MHSAA Playoffs: Regional 11 Preview and Predictions

<p>Four area teams that know all-to-well about each other will face off at Grand Rapids South Christian for a Division 2 regional semifinal. Grand Rapids South Christian and Grand Rapids Catholic Central will play for the third time this season as the Cougars took the previous two meetings. On the other side of the bracket, Coopersville and Spring Lake will also face each other for the third time this season with the Broncos taking each of the previous two games.</p> <h5>Grand Rapids South Christian (17-2) vs Grand Rapids Catholic Central (15-0)</h5> <p><em>Game Info: Tuesday, March 30th, Grand Rapids South Christian High School @ 5:00 p.m.</em></p> <p>Tuesday night’s Division 2 regional semifinal between South Christian and Catholic Central has the makings of being the best game of the tournament in Division 2. Catholic Central is the prohibitive favorite to win the D2 state championship, while South Christian comes in with an impressive 17-2 record, with each of their only losses coming against Catholic Central. They say that it’s hard to beat a team three times in a season, especially the caliber of South Christian. That theory will be tested shortly.</p> <p>Catholic Central features one of the top prospects in the 2022 class in the state in forward [player_tooltip player_id="787680" first="Jack" last="Karasinski"], an athletic, do-it-all wing in [player_tooltip player_id="811113" first="Ryan" last="Grantham"], and a young backcourt that has turned some heads in [player_tooltip player_id="1112374" first="Durral" last="Brooks"] and [player_tooltip player_id="987270" first="Kaden" last="Brown"]. To put it lightly would be to say that this team is stacked. Matching up with them is a South Christian team that has the best transition offense I’ve seen this year. Their ability to run the court with skilled ballhandlers and shooters across the perimeter makes them almost impossible to slow down. Add in one of the area’s best bigs in [player_tooltip player_id="811110" first="Connor" last="Dykema"] and South Christian has the makeup of an elite team.</p> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Playoff Road</span></em></strong></p> <p>South Christian: Pre-District: Defeated Kelloggsville 66-20, District Semi: Defeated Godwin Heights 79-49, District Final: Defeated Grand Rapids Christian 62-54.</p> <p>Catholic Central: District Semi: Defeated Forest Hills Eastern 76-59, District Final: Defeated Unity Christian 71-52.</p> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Key Players</span></em></strong></p> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="1112374" first="Durral" last="Brooks"], G, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2024"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="987270" first="Kaden" last="Brown"], G, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2023"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="787680" first="Jack" last="Karasinski"], F, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2022"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="811113" first="Ryan" last="Grantham"], F, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2021"</h6> <h6>Elliot Grashuis, F, Grand Rapids South Christian 2021"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="811110" first="Connor" last="Dykema"], F, Grand Rapids South Christian 2021"</h6> <h6>Jacob DeHaan, G, Grand Rapids South Christian 2023"</h6> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Prediction</span></em></strong></p> <p>Catholic Central won the first game of the season over South Christian on a miracle shot from [player_tooltip player_id="787680" first="Jack" last="Karasinski"] and then beat the Sailors again later in the year 49-46. I’m expecting this one to play out similarly, with it being close until the buzzer sounds. If Catholic Central can limit South Christian’s transition threes and make the Sailors execute in the halfcourt for four quarters, then they should be able to advance to the regional finals.</p> <p>The way that South Christian is executing right now in all facets of the game, it’s hard to pick against them. Yet, one cannot ignore what Catholic Central did on its way here, including a 20-point rout of a very talented Unity Christian team. Ultimately, I think the Cougar’s talent will outmatch that of South Christians, but just barely.</p> <p><em>Catholic Central 57, South Christian 56</em></p> <h5>Coopersville (14-5) vs Spring Lake (7-10)</h5> <p><em>Game Info: Tuesday, March 30th, Grand Rapids South Christian High School @ 7:00 p.m.</em></p> <p>Coopersville and Spring Lake enter tonight’s game each having memorable seasons that their respective programs will remember for years to come. Coopersville features a high-powered offense that can score at will and will run with just about any team they face. [player_tooltip player_id="1055897" first="Blake" last="Stewart"] has the greenest light I’ve seen this season, in large part because he can fill it up from anywhere beyond half-court. The Broncos also feature veteran guards Ethan Coady and Jack Castenholz. </p> <p>Spring Lake has had an up and down season but is playing their best basketball of the season at the perfect time of the year. The Lakers also feature dynamic guards Sam Sheridan and [player_tooltip player_id="598766" first="Kaden" last="George"]. Not many people predicted this being a regional matchup, but my best guess is these two offenses won’t leave the spectators disappointed. </p> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Playoff Road</span></em></strong></p> <p>Coopersville: District Semi: Defeated Grant 79-48, District Final: Defeated Fremont 95-43.</p> <p>Spring Lake: Pre-District: Defeated Fruitport 60-48, District Semi: Defeated Ochard View via forfeit, District Final: Defeated Whitehall 54-43 </p> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Key Players</span></em></strong></p> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="1055897" first="Blake" last="Stewart"]. G, Coopersville 2021"</h6> <h6>Jack Castenholz, G, Coopersville 2021"</h6> <h6>Ethan Coady, G, Coopersville 2021"</h6> <h6>Sam Sheridan, Spring Lake 2021"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="598766" first="Kaden" last="George"], Spring Lake 2022"</h6> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Prediction</span></em></strong></p> <p>When Coopersville’s shots are falling, they can play with just about any team in Division 2 due to the pace of play that the Broncos execute their offense. Spring Lake’s Sam Sheridan and [player_tooltip player_id="598766" first="Kaden" last="George"] will have to each have big games for the Lakers to pull off the upset. While I know both players are capable of doing so, it may not be enough to keep up with Coopersville’s hectic pace for four quarters. I like the Broncos to beat Spring Lake for the third time this season and face the winner of the South Christian-Catholic Central game.</p> <p><em>Coopersville 75, Spring Lake 61</em></p>