Division 6
Area Teams to Watch
Belding: The Black Knights are poised to make a long run in Division 6 after moving down from Division 5 where they fell to Frankenmuth in the district finals last season. After an opening-season loss to Reed City, Belding has ripped off eight straight wins. The Black Knights are averaging 37.9 points per game and closed out the regular season with a 28-7 win over 6-3 Muskegon Oakridge. Belding opens the playoffs hosting Ovid-Elsie in what should be an entertaining matchup.
Central Montcalm: The Hornets are in the playoffs for a third straight season after posting a 7-2 mark this season. The Hornets are putting up 34.4 points per game and have totaled over 100 points in their final two games of the regular season. Central Montcalm’s two losses have come against Kent City and Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port who are a combined 16-2 this season. The Hornets open the playoffs hosting 7-2 Montague.
Durand: Durand is in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The Railroaders put together a 7-2 regular-season record that was jump-started by a 28-22 overtime win against Gladstone in week one. After midseason losses to Montrose and Ovid-Elsie, the Railroaders were on the fast track with a five-game winning streak where they eclipsed the 30-point mark in all five games and scored 50 or more in four of the wins. The Railroaders open the playoffs by making a trip to Flint Hamady.
Montrose: Montrose has not missed the playoffs since 2009 and this year’s team is one of the best over that span having turned in a 9-0 regular season. The Rams are potent on offense averaging 30.2 ppg. While the defense is allowing just 4.2 points per contest. The Rams opened the season posting three consecutive shutouts and have six total shutouts for the entire season. Montrose has an interesting playoff opener in the young Flint New Standard Academy squad that possesses plenty of young talent and has fashioned an 8-1 record.
Ovid-Elsie: Ovid-Elsie matched last year’s record by finishing the regular season with a 7-2 record to qualify for the playoffs for the fifth straight year. The Marauders have a productive offense that is putting up 38.8 points per game and that offense has been hitting its stride by scoring 50-plus points in each of the last three games. The Marauders have been in every game they’ve played this season as they fell 24-15 to Howard City Tri-County in week one and dropped a 14-10 defensive struggle to Montrose in a Mid Michigan Athletic Conference showdown. The Marauders will need to be firing on all cylinders when they invade Belding in the first round of the playoffs.
Sanford-Meridian: After opening the season with a pair of losses, the Mustangs rallied to win the Jack Pine Conference II division championship. Sanford-Meridian finished the regular season with a 6-3 record. And is putting up 29.8 points per game on offense while the defense is allowing an average of 18.4 points. The Mustangs have to saddle up for a long road trip to Reed City to face the 7-2 Coyotes in the opening round of the playoffs.
Top D6 Contenders: Almont (9-0), Montrose (9-0), Kent City (9-0), Belding (8-1), Ida (7-2), Ecorse (7-2), Reed City (7-2), Jackson Lumen Christi (6-3), Traverse City St. Francis (6-2).
Preview: Undefeated Montrose and Kent City are looking strong in the top of the bracket but don’t count out Reed City or Traverse City St. Francis. In the bottom half of the bracket Jackson Lumen Christi has a deceiving 6-3 record as they have a win against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and lost to undefeated Grand Rapids Catholic Central from D5, 8-1 Dearborn Divine Child in D4 and Montini Catholic of Illinois, a defending state champion. Almont is also in the bottom of the bracket and is more than capable of getting back to Ford Field. Keep an eye out for Ida, Maybee primed for a deep tourney run.
HSSS Division 6 State Final Prediction: Jackson Lumen Christi 24, Traverse City St. Francis 21
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