among the smallest schools also resulted in more Class D schools qualifying for the MHSAA Football Playoffs than ever before. In 2012, an all-time high 44 percent of Class D schools sponsoring football qualified for either the 8-player tournament or Division 8 of the 11-player tournament. That compared to 42.2 percent of Class C schools, 44.9 percent of Class B schools and 41.6 percent of Class A schools which qualified for the 2012 playoffs.
Much is to be determined in the most recent chapter of MHSAA Tournament expansion as the 8-Player Football Playoffs welcome a second division. As the past illustrates, there will be pluses and minuses. History also shows that the MHSAA has received maximum input from its constituents, researched all possibilities, and will find solutions to questions still in the balance before an additional group of athletes hoists a new trophy in November.
Through the Years
A chronology of when which sports moved from Class to Division in the MHSAA.
1995-96: LP Wrestling
1997-98: Baseball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Softball, LP Girls Tennis, LP Boys Tennis
1998-99: LP Boys Golf, LP Girls Golf
1999-2000: Ice Hockey, LP Boys Track & Field, LP Girls Track & Field
2000-01: LP Boys Cross Country, LP Girls Cross Country, UP Boys Cross Country, UP Girls Cross Country, UP Boys Golf, UP Girls Golf, UP Boys Tennis, UP Girls Tennis, UP Boys Track & Field, UP Girls Track & Field
2002-03: LP Girls Swimming & Diving, LP Boys Swimming & Diving
2005-06: Boys Bowling, Girls Bowling
2006-07: Girls Competitive Cheer, Boys Skiing, Girls Skiing
2018-19: Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball
Note: Boys and Girls Lacrosse has been a divisional sport since it began in during the 2004-05 school year.
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Girls Semifinals Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 19, 2025
“To be the best, you have to beat the best” couldn’t ring truer than at this time of year.
But playing the best along the way also appears to have made a difference for contenders headed to this weekend’s MHSAA Girls Basketball Semifinals.
All 16 taking the court at Breslin Center this weekend have something in common – an above-average degree of difficulty while preparing for this championship trip.
All but one contender ended the regular season with an opponents’ winning percentage above .500 – meaning the teams they played, combined, had a winning record – and the remaining field includes five teams whose schedules ranked among the toughest seven statewide by that metric. The lone outlier, Ewen-Trout Creek, played teams that still won a combined 48 percent of their regular-season games – and the Panthers still faced five of the top 25 teams in their division by Michigan Power Rating (MPR) on their way downstate.
Semifinals will be played Thursday and Friday, with all four championships games set for Saturday.
DIVISION 1 - Friday
Belleville (26-1) vs. West Bloomfield (19-8) - Noon
Wayne Memorial (21-6) vs. Rockford (26-1) - 2 p.m.
DIVISION 2 - Friday
Frankenmuth (23-4) vs. Tecumseh (25-1) - 5:30 p.m.
Grand Rapids West Catholic (23-3) vs. Detroit Edison (19-6) - 7:30 p.m.
DIVISION 3 - Thursday
Calumet (22-5) vs. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (20-6) - Noon
Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (15-12) vs. Niles Brandywine (27-0) - 2 p.m.
DIVISION 4 - Thursday
Ewen-Tout Creek (26-1) vs. Concord (21-6) - 5:30 p.m.
Fowler (25-2) vs. Genesee Christian (24-2) - 7:30 p.m.
Finals – Saturday
Division 1 - 12:15 p.m.
Division 2 - 6:15 p.m.
Division 3 - 4 p.m.
Division 4 - 10 a.m.
Tickets for this weekend’s games are $12 for both Semifinals and Finals and available via the Breslin Center ticket office; for information and links visit the Girls Basketball page.
All Semifinals will be broadcast and viewable with subscription on MHSAA.tv, and all four Finals will air live on the FanDuel Sports Network primary channel. Audio broadcasts of all Semifinals and Finals will be available free of charge from the MHSAA Network.
The Girls Basketball Semifinals & Finals are sponsored by Michigan Achievement Scholarship/MI Student Aid.
