2019 Mid-Michigan District Preview
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – March Madness. Well…(almost) March Madness. Monday kicks off the first round of tournament play in the state of Michgan. Before the ball is tipped, lets take a glance at some of…
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Continue ReadingIt’s the most wonderful time of the year – March Madness. Well…(almost) March Madness.
Monday kicks off the first round of tournament play in the state of Michgan. Before the ball is tipped, lets take a glance at some of the pairings in the Mid-Michigan area while giving you some games and players to keep an eye on.
DIVISION 1
District 2 at Midland
Monday, February 25
Bay City Central vs. Midland – 7PM
Wednesday, February 27
Mt. Pleasant vs. Bay City Western – 5:30
Midland Dow vs. BCC/Midland – 7PM
Friday, March 1
Finals at 6pm
Prediction: Mt. Pleasant Oilers
Matchup to watch for: Potential Mt. Pleasant vs. Bay City Central District Championship. The unbeaten Oilers took care of Bay City Central twice this season. In their first meeting the Wolves were without big man Marcus Marcott. Even at full strength, it’s going to be awfully difficult to knock off Mt. Pleasant, who enters postseason play as the #5 ranked team in Division 1.
Players to watch: Joe Ostrowski (2020), Tyler Huenemann (2020) – Mt. Pleasant; Elias Ramirez (2019), Marcus Marcott – Bay City Central; Isaiah Bridges (2019) – Midland
District 3 at Saginaw Heritage
Monday, February 25
Saginaw High vs. Owosso – 5:30PM
Swartz Creek vs. Flushing – 7PM
Wednesday, February 27
Arthur Hill vs. Saginaw/Owosso – 5:30PM
Heritgage vs. SC/Flushing – 7PM
Friday, March 1
Finals at 6PM
Prediction: Saginaw High Trojans
Matchup to watch for: Potential championship game between Saginaw Heritage vs. Saginaw High. Heritage has the best chance of knocking off the Trojans. Heritage finished third in the Saginaw Valley League’s North Division behind champion Mt. Pleasant and second-place Saginaw High.
Players to watch: Freddie McIntosh (2020), SirReal Smith (2020), Koby Barnett (2019) – Saginaw High; Brian Booker (2019), Luke Telder (2019) – Saginaw Heritage.
District 4 at Davison
Monday, February 25
Flint Southwestern vs. Flint Kearsley – 5:30PM
Grand Blanc vs. Flint Carman-Ainsworth – 7PM
Wednesday, February 27
Lapeer vs. FSW/Kearsley – 5:30
Davison vs. GB/CA – 7PM
Friday, March 1
Finals at 7PM
Prediction: Grand Blanc Bobcats
Matchup to watch for: Grand Blanc vs. Carman-Ainsworth – Round 3 of this rivalry game will take place right out of the gate and, to many, might as well be the District Championship game. The two squads swapped victories during the regular season.
Players to watch: Kevin Rice (2020), Cedric Givens (2019), Ty Rodgers (2022) – Grand Blanc; Michael Fletcher (2019), Dustin Fletcher (2019), Jayden Nunn (2021) – Carman-Ainsworth.
DIVISION 2
District 38 at Midland Bullock Creek
Monday, February 25
Bullock Creek vs. Bay City John Glenn – 6PM
Swan Valley vs. Carrollton – 7:30PM
Wednesday, February 27
Garber vs. BC/JG – 6PM
Freeland vs. SV/CAR – 7:30PM
Friday, March 1
Finals at 7PM
Prediction: Carrollton Cavaliers – This one could be up for grabs. But, with the Cavs notching wins over Swan Valley, Freeland and splitting with Garber during the regular season, this talented Carrollton roster gets the nod. Though don’t be surprised if Freeland gives them fits in the District Semifinals.
Matchup to watch for: Potential Garber vs. Carrollton District Championship game. But first, the Cavs need to get past Swan Valley on Monday. Whoever survives that game should roll into Regionals.
Players to watch: Ja’Quavion Williams (2019), Derrick Voltz (2022), Isaiah Delgado (2019) – Carrollton; Jacob Denham (2019), Manny Joppich (2019) – Garber; Jayce Bourcier (2019), Jack Townsend (2019) – Freeland
District 40 at Mt. Morris
Monday, February 25
Chesaning vs. Ovid-Elsie – 6PM
Wednesday, February 27
Corunna vs. Mt. Morris – 5:30PM
Flint Powers vs. CHES/OE – 7PM
Friday, March 1
Finals at 7PM
Prediction: Flint Powers Chargers
Matchup to watch for: This is a deceiving district. On paper, Flint Powers should be the favorite after playing the most difficult schedule of anyone in this district. The numbers are there for Ovid-Elsie, entering the postseason with a 15-2 mark. However, they dropped games to both Mt. Morris and Chesaning this season. A Mt. Morris vs. Flint Powers championship game is what fans should hope for.
Players to watch: Owen Lobsinger (2021) – Flint Powers; JD Rawls (2019) – Mt. Morris; Liam Thompson (2019) – Ovid-Elsie.
District 39 at Caro
Monday, February 25
Clio vs. Frankenmuth – 7PM
Wednesday, February 27
Bridgeport vs. Birch Run – 6PM
Caro vs. Clio/Muth – 7:30
Friday, March 1
Finals at 7PM
Prediction: Bridgeport Bearcats
Matchup to watch for: Potential Bridgeport vs. Frankenmuth District Championship – Frankenmuth lost both regular season meetings with neighboring rival Bridgeport, who enters the playoffs unbeaten. But you know what they say, it’s awfully hard to beat a team three times.
