MHSAA Bracketology: Division III Outlook

Back for another year. It’s America’s.. err..Michigan’s…err… my favorite game. The chance to predict one of the more volatile and unpredictable brackets in sports. The upcoming state high school basketball tournament. I’m planning on going through each of the four classifications and try to forecast what will happen. For the sake of brevity. I’m only going to project out to the Elite Eight (Quarterfinal) round. 

As always…. This is high school sports. All meant to be in good fun. I have no dogs in this fight. If this is this taken by some team and used as motivation or bulletin board material. That would honestly be perfectly fine with me.

**current record in parentheses**

Quarterfinal #12 @ St Clair County CC
Detroit Loyola (17-4) vs Harbor Beach (19-3)

Overview: We are not wasting any time getting right to the big boys in the bracket on the top line. In what used to be the “Flint Beecher” pod. We see multiple legitimate state championship contenders in Detroit Loyola, Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac (ATAP), and New Haven. All are capable of reaching the quarterfinal and beyond. ATAP has the most recent winning pedigree, and best long term talent (sophomore Lewis Lovejoy) New Haven has the biggest frontline.

Despite putting ATAP at #1 wire-to-wire for the duration of the season. I’m going to bet against myself and go with the strength of the Catholic League. Detroit Loyola is a balanced and big team with the recipe needed for tournament success. They have experienced sub 6-foot senior guards in Martez Davis and JaiRon Foster. A dynamic and big frontline with senior DeAndre Dann (6-5) and sophomore Donavan Clark (6-5) They have been well tested in clutch situations with three of the four losses coming overtime.

On the bottom line I’m going to give the slight edge to Harbor Beach to make the quarterfinal. Northwood football commit Benson Harper leads an experienced group that has done a ton of winning in multiple sports. Including a gridiron state championship in the fall. The 6-0 guard is more than just an athlete though. He is skilled with four years of varsity experience. Watch out for International Academy of Flint. They have put together a strong year after losing a star player as an out of state transfer. They are a program on the rise, but I think the Pirates tournament experience gives Harbor Beach the nudge.

Pick: Football success catches up with Harbor Beach here. It felt like the season started early. The Pirates have to be tired. Beyond that, Detroit Loyola has more talent up and down the roster. Loyola to Breslin Center for the first time in my memory.

Quarterfinal #9 @ Boyne City
Ishpeming Westwood (20-1) vs McBain (18-1)

Overview: I’m going to dub this the “rinse repeat” pod. Same location and same team teams from last season. Furthermore, the path to get to this same result could be strikingly similar. Ishpeming Westwood will probably have to defeat “arguably” the top individual talent in the regional final once again. Glen Lake’s 6-6 center Jacob Plamondon (Grad Valley St commit) looms as a large presence. However, the quotes around arguably are intentional. Westwood’s 6-3 guard Ethan Marta (pictured) has taken the leap as a senior. The Michigan Tech commit could also lay claim to the best individual talent in the division as well. He recently led the Patriots to a fairly easy victory over Glen Lake. The rinse repeat cycle could be broken up by both Elk Rapids and Menominee. Elk Rapids has the size to match Glen Lake. Along with a head-to-head victory. Menominee has the depth to beat Westwood if they can get healthy.

On the bottom line, it feels like the top of the Highland Conference has been on a collision course for a postseason rubber match. McBain eliminated Beal City in the regional final last year, and they have split in the regular season for the second straight campaign. The matchup won’t be in the regional final this year as the opponent’s flip-flop. However, the semifinal will be the de facto championship game. Perhaps Pinconning (Dayne Ivey) and Beaverton (Ian Roberts) can break the hegemony. However, the players in parentheses are juniors and they might have to wait until next year. A junior who will not have to wait his turn is McBain’s Clayton Hueker. The 6-5 forward is a veteran of two deep tournament runs already. He just dropped 37 points on a solid Pine River team and is in the midst of a huge year. If Beal City’s standout freshman Grady Gatrell can match Hueker, Beal City can win. They have already done it this year. It’s still a tall ask of a freshman. That’s why I have the Rambler’s making a third straight trip to the quarterfinal round.

Pick: I dubbed it “rinse repeat” pod. I’m going to keep the theme up. In a “prisoner of the moment” pick. I’m going with Ishpeming Westwood. They were extremely impressive in defeating Glan Lake this past Saturday. I watched it in person, and I simply can’t see that team losing. That being said, McBain hosts Glen Lake after I press publish on this piece. Perhaps they could make me regret my early deadline.