Here’s a look at the 16 semifinalists (with rankings by MPR and statistics through Regional Finals):
Division 1
BELLEVILLE
Record/rank: 26-1, No. 3
League finish: Tied for first in Kensington Lakes Activities Association East
Coach: Jason Wilkins, fifth season (91-20)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 59-54 over No. 18 DeWitt in Quarterfinal, 65-35 over No. 20 Hartland in Regional Final, 79-40 over No. 13 Dexter in Regional Semifinal, 70-48 over No. 19 Northville, 62-38 over No. 9 Wayne Memorial, 84-49 over No. 14 West Bloomfield, 54-40 over Division 2 No. 5 Detroit Edison, 72-56 over Division 2 No. 7 Parma Western, 46-45 over Division 2 No. 1 Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard.
Players to watch: Sydney Savoury, 6-0 soph. G (26.6 ppg, 53 3-pointers, 5.4 rpg, 3.8 apg, 5.2 spg); Se’Crette Carter, 5-8 jr. G (19.2 ppg, 41 3-pointers); Paisley Stephens, 5-8 fr. G (11.2 ppg, 5.3 apg, 3.5 spg).
Outlook: After making its first Semifinal trip last season, Belleville is making its second straight and with four starters back from last year’s run. Savoury remains arguably the best sophomore in the state and certainly among the top players overall, and guard Rylan Buschell (8.0 ppg, 4.7 apg, 3.9 spg) and 6-0 center Iyana Stephens are the team’s only seniors although both start. Belleville’s only loss was to Wayne, and the Tigers avenged it two weeks later.
WAYNE MEMORIAL
Record/rank: 21-6, No. 9
League finish: Tied for first in Kensington Lakes Activities Association East
Coach: Jarvis Mitchell, 11th season (192-69)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 55-37 over No. 8 Temperance Bedford in Quarterfinal, 51-47 over No. 2 Detroit Renaissance in Regional Final, 55-43 over No. 6 Farmington Hills Mercy in Regional Semifinal, 63-51 over No. 22 Howell, 57-52 over No. 3 Belleville, 60-57 over Division 2 No. 21 Goodrich.
Players to watch: Mariah Cross, 5-3 jr. G (19.4 ppg); Morgan Smith, 5-5 jr. G (11.3 ppg); Colleena Bryant, 5-6 sr. PG (17.2 ppg).
Outlook: This will be Wayne’s first trip to the Semifinals since 2022 and fourth over the last seven seasons (not counting COVID-shortened 2020). The Zebras are the only team to defeat Belleville, and their three in-state losses (Belleville, Rockford, Detroit Edison) were to teams still playing this weekend. Bryant made the Division 1 all-state second team last season and was a Miss Basketball Award finalist this week; she’s committed to continue at Drexel.
WEST BLOOMFIELD
Record/rank: 19-8, No. 14
League finish: Second in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Darrin McAllister, fourth season (91-12)
Championship history: Division 1 champions 2024 and 2022, Division 1 runner-up 2023, Class A runner-up 1989.
Best wins: 57-35 over No. 12 Utica Ford in Quarterfinal, 47-42 (Regional Final) and 44-43 over No. 15 Clarkston, 41-36 over No. 10 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in District Final, 57-24 over No. 31 Detroit Cass Tech, 47-32 over No. 27 Detroit Mumford.
Players to watch: Sheridan Beal, 5-7 jr. G (16 ppg, 54 3-pointers); Breasia Gamble-Jones, 5-8 sr. G/F (9.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg); Ava Lord, 5-8 sr. G (8.4 ppg).
Outlook: West Bloomfield is making its fourth-straight trip to Finals weekend, and this one was perhaps the least expected and arguably most impressive. The Lakers returned one starter from last year’s championship team and graduated major contributors (including two 2024 all-staters) who contributed heavily to the last three Breslin runs, but have won 16 of their last 19 games and taken losses from five opponents that went on to win at least District titles. Junior 6-0 forward Londyn Hall adds another 8.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 26-1, No. 1
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Brad Wilson, 12th season (215-67)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2023.
Best wins: 54-49 (Quarterfinal), 45-34 and 60-48 over No. 5 Grand Haven; 81-40 over No. 24 Traverse City Central in Regional Final, 54-31 over No. 4 Saginaw Heritage in Regional Semifinal, 52-35 over No. 22 Howell, 62-45 over No. 9 Wayne Memorial, 57-45 and 70-41 over No. 21 Hudsonville, 45-36 over Division 2 No. 4 Frankenmuth, 51-45 over Division 2 No. 2 Tecumseh, 71-36 over Division 2 No. 9 Haslett.
