2019 MHSAA Postseason: Division 2 district predictions
District 33 at Menominee Teams: Kingsford, Houghton, Menominee, Gladstone, Escanaba Prediction: It should be a good week of volleyball in the western parts of the U.P. next week. In the end, I look for Escanaba to come away with the…
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Continue ReadingDistrict 33 at Menominee
Teams: Kingsford, Houghton, Menominee, Gladstone, Escanaba
Prediction: It should be a good week of volleyball in the western parts of the U.P. next week. In the end, I look for Escanaba to come away with the championship.
District 34 at Cheboygan
Teams: Cheboygan, Kalkaska, Kingsley, Boyne City, Grayling, Sault Ste. Marie
Prediction: In the northern tip of the L.P. a solid six-team field will compete at Cheboygan. Kingsley has proven itself to be a contender all year and I’ve seen nothing to change that opinion.
District 35 at Big Rapids
Teams: Reed City, Manistee, Big Rapids, Ludington, Benzie Central, Cadillac
Prediction: Cadillac has challenged itself with a competitive schedule all year and that should pay off for the Vikings this week. I like them to emerge with the district title and be a real threat for a run to Battle Creek.
District 36 at Chippewa Hills
Teams: Standish-Sterling, Tawas, Ogemaw Heights, Gladwin, Clare, Chippewa Hills
Prediction: There should be plenty of four or five-set matches in this district, but I like Gladwin to work its way through the rest of the field and claim the championship.
District 37 at Central Montcalm
Teams: Ovid-Elsie, Central Montcalm, Shepherd, Belding, Ionia, Alma
Prediction: This is an odd mix of teams for a district, but that could work out into Ionia’s favor. I like the Bulldogs in a district that should feature a lot of first-time matchups.
District 38 at Freeland
Teams: Saginaw Arthur Hill, Saginaw Swan Valley, Midland Bullock Creek, Freeland, Essexville Garber, Bay City John Glenn
Prediction: A heavy Tri-Valley Conference district should make for a lot of exciting matchups, but Freeland has the home-court-advantage and the skills to get the job done.
District 39 at Frankenmuth
Teams: Frankenmuth, Saginaw, Caro, Birch Run, Carrollton, Bridgeport
Prediction: Birch Run has amassed 40 wins this year with a really competitive schedule. That should be enough to lift the Panthers over Frankenmuth in the final.
District 40 at Mt. Morris
Teams: Corunna, Mt. Morris, Chesaning, Flint Hamady, Owosso, Clio
Prediction: Corunna was able to make a run to Battle Creek last year. That experience should help the Cavs make another push this year, starting with three wins in this district.
District 41 at Muskegon Oakridge
Teams: Whitehall, Spring Lake, Montague, Muskegon Oakridge, Muskegon Orchard View, Fruitport
Prediction: This is one of the more competitive districts you will find in Division 2 with three teams ranked in our D2 poll nearly all season. Montague has been the most consistent of those teams and will get past Fruitport and Whitehall to hold up the hardware.
District 42 at Coopersville
Teams: Fremont, Coopersville, Newaygo, Howard City Tri-County, Spartan, Grant
Prediction: Coopersville has looked like a real contender for the state championship all season and should win this district. The Broncos just can’t get caught looking ahead to a big regional at Grand Rapids Christian.
District 43 Grand Rapids West Catholic
Teams: Forest Hills Eastern, Grand Rapids Wellspring Prep, Wyoming Lee, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Grand Rapids West Catholic
Prediction: It should be a Catholic Central vs. West Catholic final, which should be a great match. I like Grand Rapids Catholic Central to find its way to the title. The Cougars have grinded out a lot of close sets this year.
District 44 at Grand Rapids Christian
Teams: Grand Rapids South Christian, Grand Rapids West Michigan Aviation Academy, Kentwood Grand River Prep, Grand Rapids Christian, Wyoming Kelloggsville, Wyoming Godwin Heights
Prediction: Grand Rapids Christian is the defending Division 2 state champ and has held on to the No. 1 ranking all season. The Eagles are the team to beat and will be too much for anyone in this district.
District 45 at Hopkins
Teams: Hamilton, Hudsonville Unity Christian, Hopkins, Allendale, Wayland, Holland Christian
Prediction: This is a really strong district, especially with Hamilton and Holland Christian being in our top 10. The Hawkeyes have been just a bit better than the Maroons this year. Go with Hamilton to take the title.
District 46 at South Haven
Teams: Paw Paw, Coloma, Allegan, South Haven, Benton Harbor
Prediction: This was a tough district to pick, but South Haven was competitive in the Wolverine Conference, which featured some good teams. I think that can propel them to this district’s title.
District 47 at Buchanan
Teams: Dowagiac, Niles, Buchanan, Berrien Springs, Edwardsburg
Prediction: Niles and Edwardsburg look to be on a collision course for a semifinal matchup that should determine the eventual champ. The Eddies got the nod earlier this year, so I will put my chips on them in the rematch.
