MP Hoops Scouting & Analysis

First there was Nostradamus. Then came Confucius. More recently, the Son of Swami graced us with his visions. But now a new seer has emerged.

Where Nostradamus and Confucius squabbled over when the world would end, Senile Seer has followed in the Son of Swami’s footsteps to provide his prophetic powers to predict basketball games.

Here are his inaugural picks:

Division 3

ATAP vs. Center Line Prep

Key Players ATAP: Lewis Lovejoy (5-10), De’Vontae Grandison (6-3), Jaiden Price (5-8) – Lovejoy is regarded as one of the top sophomores in the state and a much-watch for any Michigan high school basketball fan. This team will hope to avenge last year’s state finals loss.

Key Players Center Line Prep: Leshard Wadley (6-2)

**Prediction: Lovejoy Prep 66 – Wobbly Lines 52

Flint International vs. Harbor Beach

Key Players Flint Inter.: Kaderion Westbrook (6-1), Kaland Gregory (6-0), Darrio Felder (5-8) – One of the best group of aggressive, talent guards in the division. This team can score in bunches and defends the ball very well.

Key Players Harbor Beach: Benson Harper (6-0) – Harper is one of the best athletes in school history. He has signed to play D2 football at Northwood, but he’s also a tremendous basketball player certainly capable of leading an upset here.

**Prediction: Flint Tropics 65, Beach Pirates 62

Menominee vs. Elk Rapids

Key Players Menominee: Tanner Theuerkauf (6-4), Talan Woods (6-1), Darrent Butler (6-1) – Star football player Theuerkauf hopes to lead his athletic squad to the Breslin after already knocking off last season’s U.P. representative.

Key Players Elk Rapids: Caden Schlicker (6-6), Mason Cannon (5-10), Braden Fluty – Another athletic squad led by a strong guard who can score in bunches and keep others involved.

**Prediction: My Nominee 43, Elks Club Rapids 41

Beal City vs. Pinconning

Key Players Beal City: Grady Gatrell (6-5), Drake Gatrell (5-11), Cuyler Smith (5-11) – The Gatrells are very tough in their respective positions, and Grady, just a freshman, might be a special talent.

Key Players Pinconning: Dane Ivey

**Prediction: Seal City 57, Wild Potatoes 49

Springport vs. Flint New Standard

Key Players Springport: Dallas Higelmire (6-5), Jack Kregel (5-11), Brody Braun (6-5), Tucker Wigington (6-5) – Any D3 school with this much height and talent will be tough to beat. Springport almost always has a smart game plan, which they will need against Flint’s quickness.

Key Players New Standard: Jeffery Turner (6-1), Razach Spillers (6-0), Deion Wright (6-0), A.J. Smith (5-10) – This quartet of guards can suffocate opponents before they can even get settled. All four are also capable of putting up 15-plus points in a game.

**Prediction: Flint Old Ways 55, A Port With No Water 54

Onsted vs. Ecorse

Key Players Onsted: Rylan Henagan (6-3), Cole Wells (6-1), Bryce Adams (5-11), Bryson Sutherland (6-3) – Moving down from D2 might come with instant rewards, as Onsted has been nearly invulnerable all season.

Key Players Ecorse: Chelldon Mattison (6-1) – Scrappy, quick squad that is still pretty young. Mattison is just a sophomore, but ready to maybe reach the Breslin ahead of schedule.

**Prediction: Instead 63, Online Class 58

Grandville Calvin Christian vs. Pewamo-Westphalia

Key Players Pewamo: Grady Eklund (6-3), Trent Piggott (6-6), Logan Farmer (6-2), Ty Thelen (6-0) – Eklund will join his brother at Northwood, while Piggott is hard to move in the paint. Farmer, just a sophomore, could be special.

Key Players Calvin Christian: Will Orme (6-2), Levi Heeringa (6-8) – This team got off to a rough start this season, but have bounced back as a legitimate upset threat to one of the state title favorites. Orme is a 1,000-point scorer.

**Prediction: Western Plains 53, Calvin & the Chipmunks 50

Niles-Brandywine vs. Schoolcraft

Key Players Schoolcraft: Jimmy Miller (6-9), Kodee Bienz (6-2), Ty Goddard (6-2) – Miller will play at Wayne State, while Bienz and Goddard are great shooters and just juniors.

