MHSAA Rankings February Finals Division III

With one week left in the season. While it wasn’t planned. I now realize that I have provided preseason rankings. Followed by a midseason ranking in January (midterm) Perhaps it’s the former high school teacher in me. It just seems only appropriate to deliver some final rankings/grades.

I’ll provide a link to the previous rankings. They are detailed with key players and strengths and weaknesses. These are final rankings. A little secret about final grades. At least from my experience. Personally, they were very brief and straightforward. Summer was calling. Throw a bubble sheet into a machine called a scantron to get a final grade. Maybe this is why I don’t teach anymore….

I only bring that up to say these will also be brief and straightforward. Leaning heavily on the resumes the teams have put together. This is NOT who I am necessarily picking to win the state championship. We’ll do some bracketology next weekend. If you would like more detail on the teams, follow the links below.

Preseason 10 here

January 10 here

1. Arts &Technology Academy of Pontiac (15-1)

I said these rankings would be straightforward— but what to do with quirks of this schedule. They are the Charter School Conference Champions. That is extremely impressive. However the championship game will not be played due to their opponent having scheduled too many games. Beyond that though, they have an impressive set of victories that few in the division can match. River Rogue, Detroit Voyageur, and the cherry on top Detroit Old Redford. Old Redford is a state championship contender in Division II. They might have the best freshman in the state. The Detroit Lions left the Pontiac Silverdome a long time ago. Now some Lions from Pontiac might be ready to roar once again.

2. Riverview Gabriel Richard (18-2)

Call it a cop out, but I was tempted to call this position 1B. This speaks to the strength at the top of Division III. The Pioneers have the most impressive collection of next level talent in division. The entire starting five is going to play something at the next level. Extremely tested with championship experience on both the gridiron and the hardwood. They do not have a bad loss are loaded with high level wins.

3. Maple City Glen Lake (18-1)

As talented as the #’s 1 and 2 teams are. The Lakers might have the single most difficult matchup on this list. The Lakers post attack is tough, big, and loaded with next level athletes. The guards are young but improving. They have a coach who has won a state championship. They stubbed their toe early in conference. They avenged that loss and have been perfect since then.

4. Pewamo-Westphalia (18-2)

This is an experienced group led by a college level talent. The losses to Grand Rapids South Christian and Flint Carman Ainsworth are not concerning. The win over Grand Blanc is equally encouraging. They went undefeated and mostly untested in what has been a traditionally tough conference. The Hudsonville game will be a big barometer contest upcoming this week.

5. McBain (17-2)

The computer power rankings are not in love with them. That doesn’t really faze me. I’ve seen this movie too many times. While they don’t have the depth of past years. This is an experienced and talented group that went to the Breslin Center last year. Led by a Hall of Fame head coach. They don’t have a bad loss and were slightly shot handed in the defeat to Cadillac.

6. Jackson Lumen Christi (18-3)

It’s exceedingly tempting to put this group higher. Two out of their three losses came to #2 on this list. I wish they would have been a little more competitive in those defeats. Loaded with good guards and a state championship winning head coach. Another program in this division with both gridiron and hardwood success,

7. Detroit Central (15-4)

The four losses aren’t concerning. They played a gauntlet of a schedule. They are a young but very talented group. They have nice balance of dynamic guard play and size on the block. Schedule has been a little light at the end. Not in terms of competition, but just the volume of games. Rested or rusty for the tournament?

8. North Muskegon (18-1)

What a multi year regular season run this program has been on. Only loss came out of conference to a strong parochial school from Grand Rapids. The wins over Lapeer, Ludington, and Menominee are impressive. They have excellent guard play and young talent on the block.

9. Grass Lake (20-0)

With 22 regular season games in Michigan now. Undefeated regular seasons are increasingly rare. Didn’t accomplish it against a cupcake schedule. They simply know how to win. Having multiple single digit victories. Their top player is unusually suited for high pressure situations.

10. Harbor Beach (17-1)

This Thumb region School has the highest MPR in the entire division. Only loss was to a Yale squad that is having a good year in Division II. Coming off a close victory against Millington (see below) Feels like it’s been a minute since a team from this region has made it to the Breslin. Perhaps this group is ready to change that.

Honorable Mention (Alphabetical Order)

Harbor Springs (17-3) They have the top junior backcourt in the division. Fell to thr #3 squad on this list early in the year. They have an experienced head coach and could easily make some noise in March

Iron Mountain (16-3) After being highly ranked and falling in districts the past two years. This group probably doesn’t mind being a little under the radar this time around. They are a senior laden group that doesn’t really have a bad loss. The Kingsford victory is impressive.

Millington (18-2) Battle tested and experienced bunch that will not be scared of the moment. Appeared in football state final in the fall. Had an excellent year on the hardwood. Fell to the #10 squad on this list. But the Cardinals schedule is loaded with good victories to offset that.

Munising (18-2) Their core has what almost no one else on this list has. A 2023 state championship banner. That came in Division IV. Coming off an excellent regular season. The school on shores of the Pictured Rocks could make some noise in March once again.

Schoolcraft (15-5) I said “almost” about the state championship team from above for a reason. Schoolcraft is only a few years removed from a state championship as well. The core of this team didn’t play much for that team. But tradition travels. The five losses have came against a very ambitious schedule. They are talented but do not have a lot of depth.