The Prep Ball Report

In the Class A top ten entering the playoffs, there are four undefeated teams, and three squads only have one loss.  Muskegon captured Class A last year.  However, the Big Reds will have plenty of competition on the west side before a potential return to the Breslin Center.

Contenders: Western (19-0), Muskegon (19-1), Clarkston (20-0), East Kentwood (20-0), Kalamazoo Central (19-1), Macomb Dakota (18-2), U of D Jesuit (17-3), Saginaw Arthur Hill (17-3)

Sleepers: Lansing Everett (18-2), Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (17-3), Walled Lake Western (19-1), Ann Arbor Huron (18-2), Romulus (14-5), East English Village (14-4), North Farmington (17-3).

Best District:

Walled Lake Central

Teams: White Lake Lakeland, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Walled Lake Western, Walled Lake Central, Walled Lake Northern, West Bloomfield.

Outlook: Walled Lake Western hopes to continue what has been a magical season.  For the first time since 2000, the Warriors captured a conference championship, and first KLAA North, Lakes, and Association titles in school history.

Western’s half of the bracket is not as strenuous compared to rival Central’s.  If Central (15-5) defeats Northern Monday, the Vikings meet West Bloomfield (18-2) for the right in all likelihood to meet Western Friday night.    West Bloomfield has been a ranked since the pre-season, and feature one of the best dual-sport athletes in the state in Trishton Jackson.  Central will counter with junior guard Walter Kelser, who is quietly one of the best 2016 guards in Michigan.

Tags: Playoff Preview

Milan won Class B a year ago, and the Big Reds have plans of recapturing the crown in 2015.

Contenders: Milan (18-2), New Haven (20-0), Wyoming Godwin Heights (19-1), Detroit Henry Ford (14-5)

Sleepers: Wayland (17-3), River Rouge (15-5), Consortium (13-5), Flint Northwestern (15-3), Benton Harbor (14-6), Goodrich (18-2).

Best West Michigan District:

Wyoming Godwin Heights

Teams: Kentwood Grand River, Wayland Union, Grand Rapids South Christian, Grand Rapids Aviation Academy, Wyoming Kellogsville, Wayland.

Outlook: Wayland is just seven points away from an undefeated season, and two of those losses were at the hand’s of Class A ranked Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills.  The Wildcats’ stiffest competition will be against host Godwin Heights, the two could possibly meet Friday night for the district championship.  First year head coach Tyler Whittemore has continued to maintain the Wolverines as a perennial Class B contender.  Last year’s team won 25 games, and lost one.  The lone loss occurred to Benton Harbor in the quarterfinals.

Best East Michigan District:

Livonia Clarenceville

Teams: Detroit Community, Redford Union, Southfield Bradford, Livonia Clarenceville, Detroit CMA, Detroit Henry Ford.

Outlook: Four teams within this district have the opportunity to capture hardware.  Ford will be favored, challenged by a rigid PSL schedule and behind the stellar shooting of Josh Davis and point guard play of James Towns.

Detroit Community has the roster to succeed in March, length, athleticism, speed, versatility, but self-inflicted wounds limit the Hurricane’s from reaching their potential at times.

Bradford won the Charter School Conference with a 14-5.

While Detroit CMA had the best season in school history, just one loss in the PSL’s division two, and impressive victories against Warren De La Salle and Detroit Community in December.  CMA deploys a unique motion offense, with the purpose to lessen game possessions.  The Pharaohs will be a tough out against teams’ that like to push tempo.

Tags: Playoff Preview

Similar to Class D, Class C will see a new champion as Detroit Consortium decided to move up a class to B.

Contenders: Flint Beecher (18-1), Jackson Lumen (18-2), Hillsdale (20-0), Beaverton (20-0), Shelby (19-1, Horton (18-2)

Sleepers: Detroit Loyola (15-5), Monroe St. Mary (17-3), Southfield Christian (17-3), Allen Academy (11-9), Detroit Edison (13-4), Muskegon Heights (11-5)

Best Districts:

Madison Heights Madison

Teams: Jalen Rose, Warren Michigan Collegiate, Mt. Clemens, Bishop Foley, Ferndale University, Madison Heights Madison.

Outlook: Five of the six teams won double-digit games, and four of those won at least 12 games.  The obvious favorite is host Madison, a respectable 15-5 record and challenges against Class B number one New Haven.  Mt. Clemens has found a way to remain competitive despite a entirely new team and coach from a year ago.  University has seven seniors eager to win their first district championship after losing the past three years in the final game, while Michigan Collegiate will look to prove their 14-5 record is no fluke.

Detroit Edison 

Teams: Detroit Edison, Detroit Loyola, Allen Academy, Highland Park, Detroit Plymouth, University Yes, Grosse Pointe University Liggett.

Outlook: Host Edison throughout the season has shown flashes of becoming an elite Class C team.  Second year head coach Boe Neely relies heavily on freshman and sophomores at the back and front-courts.  The Pioneers draw Loyola on opening night.  Aside from the past three games against far inferior competition, the Bulldogs concluded Catholic League 1-3.  Loyola has the pieces to make a deep run, perhaps playing in a hostile road-opener will add a greater sense of urgency for Loyola.

The winner faces Allen Academy Wednesday for all intensive purposes the district championship.  Allen entered the year as a strong favorite to capture Class C.  However, injuries and youth have plagued Craig Covington’s team the entire campaign.  Allen will be fully healthful for the post-season, and won four of their last five regular season games.

Tags: Playoff Preview