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Add commentWest Michigan Regional Predictions
Division 1
Regional 3 @ Grand Haven
Champion: Northview
Runner-Up: Wyoming
One of the best games across the state on Monday will be between (22-1) Northview and (20-2) Muskegon. Both teams held the top spot in my OK-conference rankings throughout the regular season. Northview dominated OK Red champion Rockford on Friday defeating the Rams 71-48 while Muskegon easily got past Coopersville winning 69-43. Northview’s Mr. Basketball candidate Kyler Vanderjagt scored 29 points on Friday and I expect him to lead the Wildcats to a regional title. The semifinal matchup between Muskegon and Northview will likely settle the regional. (15-7) Wyoming will play (11-12) West Ottawa in the other semifinal. In a game featuring contrasting styles I still have the Wolves winning, but expect West Ottawa to keep it close with veterans Brady Bosma and Kobe Haglund leading the way.
Picks:
Semifinals
Northview over Muskegon
Wyoming over West Ottawa
Finals
Northview over Wyoming
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Regional 4 @ BC Central
Champion: East Lansing
Runner-Up: K-Central
This regional is pretty wide open as all four teams are evenly matched. SMAC foes (12-11) St. Joseph and (14-7) K-Central will duel in the first matchup. K-Central won the only regular-season meeting by one point. I expect the Maroon Giants to win this one as well as they enter on a four-game winning streak including a 28 point victory over Coldwater. The other matchup features CAAC-Blue conference mates (18-4) East Lansing and (18-4) Okemos. Both schools split the regular-season series while East Lansing enters regionals on an eight-game winning streak. This game could go either way, but I am picking East Lansing to come away with the victory. In the regional final, I have a rematch from earlier in the season between K-Central and East Lansing. East Lansing won that matchup by three points and I expect them to win again claiming their first regional title since 2018.
Picks:
Semifinals
Kalamazoo Central over St. Joseph
East Lansing over Okemos
Finals
East Lansing over Kalamazoo Central
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Division 2
Regional 11 @ FH Eastern
Champion: Catholic Central
Runner-Up: Whitehall
This regional features the rivalry rematch between (21-1) Catholic Central and (18-4) GR Christian. Catholic Central is coming off a 20 point win over previously undefeated Unity Christian while GR Christian snuck past South Christian 44-42. Catholic Central won the first meeting between these teams by three points in their first game of the year. I expect Catholic Central to continue to roll winning their 17th straight game. The Cougars have too much talent to fall in regional play with Karasinski, Brown, and both Brooks brothers. (17-5) Whitehall should be able to defeat (11-12) Sparta in the other semifinal. Sparta benefitted from a weak district while Whitehall defeated a strong Spring Lake team in the semifinals. The winner of Sparta and Whitehall should fall to Catholic Central barring a shocking upset.
Picks:
Semifinals
Whitehall over Sparta
Catholic Central over GR Christian
Finals
Catholic Central over Whitehall
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Regional 12 @ Three Rivers
Champion: Benton Harbor
Runner-Up: Parchment
This is another intriguing division two regional as it features four teams with at least 15 wins. The first game has (20-2) Benton Harbor going up against (15-7) Holland Christian. The Maroons led by senior center Jalen Overway and senior guard Adam Kroeze should give the Tigers a decent fight, but I believe that the athleticism and guard play of Benton Harbor will send the Tigers to the regional final. The other semifinal has (21-1) Parchment facing (15-7) Edwardsburg. The Eddies didn’t benefit much from the weak Wolverine conference while Parchment has been battled-tested throughout the season facing Gull Lake, West Catholic, and Schoolcraft. Parchment and senior guard Tony Williams should advance to the regional final. This regional final will be insane with a combined three losses between Benton and Parchment. I’ve really enjoyed watching Parchment this season, but with Benton Harbor’s postseason experience along with being led by mostly seniors, I have to lean with the Tigers to take the title.
Picks:
Semifinals
Benton Harbor over Holland Chr.
