Changes to Football Playoff Format?

7 Mar

What I like about the current playoff format, is that it allows every team to make the playoffs. Regardless of how bad or weak your conference is in terms of strength of schedule, all that matters at the end of the year is that you have no more than three losses. This current offseason, the MHSAA has come up with a new proposed format regarding the playoffs.

Instead of the current 6 wins and in procedure. Teams will be assigned into 8 divisions similar to that of what we have now, but at the beginning of the season. From then on, say for example a division three team, Orchard Lake St. Marys, defeats a division one team, Cass Tech. OLSM will receive 88 playoff points. And say if Cass Tech goes on to beat another division one team, such as Catholic Central, the Eaglets would continue to get 8 playoff points for every Cass Tech win.

The format is good for those in tough conferences. Such as the CHSL Central Division, where one year the league had three teams competing at Ford Field for state titles. In that league, the one team that always struggles is U of D Jesuit. U of D will now be thankful they are that league because of the amount of strong teams they play every year. On the flip side of the format, it does have some holes. The system has potentially to destruct weaker conference, the Detroit Public School League, where there are really only 4 teams a year that are competitive. They system also has the potentially to make scheduling for non-conference games more difficult, which is a well known commodity for the State of Michigan.

In the end, all that fans, players and coaches want in the playoffs is for the teams that deserve to be in get in. Why do you think you see so many early district playoff end up in blowouts? It is because of the strength of schedule. Think of how Cass Tech in 2011 the first year of their state championship. If they would have gotten one more loss, they would not have qualified for the playoffs. We would not have been able to see a defense hold four different teams in the playoffs to under 10 points. If a 4-5 team gets in over a 7-2, 6-3 teams who cares? All that matters in the end is that the deserving teams qualify.

Additional Info.

Teams also receive one point when a team it losses to wins a game.

Points one gets according to who they beat, Div.1 : 88 points; Div. 2: 80; Div. 3: 72; Div. 4: 64; Div. 5: 56; Div. 6: 48; Div. 7: 40; Div. 8: 32.

 

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Playoff Preview (part two cont.)

4 Mar

Class B Teams That Can Make A Run

River Rouge- Rouge is now back to full strength now after getting star forward Jamal Poplar back, who had to sit out the first semester after transferring from Willow Run.  Alongside Poplar is fellow junior Terrell Crawford.  Crawford is a raw scoring off-guard who just simply can score.  Rouge starts off in the Divine Child District, where they are faced with probably meeting up with Dearborn Heights Robichaud in the finals.  If Rouge is able to get past Robichaud, I see a path at least to the quarters.

Robichaud- As above stated, will be in the same district with River Rouge.  But don’t put anything past Robichaud as long as they have Lorenzo Bonam.  Bonam is a strong, physical point guard that can make plays.  Will have to get past Rouge in the district final.

Detroit Country Day- Might be the deepest team in the entire state.  The back court is made up of Lehigh bound Austin Price, who might have the smoothest jump shot in the area.  Complementing Price in the backcourt will be lighting fast junior point guard Edmond Sumner.  Who can go from zero to full speed in about a step.  Fellow junior Mory Diane will bring more athleticism to table and a another scorer.  Down low for the Yellow Jackets will be Texas Tech football recruit Poet Thomas, and glass eater Deshawn Lewis.  The reserves for DCD don’t lack talent as well.  Star football receiver Maurice Ways and Maceo Baston make up the bench, starters at any other school expect DCD.

Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy- Now during playoff time, some teams like to give the ball to their star players and let them do the rest.  CPA will have Michigan commit Derrick Walton to give the ball to and that is not a bad idea to do.  Derrick can go for 30 points and 10 assists any given night.  CPA will need another scorer to take pressure off Derrick, and Darius Bean will have to step up if CPA wishes to make it farther than last year’s 30 point embarrassment to DCD in the regional final.

