The official start of winter is still a few days off, but outside the window here at the office it’s snowing something fierce (at least it was when I started this), and inside gyms across Macomb County boys basketball teams are battling for respect.
So forget what the calendar says, it’s winter.
And in boys hoops in the Macomb Area Conference, the winter season is one of
uncertainty.
Like I wrote in my boys hoops preview appearing in various editions of our papers recently, there aren’t many sure things in the MAC this season.
The graduation of so many talented seniors and the realignments of the divisions have left things wide open — which should make for an exciting few months of crossover competition and intra-division clashes.
Sure, few teams have been tabbed favorites in certain divisions, and there are several talented players throughout the MAC, not to mention some promising young ones.
But the overall sense of uncertainty is something fairly new to the conference, at least in recent years, as the talent across the board seems to strengthen more consistently.
When asking MAC coaches for their thoughts on the top local teams, one squad was mentioned again and again — Utica Eisenhower.
The Eagles, big and talented, have been tabbed as favorites to take the MAC Red — lofty expectations for any squad.
And after catching Ike in action in its Dec. 9 season opener against Warren De La Salle, I’m convinced the Eagles could be the real deal.
I say "convinced" because although Ike lost, it was largely due to mental mistakes and errors that can easily be fixed. But how quickly and effectively the Eagles correct their shortcomings will play a major role in whether they can win out in the always-tough MAC Red.
As for De La Salle, the Pilots also looked a little rusty, but coach Greg Esler and his experienced squad are going to be a tough matchup for any team in the county come playoff time. If and when things start clicking on all cylinders, the Pilots could be headed back to the Breslin Center for the Division 1 final four.
But back to the MAC, here’s a few other teams that, after some dormant and doormat years, could also be in the mix for a division crown before the snow melts: St. Clair Shores Lake Shore and Madison Heights Lamphere (MAC Silver); Warren Mott and Sterling Heights High (MAC Gold); Fraser High and Eastpointe East Detroit (MAC Blue); and Grosse Pointe North (MAC White). Utica Ford II could be considered a dark horse in the MAC Red, but the Falcons aren’t unfamiliar to recent success — having shared the MAC White title the past two seasons.
As for the favorites, watch out for: Romeo High (MAC Red), Roseville High (MAC White), Warren Fitzgerald (MAC Blue), Warren Lincoln (MAC Gold), Center Line High and Clinton Township Clintondale (MAC Silver).
Lastly, here’s a few upcoming games that should hold over hoops fans as the winter break approaches (most varsity contests begin at 7 p.m., but contact your local school for game times): Center Line at Lincoln, Fraser at Clintondale, Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse at Fitzgerald, Lake Shore at Sterling Heights — all on Dec. 18; and the big one — Eisenhower at Roseville, Dec. 19.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Cheers to Lancers fans
One of my favorite things about covering games during the boys basketball season is the support shown by student cheering sections.
Sure, other sports teams will have big crowds of fans behind them at various points in the season, especially late in the playoffs, but usually none are more consistent than those that appear during the boys winter hoops season.
But this year, all those student sections that pop up during basketball have a lot to live up to after the volleyball season, as the Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse students supporting their Lancers left some big shoes to fill.
Though it swelled to about 100 fans strong during the Lancers' season finale — a Nov. 18 quarterfinal loss at Grosse Pointe North — the L’Anse Creuse volleyball team got significant backing from its students all season long.
And just as the Lancers battled tough to the end on the court with the host Norsemen during the quarterfinal, the fans in their student section impressed to the end.
Even as their team fell behind, the group stood strong and let their voices be heard, encouraging the Lancers, and for the most part, avoiding falling into any negativity like some student sections inevitably do.
So boys basketball fans, the bar has been raised, I’m hoping you can match it.
Sure, other sports teams will have big crowds of fans behind them at various points in the season, especially late in the playoffs, but usually none are more consistent than those that appear during the boys winter hoops season.
But this year, all those student sections that pop up during basketball have a lot to live up to after the volleyball season, as the Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse students supporting their Lancers left some big shoes to fill.
Though it swelled to about 100 fans strong during the Lancers' season finale — a Nov. 18 quarterfinal loss at Grosse Pointe North — the L’Anse Creuse volleyball team got significant backing from its students all season long.
