Predictions for the 2024 Michigan high school boys basketball state quarterfinals
Let’s get this party started.
Sure, the Michigan high school boys basketball state tournament has been going on for two weeks now, but this is when things get serious and the SOS makes his much-anticipated return to the pages of the Free Press.
After a wildly successful five weeks of correctly predicting every football state playoff game — well, let’s say almost every football playoff game — SOS is back and raring to go.
Following the end of the football playoffs, SOS and Mrs. SOS joined the entire SOS clan for Christmas in Seattle, where the sun reportedly made an appearance one day.
AWARD SEASON: 2024 Michigan Mr. Basketball: Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Durral Brooks
A few weeks ago, SOS took Mrs. SOS — generally regarded as the Luckiest Woman on the Face of the Earth — to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where they had dinner with legendary Okemos football coach Keith Froelich and his wife, Jo Anne, who put the “Bad” in Bad Axe.
SOS would have liked to have stayed longer, but reports surfaced that former Westland Glenn coach Chuck Gordon and his wife, Joyce — The Pride of Adrian — were on their way to the island, so it was time for SOS to vamoose.
While SOS was gone, he missed the first Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Glenn. Included in the inaugural class were Gordon and his predecessor ... Lloyd Carr.
Reportedly, pictures of Carr and Gordon together went for $25 ... while pictures of just Gordon were $50.
On the way home from Hilton Head, SOS had a slight detour to Highland Park, Illinois, to see grandsons Beckett and Kellan finish their rec ball seasons.
Beckett’s team won the third/fourth grade title, clearly establishing Beckett as the favorite for Illinois’ 2033 Mr. Basketball award, unless he wins Mr. Soccer before that.
So now it is on to SOS’ unfailing quarterfinals predictions for Tuesday's games.
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(All games at 7 p.m. unless noted.)
Division 1
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (24-1) vs. Birmingham Brother Rice (20-6) at Detroit Mercy, 5:30. OLSM has beaten Brother Rice three times already, so this will be a rout, right? Maybe not. A year ago, Rice had its way with OLSM in the regular season and then lost to the Eaglets in tournament. The difference this time: OLSM’s Trey McKenney has been amazing. St. Mary’s by the Lake 64, Shrimp Fried Rice 60.
East Lansing (24-2) vs. Ann Arbor Huron (21-4) at Holt. SOS wonders if Huron’s Macari Moore has any more of those miracle shots left in him, like the buzzer-beating deep 3 that beat Novi Detroit Catholic Central? He may need one to get past East Lansing’s trio of Cam Hutson, KJ Torbert and Jayce Branson. East Izzo 60, You’re On 58.
Muskegon (23-2) vs. Zeeland West (19-7) at Grand Haven. This is Zeeland West’s first quarterfinal game in school history and that is fitting because Mr. Basketball finalist Merritt Alderink is the best player in school history. Muskegon, on the hand, beats teams with contributions from guys such as M’Khi Guy, Justin Watson and TJ Davis. Muskie’s Gone 58, Zeeland’s Best 52.
River Rouge (16-10) vs. North Farmington (21-2) at Detroit Mercy. Ke’shawn Fisher has Rouge on a tear now, knocking off unbeaten Dearborn and then defending champ Detroit Cass Tech. But North Farmington, with Taylor Spratt, Dylan Smith and the guys, are headed to East Lansing. North Harrison 66, Rouge River 61.
Division 2
Kingsford (21-4) vs. Flint Powers (21-5) at Gaylord. SOS is used to the Flivvers crossing The Bridge to come down here for football, but basketball? It turns out that Gavin Trevillian can also play basketball, which is Gavin Grondin’s bread and butter. But standing in the way is a Powers team that last week merely finished the Saginaw Arthur Hill program for all eternity. Flint Power & Light 61, Charcoal 54.
Warren Lincoln (21-4) vs. Goodrich (21-5) at Lake Orion. Goodrich’s LePla brothers — Parker and Jenson — are in for a long game as the Martians try to chase Lincoln’s Blackwell brothers — Moses and Markus — all over town. The Abes mean serious business this time around. Lincoln Tunnel 57, Goodyear 51.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (20-5) vs. Grand Rapids Christian (24-2) at Hamilton. With Warren Lincoln looming, SOS doesn’t want to call this the state championship game, but it could be. Newly crowd Mr. Basketball Durral "Phat Phat" Brooks is going to need a Mr. Basketball performance and then some to knock off 6-9 Toledo commit Jaylan Ouwinga, who leads a balanced team. Onward Christian Soldiers 64, Catholics in Grand Rapids? 60.
