CLASS A GIRLS
Grand Haven sits atop the girls’ Class A state rankings, and the Buccaneers are positioned to bring home the state title after a number of deep runs the last few years. Senior guard Sharrae Davis leads the way for a Buccaneer team that has plenty of talent. Detroit Public Schools has a pair of strong Class A squads in Pershing and King. Both teams have plenty of talent and will be prime contenders for a state title. In mid-Michigan, Waverly, St. Johns, and Midland have the potential to reach the final four.
TOP TEAMS STATEWIDE
1. Grand Haven
2, Detroit Pershing
3. Detroit King
TOP LOCAL TEAMS
1. Waverly
2. St. Johns
3. Midland
4. East Lansing
TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH
1. Kelsey Mitchell, Inkster
2. Branndais Agee, Detroit Cass Tech
3. Sharrae Davis, Grand Haven
TOP LOCAL PLAYERS
1. Jasmine Wood, Waverly
2. Jordan Nurenberg, St. Johns
3. Alex Green, East Lansing
4. Breanna Mobley, Waverly
5. Piper Tuicker, East Lansing
LOCAL ANGLE
The Class A district at Lansing Everett is the place to be for girls’ basketball. The district is as power-packed as any in the state, with four teams ranked in the state poll. The district tournament kicks off in a big way with St. Johns taking on DeWitt in an opening round game. The winner of that game should see Waverly in the semifinals. Waverly is undefeated, is the second-ranked team in the state in Class A, and set up for a long tournament run, provided it can get past the winner of St. Johns-DeWitt. Waverly will likely face another major hurdle in the district title game, when it may face an East Lansing team that has an honorable mention ranking. From the Saginaw Valley, Midland is set up for a strong playoff run. Midland is ranked sixth in the state in Class A and has a balanced offense that can produce points in the paint or on the perimeter.
CAN’T MISS OPENING NIGHT GAME
DeWitt vs. St. Johns at Lansing Everett district.
CLASS B GIRLS
The Goodrich Martians have been the premier Class B team in the state this season. They are paced by the tandem of Taylor Gleason and Aketra Sevillian, who are two of the premier juniors in the state. Grand Rapids Catholic Cental and Detroit County Day have annually been among the top teams in the state in Class B, and this season is no different . Portland is enjoying a huge season, and the Raiders have the potential to go far. From the southwest corner of the state, St. Joseph is unbeaten and has been turning in a solid season.
TOP TEAMS STATEWIDE
1. Goodrich
2, St. Joseph
3. Detroit Country Day
4. Grand Rapids Catholic Central
TOP LOCAL TEAMS
1. Portland
2. Eaton Rapids
3. Freeland
4. Bullock Creek
TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH
1. Taylor Gleason, Goodrich
2. Tiesha Stokes, Grand Rapids Catholic
3. Aketra Sevillian, Goodrich
TOP LOCAL PLAYERS
1. Sarah Trierweiler, Portland
2. Tori Jankoska, Freeland
3. Allie Dittmer, Eaton Rapids
4. Taylor Roe, Portland
LOCAL ANGLE
Ranked second in the state, Portland has the depth and talent to make a run at a state title. Senior center Sarah Trierweiler gives the Raiders a strong presence in the paint, while Taylor Roe and Kelsey Spitzley provide plenty of support. Eaton Rapids is ranked as an honorable-mention team, and the Greyhounds are anything but an easy out. While they have dropped three games this season, two were to Waverly, ranked second in the state in Class A, and one was to Class A top-ten team St. Johns. Eaton Rapids sophomore Allie Dittmer is one of the top young players in mid-Michigan and has a versatile game. Freeland, led by junior sensation Tori Jankoska, has the ability to made a deep playoff push of its own.
CAN’T MISS DISTRICT GAME
Potential district final at Shepherd between Freeland and Bullock Creek.
CLASS C GIRLS
After battling the bigger programs in Class B last season, Morley Stanwood is back in Class C this year and has been flexing its muscles all season. The Mohawks are unbeaten heading into late February and ranked No. 1 in the state. Challengers will be coming at the Mohawks from all over the state. In southern Michigan, Concord has an unbeaten squad, while in the southwest corner of the state, Brandywine has enjoyed a huge season. In western Michigan, Kent City has been a power, and from up in the straits area, St. Ignace has another solid team.
TOP TEAMS STATEWIDE
1. Concord
2. St. Ignace
3. Brandywine
4. Kent City
TOP LOCAL TEAMS
1. Morley Stanwood
2.Valley Lutheran
3. Clare
4. New Lothrop
5. Carson City-Crystal
TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH
1. Morgan Berry, Napoleon
2. Annemarie Hamlet, McBain
3. Dy’man Webb, Hamady
TOP LOCAL PLAYERS
1. Bailey Cairnduff, Morley Stanwood
2. Lindsay Winter, Clare
3. Samantha Shafer, Valley Lutheran
4. Emily Severn, New Lothrop
LOCAL ANGLE
Few Class C teams can match up with the firepower of Morley Stanwood. Senior guard Bailey Cairnduff, who is headed to Bowling Green, is one of the dominant players in the state in Class C, and she receives plenty of support from Alexis Huntey and Elyse Starck. In Saginaw, Valley Lutheran won 17 of its first 18 games this season, with its lone defeat being a two-point loss to Class B Freeland. The one-two punch of Samantha Shafer and Sarah Appold has led the way for Valley Lutheran this season. Clare has turned in another solid season led by junior Lindsay Winter, while New Lothrop has been solid in the Flint area.
CAN’T MISS DISTRICT GAME
Potential district title game at Farwell between Clare and McBain.
CLASS D GIRLS
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes has captured the past two Class D state championships and is going for the three-peat this season. Ranked second in the state in Division 4 in mid-February, the Lakers have plenty of firepower led by junior guard Lexie Robak, senior Carlee Cottrell and senior transfer Tori Duffey who gives the team another potent option on offense. Gaylord St. Mary is ranked first in the state and the Snowbirds will be tough to beat come mid-March. Senior Karli Jacob leads the way for the Snowbirds along with junior Mary Spyhalski and sophomore Kari Borowiak. Mt. Pleasant is the third Catholic high school in the state ranked in the top three while Marine City Cardinal Mooney is ranked fifth in the state. Climax-Scotts round out the top five in the state and leads the way out of Southwest Michigan.
TOP TEAMS STATEWIDE
1. Gaylord St. Mary
2, Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic
3. Climax-Scotts
4. Cardinal Mooney Catholic
TOP LOCAL TEAMS
1. Sacred Heart Academy
2. Lansing Christian
TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH
1. Karli Jacob, Gaylord St. Mary Cathedral
2. Lexie Robak, Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic
3. Janae Langs, Climax-Scotts
TOP LOCAL PLAYERS
1. Erica Hansen, Sacred Heart Academy
2. Sara Hansen, Sacred Heart Academy
3. Caleigh Bytwerk, Lansing Christian
LOCAL ANGLE
Ranked third in the state, Sacred Heart Academy is poised for a deep playoff run this year. The Irish have a potent offense and play stingy defense. Lansing Christian is a solid all-around team that is also looking to make a deep playoff run.
CAN’T MISS DISTRICT GAME
District semifinal game at Sacred Heart Academy.