Detroit Douglass- The funny thing is, that DCD, CPA, and now Douglass, all teams that can make it to at least the quarters, will all be paired up if they get past their respective districts into the same DCD regional.  Though low on bodies, Douglass makes up for it in talent.  Led by junior point Darrell Davis, a serious D1 recruit, Douglass has a true playmaker on the court.  If paired up with DCD, the post will be won by Douglass because of junior Andre Frederick.  Frederick is quick on his feet a real shot blocker even on the perimeter.  Junior Terrell Hale will be needed for secondary scoring in order to take pressure off from Davis.

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Playoff Preview (part two)

4 Mar

Class A Teams That Can Make A Run

Pershing- See part one

Romulus- See part one

Detroit Southeastern- The PSL Semi-finalist came up just short of making it to the championship game, but are full of very talented ball players.  Including Darryl Bingham, Javon Haynes, Leonard Harper-Baker, and Kenyatta Singleton.  Will start off in the East Detroit District where fellow PSL team East English Village will pose their only threat.  If Southeastern does make it to the regionals.  CHSL finalist De La Salle will be there in the way.  Might have to play Ty Conklin and L’Anse Cruse North if they wish to make it to the Breslin.

U of D Jesuit– Not the tallest of teams, but when you have one of the best backcourts in the area with freshman point guard Cassius Winston and A.J. Horde, there will be trouble for some opponents.  They host their own district, which has several PSL bottom tier teams.  After that, U of D will head to Southfield, where in the regional final, they will have to face a team that they just lost to in the Pershing Doughboys.

Walled Lake Western- When you have one of the most dominant big men players in the state in Miroslav Jaksic, he is one that can put a team on his back and take them far into the playoffs.  Sophomore Marcus Bailey is a slasher who compliments Miroslav nicely.  In the regionals, they might have to face Huron, a team who has some history with the Breslin Center.

Playoff Preview (part one)

4 Mar

Teams with most to prove

Romulus- The Eagles are full of division one talent.  Which has led them to only one loss this year.  Seniors E.C. Matthews, Leo Edwards, and Wes Clark have all had tremendous seasons.  Now they will have to have  put together a deeps state tournament run if they wish to remembered as the best team out of Romulus.  The Eagles start by hosting their own district, will go to Wyandotte if they make the regionals, and in the quarters, will most likely have to play Pershing, their one loss, for the right to make a return to the Breslin Center.

Pershing- The Doughboys have captured a perfect 20-0 record this season.  And looked even more dominant towards the end of the season once 6’8″ junior forward Justin Tillman returned to the lineup.  The Doughboys will be in the Western District where their most likely be a rematch with Cass Tech in the final.  From that, Pershing will go into the Southfield regional where their biggest competition will be a team they just beat pretty handily, U of D Jesuit.  If all goes to plan, Pershing will get their almost annual playoff rematch with Romulus in quarters at Calihan Hall.

Saginaw- The Trojans came into the year with many expectations coming off a 2011-2012 Class A championship.  But this year and last year are totally different.  Saginaw has talent this year, such as Jerry Smith, Keyon Addison, Julian Henderson, and Al Eichelberger just to name a few.  But the problem for Saginaw is that at times they just don’t play together.  For example, in their 30 point loss to Romulus, they had guys throwing half-court inbounds and trying to play one-on-one.  This will have to be cleaned up if Saginaw wishes just to get out of their district.  Yes I said it!  Saginaw might not get out of their district.  In that district is city cross-town rival Arthur Hill.  A team that they split-the season series with.  It all depends on what Saginaw team shows up.  Because if the team that showed up for the Romulus game come out, a defending state champion will not make it to the regionals.

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Interview with Jalon Plummer

3 Mar

Romulus wing man Jalon Plummer is the x factor for the Eagles this year.  Teams know about E.C. Matthews, Wes Clark, and Leo Edwards.  But the name that is forgotten is Plummer.  He has had multiple 20 point games this year.  Including 24 on the road against Country Day, and 25 earlier in the season against Chicago Seton Academy.  Jalon brings another shooter into the lineup for Romulus, as he contains one of the most prettiest three-point shots in the area.  Plummer is working on his ability to create offense for himself.  Might be going D1 if he did not sustaine a back injury last year which kept him out a significant portion of the season.  So far, many D2 GLIAC schools have showed interest in him.

