What to know as the MHSAA state tournament begins for Greater Lansing girls basketball teams

The Division 2 girls basketball state champion has come out of the CAAC White in two of the past three seasons.

Portland and Lansing Catholic will try to make it three out of four as the Michigan High School Athletic Association state tournament gets going Monday.

Lansing Catholic enters the tournament as the defending state champion, while Portland won the state title in 2021. Those teams shared the CAAC White title this winter after splitting their regular season meetings, with each winning on their home court.

And the possibility exists for a third meeting with both part of the same district that is being hosted by Portland.

No. 10-ranked Lansing Catholic (17-5) capped the regular season with an overtime road win over Holt and is the top seed. No. 8-ranked Portland (19-2) is the No. 2 seed and ended the regular season with a tight road loss to Williamston. If both take care of their business in Wednesday's semifinals, the stage will be set for a third matchup

Two other CAAC White members join Lansing Catholic and Portland in the district field in Lakewood (11-11) and Charlotte (5-17). Hastings (3-17) is also part of the district and along with Lakewood and Charlotte will try to pull off upsets.

DIVISION 1 AT ST. JOHNS

CAAC Blue champion and No. 5-ranked DeWitt (20-2) leads the field and is the frontrunner in this district. The Panthers, who ended the regular season on a 12-game winning streak, are the only team above .500 among this group. Grand Ledge (7-15) is the No. 2 seed and finished the regular season with a win over Division 1 No. 8-ranked Jackson Northwest. The field also includes the host Redwings (11-11), Waverly (10-11) and Eastern (5-17).

DIVISION 1 AT HOLT

Four of the five teams in this district finished .500 or better, led by Interstate 8 champion Jackson Northwest, which was ranked No. 8 last week before closing the regular season with a loss to Grand Ledge. Northwest (17-5) is the top seed, while East Lansing (16-6) is the second seed. East Lansing and Holt (14-8) tied for second in the CAAC Blue and split their regular-season meetings. The Trojans and Rams will meet for a third time in a semifinal. Mason (12-9) and Okemos (10-12) round out the field and open play in the district Monday.

DIVISION 2 AT CENTRAL MONTCALM

Alma (17-5) finished third in the strong Tri-Valley Conference Red and owns a strong win over No. 9-ranked Freeland. The Panthers are the top seed in this district and Belding (17-5) is the No. 2 seed. Ionia (9-13) is the other area team in a group that also includes Central Montcalm (9-13) and Howard City Tri County (6-16).

DIVISION 2 AT DURAND

Owosso (12-10) is one of three teams that finished the regular season .500 or better that are part of this district. Flint Powers (19-3) leads the field as the top seed and is among the teams receiving votes outside the top 10 in Division 2. Flint Hamady (14-2) is the No. 2 seed, while Durand (11-11), Corunna (4-18) and Flint Kearsley (7-15) are also part of the field.

DIVISION 2 AT BATTLE CREEK PENNFIELD

Olivet (13-9) finished third In the CAAC White and is one of two area teams competing in this district. The Eagles are joined in the field by Eaton Rapids (5-17). Parma Western (13-9) and Marshall (9-13), which finished third and fourth in the Interstate 8, are the top seeds and host Pennfield (5-17) rounds out the field.

DIVISION 2 AT FOWLERVILLE

CAAC Red champion Williamston (17-5) leads the area teams in this field and is the No. 2 seed behind Southeastern Conference White co-champion Chelsea (18-4). Both teams are receiving votes in the latest AP rankings. Haslett (15-7), the CAAC Red runner-up, is the only other team in the field with a winning record and opens against Pinckney (10-11) on Monday. Host Fowlerville (8-14) rounds out the field. Chelsea edged Williamston when the teams met in early January. Williamston ended the regular season by knocking off Portland at home for one of its best wins of the season.

DIVISION 3 AT SARANAC

Pewamo-Westphalia (14-8) was one of the hottest girls basketball teams in the area and closed the regular season with wins in eight of its final 10 games to lead the field in this district. The Pirates, who finished third in the CMAC, are the only team in this group with a winning record. Potterville (5-17) is the No. 2 seed in a district that also features host Saranac (2-20), Carson City-Crystal (1-20) and Maple Valley (2-19).

DIVISION 3 AT ITHACA

Mid-Michigan Activities Conference champion Ovid-Elsie (19-2) will begin its journey toward another deep tournament run as the top seed at this district. St. Charles, which won the Mid-States Conference, is the other top seed and is 20-2. Ithaca (7-15) is the other area team in a field that also includes New Lothrop (15-7) and Chesaning (7-14).

DIVISION 3 AT PERRY

Five of the six teams in this district finished .500 or better, led by top seed Stockbridge. The Panthers (13-9), who played as an independent, have a resume that includes a win over Division 1 state-ranked Jackson Northwest. Bath (16-6) is the other top seed and will face either Dansville (13-9) or Cascades East runner-up Leslie (16-6) in its semifinal. Host Perry (6-16) and Laingsburg (12-10) are also in this field.

DIVISION 4 AT FULTON

CMAC champion and No. 2-ranked Portland St. Patrick (20-2) and CMAC runner-up and No. 6-ranked Fowler (19-3) are the top seeds in this strong district. The Shamrocks are on a 17-game winning streak since a loss to Grand Rapids West Catholic in December, including avenging an earlier loss to Fowler. GAC Blue champion Morrice (14-6) and Fulton (12-10) are the other teams with winning records in a field that also includes Lansing Christian (10-12) and Webberville (7-12).

DIVISION 4 AT BRECKENRIDGE

Breckenridge (16-6) and TVC White runner-up Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (14-7) lead this group as the top two seeds. Ashley (5-17) is the lone area team in a district that also includes Saginaw Nouvel (2-20), Vestaburg (9-13) and Merrill (13-9).

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Greater Lansing high school girls basketball district overview