District 48 at Plainwell
Teams: Comstock, Vicksburg, Plainwell, Three Rivers, Parchment, Otsego
Prediction: A lot of Wolverine Conference teams are in the mix in this district. Vicksburg was able to claim a conference championship this year and that should push them to the district crown this week.
District 49 at Lakewood
Teams: Portland, Lansing Sexton, Lansing Eastern, Hastings, Lansing Catholic, Lakewood
Prediction: Host Lakewood and Lansing Catholic could meet in a final that should have some fireworks, but the Vikings are playoff tested and ready to advance to another regional.
District 50 at Battle Creek Harper Creek
Teams: Eaton Rapids, Marshall, Battle Creek Harper Creek, Charlotte, Battle Creek Pennfield, Olivet
Prediction: Marshall has been ranked in our Division 2 rankings all year and should be the team to beat, but the Redhawks have a solid challenge in Eaton Rapids from the start.
District 51 at Perry
Teams: Chelsea, Fowlerville, Perry, Haslett, Williamston, Durand
Prediction: This should be a competitive district featuring teams from the Lansing area. I like Fowlerville and Haslett to meet in the final, with the Vikings coming out with a five-set victory.
District 52 at Onsted
Teams: Parma Western, Hillsdale, Adrian, Brooklyn Columbia Central, Onsted, Tecumseh
Prediction: Parma Western and Onsted are two solid D2 contenders this year, but likely to meet in the district semifinal. The Wildcats of Onsted have the home court for that one, so I give them the edge.
District 53 at Dundee
Teams: Dundee, Milan, Carleton Airport, Monroe Jefferson, Ida
Prediction: Ida has a very senior-heavy team that has resulted in a lot of wins. The Bluestreaks are a dark horse in Division 2 and their postseason run starts next week.
District 54 at Flat Rock
Teams: Grosse Ile, Romulus, New Boston Huron, Romulus Summit Academy, Flat Rock
Prediction: Flat Rock gets to host this district and the Rams have built up an impressive collection of wins this year. I expect a few more next week.
District 55 at Dearborn Divine Child
Teams: Dearborn Divine Child, Dearborn Heights Annapolis, Dearborn Henry Ford Academy, Dearborn Heights Robichaud, Detroit Cody
Prediction: Dearborn Divine Child has had to take its lumps during the CHSL season, but that should help it in district play. The Falcons will be ready for anything they will see on their home floor.
District 56 at Livonia Clarenceville
Teams: Wixom St. Catherine, Redford Union, Southfield Bradford, Livonia Clarenceville, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard
Prediction: Wixom St. Catherine and Father Gabriel Richard have met three times this year and should meet in the semifinal to determine this district winner. Gabriel Richard has won two of the three meetings and I expect a third victory next week.
District 57 at Detroit Henry Ford
Teams: Detroit Communication Media Arts, Ferndale University, Detroit Cornerstone Health & Technology, Ferndale, Detroit Old Redford, Detroit Henry Ford
Prediction: Detroit Communication Media Arts managed a run to the D2 quarterfinals a year ago and I think they are the team to beat in this pool again in 2019.
District 58 at Madison Heights Lamphere
Teams: Hazel Park, Center Line, Warren Lincoln, Warren Regina, Madison Heights Lamphere
Prediction: It was a good season for Lamphere, but I see the Rams falling to Warren Regina in the finals of this district.
District 59 at Detroit Voyageur Prep
Teams: Detroit Collegiate Prep, Detroit University Prep Art & Design, Detroit International Academy, Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy, Detroit Voyageur Prep, Detroit University Prep
Prediction: Detroit Cesar Chavez was able to win this district last year and I like them to repeat next week.
District 60 at Harper Woods
Teams: Harper Woods, Detroit University Prep, Harper Woods Chandler Park, St. Clair Shores South Lake
Prediction: This district is a toss-up, but I will side with Harper Woods to get through the field and win the district.
District 61 at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Teams: Detroit Country Day, Macomb Lutheran North, Cranbrook Kingswood, Notre Dame Prep, Clawson
Prediction: The road seems to be set for Notre Dame Prep to face the winner of a great opener between Country Day and Lutheran North. All three teams show a lot of potential for a deep postseason run, but the Irish are always at their best this time of year.
District 62 at Marysville
Teams: St. Clair, Marine City, Marysville, Richmond, Algonac
Prediction: There are a few teams that seem like they could come away with this district, but I give the edge to Algonac, who looks to have had the best performances in these head-to-head matchups.
District 63 at Armada
Teams: Imlay City, Croswell-Lexington, Yale, Armada, Almont
Prediction: This should be a very competitive district and many of these teams have met and traded sets this year. Croswell-Lexington is my pick to emerge. The Pioneers have been able to win many of those close matches with this field.
District 64 at Lake Fenton
Teams: North Branch, Ortonville Brandon, Flint Powers Catholic, Goodrich, Lake Fenton
Prediction: North Branch and Goodrich have been in our D2 rankings most of the season, but Flint Powers Catholic has had both of their numbers. Watch out for the Chargers to surprise some next week.