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Romulus vs. Saginaw Recap

1 Mar

Romulus 93 vs. Saginaw 63- The Saginaw Trojans came down I-75 looking to avoid the fate of their fellow city’s high school team, the Arthur Hill Lumberjacks, who lost to Romulus earlier in February.  And things looked relatively good for the Trojans in the first half.  Surviving a 9-3 Romulus run during the first three minutes of the game to come back and only trail by two at the end of one.  Things changed for the Trojans in the second.  They went from playing teams basketball, to a bunch of guys it seemed trying to stuff their own stat sheet.  Romulus went on a 8-0 run to start the quarter and eventually got into the lockeroom leading by a margin of 42-19.  Giving Romulus the ability to cruise to their regular season ending victory.  Even the subs for the Eagles seemed to have outplayed the starters for Saginaw.

Notes

For Romulus, Wes Clark had 15 points and fellow senior E.C. Matthews had 26 himself.  Jalon Plummer also added 13 for Romulus and three three-pointers.  Kenyon Addison led Saginaw with 22 total points, and Jerry Smith tallied 19 for the Trojans.  Leo Edwards grabbed down 10 rebounds for Romulus, and did a nice job defensively against freshmen sensation Al Eichelberger for Saginaw.  I though coming into this game, Romulus would have a tough time guarding the two big men for Saginaw, Al and Joe Powell.  Powell was unnoticeable the entire game, and Al never dominated the way he is used to this season.

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Interview with Zak Noor

27 Feb

IMG_0983Zak has been averaging 15 points, five assists, 4 rebounds, and three steals this season.

Here is a link to his junior year highlights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAgqnEaxa1A

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Weight, height, and position?

Zak Noor: 6’0″, 150 lbs, point guard.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Strengths you bring to a team?

Zak Noor: Strength, quickness, ball handle, penetrate to the rim very well.  Defense, shoot 3 pointer, and high IQ.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What are some things that you are working on as a ball player?

Zak Noor: Pull-up jump shots consistency more, and just getting better defensively always.  My pull-ups has been consistent this year though.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Besides from just skills, what else do you bring to the team?

Zak Noor: I have a good character.  I am a very hardworking and I’m coachable.  School I had a 3.6 last semester, and a 2.8 cumulative GPA.  I did bad but by the years I have improved.  ACT I got a 20.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What do you look for in a school from both a basketball and academic standpoint?

Zak Noor: For (academics) engineering or medical.  Don’t know which yet and also it doesn’t matter to me how big the size is but not to small.  Basketball, I look for a great coaching staff that will get me better and work me to the fullest and that will trust me.  Also a good facility to play in.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: So far, what schools have been contacting you?

Zak Noor: Albion, Adrian, I went to Wayne State for a game.  Denison, Concordia, Case Western.  But no offers.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Anything stand out to you about these schools/any relationships with any coaches or players at any of those schools?

Zak Noor: My old coaches out of high school played for Wayne State and Albion.  The coaches from Albion are really nice and like what I do and feel that I will help.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: When do you expect to receive some offers?

Zak Noor: Hopefully by the end of the season after I get my tape done from the season.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What is an interesting fact about you?

Zak Noor: I’m really funny and like math.