Players to watch: Markele Garrett (2019), SirQuarius Ball (2019) – Bridgeport; Cody Kueffner (2019), Tyler Somerville (2019) – Frankenmuth.
DIVISION 3
District 92 at Marlette
Monday, February 25
Capac vs. Brown City – 6PM
Memphis vs. Kimball Landmark – 7:30
Wednesday, February 27
Sandusky vs. Capac/BC – 6PM
Marlette vs. Memphis/KLA – 7:30
Friday, March 1
Finals at 7PM
Prediction: Capac Chiefs
Matchup to watch for: Capac vs. Brown City – These Greater Thumb Conference East Division foes split their two regular season contests. The Green Devils snagged a road win from the Chiefs back in December, 54-51. But Capac got revenge on Brown City’s home court, earning a 60-52 win.
Players to watch: Trevor Boers (2019) – Capac; Andrew Geiger (2019) – Brown City; Sean Quade (2019) – Marlette.
District 96 at Cass City
Monday, February 25
Ubly vs. Unionville-Sebewaing (USA) – 6pm
Bad Axe vs. EPBP – 7:30PM
Wednesday, February 27
Harbor Beach vs. Ubly/USA – 6PM
Cass City vs. BA/EPBP – 7:30PM
Friday, March 1
Finals at 7PM
Prediction: USA Patriots
Matchup to watch for: Ranked sixth among all Division 3 teams, USA is the heavy favorite to win this District that’s compiled of Greater Thumb Conference teams that have already been defeated by the unbeaten Patriots. Despite sweeping Bad Axe in their two regular season meetings, the Hatchets are the only team that could make USA’s road to Regionals a little difficult. Bad Axe finished second in the GTC’s West Division, right behind the first-place Patriots.
Players to watch: Tyler Heckroth (2019), Micah Cramer (2019), Landin Zimmer (2020) – USA; Cody Talaski (2020), Jack Clancy (2020) – Bad Axe.
District 93 at Flint Beecher
Monday, February 25
Flint Beecher vs. Burton Bendle – 7PM
Byron vs. Burton Bentley – 5:30PM
Wednesday, February 27
Flint Hamady vs. Beecher/Bendle – 7PM
Burton Atherton vs. Byron/Bentley – 5:30 PM
Friday, March 1
Finals at 6PM
Prediction: Flint Beecher Buccaneers
Matchup to watch for: You can go ahead and avoid this district. Beecher, the #1 ranked team in Division 3, should move on with ease.
Players to watch: Jalen Terry (2020), Earnest Sanders (2020) – Flint Beecher; Ali Brewster (2019) – Flint Hamady.
District 95 at Millington
Monday, February 25
Millington vs. SASA – 5:30PM
Montrose vs. Saginaw Valley Lutheran – 7PM
Wednesday, February 27
Vassar vs. MIL/SASA – 5:30PM
Reese vs. MONT/VL – 7PM
Friday, March 1
Finals at 7PM
Prediction: Saginaw Valley Lutheran Chargers
Matchup to watch for: Potential Millington vs. Valley Lutheran district championship game. Valley Lutheran enters postseason play under the radar and with just two losses – one to Division 2 Swan Valley and the other in a 4 OT slugfest with Unionville-Sebewaing.
Players to watch: Gabe Robinson (2019) – Reese; Jonathon Giglio (2019) – Valley Lutheran; Ethan Brady (2019) – Millington.
DIVISION 4
District 128 at Carsonville-Port Sanilac (CPS)
Monday, February 25
Deckerville vs. Kimball NLC – 7PM
Wednesday, February 27
New Haven Merritt vs. Peck – 6PM
CPS vs. DECK/KNLC – 7:30PM
Friday, March 1
Finals at 7PM
Prediction: CPS Tigers
Matchup to watch for: Potential CPS vs. Peck district final – CPS won the first meeting between these two teams, 30-29.
Players to watch: Devyn Taylor (2019) – CPS; Isaac Keinath (2020) – Deckerville; Zac Dudley (2019) – Peck.
District 112 at Bay City All Saints (BCAS)
Monday, February 25
Merrill vs. Saginaw Nouvel – 6PM
Fulton vs. Ashley – 7:30PM
Wednesday, February 27
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary vs. Merrill/Nouvel – 6PM
BCAS vs. Fulton/Ashley – 7PM
Friday, March 1
FINAL at 7PM
Prediction: Nouvel Catholic Central Panthers
Matchup to watch for: A district semifinal matchup between Nouvel and MLS. Seminary is the only team in this district who boasts a winning record. During the regular season, Nouvel and Seminary split. Expect whoever wins this game to move on to the Regional round.
District 111 at Akron-Fairgrove
Monday, February 25
Caseville vs. Mayville – 6pm
Owen-Gage vs. North Huron – 7:30PM
Wednesday, February 27
Akron-Fairgrove vs. Case/May – 6PM
Kingston vs. OG/NH – 7:30
Friday, March 1
Finals at 7PM
Prediction: Kingston Cardinals
Matchup to watch for: There shouldn’t be any teams standing in the way of Kingston advancing to the Regional round. Their offense has lit up scoreboards all season long. Expect the Cardinals and head coach Dave Lester to make a nice run into March.
Players to watch: Nathan Cloyd (2019), Hunter James (2019), Evan Neff (2020) – Kingston