Who doesn’t love postseason basketball?
We’re just one weekend away from every school in Michigan putting their best foot forward and trying to make a run for those sweet, sweet wooden mittens. Step one? Win your district.
Below is a prediction for every single district in Michigan which features at least one Macomb County team.
DIVISION 1
District 23 hosted by Detroit Renaissance
Teams: Fitzgerald, Hamtramck, Detroit Mumford, U of D Jesuit, Renaissance
The first and most loaded district we’ll talk about is at Detroit Renaissance, home of the reigning Detroit Public School League champions.
That’s saying something, too – the PSL is, year-in and year-out, one of the most competitive leagues in Michigan, with hoop culture only getting more prevalent in Detroit as the years go by. The Phoenix were the cream of the crop in the city this year with both the new and reigning Mr. PSL winners, which goes to the top player in the league each season.
The new Mr. PSL is Jordan Sigmon, a 6-foot-2 junior guard who holds offers from several Division I schools, and last year’s winner was future Detroit-Mercy guard Lance Stone.
That’s who Fitzgerald will need to beat first. If they can use their defense, intensity and rebounding the way they have all season, they have a chance at moving onto the championship…
…where they’d likely run into University of Detroit-Jesuit, home of potential Division 1 Mr. Basketball Leroy Blyden Jr. The Cubs have only lost twice this season – both by one point to reigning state champions Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Warren Lincoln.
This district is hard – and whoever wins it will have to be taken very seriously as a state contender.
Prediction: UDJ over Fitzgerald
District 28 hosted by Rochester
Teams: Romeo, Eisenhower, Utica, Rochester Adams, Rochester, Stoney Creek
From a district that’s loaded with top-end talent to one that is more down to Earth, District 28 is, for all intents and purposes, wide open. That’s how Romeo head coach Marvin Cushingberry described it.
Romeo and Eisenhower will start by renewing a MAC White rivalry in the first round. Both of their games this season have come down to the wire, with Ike winning in OT at home and Romeo winning on a last-second 3-pointer at home. The winner there gets host Rochester.
Utica, while not having a great season, will have a chance to beat Adams, who is also having something of a down year.
It’s not a guarantee that any of the three Macomb teams win this district or even get to the title game.
Prediction: Rochester over Stoney Creek
District 29 hosted by Royal Oak
Teams: Berkley, Warren Mott, Troy, Troy Athens, Royal Oak
Macomb County’s only team in this district is Warren Mott, whose 1-15 season may be coming to an end in the first round, albeit against a beatable Berkley Bears squad. If they do get out, they’ll go against Troy, who is having something of a down year, but always deserves to be taken seriously in what could be the final run for legendary head coach Gary Fralick.
Like the last district, there’s not a clear favorite here, and that’s mostly due to the fact that there’s no one dominant team.
Prediction: Troy over Royal Oak
District 30 hosted by Lake Shore
Teams: Warren Woods Tower, Roseville, Lake Shore, Lakeview, De La Salle, Cousino
Our first all-Macomb County region doesn’t feature any one team that is having a great season. In fact, Cousino will have the best record going into the district season.
The Patriots will await the winner of Lake Shore vs. Lakeview. The Shorians are a favorite there with their guard play spearheaded by Jason Pruitt in a rematch of a Jan. 9 tilt where Lake Shore won by 28 points. Lake Shore, though, has fallen on hard times and hasn’t won a game yet in February.
Roseville and Warren Woods Tower meet in a battle between two more sliding teams – Roseville has lost five-straight games and the Titans recently snapped a skid in which they had lost six in a row.
Should Roseville win, they’ll face an interesting matchup with Cousino, who has talent across the board, especially with guards Nic Farr and Brandon Cade, but hasn’t always gotten up for their biggest games.
The wild card will be De La Salle. Though the Pilots have limped into the postseason with a 6-14 record, they have the district’s best player in Phoenix Glassnor and have, by far, the most big game experience. Should they match up with Cousino, whose strengths are in similar areas as theirs with good guards, De La Salle has an opportunity to still make something of this down year. Roseville poses a different challenge with more size and length.
Prediction: De La Salle over Cousino
District 31 hosted by Ford II
Teams: Stevenson, Sterling Heights, Chippewa Valley, Ford II, Fraser
The only first round game is between city rivals Stevenson and Sterling Heights. And while Sterling Heights does have the better record going in, Stevenson has become something of a surprise team, winning four games in six tries.
But even if they do get past the Stallions, they’d run into Chippewa Valley, whose combination of size and scoring will almost certainly be too much for the Titans.
On the other side, Fraser has good players, but matching up with Ford II – who is currently in the midst of their best season since before the first Obama administration – will likely be too much.