Players to watch: Anna Wypych, 6-0 sr. G (21.8 ppg, 85 3-pointers); Addison Wypych, 5-10 fr. G (9.2 ppg, 40 3-pointers, 3.5 apg); Kate Higgins, 6-0 jr. C (8.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg).
Outlook: This also will be the fourth-straight trip to Finals weekend for the Rams, who fell to West Bloomfield last season in overtime in their Semifinal but have three starters back from that game in Anna Wypych, Higgins and Jordan Mateer (5.8 ppg, 33 3-pointers). Wypych was named the Miss Basketball Award winner Monday and has signed with Butler. She made the all-state first team last season, and junior guard Sienna Wolfe (6.0 ppg) earned an honorable mention despite missing the end of last season with an injury. Rockford’s only loss this winter was to Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (24-2) on Dec. 14.
Division 2
DETROIT EDISON
Record/rank: 19-6, No. 5
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Coach: Monique Brown, 13th season (233-53)
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2024).
Best wins: 59-48 over No. 13 Detroit Country Day in Quarterfinal, 55-40 over No. 8 Chelsea, 52-40 over Division 1 No. 14 West Bloomfield, 61-42 over Division 1 No. 11 Utica Eisenhower, 54-46 over Division 1 No. 15 Clarkston, 48-46 (OT) over Division 1 No. 9 Wayne Memorial, 65-44 over Division 3 No. 10 Kalamazoo Christian.
Players to watch: Isis Johnson-Musah, 5-8 sr. G (17.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.9 apg, 3.7 spg); Nichole James, 6-2 soph. F (8.4 ppg); Rihanna Young, 5-7 soph. G (7.7 ppg).
Outlook: Edison has won two of the last three Division 2 championships, and Johnson-Musah and James started in last season’s championship game. Johnson-Musah was a Miss Basketball Award finalist and made the all-state first team last season, and has committed to continue at Cal-Berkeley. Senior forward Pria Johnson-Musah (5.2 ppg) has moved from key sub last year to starter, and junior 6-0 forward Marianna Jones (6.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) also saw time in last season’s Final and is providing big minutes off the bench again.
FRANKENMUTH
Record/rank: 23-4, No. 4
League finish: Tied for first in Tri-Valley Conference Red
Coach: Joe Jacobs, fifth season (110-15)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 1996), five runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 56-36 over No. 16 Gladstone in Quarterfinal, 41-27 over No. 29 Portland in Regional Final, 53-44 (Regional Semifinal) and 60-33 and over No. 6 Freeland, 52-41 over No. 5 Detroit Edison, 45-39 over No. 21 Goodrich, 65-39 over No. 13 Detroit Country Day, 56-50 over No 26 Flint Powers Catholic, 39-31 over Division 1 No. 4 Saginaw Heritage, 47-40 over Division 1 No. 10 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
Players to watch: Clare Conzelmann, 5-11 sr. G (16.4 ppg, 70 3-pointers); Macy Donovan, 6-0 fr. G (10.7 ppg); Isabelle Bernthal, 5-7 sr. F (9.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg).
Outlook: Frankenmuth finished Division 2 runner-up two seasons ago with Conzelmann, Bernthal and senior guard/forward Rosemary Brenner starting as sophomores, and they’ve helped key this return run to Breslin that’s included avenging a season-opening one-point loss to Portland and defeating league rival Freeland for a second time after they shared the TVC Red title. The other two defeats came to Division 1 opponents Midland Dow and Rockford. Sophomore Lucy Conzelmann has joined her older sister as a perimeter standout with 31 3-pointers off the bench.
GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 23-3, No. 10
League finish: Tied for first in O-K Gold
Coach: Derek Paiz, first season (23-3)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 1990), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 39-37 (Quarterfinal) and 62-49 over No. 14 Grand Rapids South Christian, 62-55 (Regional Final) and 59-35 over No. 30 Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 57-46 over Division 1 No. 21 Hudsonville.
