Class C Power Rankings and Previ

Class C Power Rankings and Previews

Class C basketball in mid-Michigan all comes down to those teams that met last winter at Pewamo-Westphalia, except for Flint Northwestern Academy, which moved up to class B. I'm still having trouble understanding how Bath didn't win the class C title last year, but I think they have an even better chance this season. Carson City-Crystal returns their core players from last season and the guys from Leslie have all vastly improved. The Bees of Bath may have a bigger fight on their hands this go around, despite their experienced roster. This also may be the year that Nouvel beats Saginaw Buena Vista, although Buena Vista returns a number of quality players and another Jackson. Olivet will take a dip this year, but rising are the Bulldogs of Burton Bentley. Expect them to come out on top of the Genesee Area Conference and to maybe join those other three at Pewamo-Westphalia in March. Right now, this is how I see it:

1. Bath

2. Leslie

3. Carson City – Crystal

4. Burton Bentley

5. Saginaw Nouvel

6. Hanover – Horton

7. Laingsburg

8. Olivet

9. Saginaw Buena Vista

10. Brown City

Bath

Key Losses: Devin Tarrant 6’6” C [Aquinas]

Key Returns: Kody Kokx [right] 6’6” Sr. F [Hillsdale], Eli Redman 6’7” Jr. F, Brett Monroe 6’3” Sr. G, Curtis Chaffee 5’9” Sr. G

Bath had their season end sooner than they intended against Berrien Springs at the Breslin, but the Bees can expect to be back at that same level this season. The key is their size: Kokx and Redman, at 6’6” or taller, offer unusual height for a class C squad. Kokx is a physical and versatile presence, while Redman is more of a finesse player, but possesses the same, if not better, versatility. The two should work extremely well off of each other and will have more size in 6'5" Senior Nick Bendall. Chaffee is a solid point guard who can knock down open shots and protect the ball against tough defenses. Monroe is an athletic talent at the wing who is set to fill some of the void left by Tarrant. The return of all that experience and talent gives Bath an excellent outlook for the 06/07 season.

Leslie

Key Losses: Sam Snow 6’4” F [Adrian], Taylor Hannon 6’3” G

Key Returns: Ryan Clark 6’3” Sr. F, Brad Ahler [left] 6’6” Sr. F

Although Leslie lost one their best players ever in Snow, there may be reason to smile with the emergence of his younger brother, 6’3” F, Charlie Snow. Charlie may just finish where Sam left off. The surroundings should be the same with the return of Ahler and Clark. Toward the end of the season Clark was becoming the guy to take the big shots. He is a versatile forward who is very adept in his all-around game. Ahler is a quality big man who can hit the outside shot and bang down low with the bigs. Additionally, this team benefits, come playoff time, from playing an essentially class B conference schedule.

Carson City – Crystal

Key Losses: Troy Schneider 5’10” G

Key Returns: Sean Jones [right] 6’10” Jr. C, Cory Schneider 5’9” Jr. G, Devin Duflo 5’11” Sr. G

Jones is slowly turning into one of the top big men in the state. He has a great touch around the hoop and his height makes him a shot-changer. He needs to get stronger, but that will come with time. Schneider is a solid point guard who can control a game’s tempo, while Duflo is a great scorer from the perimeter. The Eagles return their nucleus and should make it as far, if not further, than last season’s playoff run.

Burton Bentley

Key Losses: Kevin Richardson 6’1” G [Delta CC], Nick Bolen 6’5” C [Alma]

Key Returns: Howard Ellison 6’0” Sr. G, Patrick Ellison [left] 6’5” Jr. F, Matt Monreal 5’11” Sr.

This is the deepest and most athletic team in the GAC for the coming season. Patrick Ellison is a long and bouncy forward who can rebound, block shots and score inside. His older brother Howard is a cerebral floor general with an extremely athletic frame. Monreal can light it up from outside and keep teams from doubling up on either Ellison. Aaron Mangham, a 6’0” junior, is another dynamic that teams will have to account for. The x-factor for this team might just be head coach Jeremy Trent, last year's GLH coach of the year.

Saginaw Nouvel

Key Losses: Luke Hendrick 6’5” C

Key Returns: Tim Ryan 6’3” Sr. F, Nick White 6’0” Sr. G

The Loss of Hendrick is huge; he was that rare big man who could be both effective inside and outside. However, as talented as Hendrick was, Ryan may be even more so. He’s capable of playing pretty much any position on the floor. White is a gutsy and talented returning guard. A few junior guards from the JV team, like 6’1” Mitch Mulcahy [right] and 6’3” David Kazmierski, should add some depth to a squad sorely in need of a big man. This may be the one season when Nouvel will be able to boast the best player on the floor when Buena Vista comes to town.