And just as the Lancers battled tough to the end on the court with the host Norsemen during the quarterfinal, the fans in their student section impressed to the end.
Even as their team fell behind, the group stood strong and let their voices be heard, encouraging the Lancers, and for the most part, avoiding falling into any negativity like some student sections inevitably do.
So boys basketball fans, the bar has been raised, I’m hoping you can match it.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
On to Round Two
Last week, I attempted to flex my brain muscle and give us all an early look on how the first round of the football state playoffs were going to play out for our local C & G Oakland Activities Association teams.
Well, the numbers are in, and if I don’t say so myself, not too shabby, not too shabby at all.
So let’s take a look …
Livonia Stevenson 17; West Bloomfield High 6
I had the Lakers losing by 10.
Lake Orion High 7; Utica Eisenhower 0
My guess was the Dragons by eight.
Macomb Dakota 28; Troy High 10
I went out on the limb and had the Colts falling by 20.
Birmingham Brother Rice 28; Rochester Adams 21
This one hurt. I had Adams winning by 13 points.
White Lake Lakeland 42; Auburn Hills Avondale 7
This was another tough one. While I had the winning team right, I was 14 points off on the margin of victory.
Southfield High 16; Farmington High 0
Now, I was at this game, and it was even closer than the score showed. I guessed Southfield winning by seven, which was nine points off. But the Blue Jays scored on an interception with less than a minute in the game to throw my guess way off.
Bloomfield Hills Lahser 28; Redford Thurston 13
This one put me back on track. I had the Knights winning by 14, just one point off .
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore 27; Ferndale High 13
This game didn’t go so well for me. I had the Eagles winning by 13; they lost by 14.
I was 6-2 overall, but the true genius (and I use that term loosely) is that I was only nine points off on the average margin of victory of each game. Perhaps not too impressive on the surface, but in three games I was one point off and in another, only two.
For this week there are only three C & G OAA teams left.
Division 1 Lake Orion High (9-1) hosts Romeo High (8-2) at 7 p.m. Nov. 7
If you take a quick glance, Romeo lost 17-14 to the same Eisenhower team that the Dragons just beat. But from what I've heard, the Eagles had their most success running right at the Dragons. With Romeo being a physical, punishing-style team, that doesn’t bode well for Lake Orion. I really think this game could easily go either way, but I’ll take Romeo by two.
Division 2 Southfield High (9-1) hosts Dearborn High (7-3) at 1 p.m. Nov. 8
Dearborn’s three losses came against teams with a combined three losses and by an average of six points. Southfield struggled early with a pesky Farmington team, but eventually their athleticism and defense prevailed. This time, though, I think they just simply run into a better opponent. I’m taking Dearborn by eight.
Well, the numbers are in, and if I don’t say so myself, not too shabby, not too shabby at all.
So let’s take a look …
Livonia Stevenson 17; West Bloomfield High 6
I had the Lakers losing by 10.
Lake Orion High 7; Utica Eisenhower 0
My guess was the Dragons by eight.
Macomb Dakota 28; Troy High 10
I went out on the limb and had the Colts falling by 20.
Birmingham Brother Rice 28; Rochester Adams 21
This one hurt. I had Adams winning by 13 points.
White Lake Lakeland 42; Auburn Hills Avondale 7
This was another tough one. While I had the winning team right, I was 14 points off on the margin of victory.
Southfield High 16; Farmington High 0
Now, I was at this game, and it was even closer than the score showed. I guessed Southfield winning by seven, which was nine points off. But the Blue Jays scored on an interception with less than a minute in the game to throw my guess way off.
Bloomfield Hills Lahser 28; Redford Thurston 13
This one put me back on track. I had the Knights winning by 14, just one point off .
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore 27; Ferndale High 13
This game didn’t go so well for me. I had the Eagles winning by 13; they lost by 14.
I was 6-2 overall, but the true genius (and I use that term loosely) is that I was only nine points off on the average margin of victory of each game. Perhaps not too impressive on the surface, but in three games I was one point off and in another, only two.
For this week there are only three C & G OAA teams left.
