Boys State Tourney Preview: Class A

BREAKDOWN: let’s make this real simple- the winner of the Saginaw High vs. Arthur Hill winner will go on and win the State Championship.  The rest of the field will be playing for second place. 

PLAYER TO WATCH: Dominique Buckley, Romulus of all the Mr. Basketball finalist, Buckley gets the least hype; but you Romulus fans can just sit back and enjoy the ride and watch the Iowa State commit carry his team to the Breslin Center.      

SLEEPER TEAM: Blake Cushingberry and his Romeo team lost a heart breaker last year to Pontiac Northern in the regionals but this year I expect to see Romeo advance to the quarter-finals at Davison.  The Bulldogs will find theirselves in a dog fight against Clarkston and probably Brother Rice in the regionals, but Cushingberry will find a way to pull it out. 

UPSET BREWING: Ann Arbor Pioneer enters districts with a perfect record but I don’t see them advancing very far.  They will either fall in the districts to Jackson or in the first round of regionals.   

TOUGHEST DISTRICT: Southfield 19-A, Henry Ford has the bull’s eye but I wouldn’t be shocked if Southfield, Detroit Cody, or Detroit Central advances.  

BEST DISTRICT GAME #1: Arthur Hill vs. Saginaw High @ Arthur Hill #10 this was the obvious choice- the “true” State Championship game will be played in the first night of districts.  It doesn’t get any better than this when the two Saginaw schools get it on!    

BEST DISTRICT GAME #2: Jackson vs. Ann Arbor Pioneer @ Dexter #4

this is a predicted district Championship Game and Jackson has the players to pull off the upset.

BEST DISTRICT GAME #3: Battle Creek Central vs. Holt @ Lakeview #2

another game where a powerhouse will get bounced on opening night.  Holt has the size to limit Jason Washburn but the wildcard will be PG Lanto Jackson, if this sophomore PG can handle the pressure then Holt will be O.K. 

BEST DISTRICT GAME #4: Lake Orion vs. Clarkston @ Clarkston #31

Both teams will have to advance to the title game for this game to take place.  L.O. has the stud in Drew Maynard but Clarkston has the “team” thing going on.  Clarkston will be hanging another district banner.  

BEST DISTRICT GAME #5: Detroit Northwestern vs. Detroit King @ Detroit Cass Tech #18

Like the Saginaw battle, both teams could go a long way but one won’t make it to the district semis.  King will want to keep this game at a slow pace or else Eric Evans will make them pay. 

FINAL FOUR PICKS:

Arthur Hill over K-Zoo Central

Romulus over Detroit Pershing

FINALS PICK: Arthur Hill over Romulus

WHY ARTHUR HILL: the Jacks had the toughest schedule in Michigan.  They are refocused and Coach McMath has them ready to go.  They will start out with their backs against the wall right away but a win over Saginaw will give them confidence going through the bracket.

 

Boys State Tourney Preview: Class B

BREAKDOWN: the phrase, “you’re the champ till someone beats you” comes to mind when you take a look at “Class B”.  A handful of “Class B” teams toughened up their schedules to prepare for the tourney but when you take a look at the list, Country Day still stands out.      

PLAYER TO WATCH: Brad Redford, Frankenmuth with the sick numbers Redford has put up this year he still has the doubters.  After Redford carries his team to the Breslin Center, those doubters won’t have anything else to cry about.  His 40 points a game average will stay the same through-out districts.        

SLEEPER TEAM: Dewitt has an 18-2 record but they have done it quietly without much publicity.  The Panthers will cruise to the quarter-finals and once you get that far anything can happen.  Dewitt has good size and athleticism for a “Class B” small town team. 

UPSET BREWING: Zeeland East is the pick to come out of district #50 but the road will be tough because they will have to beat Allendale, Zeeland West, and then Hudsonville Unity Christian in the Championship game.  All three teams are capable of pulling the upset.    

TOUGHEST DISTRICT: Birch Run #56 four teams (Birch Run, Goodrich, Flint Northwestern, and Powers) all deserving to advance.  Every team has a big named player so the hype will also be there.  Northwestern has the easiest rode to the Championship game.  

BEST DISTRICT GAME #1: Detroit Renaissance vs. Livonia Clarenceville @ Clarenceville #41

Renaissance will win this game but Clarenceville will make a game out of it.  In the end Renaissance will have just too much talent.     