Players to watch: Elisha Dykstra, 6-0 sr. G (10.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.2 apg); Anna Ignatoski, 5-7 sr. G (13.6 ppg, 45 3-pointers); Alexis Asekomeh, 5-11 soph. F (13.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg).
Outlook: Dykstra is a four-year starter and has helped West Catholic reach Finals weekend all four with a combined record of 100-8 over those seasons; she will continue at Toledo. Asekomeh also started in last season’s two-point Semifinal loss to Father Gabriel Richard, and senior guard Paige Seely-London (6.0 ppg) played more than half the game off the bench and has seen the floor at Breslin the last three years as well. Ignatoski was a top sub when West Catholic finished Division 2 runner-up in 2022. Freshman guard Kenley Slanger adds 8.7 points and 3.2 steals per game.
TECUMSEH
Record/rank: 25-1, No. 2
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference White
Coach: Kristy Zajac, eighth season (135-44)
Championship history: Class B champion 1974, Class B runner-up 1975.
Best wins: 61-53 over No. 21 Goodrich in Quarterfinal, 50-39 over No. 1 Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard in Regional Final, 74-29 (Regional Semifinal) and 76-44 over No. 27 Carleton Airport, 56-39 and 53-41 over No. 8 Chelsea, 70-65 (2OT) over No. 5 Detroit Edison, 72-40 over Division 1 No. 19 Northville, 58-32 over Division 1 No. 14 West Bloomfield, 52-39 over Division 1 No. 8 Temperance Bedford, 66-45 over Division 3 No. 18 Jackson Lumen Christi, 70-38 over Division 3 No. 13 Blissfield.
Players to watch: Alli Zajac, 6-2 sr. F (14.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg); Makayla Schlorf, 5-3 jr. G (12 ppg, 32 3-pointers, 3.1 apg); Addi Zajac, 6-0 soph. C (13.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.1 bpg).
Outlook: Tecumseh is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since that runner-up season of 1975, and with its only loss Jan. 11 against Rockford. The win over Father Gabriel Richard last week avenged a Quarterfinal defeat from a year ago. Alli Zajac made the all-state first team last season and Addi Zajac earned an honorable mention, and Alli also was a Miss Basketball Award finalist this season and has signed with Eastern Michigan – where her mother and coach Kristy remains one of the all-time leading scorers. Junior Chloe Bullinger (9.2 ppg, 3.7 apg) and senior Ashlyn Moorehead (9.0 ppg. 4.3 apg) combine with Schlorf for a playmaking backcourt.
Division 3
CALUMET
Record/rank: 22-5, No. 16
League finish: First in Westen Peninsula Athletic Conference West
Coach: Charlie Kemppainen, third season (49-21)
Championship history: Class C champion 2015.
Best wins: 48-33 over No. 15 Sanford Meridian in Quarterfinal, 64-39 over No. 21 Manton in Regional Final, 51-43 (District Final) and 53-32 over No. 20 Ishpeming, 54-45 and 48-41 over Division 2 No. 35 Houghton.
Players to watch: Jackie Kiilunen, 5-8 sr. G (14 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Kiirsi Johnson, 5-5 jr. G (10.7 ppg, 31 3-pointers); Baily Strom, 5-6 soph. G (8.7 ppg).
Outlook: Calumet was 11-12 just a year ago but has doubled that win total to return to the Semifinals for the second time in five seasons. The Copper Kings have won 13 straight games with three of their five losses to Division 2 Negaunee or Gladstone and the other two to strong Division 4 teams Baraga and L’Anse. Calumet’s defense has been stifling; opponents have scored only 38.6 points per game, and 37.6 during the playoffs. Five players are averaging at least one steal per game, with Kiilunen leading at nearly three per contest.
NILES BRANDYWINE
Record/rank: 27-0, No. 3
League finish: First in Lakeland Conference
Coach: Josh Hood, 16th season (347-36)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2024.
Best wins: 45-32 over No. 10 Kalamazoo Christian in Regional Final, 60-32 (Regional Semifinal) and 69-37 over No. 22 Bronson, 66-21 (District Final) and 63-13 over No. 31 White Pigeon, 53-24 over No. 17 Lawton, 45-28 over Division 2 No. 15 Vicksburg.