That leaves the championship. Both teams have excellent size and length, meaning it could come down to whichever team shoots the ball better. That metric likely favors Chippewa Valley, whose group of snipers includes Brandon Bellante and Jaden Brown, compared to the more tough-it-out style that Ford II presents with Eli Miller and AJ Johnson.
One thing’s certain: it would be one heck of a Macomb County basketball game.
Prediction: Chippewa Valley over Ford II
District 32 hosted by Port Huron
Teams: Dakota, Anchor Bay, L’Anse Creuse North, L’Anse Creuse, Port Huron Northern, Port Huron
This district is another brutal one – out of the six teams, four of them have winning records, two are in the MAC Red and one went undefeated in the MAC Gold.
If Dakota beats Anchor Bay and L’Anse Creuse North takes out L’Anse Creuse (again), we’ll have a final four between squads that could all be considered favorites, if not close in many other districts. But that’s life.
The Cougars would match up with Port Huron Northern who, as MAC Red teams, have already met twice this season. The Huskies won both matchups, one of which was a four-point game in Macomb. One-thousand point scorer Alex Jamison – only a junior – is the focal point for PHN, who would likely have to suppress Dekovan Thomas to give themselves their best chance.
Then there’s the Crusaders, who are one of just two teams to beat Port Huron this season – that was all the way back on Dec. 4. As MAC White members, they’ve played a tougher schedule, including Fitzgerald twice and non-league games against Brother Rice and River Rouge, to name a few.
LCN is more battle tested and likely has the better roster. But that trip up to the Bluewater area is never easy for anyone, especially with your season on the line.
There are no givens for who makes it to the championship in this one, so I’m not even going to try. If we’re going by who has the best roster, the nod can likely go to Port Huron Northern. But this is postseason basketball, baby.
This district is going to be a thrilling one to keep tabs on.
Prediction: Port Huron Northern over L’Anse Creuse North
DIVISION 2
District 60 hosted by Hazel Park
Teams: Hazel Park, Ferndale University, Ferndale, Detroit Osborn, Lincoln, Pershing
Prediction: Lincoln wins.
Okay, let’s give a little more insight than that.
Yes, the defending Division 2 state champion Abes are the heavy favorite in this district. They’ve been destroying everybody except UDJ, who they clipped by one point despite being (at the time) the consensus best team in Michigan. So while nobody in this district really stands up to that caliber, there’s still talent to be found.
The Abes will get the winner of Hazel Park vs. Ferndale U, neither of whom will likely put up too much of a fight. The real intrigue comes in the title match, where Lincoln will (likely) draw either Pershing or Ferndale. Pershing is the former home of Lincoln head coach Wydell Henry, who specifically left there to show that he can build a program on his own. Check on that.
And Ferndale was the reigning Division 2 champion before Lincoln took over last year.
So, hey, at least there will be storylines.
Prediction: Lincoln over Pershing
District 61 hosted by Eastpointe
Teams: Eastpointe, Harper Woods, Center Line, Chandler Park, South Lake
Unfortunately it’s unlikely that we’ll get a rematch of the Wilson brothers – South Lake’s Kurt and Eastpointe’s Darius – but that doesn’t mean this district won’t have some intrigue.
Eastpointe can be favored if not expected to oust Harper Woods in the first round. That’d earn them a spot against Center Line, a fellow MAC Silver foe who has already beaten the Shamrocks by double digits twice.
If the Panthers can do it again, they’d get the winner of Chandler Park vs. South Lake – both of whom are highly beatable for Center Line.
If you haven’t picked up on it yet, Derrick Walton Sr.’s Panthers are the heavy favorite in this league behind the brilliance of Terez Holmes and Kamren Higginbotham. They’re not untouchable – nobody is – but anybody else claiming it would be a major upset.
Prediction: Center Line over South Lake
District 62 hosted by Pontiac
Teams: Cranbrook Kingswood, Lamphere, Pontiac, Lutheran North, Notre Dame Prep, Country Day
The only Macomb County school in this district is Lutheran North, and unfortunately for the Mustangs, it could be a quick exit this season.
Against teams with a similar MPR (Michigan Power Ranking) to Pontiac’s .540 or higher, the Mustangs are 0-9.
If they can pull off the upset over host Pontiac, they’ll go into a duel with Detroit Country Day, who punches above their near-.500 record. Not all of their losses are to good teams, but some of them are to Chippewa Valley, Avondale, Waterford Mott and Port Huron Northern – inarguably good teams. If they were to lose to LHN, it’d break a spell of five-straight wins over teams under .500.
One team to look out for is the MAC’s Lamphere, who has put together a solid season by beating up on the Bronze division. Their first round game is a rematch vs. Cranbrook from just two weeks prior, where the Rams lost by three points in overtime.
Prediction: Country Day over Lamphere
District 63 hosted by Marysville
Teams: Marysville, Marine City, Richmond, Algonac, St. Clair, Armada
The winner of the first round Marysville vs. Marine City game is likely to fall to St. Clair in the semis, so let’s look at those other matchups first.
