District Opener Matchups To Watch

<p>The best month of the year is finally here as teams across the state will put their season on the line tonight as the MHSAA playoffs begin. Several matchups feature teams that have yet to play each other and a few openers feature grudge matches between conference rivals. Check out my picks for the best individual matchups for Monday's opening slate of tournament games.</p> <h5>Division 1, District 10:</h5> <h5><em>Muskegon Mona Shores (9-11) vs Kenowa Hills (13-7)</em></h5> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="1213127" first="Javion" last="Otten"], Kenowa Hills 2023"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="1213117" first="Parker" last="Swartz"], Mona Shores 2023"</h6> <p>Two teams that have the talent to make a run in March face off with the winner receiving the prize of facing Muskegon in the district semifinals on Wednesday. Mona Shores has gotten consistent scoring from its junior, [player_tooltip player_id="1213117" first="Parker" last="Swartz"]. He will most likely be guarded and face the task of guarding one of the more electric players in the area in [player_tooltip player_id="1213127" first="Javion" last="Otten"]. You won't find a better matchup player-personnel-wise across Monday's opening slate of games than Swartz vs Otten. </p> <h5><em>Grand Haven (17-3) vs Reeths-Puffer (13-7)</em></h5> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="863999" first="Nic" last="Stump"], Grand Haven 2022"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="1356946" first="Travis" last="Ambrose"], Reeths-Puffer 2024"</h6> <p>One of the more surprising teams across West Michigan this season has been Reeths-Puffer, thanks in large part to a pair of talented sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id="1112299" first="Jaxson" last="Whitaker"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1356946" first="Travis" last="Ambrose"]. Travis is one of the most talented forwards in the 2024 class and will go up against a talented Grand Haven trio in [player_tooltip player_id="1006801" first="Harrison" last="Sorrelle"], [player_tooltip player_id="863999" first="Nic" last="Stump"], and Bahir Neely. Grand Haven will most likely throw a ton of different zone looks at Reeths-Puffer, but don't be surprised to see senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="863999" first="Nic" last="Stump"] take on the majority of the low-post defensive responsibilities. The Bucs will need to zero in on limiting Ambrose if they hope to dance on.</p> <h5>Division 1, District 11:</h5> <h5><em>Zeeland West (10-10) vs Grandville (10-10)</em></h5> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="1143391" first="Merritt" last="Alderink"], Zeeland West 2024"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="1356986" first="Cameron" last="Regnerus"], Grandville 2024"</h6> <p>A pair of talented forwards in the 2024 class will take center stage tonight when Zeeland West and Grandville meet up in a district opener. District 11 in Division 1 is one of the more wide-open districts in the state and the winner of this game has as good of a chance as any to win the district. I'm expecting whoever has a bigger game between [player_tooltip player_id="1143391" first="Merritt" last="Alderink"] and Cam Regnerus to give their team the boost needed to get the win. </p> <h5>Division 2, District 42:</h5> <h5><em>Sparta (8-12) vs Comstock Park (6-14)</em></h5> <h6>Jax Wilson, Sparta 2022"</h6> <h6>Donovan Cummings, Comstock Park 2024"</h6> <p>The most hyped game of the opening round of games might be between the long-time rivals from the northside of Grand Rapids in Comstock Park and Sparta. The OK Silver foes split the season series as each team took care of business on their home court. Each team relies heavily on their leading scorers as Jax Wilson and Donovan Cummings each have the ability to go for 30 on any given night. </p> <h5>Division 2, District 44</h5> <h5><em>Godwin Heights (9-8) vs Kelloggsville (12-8)</em></h5> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="902884" first="Jakhary" last="Towns"], Godwin Heights 2023"</h6> <h6>Corey Patton-Ivy, Kelloggsville 2022"</h6> <p>Another grudge match between two rivals in the Silver takes place on the south side of GR as Godwin Heights and Kelloggsville will square off with the winner moving on to face Grand Rapids Christian on Wednesday night. [player_tooltip player_id="902884" first="Jakhary" last="Towns"] is one of the area's best pure scorers and he'll need a big night to keep the Wolverines alive. Corey Patton-Ivy has been an electric playmaker for the Rockets this season and will try to match Jakhary's production in what should be a high-scoring affair.</p>