Key Players Brandywine: Nylen Goins (5-10), Ryder Richard (6-0), Will Hubbard (6-5) – Goins is the only remaining starter from the school’s state title a couple years ago. He’s a heady and patient point guard with a nice outside shot.

Prediction: School Kraft Mac & Cheese 44, Hobbit Dwelling 43

Division 4

Dollar Bay vs. Felch N. Dickinson

Key Players Dollar Bay: Liam Tourtillot (6-1), Caleb Kentala (5-7), Baron Colbert (6-2) – Dollar Bay has reached the Breslin Center twice since 2018.

Key Players Felch N. Dickinson: Mason Florenski (6-5), Trent Kramer (6-4), Ty King (6-1) – Unrivaled height could lead Felch N. Dickinson to its first Breslin trip in school history (state finals and semifinals moved to that venue in 19xx).

**Prediction: Dollar, Dollar Bay, Y’all 53 – Belch’n Up North 52

Pickford vs. Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian

Key Players Pickford: Gunner Brennin (6-0), Carter Yiirs (5-11), Caden Wiltfang (6-1) – Brennin became a 1,000-point scorer this year as one of the most prolific players in school history.

Key Players Burt Lake NMC: Jeremiah Tucker, Joshua Ferraiuolo, Trey Fosmore, Lee Chatfield

**Prediction: Pick & Roll 67 – Burt Reynolds Lake 55

Detroit Douglass vs. Southfield Christian

Key Players Detroit Douglass: Jacodi Nathan (5-8), Joshua Brooks (6-5), Kamari Howard (6-3), Quinn Davis III (6-1), Damani Oliver (5-11), Jeremiah Thurman (5-10), Dontay Burkes (6-7) – This team is deep, aggressive and young, but might have been a tough out in D2 let alone D4.

Key Players Southfield Christian: Ronin Seals (6-2), Jason Wilson II (6-3), Caden Condino (6-2)

**Prediction: Brooks Academy 76, Southfield’s 2010s Dynasty 71

Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes vs. Ubly

These two teams are relative unknowns – unranked throughout the year – but playing some excellent basketball. Waterford has made Breslin trips in the past, while Ubly is looking for a school-best run.

**Prediction: Waterford Legends 45, Ubly Betty 41

Colon vs. Battle Creek St. Philip

Key Players Colon: Quincy Blair, Dalton Williams, Brennan Morrell

Key Players BC St. Philip: Jackson Dzwik (6-3) – 1,000 point scorer with length and instincts capable of sending his team straight to the Breslin.

**Prediction: Colon Cleanser 52, Prince Philip 49

Concord vs. Petersburg-Summerfield

Key Players Concord: Connor Stevens (6-6), Jett Smith (5-10), Darrell Dean Jr. (6-0), Marcus Gill Jr. (6-2), Brady Garrett (5-9) – Both Stevens and Smith have scored over 1,000 points throughout their illustrious careers. Connor will also play college ball at Trine.

Key Players Petersburg-Summerfield: Brody St. John (6-1) – Another 1,000-point scorer, St. john is the type of long, lanky guard who can shoot well enough to get his team to the Breslin.

**Prediction: Flight of the Concords 58, St. Petersburg In the Summer 57

Traverse City Christian vs. Onekema

Key Players TC Christian: Garrett Schultz (6-3), Ethan Johns (6-4), Isaac Torbet (6-1), Sam Bigger (6-3) – Schultz leads a tall, athletic group as a 1,000-point scorer who can also rebound and run the offense if needed.

Key Players Onekema: Bennett Zeller, Luke Bradford, Tyler Hart – 11-loss teams don’t usually make it this far, but Onekema is a scrappy group clearly capable of some upsets.

**Prediction: Holy Cherries 61, Singing Waters 52

Wyoming Tri-Unity vs. Fowler

Key Players Tri-Unity: Cody Osbun (6-2), Clayton Rowlader (5-11), Brayden Nelson (6-1), Caleb Hoffman (6-3), Owen Potvin (5-8) – Despite losing legendary coach Mark Keeler, Tri-Unity is just as dominant as ever with a deep group of shooters and hard-working athletes.

Key Players Fowler: Joe Epkey (6-6), Dylan Pline (6-0), Isaac Thelen (6-0) – Fowler was many people’s pick to win D4 at the start of the tournament. The Seer’s team is already out, so maybe they were right?

Prediction: Tri-angle Offense 48, Rickie Fowler 47