Division 1 Lake Orion High (9-1) hosts Romeo High (8-2) at 7 p.m. Nov. 7
If you take a quick glance, Romeo lost 17-14 to the same Eisenhower team that the Dragons just beat. But from what I've heard, the Eagles had their most success running right at the Dragons. With Romeo being a physical, punishing-style team, that doesn’t bode well for Lake Orion. I really think this game could easily go either way, but I’ll take Romeo by two.
Division 2 Southfield High (9-1) hosts Dearborn High (7-3) at 1 p.m. Nov. 8
Dearborn’s three losses came against teams with a combined three losses and by an average of six points. Southfield struggled early with a pesky Farmington team, but eventually their athleticism and defense prevailed. This time, though, I think they just simply run into a better opponent. I’m taking Dearborn by eight.
Division 3 Bloomfield Hills Lahser (9-1) hosts Lapeer West (7-3) at 7 p.m. Nov. 8
Lahser hasn’t lost since week one of the season, and except for their four-point win against Ferndale High, none of the other games have been closer than 15 points. I think the streak continues and the Knights win by 13.
All right, there you have it. The Knights can begin their regional plans, but for the other two, I think. unfortunately, this is all she wrote. Or at least I wrote.
Lahser hasn’t lost since week one of the season, and except for their four-point win against Ferndale High, none of the other games have been closer than 15 points. I think the streak continues and the Knights win by 13.
All right, there you have it. The Knights can begin their regional plans, but for the other two, I think. unfortunately, this is all she wrote. Or at least I wrote.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Gridder stars in goal too for Huskies
As a pair of reporters searched for St. Clair Shores Lakeview goalkeeper Ryan Boren following a late October regional semifinal soccer game, a Huskies player wittily remarked, “Look for the big orange thing.”
The player wasn’t far off in describing his teammate in that manner, although he probably would have been wise to quickly look around and check that Boren wasn’t nearby.
The Lakeview goalkeeper, who was wearing an orange jersey in that game, is listed at 6 feet 3 inches tall and 235 pounds. Those dimensions are more often found on a football roster — which is where I got them.
Boren also played on the offensive and defensive lines for the Huskies' football team.
Built for battles in the trenches, Boren’s size didn’t hinder him on the pitch.
He helped lead the Huskies to their fourth straight district title and played well in the regional semifinal loss, keeping a talented team at bay as best he could in Dexter High (which later advanced to the state finals for the third straight season).
“(Dexter) definitely had more shots than us, for sure,” Lakeview coach Nick Spano said. “Ryan did a heck of a job, made some real critical saves. It could’ve been worse if not for him.”
It’s impressive that Boren has the endurance, focus and skill set to not only play both ways on the football field, but to step in between the posts without much practice and perform well on the soccer field.
“I can say we wouldn’t be here if not for him,” Spano said. “He’s done a heck of a job since he took over.”
Boren spent most of his practice time with the football team, joining his soccer teammates mainly just for games.
“It was kind of hard at first,” Boren said about splitting time between the two.
Eventually it worked out for all the parties involved, which is great to see because more often than not student athletes who want to play major roles on two separate teams during one season are forced to choose.
The player wasn’t far off in describing his teammate in that manner, although he probably would have been wise to quickly look around and check that Boren wasn’t nearby.
The Lakeview goalkeeper, who was wearing an orange jersey in that game, is listed at 6 feet 3 inches tall and 235 pounds. Those dimensions are more often found on a football roster — which is where I got them.
Boren also played on the offensive and defensive lines for the Huskies' football team.
Built for battles in the trenches, Boren’s size didn’t hinder him on the pitch.
He helped lead the Huskies to their fourth straight district title and played well in the regional semifinal loss, keeping a talented team at bay as best he could in Dexter High (which later advanced to the state finals for the third straight season).
“(Dexter) definitely had more shots than us, for sure,” Lakeview coach Nick Spano said. “Ryan did a heck of a job, made some real critical saves. It could’ve been worse if not for him.”
It’s impressive that Boren has the endurance, focus and skill set to not only play both ways on the football field, but to step in between the posts without much practice and perform well on the soccer field.
“I can say we wouldn’t be here if not for him,” Spano said. “He’s done a heck of a job since he took over.”
Boren spent most of his practice time with the football team, joining his soccer teammates mainly just for games.
