Wednesday saw plenty of thrilling high school basketball action across the great state of Michigan. Many districts saw teams punch their tickets to Friday’s district finals, which a few saw their champions crowned.
DIVISION 1 DISTRICT 9 at Lowell
Rockford 69 Forest Hills Central 53
Lowell 78 Greenville 45: The Red Arrows defeated the ‘Jackets in the semifinals at Lowell on Wednesday. Braxcynn Baker (29) and Piper Risdon (23) were explosive offensively, while Emma Bruwer and Taryn Jackson added to the scoring column with 9 points each. Meg Leslie led Greenville with 22 points, while Alexus Dunn added 8.
FINALS: Rockford (19-2) vs Lowell (15-7)
DIVISION 1 DISTRICT 10 at Reeths Puffer
Mona Shores 46 Grand Haven 39: The Sailors defeated the Bucs in a semifinal game on Wednesday. Mona Shores led 12-10 after the first quarter, but GH won the second frame to take a 19-16 halftime advantage. In the third quarter, Mona Shores responded with a 16-5 performance, which allowed them to take control. Jenna Tierman (15), Mia Brown (10) and Khaleeya Cook (9) led Mona Shores offensively. Alyssa Hatzel and Zoe Spoelman paced GH with 6.
Reeths Puffer 56 Kenowa Hills 37
FINALS: Mona Shores (18-3) vs Reeths Puffer (16-5)
DIVISION 1 DISTRICT 11 at Holland
Hudsonville 65 Holland 18
West Ottawa 50 Zeeland West 17
FINALS: Hudsonville (19-2) vs West Ottawa (15-7)
DIVISION 1 DISTRICT 12 at East Kentwood
Byron Center 63 East Grand Rapids 34
East Kentwood 50 Caledonia 36: The Falcons defeated the Fighting Scots for the third time in as many tries this winter, punching their ticket to the district finals. Makensie Mondy (13) and Kanyla Tyler (12) finished in double figures for EK, as Caledonia game planned to limit Deyonce Thompson to just nine points.
FINALS: Byron Center (18-2) vs East Kentwood (12-9)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 35 at Ludington
Ludington 36 Reed City 15
Big Rapids 54 Cadillac 21: The Cardinals had little problem advancing past the Vikings on Wednesday. Kate Langworthy (13), Jenna Williams (11), Marissa Warren (9) and Rylie Haist (7 points, 12 rebounds) paced Big Rapids offensively.
FINALS: Ludington (16-5) vs Big Rapids (15-6)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 36 at Chippewa Hills
Standish-Sterling 66 Chippewa Hills 37
Clare 51 Ogemaw Heights 38
FINALS: Standish-Sterling (16-5) vs Clare (12-9)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 37 at Belding
Belding 61 Shepherd 39
Tri-County 51 Alma 47 (F/OT)
FINALS: Belding (18-3) vs Tri-County (11-11)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 38 at Essexville Garber
Swan Valley 49 Bullock Creek 40
Freeland 57 Saginaw Arthur Hill 41
FINALS: Swan Valley (17-4) vs Freeland (17-5)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 39 at Clio
Frankenmuth 67 Clio 27
Birch Run vs Saginaw
FINALS: Frankenmuth vs Birch Run/Saginaw winner
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 41 at Oakridge
Montague 41 Oakridge 35: The Wildcats held off WMC foe Oakridge in the district semifinals. Oakridge led 8-5 after the first quarter, but victories in the final three frame powered Montague to victory. Kendall Osborne (10), Emma Peterson (8) and Claire Meacham (8 points, 11 rebounds) paced the ‘Gue offensively.
Spring Lake 51 Whitehall 29: The Lakers raced out to a 16-2 first quarter lead in their semifinal against the Vikings. They never looked back, using a balanced scoring attack to advance. Meah Bajt paced Spring Lake with 13 points, while Jennifer Judge (9), Brooke Bolhouse (9) and Emma Nicles (7) added to the final tally. Charley Klint (16) led Whitehall.
FINALS: Montague (17-4) vs Spring Lake (13-8)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 42 at Comstock Park
Sparta 67 Grant 30: The Spartans punched their ticket to the finals with a strong showing against the Tigers. Averi Peot (22 points, 6 rebounds), Bella Vallone (18 points, 6 rebounds), Makayla Hatchew (8 points, 7 rebounds), Jenna Anderson (8 points, 5 steals), and Ashley Cowdrey (7 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 6 steals) had strong showings for the victors.
Newaygo 51 Fremont 17: The Lions completed a three-game sweep of their CSAA Gold rivals, advancing to Friday’s title bout. Emmerson Goodin led the Lions with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Grace Painter added 10 points and 4 rebounds. A 20-1 third quarter was pivotal to Newaygo’s success, extending their lead from 16 to 35 points. Haley Zerlaut led Fremont with 8 points, while Mia Witte added 6.
FINALS: Sparta (19-2) vs Newaygo (20-1)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 43 at Unity Christian
West Catholic 73 Forest Hills Eastern 25: The Falcons defeated the Hawks in the semifinals on Wednesday, racing out to a big lead early. Abbey Kimball led WC with 26 points. Elisha Dykstra (13) joined the scoring party, while Cadence Dykstra added 8. Emma Tuttle collected 10 rebounds for the victors.
GR Catholic Central 56 Unity Christian 45
FINALS: West Catholic (20-1) vs GR Catholic Central (17-4)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 44 at Grand Rapids Christian
GR Christian 69 West Michigan Aviation Academy 21
South Christian 54 Kelloggsville 27
FINALS: GR Christian (15-6) vs South Christian (18-3)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 45 at Hamilton
Holland Christian 34 Hopkins 30: The Maroons slipped past the Vikings in the semifinals. Maya Kerber led Hopkins with 9 points, while Ellie Sebright added 7.