BEST DISTRICT GAME #2: Allendale vs. Zeeland East @ Hamilton #50

Both teams finished with atleast 15 wins.  Allendale has had the surprising season but it might be coming to an end.  

BEST DISTRICT GAME #3: Bridgeport vs. Frankenmuth @ Garber #58

I got the Muth advancing to the Breslin but their neighbor rival would love nothing more than to cut that trip short.  Bridgeport has a very deep team but they just don’t have a player like Redford. 

BEST DISTRICT GAME #4: Birch Run vs. Flint Powers @ Birch Run #56

This game will be closer than people think.  Jordan Duby is a player but Powers has more than one player with the Moreland and Patrick Lucas-Perry. 

BEST DISTRICT GAME #5: Inkster vs. Robichaud @ Divine Child #39

Inkster will pull off the upset.  They have toughness down low and speedy guard up top.  Renty Rollins will slow down Antonio Green.  

FINAL FOUR PICKS:

Divine Child over Frankenmuth

Country Day over Muskegon Heights

FINALS PICK: Country Day over Devine Child

WHY COUNTRY DAY: just too much size for any “Class B” team to handle.  Donovan Kirk and Deshonte Riley are starting to get their chemistry down and with Darnell Brown and Jordan Dumars dropping 3’s up top- well...that’s tough to beat!

 

Boys State Tourney Preview: Class C

BREAKDOWN: “Class C” is wide open but I think when the smoke clears the teams with not as many wins, but tougher schedules, will be the teams left standing.  The teams that breezed through their schedules will find it tough to advance. 

PLAYER TO WATCH: Dedo Jackson, Buena Vista even though he’s only a sophomore he’s the leader of this team.  Buena Vista has the roster to win a State Championship but Jackson will have to run the show and put his teammates in a solid position to score.    

SLEEPER TEAM: Oak Park Academy not allot of people around the state know about Oak Park but don’t be surprised if they show up at the Breslin.  They play hard and are a defensive minded team.     

UPSET BREWING: Reese has that perfect record and is the favorite to win their district but Buena Vista is battle tested.  Reese will have to find a way to handle the B.V. full court pressure. 

TOUGHEST DISTRICT: Genesee #82 the whole field is tough especially with Hamady and Beecher.  The two will meet in the semis with the winner having a huge chance to win the State Title.   

FINAL FOUR PICKS:

Bath over Oak Park Academy

Beecher over Negaunee

FINALS PICK: Beecher over Bath

WHY BEECHER: last year Bath topped Beecher in over-time on there way to a State Championship.  Beecher returns almost everyone and this will be their year.  Coach Williams has done a great job preparing his team and point guard Janero Walker knows how to play the game.

 

Boys State Tourney Preview: Class D

BREAKDOWN: teams like New Lothrop, Detroit City, and Ellsworth have a shot but we more than likely will see a rematch of last year’s State Championship.  Cedarville and Tri-Unity Christian return plenty of players from last year’s rosters, so experience is on their side. 

PLAYER TO WATCH: Dan Possehl, Wyoming Tri- Unity Christian last year the 6-8 forward hit the scene with a 32 point/ 15 rebound performance in the title game even though his Defenders lost.  Look for Possehl to dominate the “Class D” bracket as he carries the load for his Defenders all the way to the Breslin.   

SLEEPER TEAM: Warren Connor Creek not many “Class D” teams have a D-1 player but Connor Creek does is 6-9 John Hoskins.  Hoskins has enough help for his team to advance atleast to the quarter-finals. 

UPSET BREWING: last year Sterling Heights Parkway Christian made it to the State Championship but this year I don’t see them surviving their district.  Warren Conner Creek has a .500 record but I pick them to knock off Parkway in the district semi-final.  

TOUGHEST DISTRICT: Jackson Christian 107-D usually there is one team, maybe two, that can easily be picked to come out of a district.  But not in this district- four teams have a legitimate shot to advance- the host team Jackson Christian, Webberville, Lansing Christian, and Portland St. Patrick.  My pick- Webberville.     

FINAL FOUR PICKS:

Cedarville over Muskegon West Michigan Christian

Wyoming Tri- Unity Christian over Detroit City

FINALS PICK: Wyoming Tri- Unity Christian over Cedarville

WHY TRI- UNITY: in last year’s Championship Game between Tri-Unity and Cedarville, Jared Mysliwiec had an off game but it won’t happen two years in a row.  Expect to see the junior, Mysliwiec, play in his third State Championship game.