“It was kind of hard at first,” Boren said about splitting time between the two.
Eventually it worked out for all the parties involved, which is great to see because more often than not student athletes who want to play major roles on two separate teams during one season are forced to choose.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
This one's on me
I’m going to do us all a favor and save us a lot of time.
Auburn Hills Avondale (7-2) at White Lake Lakeland (7-2) at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31
Despite seemingly being the only game that starts at 7:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. on Friday, this game is also interesting, with Avondale bouncing back after a winless campaign last year. It’s a nice story, but it ends in the first round. No disrespect to the OAA Blue, where Avondale made a run at a championship, but the Kensington Lakes Activities Association is whole different matter. Give me the Eagles by 21.
Farmington High (6-3) at Southfield High (8-1) at 1 p.m. Nov. 1
Farmington has won six straight games to punch its ticket into the postseason; Southfield has been stellar all year, losing only to Adams by two points. These teams have met before with Southfield winning 35-20 in week one. I think Farmington makes it closer, but I still like the Blue Jays by seven.
Division 3 Bloomfield Hills Lahser (8-1) hosts Redford Thurston (6-3) at 7 p.m. Nov. 1
Finally playing against teams that they should be playing (see blog “Sacrificial lamb’), Bloomfield Hills Lahser is going to be tough for any D-3 opponent, starting with Thurston. The Knights have a balanced attack and a defense that will smack you. I think the Knights begin the smacking Saturday night and win by 14.
Ferndale High (8-1) hosts St. Clair Shores Lake Shore (6-3) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
Ferndale has advanced to the playoffs for the third straight year, a school first. But the first time two times, the Eagles were one and done. Lake Shore has been a little hit or miss this season, beating the likes of Warren Fitzgerald (8-1), but losing to Madison Heights Madison (5-4), a team that lost to Fitzgerald by four touchdowns. Put together Lake Shore’s inconsistency, Ferndale’s drive for a playoff win, and throw in the fact that the Shorians beat my guys from Clawson High week one, that’s three strikes and they’re out. I’ll take Ferndale by 13.
So there it is.
I’m going to tell you exactly which C & G local Oakland Activities Association football teams are going to survive the first weekend of the playoffs.
Now, if you’re a fan of prep football, like myself, this is your official spoiler alert. Don’t read below. You can thank me later.
Division 1 West Bloomfield High (6-3) at Livonia Stevenson (7-2) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
The Lakers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Its reward is a trip to last year’s state runner-up Livonia Stevenson. But fear not Lakers fans, I think coach James Thomas has a good thing going over there on Orchard Lake Road. But not that good … yet. Give me the Spartans by 10.
Lake Orion High (8-1) hosts Utica Eisenhower (5-4) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
This is Lake Orion’s eighth straight trip to the postseason, and its also won eight straight games. Coincidence? I think not. It’s a sign from the pigskin gods. The Dragons make it nine wins a row. I like Lake Orion by eight.
Troy High (6-3) at Macomb Dakota (8-1) at 1 p.m. Nov. 1
Good thing this one is on Halloween weekend, because it could be scary. I like Troy, but Dakota is huge … again. The two-time defending state champs average 275 pounds across their offensive line. In a word, "yikes." The Colts keep it close early, but the Cougars wear them down and win by 20.
Division 2 Rochester Adams (8-1) hosts Birmingham Brother Rice (6-3) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
Lake Orion has shown that Adams is beatable with their 34-28 week eight victory, but not by the Warriors. Adams is out for redemption this time around after losing by a touchdown to eventual state champ Detroit Martin Luther King in a semifinal last season. Rice has held only three opponents to less than 20 points — yes I know the Catholic High School League is tough. The Highlanders, on the other hand, haven’t scored less than 28 in a game yet. Give me Adams by 13.
Division 1 West Bloomfield High (6-3) at Livonia Stevenson (7-2) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
The Lakers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Its reward is a trip to last year’s state runner-up Livonia Stevenson. But fear not Lakers fans, I think coach James Thomas has a good thing going over there on Orchard Lake Road. But not that good … yet. Give me the Spartans by 10.