Players to watch: Adeline Gill, 5-9 sr. F (12.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg); Adelyn Drotoz, 5-7 sr. G (8.5 ppg, 53 3-pointers); Miley Young, 5-6 sr. G (8.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.1 spg).
Outlook: Brandywine is a combined 74-5 over the last three seasons as it seeks a first championship, and the three players noted above all started in last season’s Final as the Bobcats came up just short, 33-30, against Arbor Prep. Brandywine’s run this winter also has included a Quarterfinal victory over 20-win Grandville Calvin Christian and a combined four wins over Stevensville Lakeshore, Berrien Springs and Centreville – which all finished with 17 this season. Despite a tough schedule including several larger schools, Brandywine is giving up only 26 points per game – and 24.2 during the postseason.
ROCHESTER HILLS LUTHERAN NORTHWEST
Record/rank: 20-6, No. 26
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue
Coach: Jimmy Mehlberg, 11th season (166-79)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 35-19 over No. 14 Sandusky in Quarterfinal, 58-46 over No. 37 Detroit Pershing in Regional Final, 55-37 and 55-34 over No. 49 Plymouth Christian Academy, 49-19 and 60-17 over Division 4 No. 40 Auburn Hills Oakland Christian.
Players to watch: Addie Troska, jr. F (10.2 ppg); Morgan Griswold, sr. G (7.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.0 apg); Keaira Spiehs, soph. C (8.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg). (Heights not submitted.)
Outlook: After winning a Regional title and then advancing to the Semifinals last season for the first time, Lutheran Northwest has achieved those feats for a second straight. Spiehs, Griswold, Paige Macavage (6.4 ppg) and Charlotte Gramzow (6.0 ppg) all started in last season’s Semifinal, and Troska is one of five more returning players who came off the bench in that game. Another strong defensive team, Lutheran Northwest is allowing only 32.2 points per game this season and 28.6 during the playoffs – and will graduate only one starter and three players total this spring.
YPSILANTI ARBOR PREP
Record/rank: 15-12, No. 42
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Coach: Scott Stine, eighth season (156-47)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2024), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 31-28 over No. 18 Jackson Lumen Christi in Quarterfinal, 32-28 over No. 13 Blissfield in Regional Final, 42-24 over No. 44 Allen Park Cabrini in Regional Semifinal, 47-30 over Division 2 No. 52 Croswell-Lexington.
Players to watch: Angela Meggisson, 5-9 jr. G; Eliza Bush, 5-6 sr. G. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Arbor Prep certainly has defied expectations in returning to Breslin, even as the reigning champion. The Gators graduated multiple all-staters last spring, then lost anticipated top player Autumn Pernell to a season-ending injury before this one started, and also began 3-8 before finding their stride. Arbor Prep’s most impressive wins have been their most recent two, but the Gators also took losses from several top Division 1 and 2 teams and will be prepared for this weekend. Bush is a four-year varsity player, and Meggisson was a top sub last season and now is the leading scorer.
Division 4
CONCORD
Record/rank: 22-4, No. 4
League finish: Tied for first in Big 8 Conference
Coach: ArShawn Parker, second season (42-10)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 35-34 over No. 16 Portland St. Patrick in Regional Final, 49-32 over No. 27 Adrian Lenawee Christian, 45-27 over No. 32 Hillsdale Academy, 49-46 over Division 3 No. 22 Bronson.
Players to watch: Cieara Barrett, 5-7 jr. G (10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.2 apg, 3.5 spg); Bradie Lehman, 5-5 soph. G (13.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.2 apg, 4.5 spg); Grace Thorrez, 6-2 sr. F/C (14.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.9 bpg).
Outlook: Concord was coming off two straight sub-.500 finishes when Parker took over the program, and he’s led the Yellowjackets to more than 20 wins both seasons under his direction. This will be the program’s second trip to the Semifinals, and first since 2012. Lehman earned an all-state honorable mention last season and is among offensive leaders of a group that also includes senior guard Hannah Stimer (8.4 ppg, 42 3-pointers). The good times should continue as well as there are only three seniors, although Thorrez obviously provides an impact in the post.
EWEN-TROUT CREEK
Record/rank: 26-1, No. 10
League finish: First in Copper Mountain Conference
Coach: Jacky Besonen, 14th season (171-129)
Championship history: Class D champion 1973, Class D runner-up 1985 and 1974.
