Handicapping mid-Michigan's districts

GLH editor goes on the record

22 February 2008

***Upset specials in red***

St. Johns district

Projected winner: Lansing Sexton over East Lansing

Rationale: Sexton is too deep and athletic for an East Lansing team that has been the picture of inconsistency this season. Javaughn Manuel is always fun to watch for the Big Reds.

Two players to watch: Charlie Woods (right), East Lansing and Ladontae Henton, Lansing Eastern

Grand Blanc district

Projected winner: Grand Blanc over Flint Southwestern

Rationale: Adrian Hunter is the best player in this district and he can will his team to the title. Swartz Creek has beaten Grand Blanc a couple times in the last two years, but I don't think the Flint Metro League prepares teams to win big games in the playoffs.
Two players to watch: Adrian Hunter, Grand Blanc and Tyrone Ward, Flint Southwestern

Battle Creek Lakeview district

Projected winner: Holt over Battle Creek Lakeview

Rationale: Holt has been floundering a little bit of late, but the postseason is always the time for the Rams to shine. Look for Holt to get back on track after losing the CAAC-1 title to Jackson.
Two players to watch: Joe Powers, Holt and Joe Estrada, Grand Ledge
 

Saginaw Arthur Hill district

Projected winner: Saginaw over Saginaw Heritage

Rationale: Saginaw is the best team in the state, so they should be the best team in their district. It is a shame that Arthur Hill has to leave the tournament on the first day; they are the second best team in Michigan, after all. Every other team in this district is in way over its head.
Two players to watch: Daniel West and Draymond Green of Saginaw High
 

Bay City Western district

Projected winner: Mt. Pleasant over Midland Dow

Rationale: With a healthy 6-4 Trey Ziegler manning the wing, Mt. Pleasant is a totally different team. Without him, they are mediocre; with him they can beat Midland Dow.
Two players to watch: Brad Norman, Bay City Central and Trey Ziegler, Mt. Pleasant

Clarkston district

Projected winner: Clarkston over Lake Orion

Rationale: Clarkston wins this district every year. Lapeer East gets an early bye before bowing out to Lake Orion in round two.
Two players to watch: Drew Maynard, Lake Orion and Steve Wilmers, Lapeer East
 

Flint Central district

Projected winner: Flint Carman-Ainsworth over Davison

Rationale: The Cavs are the deepest and most talented team in this district and earned two wins over Davison in the regular season. City basketball has been bad this season, so don't expect much out of Flint Northern or Flint Central.
Two players to watch: Reggie Stallings (right), Flint C-A and Joemar Black, Flint Northern

Fowlerville district

Projected winner: Fowlerville over Williamston

Rationale: Fowlerville is the best team in this weak class B district. Sean Romsek on the perimeter and Joe Lane in the post should help the Gladiators win this one going away.
Two players to watch: Sean Romsek, Fowlerville and Kyle McIntyre, Williamston

Dewitt district

Projected winner: DeWitt over Lansing Waverly

Rationale: DeWitt has too much firepower starting with senior power guard Brandon Binkley. It's too bad Lansing Catholic couldn't play DeWitt in the final, as both teams finished their conference seasons undefeated.
Two players to watch: Brandon Binkley, DeWitt and Zach Saylor, Lansing Waverly

Hemlock district

Projected winner: Hemlock over Montrose

Rationale: Hemlock started strong in conference before coming back down to earth. They still, however, have enough talent to win this weak district. Hemlock's Justin Vondette has emerged as a serious scorer this season.
Two players to watch: Preston Taylor, Montrose and Justin Vondette, Hemlock

Birch Run district

Projected winner: Goodrich over Flint Northwestern

Rationale: The Martians get to sit back as Flint Powers locks horns with a good Birch Run team on opening night. Goodrich is a top 10 team in the state in class B and are as deep as anyone in that class, so it is a stretch to call this pick an upset; that being said, the conventional wisdom is that Powers will take this district. Powers' starting five is as good as any in class B, but there are depth concerns in Chargerland.
Two players to watch: The Morelands (right), Flint Powers and Deandre Upchurch, Flint Northwestern

Millington district

Projected winner: Millington over Vassar

Rationale: Millington is primed and ready for the playoffs after their big win over Frankenmuth to finish out the season. They started off the season on an eight-game winning streak, came back to the field, and now appear ready to make a run.
Two players to watch: Dustin Griesing, Millington and Troy Hecht, Vassar

Garber district

Projected winner: Frankenmuth over Freeland

Rationale: The most anticipated game in this district comes early as Frankenmuth takes on Bridgeport. The Bearcats are young and talented, but I expected 'Muth to bounce back after two late season losses.
Two players to watch: Brad Redford, Frankenmuth and Derrick Davis, Bridgeport

Leslie district

Projected winner: Bath over Leslie

Rationale: Bath is the returning class C champion and has one of the top players in the class in 6-7 SVSU-commit Eli Redman.

Two players to watch: Eli Redman, Bath and Charlie Snow (right), Leslie

Marlette district

Projected winner: Burton Bentley over Brown City

Rationale: Bentley is tested, Brown City is not. The Bulldogs have squared off against New Lothrop and Flint Hamady twice as well as Goodrich, Flint Northwestern and Flint Beecher. Brown City has only one loss, and will be playing close to home. Bentley probably isn't favored in this district based on recent history, but I am confident in this pick.

Two players to watch: Lau'ren Jones, Burton Bentley and Donovan Ogboh, Brown City.

Genesee district

Projected winner: Flint Hamady over Byron.

Rationale: Hamady is deeper than Flint Beecher, the other top team in this district, and has tremendous senior leadership. The Bucs are favored in this matchup, but the Hamady team I saw Thursday night has the manpower to beat Beecher.
Two players to watch: Janero Walker, Flint Beecher and Demarkus Jackson, Flint Hamady

Carrollton district

Projected winner: Saginaw Buena Vista over Reese

Rationale: I am going to take some chin music for this pick, but this is an upset special. Buena Vista returns its best player, 6-6 game-changer Torian Oglesby (right), just in time for the playoffs. Oglesby will be in the difference in this district, but the Knights will have to get through Nouvel first..
Two players to watch: Torian Oglesby, Buena Vista and Ty Graham, Reese.

Unionville-Sebewaing district

Projected winner: USA over Cass City

Rationale: USA won't have to worry about Reese in this district, and should win it going away. Cass City is an eight-loss team in the Greater Thumb West and USA is tournament-tested.
Two players to watch: Brandon Bitzer, USA and Brad Iskow, Bad Axe

Webberville district

Projected winner: Webberville over Lansing Christian

Rationale: Lansing Christian can score in bunches on the perimeter, but Webberville is too big and strong in the post. Webberville dropped LCS twice this season.
Two players to watch: Jason Klepal, Lansing New Covenant Christian and DeOndre Callahan, Lansing Christian.

New Lothrop district

Projected winner: New Lothrop over Fowler

Rationale: New Lothrop has been busy beating class B and C competition all season and will enjoy a respite in the class D playoffs at least through their district.
Two players to watch: Ryan Praski (right), New Lothrop and Matt Simon, Fowler

Waterford Our Lady district

Projected winner: Flint International Academy over Genesee Christian

Rationale: International Academy dispatched GCS in two of their last three meetings including last season's district final game. Both teams have played tough schedules to prepare for the playoffs. IAF's Leondas Caldwell has emerged as one of the top forwards in class D in Michigan, and should be the difference against GCS' undermanned frontline. That being said, no one would be surprised if GCS won this district.
Two players to watch: Tyler Wilson, IAF and Zach Goodspeed, GCS