Lake Orion High (8-1) hosts Utica Eisenhower (5-4) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
This is Lake Orion’s eighth straight trip to the postseason, and its also won eight straight games. Coincidence? I think not. It’s a sign from the pigskin gods. The Dragons make it nine wins a row. I like Lake Orion by eight.
Troy High (6-3) at Macomb Dakota (8-1) at 1 p.m. Nov. 1
Good thing this one is on Halloween weekend, because it could be scary. I like Troy, but Dakota is huge … again. The two-time defending state champs average 275 pounds across their offensive line. In a word, "yikes." The Colts keep it close early, but the Cougars wear them down and win by 20.
Division 2 Rochester Adams (8-1) hosts Birmingham Brother Rice (6-3) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
Lake Orion has shown that Adams is beatable with their 34-28 week eight victory, but not by the Warriors. Adams is out for redemption this time around after losing by a touchdown to eventual state champ Detroit Martin Luther King in a semifinal last season. Rice has held only three opponents to less than 20 points — yes I know the Catholic High School League is tough. The Highlanders, on the other hand, haven’t scored less than 28 in a game yet. Give me Adams by 13.
Auburn Hills Avondale (7-2) at White Lake Lakeland (7-2) at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31
Despite seemingly being the only game that starts at 7:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. on Friday, this game is also interesting, with Avondale bouncing back after a winless campaign last year. It’s a nice story, but it ends in the first round. No disrespect to the OAA Blue, where Avondale made a run at a championship, but the Kensington Lakes Activities Association is whole different matter. Give me the Eagles by 21.
Farmington High (6-3) at Southfield High (8-1) at 1 p.m. Nov. 1
Farmington has won six straight games to punch its ticket into the postseason; Southfield has been stellar all year, losing only to Adams by two points. These teams have met before with Southfield winning 35-20 in week one. I think Farmington makes it closer, but I still like the Blue Jays by seven.
Division 3 Bloomfield Hills Lahser (8-1) hosts Redford Thurston (6-3) at 7 p.m. Nov. 1
Finally playing against teams that they should be playing (see blog “Sacrificial lamb’), Bloomfield Hills Lahser is going to be tough for any D-3 opponent, starting with Thurston. The Knights have a balanced attack and a defense that will smack you. I think the Knights begin the smacking Saturday night and win by 14.
Ferndale High (8-1) hosts St. Clair Shores Lake Shore (6-3) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
Ferndale has advanced to the playoffs for the third straight year, a school first. But the first time two times, the Eagles were one and done. Lake Shore has been a little hit or miss this season, beating the likes of Warren Fitzgerald (8-1), but losing to Madison Heights Madison (5-4), a team that lost to Fitzgerald by four touchdowns. Put together Lake Shore’s inconsistency, Ferndale’s drive for a playoff win, and throw in the fact that the Shorians beat my guys from Clawson High week one, that’s three strikes and they’re out. I’ll take Ferndale by 13.
So there it is.
Check back to the blog next week to see how I did with my picks. I've seen and been a part of enough high school football to realize that anything can happen. Should be fun.
Let the games begin.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A closer look at Stanley's summer
In one way or another, we all have a job somewhat unique. Our daily tasks, hours and efforts all differ.
For some, work is just that, a way to pay the bills. For others, work is a story in itself.
Which brings me to the latest installment of my series on jobs in sports, "A Chauffeur to Lord Stanley," a story that began running in most of our papers Oct. 22.
Mike Bolt is an individual you may have seen a time or two, especially this past summer. Maybe not in person, but you probably saw him on TV, in the newspaper or in any of the magazines that aptly depicted the Red Wings’ summer-long celebration with the Stanley Cup.
Bolt works at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, but he also has the distinct honor (called his job) to travel everywhere the Stanley Cup goes.
This job is detailed in the story, but if you want another look at just where the Cup has been and who has had the chance to see it, visit the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Web site at www.hhof.com and click on the Stanley Cup Journal link on the right side of the page.
The journey details a month-to-month and player-to-player schedule the Cup (and Bolt) endured over the summer.
Some of the entries will leave you shaking your head (Kris Draper), while others will show just how much of a celebrity the Cup really is.
For some, work is just that, a way to pay the bills. For others, work is a story in itself.