Chelsea (20-6) vs. Detroit University Prep (17-8) at Ypsilanti Lincoln. University Prep has a tremendous inside presence in Xander Wedlow, who is tough to defend. But here’s a tip for U-Prep from SOS: Guard the 3-point line or Jake Stephens and Joey Cabana will rewrite the state record book. Jeff Daniels High 68, Preppies 59.
Division 3
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (18-8) vs. Niles Brandywine (23-3) at Kalamazoo Central. Covenant Christian’s Carter Scholton and Ben Elzinga have weathered a difficult schedule and should have clear sailing to the semis. But Brandywine played some amazing defense to shut down offensive dynamo Schoolcraft, and SOS thinks Jeremiah Palmer and Byron Linley are headed to East Lansing. Brandy’s Wine 66, Ark of the Covenant 63.
Menominee (20-6) vs. McBain (24-2) at Gaylord, 5. This game was originally scheduled to be played in Lake City. The MHSAA must have thought it would be a home court advantage for McBain, which is a suburb of Lake City and its infamous Town Pump Saloon. SOS wonders if Menominee’s Tanner and Trevor Theuerkauf can run the single wing, too? McPain 54, Nominate Me 51.
Detroit Old Redford (19-7) vs. Flint Beecher (10-16) at St. Clair Community College, 5:30. The record is nowhere near what it usually is for Beecher, but that’s what happens when forfeits for using an illegible player are involved. But this is still March, right. Well, Beecher better keep an eye on sophomore JaQuan Stennis. Beechnut 52, Old Benedictine 48.
Jackson Lumen Christi (22-4) vs. Riverview Richard (22-3) at Ypsilanti Lincoln, 5:30. These teams split their series in the regular season before Richard won in the Catholic League playoff. Former Lumen Christi coach Mike (Stabber) Ramker is taking full credit for the victory, but not the losses. Why is SOS not surprised? But SOS has a lot of faith in Luke Westerdale as well as anyone named Sobush — this one is Nic. Cardinal Dearden South 58, Aluminum Foil 56.
Division 4
Crystal Falls Forest Park (22-4) vs. St. Ignace (20-6) at Gladstone. Forest Park has a well-balanced team led by Vic and Kevin Giuliana. There is also a nice blend of youth and experience, and even freshmen are experienced by this point of the season. St. Ignace relies on Jonny Ingalls, one of the best scorers in the state, and he can also rebound and pass ... as well as coach the team. St. Clement 72, Lexi Gussert High 71.
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (21-5) vs. St. Joseph Our Lady (19-5) at Portage Northern. Tri-unity is gunning for state title No. 6 and Jordan VanKlompenberg can be a scoring machine. But the key to getting to The Bres may be Owen Rosendall, who puts the “defend” in the Defenders. Try Unity This Time 62, St. Joseph Our Gal 53.
Maple City Glen Lake (22-4) vs. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart (24-2) at Houghton Lake. Sacred Heart really won over SOS when it knocked off Saginaw Nouvel in the regional semifinals. Grady Pierat, Brody Cherry and Noah Zeien like to play at a breakneck pace. But Sacred Heart better not let Jacob Plamondon dominate the game for Glen Lake. Heart to Heart 45, Glen Luck 44.
Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (22-4) vs. Kingston (18-8) at St. Clair Community College. Both teams feature outstanding point guards — Kingston’s Owen Corlis and Inter-City’s Ethen Esse. Austin Deroseau cleans up the boards for Kingston and is an effective inside scorer. Inter-City gets a lot out of Carlos Jackson as far as rebounding and inside defense and scoring. Inter-Kraatz High 61, Kingston Trio 55.
Mick McCabe is a former longtime columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at mick.mccabe11@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @mickmccabe1. Order his book, “Mick McCabe’s Golden Yearbook: 50 Great Years of Michigan’s Best High School Players, Teams & Memories,” right now at McCabe.PictorialBook.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2024 Michigan high school boys basketball state quarterfinals picks
