MHSAA Division 1 Regional Breakdown & Predictions
After an exciting week of district play, 32 teams remain in the Division 1 playoffs for the 2018 MHSAA Tournament. The field of 32 is strong and this week’s regional tournaments provide a number of marquee matchups. Here’s a breakdown…
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Continue ReadingAfter an exciting week of district play, 32 teams remain in the Division 1 playoffs for the 2018 MHSAA Tournament. The field of 32 is strong and this week’s regional tournaments provide a number of marquee matchups. Here’s a breakdown of all eight regional tournaments and my predictions to win each group of four.
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Regional 1 at Mount Pleasant
Semifinal Matchups: Flushing vs. Petoskey; Mount Pleasant vs. Grand Blanc
Breakdown: No. 19 Mount Pleasant broke through with it first district championship, but was challenged along the way by Dow. Grand Blanc upset No. 23 Fenton last week and looks for more upsets this week. No. 13 Flushing was a perfect 9-for-9 in sets in last week’s district run and faces a Petoskey team that cruised to a district after a five-set battle with Traverse City Central in the opener. I like Grand Blanc to pick up another upset on Tuesday, but earning another on Thursday will be a different story.
Finals Prediction: Flushing over Grand Blanc
Regional 2 at Lake Orion
Semifinal Matchups: Troy vs. Lake Orion; Stoney Creek vs. Walled Lake Northern
Breakdown: No. 3 Lake Orion gets to host its own regional after an impressive district run. The Dragons rolled past No. 12 Clarkston in three and are clicking on all cylinders. Troy hopes to use its powerful hitters to avenge previous losses to its OAA Red opponent. No. 9 Stoney Creek took care of business at its home district and faces a Walled Lake Northern team that won an LVC-full district. The Knights have potential, but struggle with consistency. The Dragons and Cougars are the favorites to meet in the final. Stoney Creek beat Lake Orion in the regular season, but the Dragons weren’t at full health. The final should be a close one, but the home team has the edge.
Finals Prediction: Lake Orion over Stoney Creek
Regional 3 at Grand Haven
Semifinal Matchups: Caledonia vs. Grand Haven; Hudsonville vs. Rockford
Breakdown: What a matchup on Tuesday with No. 2 Hudsonville facing No. 6 Rockford. The Rams had a five-set classic with No. 7 Lowell in the district final and aren’t lacking in confidence. Hudsonville disposed of No. 21 Grandville and Jenison last week, losing one set along the way. These two split three-set wins during the season, but I like the Rams in this meeting. They have some players with championship experience that can lead them in a tough match. Caledonia didn’t drop any of its nine sets last week, earning an impressive sweep of East Grand Rapids in the district semifinal. It faces No. 20 Grand Haven, which also had a perfect 9-set run last week at Reeths-Puffer.
Finals Prediction: Rockford over Grand Haven
Regional 4 at Gull Lake
Semifinal Matchups: Mason vs. Mattawan; Gull Lake vs. DeWitt
Breakdown: Mason has been doing some good things this season and went 9-for-9 in sets in its home district last week. However, it has a tough draw in No. 4 Mattawan. The Wildcats have been looking for respect all season and rolled over No. 14 Portage Central in last week’s district final at Portage Central. No. 11 DeWitt seems to be finally hitting its stride after moving around new pieces and bringing in a new coach. The Panthers face No. 16 Gull Lake, which had a difficult district to get through. The Blue Devils went five sets with No. 22 Coldwater in the semifinal and then four sets with No. 15 Battle Creek Lakeview. Those challenging matches should help it on Tuesday on its home floor against the Panthers.
Finals Prediction: Mattawan over Gull Lake
Regional 5 at Ann Arbor Skyline
Semifinal Matchups: South Lyon vs. Ann Arbor Skyline; Temperance Bedford vs. Northville
Breakdown: A great region here. No. 8 Northville was able to exorcise its demons by ending the championship reign of Novi last week. It draws No. 24 Bedford that ran over Lincoln and Monroe. Skyline opened districts with an impressive five-set win over Saline and then swept Pioneer and Dexter to claim its district title. Skyline faces No. 17 South Lyon, which fought off No. 18 Brighton in its district final. Skyline has the home court, but I like the Lions to ride the momentum of the win over Brighton. Bedford is tough, but Northville has been on a mission all year and looks like the team to beat this week.
Finals Prediction: Northville over South Lyon
Regional 6 at Dearborn Edsel Ford
Semifinal Matchups: Allen Park vs. Livonia Churchill; Dearborn Edsel Ford vs. Brownstown Woodhaven
Breakdown: Allen Park didn’t break a sweat in going 9-for-9 in sets in its district championship march. It faces a Churchill team that swept both Garden City and Franklin. Edsel Ford grinded out a five-set win at Dearborn to claim its district title and now draws Woodhaven, which held off Gibraltar Carlson and Trenton. This region seems wide open, as all four teams have their flaws, but can really get on a roll. Churchill has been the one to show the most consistency, so I will pick them to advance.
Finals Prediction: Churchill over Woodhaven
Regional 7 at Marian
Semifinal Matchups: Detroit Renaissance vs. Farmington Hills Mercy; Marian vs. Detroit Cass Tech
Breakdown: Top-ranked Mercy and No. 5 Marian both rolled in their respective districts and the two seem to be on a collision course to another meeting. Cass Tech and Renaissance both played well last week, but are taking major steps up in competition on Tuesday. For the final, Marian has yet to crack the Mercy code and I don’t see them finding the answer this time around.
Finals Prediction: Mercy over Marian
Regional 8 at Utica Ford
Semifinal Matchups: Sterling Heights Stevenson vs. Macomb Dakota; Fraser vs. Grosse Pointe South
Breakdown: This regional is wide open, as all four teams are just outside our Division 1 rankings. Fraser and Stevenson were the two teams to win each set they played last week. Fraser faces a GP South team that got past GP North and then swept Warren Woods Tower. Stevenson takes on a Dakota team that went five sets with L’Anse Creuse North and four sets with Anchor Bay. GP South and Stevenson have split meetings during the year and I like them to meet in the final. Stevenson is a team with the potential to break into the state picture and I think this is their chance to live up to the hype.
Finals Prediction: Stevenson over Grosse Pointe South