Parchment over Edwardsburg
Finals
Benton Harbor over Parchment
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Division 3
Regional 19 @ Carson City-Crystal
Champion: Calvin Christian
Runner-Up: North Muskegon
The first semifinal features West Michigan Conference foes (15-6) Ravenna and (15-8) North Muskegon. Both teams are out of my coverage area, so my knowledge is minimal. They split the season series, but I am going with North Muskegon in a close game. The other matchup will likely provide the regional winner as (18-4) Pewamo-Westphalia will play (19-3) Calvin Christian. Calvin Christian has won 19 straight games and I have them continuing their spectacular run leading to a regional title. The Squires are about as battled-tested as can be after playing Fennville and Covenant Christian in district play. My pick is Calvin Christian to win their first regional since 2016.
Picks:
Semifinals
North Muskegon over Ravenna
Calvin Christian over P-W
Finals
Calvin Christian over North Muskegon
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Regional 20 @ Centreville
Champion: Schoolcraft
Runner-Up: Watervliet
The Centreville region is essentially the SAC tournament along with Bronson. Another SAC-crossover game will occur when (15-7) Lawton faces (20-2) Schoolcraft. Lawton has had a successful season earning another district title, but I can’t see them defeating Schoolcraft. The Blue Devils weren’t able to defeat K-Christian in two tries while Schoolcraft handily beat them all three meetings this season. I have Schoolcraft moving on to the regional final. The other semifinal has the opportunity to be a closer game with (18-3) Watervliet facing (13-9) Bronson. Bronson has won eight straight including an upset over Centreville in the district final. The Vikings are playing their best ball of the season but will face a difficult Watervliet team that blends veteran leadership and underclassmen talent. Senior guard Andrew Chisek and soph. forward Kaiden Bierhalter should be able to end the Bronson winning streak. In the regional final SAC foes, Watervliet and Schoolcraft should link up. I have Schoolcraft defending their regional title with a win over Watervliet. The Eagles are too talented to not make a quarterfinal appearance this season, look for Tyler DeGroote and the Rykse brothers to make a statement victory.
Picks:
Semifinals
Schoolcraft over Lawton
Watervliet over Bronson
Finals
Schoolcraft over Watervliet
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Division 4
Regional 29 @ New Buffalo
Champion: New Buffalo
Runner-Up: Tri-Unity Christian
This regional comes from the very southwest corner of Michigan at New Buffalo high school. The host school New Buffalo enters (21-1) while their semifinal opponent is (6-17) Gobles. New Buffalo will roll Gobles who finished with just three regular-season wins. The other semifinal has (16-6) Tri-Unity Christian facing (13-6) Muskegon Heights. Tri-Unity Christian led by senior guard Brady Titus will defeat Muskegon Heights and set up a massive regional final. I’m going with what some may consider an upset with New Buffalo defeating the Defenders and ending their chance of returning to the Breslin Center. New Buffalo is loaded with senior talent and if they can’t beat Tri-Unity Christian this season then they will never be able to. There is a chance that Brady Titus takes over and the Defenders win easily, but for the sake of my picks, I will stick with the home team New Buffalo.
Picks:
Semifinals
Tri-Unity Christian over Muskegon Hts.
New Buffalo over Gobles
Finals
New Buffalo over Tri-Unity Christian
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Regional 30 @ Adrian Lenawee Chr.
Champion: Bellevue
Runner-Up: Lenawee Christian
This region seems like a three-horse race with Bellevue being the slight favorite. (19-3) Bellevue will face (18-4) Colon in the first semifinal. Bellevue swept the season series with Colon, defeating the Magi by 20+ points in both meetings. The second game is more of an unknown with two teams outside of my coverage area. (18-4) Hillsdale Academy will face (11-12) Lenawee Christian. Lenawee Christian plays an indepedent schedule that really challenges them throughout the regular season. Games against Southfield Christian, Clarkston Everest, Erie-Mason, and Arbor Prep should all prepare Lenawee Christian for regionals. They also just defeated Hillsdale Acad. by six points a couple of weeks ago. I have Lenawee Christian facing Bellevue in the title. Bellevue is a powerhouse program that should claim their first regional title since 2019.
Picks:
Semifinals
Bellevue over Colon
Lenawee Christian over Hillsdale Acad.
Finals
Bellevue over Lenawee Christian