Best wins: 47-37 over No. 1 St. Ignace in Quarterfinal, 37-27 (Regional Semifinal) and 49-40 over No. 25 Hancock, 61-37 over No. 18 L’Anse, 61-34 over No. 24 Baraga, 56-41 over No. 23 Lake Linden-Hubbell, 40-26 over Division 2 No. 35 Houghton.
Players to watch: Bree Besonen, fr. G (16.9 ppg, 37 3-pointers, 4.5 apg); Emma Besonen, 5-1 jr. G (12.3 ppg, 60 3-pointers, 3.2 apg); Irelynd McGeshick, 5-10 jr. C (16.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.2 bpg).
Outlook: Ewen-Trout Creek had won eight league and five District titles under mid-1990s standout Jacky Besonen, but last week’s Regional title was the first since 2005 and this run to the Semifinals the first since 1986. And this team has no seniors and only three juniors, so anticipation should remain high. The Panthers’ only loss was to Division 2 Negaunee, on Dec. 27. Emma Besonen earned an all-state honorable mention last season. Freshman forward McKayla Basel is another top offensive contributor at 8.5 ppg.
FOWLER
Record/rank: 25-2, No. 3
League finish: Second in Central Michigan Athletic Conference
Coach: Nathan Goerge, 15th season (227-128)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 64-21 over No. 13 Frankfort in Quarterfinal, 57-36 over No. 5 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart in Regional Final, 62-21 over No. 29 Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Regional Semifinal, 63-24 and 63-24 over No. 22 Lansing Christian, 45-33 and 43-35 over No. 16 Portland St. Patrick, 46-45 over Division 1 No. 34 Holt, 62-32 over Division 2 No. 23 Alma.
Players to watch: Katie Spicer, 5-7 sr. G (12.5 ppg, 44 3-pointers, 4.5 apg, 3.2 spg); Brooke Weber, 5-8 sr. F (9.8 ppg, 70 3-pointers); Elizabeth Hufnagel, 5-4 sr. G (9.9 ppg, 4.4 spg).
Outlook: The Eagles won Division 4 titles in 2021 and 2022 and have played in the Semifinals the last two seasons as well, with Spicer and Hufnagel seeing time in the 2023 Semifinal and Spicer, sophomore Isabella Halfmann (7.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.2 spg) and Weber starting during last year’s appearance while Hufnagel played more than half the game off the bench. Spicer made the all-state first team last season, but she’s the leading scorer among six players averaging at least seven points per game. Selena Stump (7.1) had made 52 3-pointers entering the week, and Paige Thelen (7.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg) is another returning contributor. Both losses came to Division 3 Pewamo-Westphalia (25-1).
GENESEE CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 8
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Coach: DJ Boike, 19th season (257-158)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 31-22 over No. 4 Morenci in Quarterfinal, 45-40 over No. 2 Kingston in Regional Final, 42-26 over No. 7 Clarkston Everest Collegiate in District Final, 46-16 over No. 40 Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, 59-34 over No. 29 Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 43-29 over Division 3 No. 27 Ovid-Elsie, 27-21 over Division 3 No. 42 Ypsilanti Arbor Prep.
Players to watch: Haven Chapman, 5-11 sr. F (20.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.8 apg, 4.2 spg, 1.3 bpg); Bella Boike, 5-3 jr. G (9.7 ppg); Reagan Gardner, fr. G (7.5 ppg).
Outlook: After winning 12 District titles under DJ Boike, Genesee Christian broke through for a second Regional championship and first trip to the Semifinals – and made this run while facing one of the tougher paths of any team in any division. Chapman has become the program’s all-time leading scorer along the way and made the all-state second team last season. The Soldiers have won 13 straight games, with their losses to Adrian Lenawee Christian and Division 2 Flint Hamady (20-2). Four players entered the week with at least 20 3-pointers, led by Gardner’s 26.
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PHOTOS (Top) Rockford's Anna Wypych (2) launches a jumper during her team's Quarterfinal win over Grand Haven. (Middle) Grand Rapids West Catholic's Charli Tuttle (24) maintains possession during her team's Regional Final victory over Spring Lake. (Photos by Tim Reilly.)