Richmond has been playing good ball lately, winning five of seven games between Jan. 27 and Feb. 18, which includes beating BWAC and Macomb County rival Armada. If the Blue Devils are indeed peaking at the right time, that should mean they’ll have no trouble bouncing Algonac in the first round and setting up a rematch with the Tigers.
Armada, on the other hand, has been sliding. They went just 1-4 between Feb. 4 and Feb. 18 after a 10-4 start to the season.
That begs the question – can the Blue Devils beat the Tigers for the second time in nine days, assuming they get to that point?
Like every coach will tell you: it’s about WHEN you get hot.
Prediction: St. Clair over Richmond
DIVISION 3
District 91 hosted by Detroit Loyola
Teams: University Liggett, Michigan Collegiate, Detroit Loyola, Madison, Detroit Central, Center Line Prep
Michigan Collegiate had something of a disappointing season in what has turned out to be a super competitive Charter School Conference, especially near the top. The good news is that they’ll have a chance to advance over Liggett, who is hardly the stiffest competition the Cougars will have seen this year.
Should they do so, they’d get the winner of the PSL-Gold, Detroit Central. Beating them is a much taller task.
On the other side of the bracket is Center Line Prep, who can play defense with some of the best you’ll see in Division 3 as evidenced by some of their wins over county foes this season, like when they held Merritt to 23 points and Michigan Math & Science to 24.
But when it comes down to it, the most logical choice here hails from the D.
Prediction: Detroit Central over Center Line Prep
District 92 hosted by New Haven
Teams: Clintondale, Mount Clemens, Pontiac Arts & Technology, Lutheran Northwest, New Haven
This league, for all intents and purposes, runs through the Lions of Pontiac Arts & Technology. They only just took their first loss of the season to Division 2 Hamtramck and recently picked up an impressive win over Detroit Old Redford.
Clintondale and Mount Clemens will battle for the right to battle ATAP, but they’ll face an uphill battle from there.
On the other side, New Haven’s been peaking at the right time. The Rockets have won each of their last four games and seven of their last nine. That said, until a loss this past week to Michigan Math & Science, LHNW was killing it, too, with a six-game winning streak.
The Rockets have great senior leadership and have home court advantage, though, leading me to want to choose them over their MIAC Blue foe.
The question then becomes if the hosts can beat ATAP. That’s a much taller task.
Prediction: Pontiac Arts & Technology over New Haven
District 96 hosted by Capac
Teams: Memphis, Kimball Landmark Academy, Sandusky, Brown City, Capac
While the district is largely wide open, Memphis might be hard-pressed to win it.
Should they get past Kimball Landmark – that’s extremely doable – they’ll face Sandusky in the semifinals, a team who beat them by 44 points and 27 points this season.
That would do it for Macomb County representation in District 96, and Sandusky would, hypothetically, go on to battle either Brown City or Capac.
Prediction: Sandusky over Brown City
DIVISION 4
District 124 hosted by Frederick Douglass
Teams: Detroit Davis Aerospace, Crockett Midtown Science & Medicine, Michigan Math & Science, Frederick Douglass, Detroit Public Safety Academy
Before we dive into dissecting this district, can we take a moment to appreciate some of the school names?
There are two match and science schools, future public safety servants, airplane pilots and a revolutionary writer. It’s magical.
But how does basketball figure into the equation?
Fortunately, the Warren branch of Math & Science are the favorites. They’ve had by far the best season of any team here, and should they get Detroit Davis Aerospace in the semifinal (MMSA has a bye), they’ll be favored.
The Aviators are MMSA’s biggest threat in the district. If they can just win that one, they’ll be guaranteed a title game opponent who is under .500. For the Cougars, all they’d have to do is take care of business as usual. The Elijahs – Harris and Brown – have been spectacular and Jacob Carter has consistently been good for double digit scoring.
Prediction: Michigan Math & Science over Frederick Douglass
District 125 hosted by Parkway Christian
Teams: New Haven Merritt, Austin Catholic, Cardinal Mooney, Auburn Hills Christian, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Parkway Christian
The host Eagles have to be jumping for joy with their district – the new MIAC Red champions are the only team over .500 and they get to host instead!
One of New Haven Merritt or Austin Catholic – both teams who have struggled a bit this season – will go on to face Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, not to be confused with Auburn Hills Christian, who will battle Cardinal Mooney for the right to take on Parkway Christian.
Frankly, there’s nobody in the district that poses a significant threat to the Eagles. Their senior group led by the Harrison twins, Nathaniel and Isaiah, Tyler Powers and Jimmy Smith have plenty of juice left, and big things could be in their immediate future. They just need to get the job done.
Prediction: Parkway Christian over Auburn Hills Oakland Christian