Which brings me to the latest installment of my series on jobs in sports, "A Chauffeur to Lord Stanley," a story that began running in most of our papers Oct. 22.
Mike Bolt is an individual you may have seen a time or two, especially this past summer. Maybe not in person, but you probably saw him on TV, in the newspaper or in any of the magazines that aptly depicted the Red Wings’ summer-long celebration with the Stanley Cup.
Bolt works at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, but he also has the distinct honor (called his job) to travel everywhere the Stanley Cup goes.
This job is detailed in the story, but if you want another look at just where the Cup has been and who has had the chance to see it, visit the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Web site at www.hhof.com and click on the Stanley Cup Journal link on the right side of the page.
The journey details a month-to-month and player-to-player schedule the Cup (and Bolt) endured over the summer.
Some of the entries will leave you shaking your head (Kris Draper), while others will show just how much of a celebrity the Cup really is.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Pitch problems and rank rankings
It’s been a busy month for me in and out of the office with soccer playoffs under way and the volleyball season wrapping up.
But here are a couple quick observations I’ve recently made:
First: Home-field advantage has taken on a new meaning in the boys soccer playoffs.
Imagine going to a volleyball playoff game only to find that your team has to play on sand.
Sure, the difference between sand and a high school gym floor may be a bit more dramatic than the difference of natural grass and the turf surfaces that have been popping up more and more steadily, but there still is a significant difference.
Soccer teams that are used to playing on natural grass for most of the season (which a little more than half of the teams I cover in the Macomb Area Conference do) often find themselves at a distinct disadvantage when they play a team that’s been on turf all year in a postseason game played on turf. And vice versa.
While I understand not every school and playoff host can have the exact some playing surface, it’s just too bad and a bit unfair when a team’s season comes to an end on a surface that they’re playing on for the first time.
Most coaches don’t like to use that as an excuse, but I know that was a key factor in the outcomes in a few district games in the area.
Second: I just saw the most recent volleyball rankings from the coaches association — and not a single MAC team (and just one OAA squad – Clarkston) is ranked. Not even an honorable mention.
Granted, I know there are some talented teams across the state, and more often than not those schools a bit closer to Lake Michigan tend to enjoy some decent success in the state tournament.
Apparently the MAC Red being even more competitive and balanced than maybe ever before — with five teams out of six still in the running for the division title with two games to go — is a negative for what many would consider the top division in the state.
I have a feeling that beating up on each other and facing top-caliber competition (whether other coaches around the state feel that way or not) all season long will pay off for teams such as Fraser High, Grosse Pointe North, Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse, Macomb Dakota and Marysville High once the playoffs roll around.
But here are a couple quick observations I’ve recently made:
First: Home-field advantage has taken on a new meaning in the boys soccer playoffs.
Imagine going to a volleyball playoff game only to find that your team has to play on sand.
Sure, the difference between sand and a high school gym floor may be a bit more dramatic than the difference of natural grass and the turf surfaces that have been popping up more and more steadily, but there still is a significant difference.
Soccer teams that are used to playing on natural grass for most of the season (which a little more than half of the teams I cover in the Macomb Area Conference do) often find themselves at a distinct disadvantage when they play a team that’s been on turf all year in a postseason game played on turf. And vice versa.
While I understand not every school and playoff host can have the exact some playing surface, it’s just too bad and a bit unfair when a team’s season comes to an end on a surface that they’re playing on for the first time.
Most coaches don’t like to use that as an excuse, but I know that was a key factor in the outcomes in a few district games in the area.
Second: I just saw the most recent volleyball rankings from the coaches association — and not a single MAC team (and just one OAA squad – Clarkston) is ranked. Not even an honorable mention.
Granted, I know there are some talented teams across the state, and more often than not those schools a bit closer to Lake Michigan tend to enjoy some decent success in the state tournament.
Apparently the MAC Red being even more competitive and balanced than maybe ever before — with five teams out of six still in the running for the division title with two games to go — is a negative for what many would consider the top division in the state.
I have a feeling that beating up on each other and facing top-caliber competition (whether other coaches around the state feel that way or not) all season long will pay off for teams such as Fraser High, Grosse Pointe North, Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse, Macomb Dakota and Marysville High once the playoffs roll around.
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