Quarterfinal #11 @ Ypsilanti Lincoln
Springport (16-5) vs Onsted (19-2)

I’m going to go slightly off the board for the first time. Jacson Lumen Christi has the most talent in this pod. I’m not picking them to make it out. That’s not to just to be a contrarian. I take this task seriously. They are quite young, and I’m not encouraged by their recent margin of defeat against Detroit Loyola. I’m not sure they are peaking at the right time. So where to go with this spot? I’m going to go with Springport. I really liked the play of 6-5 junior Dallas Higelmire with The Academy this spring/summer. The bouncy forward might be the top individual talent on the top line. The Spartans are big and young with fellow 6-5 juniors Brody Baum and Tucker Wigington providing size down low. If junior guard Jake Kregel can hold down the backcourt, Springport could surprise. Also watch out for Flint New Standard and a young but talented Leslie squad.

On the bottom line I like Onsted. The Wildcats have been a top Division II team for a solid five years. While they have lost a lot from those squads. They have enough to reach the Breslin Center in their first go round in Division III. Beyond just the division “drop down”. They have talented and battle tested seniors. Rylan Henagan is 6-2 guard who has been a four-year player for Onsted. Cole Wells and Mason Chesser are seniors who provide even more perimeter firepower. Also watch out for freshman Jacob Hill. A four loss Manchester squad and a well coached Jonesville unit could sneak in here as well.

Pick: While I worry about a smaller Onsted frontline against the size of Springport. Onsted’s senior leadership should propel them to the Breslin Center

Quarterfinal #10 @ Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
Pewamo-Westphalia (18-2) vs Niles Brandywine (16-5)

Overview: On the top line, Pewamo-Westphalia and North Muskegon should be a war. A rematch of last year’s regional final that will come in the regional semifinals this time around. Both teams are state championship good. It is a shame this matchup comes so early. PW’s Grady Eklund (Northwood) and North Muskegon’s Adam Dugener (Alma) are two outstanding players who will excel at the next level. Unfortunately, I have to pick a winner. No delicate way to say it. I watched Pewamo-Westphalia lose in the football semifinals in stunning fashion. These are small towns, many of those gridiron standouts are on this team as well. I simply can’t see Pewamo getting denied a return trip to Breslin Center after watching that. Not the most scientific metric, but this is high school sports. Sometimes heart is the best metric.

On the bottom line I lean towards the state championship pedigree of Niles Brandywine. Star point guard Nylen Goins was a major player on the 2024 championship team and has two Breslin Center appearances on his resume already. Schoolcraft has a state championship pedigree as well. They also feature the biggest matchup nightmare in the division. I mentioned Marta and Plamondon as the possible top seniors in the division… Jimmy Miller would like a word. The 6-9 Wayne St commit is good enough carry the Eagles on his back. While Schoolcraft has good guards. They are young and I’m not sure they have the mileage necessary to slow down a veteran like Goins yet. Watch out for Gobles and Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic to play spoiler roles.

Pick: I kind of already gave it away by alluding to the Pirates gridiron centric motivation. I should also add this; they are really darn good. This was seen in their recent dominant victory over Detroit Country Day. Star Grady Eklund is a big guard (6-3). They have size and athleticism beyond just him that should slow down Brandywine’s perimeter attack. Trent Piggott (6-5) is wide bodied and skilled complement to Eklund down low. Sophomore Logan Farmer (6-1) will also be one of the best players on the floor. Pewamo-Westphalia back to the finals for the first time since 2019.

Semifinal #5
Detroit Loyola vs Ishpeming Westwood

Pick: Like the Pewamo-Westphalia pick. I kind of buried the lead above by saying “I can’t see this team losing.” Westwood is more prepared for the lights this time around. The Patriots sneak by Loyola to bring some UP Power back to the Saturday final at the Breslin Center.

Semifinal #6
Onsted vs Pewamo-Westphalia

Pewamo-Westphalia was here last year and didn’t perform as well as they are capable. I don’t believe that will happen again. The Pirates advance to the final.

The Final

It was a simpler time… the last state final before the pandemic. The 2019 final between Pewamo-Westphalia and Iron Mountain was a classic. With an ending that will not soon be forgotten. Six years later another UP squad will face off against the Lansing area school. Pewamo-Westphalia will win this one as well. I don’t think this one will come down to the wire.