Wayland 45 Hamilton 42
FINALS: Wayland (13-8) vs Holland Christian (12-9)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 47 at Edwardsburg
Edwardsburg 64 Three Rivers 14: The Lady Eddies improve to 21-0 on the season with a blitzing victory against Three Rivers. Ella Castelucci led Edwardsburg with 19 points, while Katie Schaible added 16 points, 7 steals and 7 rebounds. Macey Laubach chipped in 8 points, 6 steals and 4 assists.
Vicksburg 48 Niles 31
FINALS: Edwardsburg (21-0) vs Vicksburg (14-7)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT 49 at Ionia
Portland 57 Hastings 26: The Raiders advance to the district finals with a strong performance against the Saxons. Ashley Bower led Portland with 21 points, while Alivia Densmore add 11. Ava Guilford and Breckyn Werner each scored 8 for the victors.
Lansing Catholic 54 Lakewood 22
FINALS: Portland (20-1) vs Lansing Catholic (19-2)
DIVISION 3 DISTRICT 72 at Mason County Central
McBain 48 Mason County Central 41
Evart 53 LeRoy Pine River 36
FINALS: McBain (18-3) vs Evart (15-6)
DIVISION 3 DISTRICT 73 at Holton
Hart 57 Holton 22: The Pirates defeated the Red Devils in the semifinals on Wednesday. Hart raced out to a 6-0 lead, which they turned into a 14-7 first quarter advantage. Hart then proceeded to score 15 points in each of the final three quarters. Mariana VanAgtmael (14), Aspen Boutell (13), Addi Hovey (8) and Abby Hicks (8) paced the Pirates offensively in this victory.
Western Michigan Christian 62 North Muskegon 18: After their stunning upset on Monday, the Cinderella North Muskegon ladies had their clock strike midnight on Wednesday. WMC raced out to a 27-0 first quarter lead, and extended their advantage to 41-5 at halftime. Kyla Wiersma (20), Lexi Daggett (13) and Madi Wiersma (12) were in double figures for WMC. Allie Jensen (6) and Josee Cooke (5 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks) paced North Muskegon in defeat.
FINALS: Hart (17-3) vs Western Michigan Christian (16-4)
DIVISION 3 DISTRICT 74 at Morley Stanwood
Kent City 64 Lakeview 29: The Eagles soared past their conference rivals in the semifinals on Wednesday. Kent City got out to a 22-4 first quarter lead, and extended that to 39-15 at the half. Madelyn Geers scored 22 points for Kent City, while Taryn Preston added 11. Madison Hart led Lakeview with 10, while Courtney Grant added 8.
Morley Stanwood vs White Cloud
FINALS: Kent City (21-0) vs Morley Stanwood/White Cloud winner
DIVISION 3 DISTRICT 75 at Carson City-Crystal
Pewamo Westphalia 43 Northpointe Christian 23
Saranac 47 Carson City-Crystal 24
FINALS: Pewamo-Westphalia (13-8) vs Saranac (8-13)
DIVISION 3 DISTRICT 76 at Fennville
Covenant Christian 53 Calvin Christian 35: The Chargers used an explosive 33-11 second half to advance past the Squires and into Friday’s title bout.
Potter’s House 44 Saugatuck 33
FINALS: Potter’s House (16-5) vs Covenant Christian (11-8)
DIVISION 3 DISTRICT 78 at Decatur
Hartford 41 Lawton 36 (F/OT)
Bloomingdale 51 Decatur 30
FINALS: Bloomingdale (20-1) vs Hartford (18-3)
DIVISION 4 DISTRICT 108 at Marion
McBain Northern Michigan Christian 53 Mason County Eastern 21
Marion 46 Walkerville 34
FINALS: McBain Northern Michigan Christian (15-4) vs Marion (13-5)
DIVISION 4 DISTRICT 113 at Muskegon Catholic Central
Muskegon Catholic Central 38 Fruitport Calvary Christian 36: The Crusaders held off the Eagles in a district semifinal in Muskegon on Wednesday. FCC led 11-2 after the first quarter, but the Crusaders trimmed that deficit to one at the break. MCC still trailed by a point after the third quarter, before ultimately securing a win in the final frame. Erin LaVigne paced the victors with 10 points, while Carrie Ladd, Claire LaVigne and Sara Albanese each added 6.
Muskegon Heights 64 Tri-Unity Christian 49
FINALS: Muskegon Heights (6-8) vs Muskegon Catholic Central (9-11)
DIVISION 4 DISTRICT 114 at Martin
Martin 41 Zion Christian 30: The Clippers fell behind 7-0 early and 11-7 after the first quarter, but they would not be denied. A resilient bunch kept battling, and they eventually took a 19-15 lead into the locker room. Martin held that advantage after three frames, and they ultimately advanced with an 11-point win. Maddy Bogdan scored a team-high 14 points for the Clippers, while Avery Jager added 10.
FINALS: Martin (10-11) vs Climax-Scotts (9-9)
DIVISION 4 DISTRICT 115 at Gobles
Gobles 56 Marcellus 38: The Tigers secure the District Title with a big win over Marcellus. Amanda Barber scored 17 points and dished out 7 assists. Kennadi Killeen scored 10 points, as did Deanna Wood. Emma Baxter finished with 9 points and 8 rebounds for the victors.
Gobles advances to Region 29 on March 8 at Martin. They will face the winner of District 116, which has New Buffalo, St Joseph Michigan Lutheran and Three Oaks River Valley remaining in the tournament.
