Hoops playoff guide

It’s time for the boys basketball tournament — one of my favorite times of year on the prep sports calendar.

The always exciting and unpredictable district round runs from March 9-13, and I’ve compiled some tidbits for fans to feast on, such as games and players to watch from throughout my coverage area (Macomb County, Grosse Pointe, Harper Woods, Madison Heights and Clawson). Enjoy!

District 20-A, host Grosse Pointe North
All signs point toward a terrific semifinal showdown between the host Norsemen and Detroit Finney. If North, the MAC White champs, can get by a talented St. Clair Shores Lake Shore team (co-Macomb Area Conference Silver Division champs) in the opening round, get to the gym early for the 8 p.m. semifinal March 11 — it’ll be packed for what could be an instant classic.

District 21-A, host Warren Woods Tower
Is this the year that Warren De La Salle’s district dominance ends? The Pilots have won 10 straight district titles, and DLS coach Greg Esler has one of his most talented teams — a squad led by sharpshooting guard Alex Marcotullio that has already wrapped up the Catholic High School League Central Division regular-season title and the CHSL A-B tournament championship.

But the rest of the district is loaded with talent too, including Warren Mott’s twin towers, C.J. Olanyian and Joel Asbury, Warren Cousino giant Matt Balkema, Fraser High’s Matt Carden and Roseville High’s athletic trio of Traye Williams, Brandon Gouch and Dominique Pointer.

District 27-A, host Utica Ford II
Last year, I witnessed an amazing comeback as Mike Hollingsworth poured in 35 points to rally Utica High past Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse, despite trailing 24-2 early in the second quarter of a district semifinal. Some of the teams have changed in this district, but for the most part, it stays intact, as does it’s unpredictability. Utica Eisenhower, the MAC Red champs, seems like an overwhelming favorite, but like Utica Stevenson coach Bill Lerch said, “anything is possible” in this district, which aside from Ike, is loaded with teams that began the year inexperienced but have since improved under the guidance of some of the area’s most experienced coaches.

District 28-A, host Port Huron Northern
The battle of I-94, as I’ve dubbed this district, is one of the most wide-open districts around. Can do-it-all senior star Willie Cruz go out with a bang, leading L’Anse Creuse to its first district title in 33 years?

District 42-B, host Warren Fitzgerald
It seems like every year the group of teams that make up this district gets better. The parity is unparalleled, as is the overall talent when it comes to Class B districts. I would say something about it being tough top-to-bottom, but there is no top and no bottom. Each team is close, and so should each game. But what makes this district standout most is the amount of electricity among the rival teams and their fans — they’ll bring out the best in each other, ensuring some exciting down-to-the-wire finishes.

District 43-B, host Clawson High
This district features more rivals going head-to-head, as Madison Heights Lamphere will meet Clawson High in a 6:30 p.m. first-round March 9 game. Clawson has the edge playing at home and the recent strong play of transfer Joe Baker, but that’s not going to stop Lamphere from thinking about getting by the host Trojans for a matchup with another big rival — MAC Blue champs Madison Heights Madison — in a 6:30 p.m. March 11 semifinal.

The reward for whichever of the three MAC teams advances to the 7 p.m. March 13 district final is a likely date with one of the top teams in the state — Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day. Yet each coach said they’re not intimated by potentially facing the Yellowjackets — a point proven last year when Madison kept it close with Country Day in a regional semifinal, falling eventually by just two points.

District 104-D, host Sterling Heights Parkway Christian
Zurlon Tipton was the young pup as a senior-led Parkway squad advanced to the Class D state semifinals two seasons ago. Now Tipton, one of the area’s premier athletes, is the big dog for coach Jim Barker and the Eagles. The senior and his teammates could hunt down a return trip to the Breslin Center — host site of the MHSAA’s semifinals and finals for all four class tournaments — if they get on the right track early.

For complete district schedules, and for continued coverage throughout the postseason, including photo galleries, check back in the Sports section of our Web site.