Quick guide to Eastside boys hoops playoffs

February in Michigan means uncertainty is abound.

And I’m not just talking about the weather.

It’s also time for boys basketball playoffs.

Unexpected upsets, emerging stars and dominating performances will begin popping up across the area like potholes as the postseason gets under way Feb. 25 with district quarterfinals.

To help hoops fans navigate their way through some of the most exciting action, I’ve compiled a quick guide of things to watch for district by district in my coverage area — mainly Macomb County, Grosse Pointe and Madison Heights.

Happy trails (and look out for potholes!)

District 20-A at Grosse Pointe North
• Competing teams: Eastpointe East Detroit, Detroit Finney, Grosse Pointe North, Grosse Pointe South, St. Clair Shores Lakeview and St. Clair Shores Lake Shore.
• Quick analysis: The five Macomb Area Conference-based squads (all but Finney) will surely be anxious to start the postseason after largely underachieving regular seasons, especially Grosse Pointe South, which lost several close games because of an inconsistent offense.
• Upset alert: The Blue Devils do play a tough brand of defense, and if they can get a big quarterfinal win over Lakeview, maybe they can get enough momentum rolling to give defending district champion Finney fits.
• Game to catch: If South can’t knock off Finney, maybe its rival neighbor to the north can in the district final. The Norseman should be tough to topple in their home gym.

District 21-A at Fraser High
• Competing teams: Fraser, Roseville High, Warren Cousino, Warren De La Salle, Warren Mott and Warren Woods Tower.
• Quick analysis: De La Salle, winners of nine consecutive district crowns, could be considered vulnerable this year with a young team (no seniors). Unfortunately for other teams in the district, they too all seem to be experiencing sub-par seasons.
• Star watch: There are plenty of talented players in this district, but Roseville sophomore Brandon Gouch is a somewhat unknown who is ready to turn heads.
• Must-see matchup: Will last year’s highly anticipated Cousino – De La Salle showdown finally come to fruition this season? If so, it should be exciting to see a pair of big fellas face off in the paint in De La Salle’s Kevin McCarthy and Cousino’s Matt Balkema.

District 27-A at Utica High
• Competing teams: Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse, Sterling Heights High, Utica Eisenhower, Utica Ford II, Utica Stevenson and Utica.
• Quick analysis: I wasn’t alive the last time L’Anse Creuse won a district title (1976). While the Lancers are talented enough, this will be one tough district as Ford II leads some solid UCS squads into the group.
• Upset alert: Can Ike catch defending district champ Ford II looking ahead to a potential doozy of a district final with L’Anse Creuse?
• Game to catch: I already gave it away, but a Ford II-L’Anse Creuse district-final clash would certainly draw a crowd, especially with a pair of dynamic duos on display. Nick Carreri and Willie Cruz lead the Lancers, while Kyle Hunt and Nate King drive Ford II.

District 28-A at L’Anse Creuse North
• Competing teams: Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, Macomb Dakota, Fair Haven Anchor Bay, L’Anse Creuse North, Port Huron High and Port Huron Northern.
• Quick analysis: Veteran squads at LCN and Chippewa Valley are poised for a potentially electric district final, but don’t count out Dakota. The Cougars may be young, but Bill Snyder’s squads have won two straight district titles.
• Don’t forget about: Port Huron Northern. The Huskies and Oakland University-bound Jay Thames won’t be an easy out for Chippewa Valley in the first round.
• Shooting stars: Defenders beware, don’t let sharp-shooting seniors Erik Thompson and Mike Nieman of LCN or Chris Lemm of Chippewa Valley get open outside the arc or you’ll pay the price.

District 42-B at Center Line High
• Competing teams: Center Line, Detroit Crockett, Madison Heights Madison, St. Claire Shores South Lake, Warren Fitzgerald and Warren Lincoln.
• Quick analysis: Heated rivalries and revenge will be sought out in what is one of the best and most balanced districts in the state. Good news for fans, a nightmare for coaches.
• Underappreciated: Could Madison actually be flying under the radar? The Eagles seemed to lose some of their luster after failing to secure back-to-back undefeated records in the MAC Gold. Madison’s aggressive brand of defense could be the X-factor in this district of high-flying offenses.
• Game to catch: Every single game in this district has the potential to be a classic. Get there early and don’t leave your seat until it’s March.

The best of the rest
Districts: 43-B at Beverly Hills-Detroit Country Day; 44-B at Marine City; 45-B at Capac; 103-D at Detroit Chadsey; and 104-D at Birmingham Roeper.
• Competing (coverage) teams: Clinton Township Clintondale, Madison Heights Lamphere, Mount Clemens, Macomb Lutheran North, Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, Warren Conner Creek West, Warren Conner Creek East, Warren Macomb Christian and Grosse Pointe University Liggett.
• Upset alert: Call me crazy, but I bet Clintondale gives defending state champ Detroit Country Day a good game in at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Country Day. Before you lock me away, here’s the recipe behind my reasoning. The Dragons know how to win (they won a share of the MAC Silver title). They’ve played some top-level competition (Fitzgerald, L’Anse Creuse, Madison and Detroit Consortium) and are a balanced and deep team that can wear opponents down as they go deep into their bench.
• Oh so close: Mount Clemens and Lutheran North each lost heartbreakers in their respective district finals last year and should be focused to finish the job this year.
• Stars to watch: A pair of juniors should turn heads in the Roeper district. Parkway’s Zurlon Tipton is a top-notch athlete who can slash and bang with the best of them, while Conner Creek West’s big man John Hoskins Jr. is silky smooth near and far from the basket, swatting shots and draining treys.

For more district playoff coverage and information, including game dates and times and future results, check out our online basketball story archives.