Follow Zak on Twitter: @zak_noor10

Follow us on Twitter: @mdhsathletics

Interview with Lavail Russell

23 Feb

The sneaky quick sophomore guard Lavail Russell talks after his 22 point performance against Muskegon Heights

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Muskegon Heights vs. Melvindale ABT Recap

23 Feb

Muskegon Heights 60 vs. ABT 69: Coming across the state on a friday night after a long day of school is not an easy thing to do. And that was the challenge that faced the Muskegon Heights Tigers on Friday night. Through the first part of the first quarter, it looked as if the Tigers just got off a three hour ride. Trailing 15-9 to nine after the first quarter. But it was more than just the score, it was the turnovers the Tigers committed that ABT was not able to capitalize on them. Even if your opponent is not taking advantage of your turnovers, you still shouldn’t play with fire. ABT was able to extend their lead to as many as 10 at 24-14 midway through the second. But for the remainder of the half, star forward Terron Ramsey was taken out of the game. During that time period is where Heights made their run. Trailing only by three at halftime. In the third is where things got interesting. The game got a little chippy between the two teams with bodies hitting the floor pretty hard, but that is the sport of basketball. This is the quarter where it looked like Heights might get out of here with a win. Behind star junior Aaron Sydnor, the Tigers were able to take a lead as much as 7. Everything was going in the Tigers favor. Turnovers, breaks and fouls all pointed in the direction of Muskegon. Unfortunately for the Tigers, even with Ramsey on the bench throughout the quarter, their momentum was lost. Sydnor did not have the best of quarters compared to earlier in the game. And the Gators were able to cruise to a hard fought victory.

Notes

ABT was led by sophomore guard Lavail Russell. Who led the Gators in scoring with 22 points. Ramsey, in limited minutes, contributed with 11. Claude Lewis had 7. For the Tigers, Aaron Sydnor had a remarkable 27 points in the contest. Most of them coming on three point shots. The guard showed the ability to make big time shots when his team needed it the most against the 14-1 Gators. A name to remember for sure for those of you in West Michigan.

Interview with Jonathan Williams

23 Feb

IMG_0978

Toledo commit and Southfield-Lathrup star Jonathan Williams has almost every offensive talent to succeed at the nest level.  One of state’s elite combo guards, Jonathan is a pure scorer.  You must have one maybe even two guys guarding him.  Because if you don’t, he could drop 30 points.  Improving as an all around ball player as he states in the interview.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Height, weight, and position please?

Jonathan Williams: My height is 6’3″ 1/2, my weight is 190 lbs, my position is combo guard.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Thoughts on how the season has been going so far?

Jonathan Williams: As a whole, not too good.  We could’ve been much better but we are working on it everyday and looking forward to playing in the state tournament.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Best moments you have had this season?

Jonathan Williams: I would say playing in a hostile environment.  Like vs. Southfield High or Country Day or even Pontiac.  But the ultimate best moment I’ve had this season was the game winning pull-up vs. Troy.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What mark or impact do you think you are leaving on Lathrup being one if not the best players to come out of there?

Jonathan Williams: I would say that I’m leaving the mark as example that hard work and dedication pays off.  Everyone that knows me know that I work hard and have worked hard to get to the place that I’m at and still progressing.  Hard work makes me who I am.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: How tough would you say it is being one of the state’s top combo guards, but being on a struggling team?

Jonathan Williams: Real tough.  I would say its making me an all around better player because I’m forced to do thing other than score.  It’s making me a more mature person as well I think my game is growing playing with a struggling team, whether is looks like it or not.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What made you pick Toledo to continue your basketball career?

Jonathan Williams:  Toledo was the perfect fit for me.  I loved their facilities and the players and the coaching staff made me feel like family.  They showed the most love so I felt it was only right to go where I was comfortable.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What skills are you going to bring to Toledo to help the team?

Jonathan Williams: I think I can bring scoring and leadership.  Also I think can be a decent rebounder.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Advice for you that are trying to become like you?

Jonathan Williams: To work hard on what is important to you everyday.  Keep a level head and stay humble.  And to give credit to God for blessing you and to others for helping you.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What and fun/interesting fact about you?

Jonathan Williams: I can bowl a little.  I eat a lot!  And I’m often considered to be a funny guy.

Follow us on Twitter: @mdhsathletics

Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @D1_JonJon

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