West Michigan Quarterfinals Preview

<p>We’re into the final week of the high school basketball season and only eight teams remain in each division. Two teams are left from the OK Conference as Forest Hills Northern and Grand Rapids Catholic Central hope to take one step closer to a state championship. Standing in their way are two teams with championship aspirations of their own in East Lansing and Benton Harbor. Below I’ll get into the top players for each team, matchups to watch, and my prediction for each game.</p> <p><em><strong>Division 1</strong></em></p> <h5>Forest Hills Northern (17-1) vs East Lansing (11-1)</h5> <p><em>Game Info: Tuesday, April 6th, Muskegon Orchard View High School @ 7:00 p.m.</em></p> <p>Forest Hills Northern enters this game after knocking off a previously undefeated Zeeland East team in a regional championship last Thursday. The Huskies trailed 18-2 in the first quarter before mounting a comeback led by [player_tooltip player_id="814560" first="Trinidad" last="Chambliss"], [player_tooltip player_id="811128" first="Ethan" last="Erickson"], Gavin Fisher, and Cole Rynbrandt. East Lansing enters this game having played far fewer games than the Huskies due to the nature of this season. The Trojans defeated Coldwater 63-57 and were led by Brevin Jackson’s 16 points.</p> <p>This game features two teams with veteran-led backcourt with guys who can fill up the stat sheet. I’m very intrigued to see who holds the edge in the matchup between [player_tooltip player_id="814560" first="Trinidad" last="Chambliss"] and [player_tooltip player_id="811105" first="Marcus" last="Wourman"], and [player_tooltip player_id="811128" first="Ethan" last="Erickson"] and Jackson. If either of the featured backcourts can gain an edge on the other, it’ll go a long way to deciding tonight’s game.</p> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Playoff Road</span></em></strong></p> <p>Forest Hills Northern: District Semi: Defeated Lowell 73-33, District Final: Defeated Forest Hills Central 62-54, Regional Semi: Defeated Grand Haven 61-57, Regional Final: Defeated Zeeland East 53-49.</p> <p>East Lansing: Pre-District: Defeated St. Johns 66-57, District Semi: Defeated DeWitt 59-52, District Final: Defeated Waverly 59-54, Regional Semi: Defeated Holt 65-56, Regional Final: Defeated Coldwater 63-57.</p> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Key Players</span></em></strong></p> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="814560" first="Trinidad" last="Chambliss"], G, Forest Hills Northern 2021"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="811128" first="Ethan" last="Erickson"], G, Forest Hills Northern 2021"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="980052" first="Gavin" last="Fisher"], G, Forest Hills Northern 2021"</h6> <h6>Cole Rynbrandt, F, Forest Hills Northern 2021"</h6> <h6>Dan Guitierrez, F, Forest Hills Northern 2021"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="811105" first="Marcus" last="Wourman"], G, East Lansing 2021"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="814656" first="David" last="Wilkerson"], G, East Lansing 2021"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="814568" first="Ethan" last="Boyd"], F, East Lansing 2021"</h6> <h6>Brevin Jackson, G, East Lansing 2021"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="863931" first="Ethan" last="Dunn"], F, East Lansing 2022"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="1111929" first="Christian" last="Dunn"], F, East Lansing 2024"</h6> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Prediction</span></em></strong></p> <p>Forest Hills Northern and East Lansing have proven all year they are two of the best teams in the state due to their talent, depth, and resiliency. Forest Hills Northern is coming off of arguably the best win of the season, knocking off an undefeated Zeeland East team that had the makeup of a state champion. The Huskies have proven that they can win playing multiple styles. In a game that features two of the best backcourts in the state, it will be imperative for each team’s role players to step up and make shots in crucial moments. Ultimately, I think [player_tooltip player_id="811128" first="Ethan" last="Erickson"] is primed for a big game on the biggest stage of his young career. Give me the Huskies by a narrow margin in a game that might come down to the last possession.</p> <p>Forest Hills Northern 65, East Lansing 61</p> <p><em><strong>Division 2</strong></em></p> <h5>Grand Rapids Catholic Central (17-0) vs Benton Harbor (17-2)</h5> <p><em>Game Info: Tuesday, April 6th, Calvin University @ 7:00 p.m.</em></p> <p>Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Benton Harbor squaring off in a quarterfinal almost feels like we’re getting cheated out of what would be an amazing semifinal or even state championship game. The winner of tonight’s matchup between the two powers will be the prohibitive favorite to take home the Division 2 state title. Both teams’ rosters feature an embarrassment of riches that includes a great mixture of youth, veteran leadership, and future collegiate playmakers.</p> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Playoff Road</span></em></strong></p> <p>Grand Rapids Catholic Central: District Semi: Defeated Forest Hills Eastern 76-59, District Final: Defeated Unity Christian 71-52, Regional Semi: Defeated South Christian 68-50, Regional Final: Defeated Coopersville 97-75.</p> <p>Benton Harbor: District Semi: Defeated Allegan 76-27, District Final: Defeated Holland Christian 55-50, Regional Semi: Defeated Stevensville Lakeshore 61-56, Regional Final: Defeated Hopkins 66-59.</p> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Key Players</span></em></strong></p> <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"], G, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2021"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="987270" first="Kaden" last="Brown"], G, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2023"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="1112374" first="Durral" last="Brooks"], G, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2024"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="863974" first="Jorden" last="Brooks"], G, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2022"</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="814589" first="Kentrell" last="Pullian"], G, Benton Harbor 2021"</h6> <h6>Trucel Singleton, G, Benton Harbor 2022"</h6> <h6><span class="name">Javaughn Kuykendoll, F, Benton Harbor 2021"</span></h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="983506" first="Delrecco" last="Gillespie"], F, Benton Harbor 2022"</h6> <h6>Montrell Hobbs, F, Benton Harbor 2023"</h6> <p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Prediction</span></em></strong></p> <p>The matchup I’m most looking forward to tonight will be the battle between the young backcourt of Catholic Central, which features one of the best freshmen in the state in [player_tooltip player_id="1112374" first="Durral" last="Brooks"] and one of the premier sophomore guards in [player_tooltip player_id="987270" first="Kaden" last="Brown"] going up against cagey vets in Benton Harbor’s [player_tooltip player_id="814589" first="Kentrell" last="Pullian"] and Trucel Singleton. The amount of energy and pressure that Benton Harbor brings on the defensive end is something that Catholic Central really hasn’t experienced all season and should be the young Cougar’s hardest test to date.</p> <p>One area that Catholic Central has the edge over Benton Harbor, and what might be the ultimate difference-maker is junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="787680" first="Jack" last="Karasinski"]. Jack’s ability to score in so many different ways and at different paces and flows of the game is what I believe will push Catholic Central over the edge and through to the state semifinals. In what should be close to a one-possession game, give me Catholic Central to advance.</p> <p>Grand Rapids Catholic Central 77, Benton Harbor 74</p>