Girls Basketball District Preview

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The 2024 Girls Postseason begins on Monday, and here’s a look at the Southwest Michigan area.

 

Division 1 at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix

Monday 3/4

5:30 p.m. – St. Joseph vs. Mattawan
7:00 p.m. – Portage Northern vs. Loy Norrix

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Portage Central vs. St. Joseph/Mattawan
7:00 p.m. – Kalamazoo Central vs. Portage Northern/Loy Norrix

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

There are two favorites in this district, and of those, there really is one true clear favorite.  Portage Central has been the best team among the six throughout the season.  St. Joseph finds themselves coming into the season struggling down the stretch, having dropped their last four games of the year to a then winless Portage Northern team, to a loss at Brandywine to wrap up the season.  Awaiting the Bears is another matchup with Mattawan.   This will be the third straight season the Bears and the Wildcats have met in the Districts after a pair of meetings during SMAC West competition during the year.   The winner of the St. Joe/Mattawan game moves on to face top seeded Portage Central in the semis.   Portage Northern and host Loy Norrix is the second game on opening night.   Loy Norrix did win the regular season matchup at the Igloo in Portage 47-43.  The winner will take on Kalamazoo Central in the second semifinal on Wednesday.    This district setup is exactly the same way as the Boys District did with the same six teams in the same spots and matchups.

 

Division 1 at Gull Lake

Monday 3/4

6:00 p.m. – Battle Creek Lakeview vs. Sturgis

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Coldwater vs. Battle Creek Lakeview/Sturgis
7:00 p.m. – Gull Lake vs. Battle Creek Central

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

 

Division 2 at Dowagiac

Monday 3/4

5:30 p.m. – Benton Harbor vs. Dowagiac
7:00 p.m. – Niles vs. Berrien Springs

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Edwardsburg vs. Benton Harbor/Dowagiac
7:00 p.m. – Lakeshore vs. Niles/Berrien Springs

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

Lakeshore and Edwardsburg come in as the first two seeds, with Lakeshore holding the top spot, but it could have been Edwardsburg if not for the fact the Eddies were forced to forfeit their 47-45 win over Lakeshore on the opening night of the season.    But consider Lakeshore has been one of the most steady and consistent teams in the district, only losing to SMAC West Champion Portage Central twice and a Vicksburg team that went 20-0 last season.   Lakeshore group of talented juniors have brought back memories of strong Lancer teams under Jim Meier.  Edwardsburg is also well coached, now under the direction of a name that should be familiar to fans of St. Joe, Tracey Bloodworth.    The former St. Joe hall of famer went on a coached at the college level, including Division 2 Ferris State and Division Valparaiso.  Before a two year stint as coach at St. Joe.    Benton Harbor takes on Dowagiac in Monday’s opener, follow by Niles and Berrien Springs.     Benton Harbor have had very rough seasons.   The winner of the Benton Harbor/Dowagiac game takes on Edwardsburg, with the Niles/Berrien Springs winner taking on Lakeshore.

 

Division 2 at Three Rivers

Monday 3/4

7:00 p.m. – Parchment vs. Three Rivers

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Vicksburg vs. Parchment/Three Rivers
7:00 p.m. – Paw Paw vs. Harper Creek

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

 

Division 2 at Otsego

Monday 3/4

7:00 p.m. – Hopkins vs. Plainwell

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Otsego vs. Hopkins/Plainwell
7:00 p.m. – South Haven vs. Allegan

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

 

Division 3 at Saugatuck

Monday 3/4

5:30 p.m. – Fennville vs. Holland Black River
7:00 p.m. – Wyoming Potter’s House vs. Grandville Calvin Christian

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – GR Covenant Christian vs. Fennville/Black River
7:00 p.m. – Saugatuck vs. Potter’s House/Calvin Christian

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

 

Division 3 at Centreville

Monday 3/4

7:00 p.m. – Lawton vs. Union City

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Bronson vs. Lawton/Union City
7:00 p.m. – Schoolcraft vs. Centreville

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

 

Division 3 at Kalamazoo Christian

Monday 3/4

7:00 p.m. – Delton-Kellogg vs. Galesburg-Augusta

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Kalamazoo Christian vs. Delton-Kellogg/Galesburg-Augusta
7:00 p.m. – Kalamazoo Hackett vs. Comstock

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

 

Division 3 at Hartford

Monday 3/4

7:00 p.m. – Bloomingdale vs. Coloma

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Watervliet vs. Bloomingdale/Coloma
7:00 p.m. – Hartford vs. Bangor

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

 

Division 3 at Brandywine

Monday 3/4

5:30 p.m. – Bridgman vs. Constantine
7:00 p.m. – White Pigeon vs. Buchanan

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Cassopolis vs. Bridgman/Constantine
7:00 p.m. – Brandywine vs. White Pigeon/Buchanan

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

 

Division 4 at Our Lady of the Lake

Monday 3/4

7:00 p.m. – New Buffalo vs. River Valley

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Michigan Lutheran vs. Eau Claire
7:00 p.m. – Our Lady of the Lake vs. New Buffalo/River Valley

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

For the better part of the last two decades, Michigan Lutheran always was a favorite to come out of this district.    Ron Briney’s teams have had multiple district championships and some long runs in the playoffs.   Including a semifinal appearance.   However, the rest of the district got put on notice that River Valley is ready to make headlines again, with the district championship last year.    River Valley gets to open in the first round against New Buffalo, despite being the only other team besides top seed Our Lady of the Lake with a winning record.   Michigan Lutheran earned the 2nd seed and the first round bye when the final seeds were determined on Sunday.    The River Valley New Buffalo winner faces Our Lady of the Lake in the 2nd semifinal on Wednesday.   Michigan Lutheran faces the lowest seed Eau Claire in the 5:30 game.

Division 4 at Marcellus

Monday 3/4

7:00 p.m. – Marcellus vs. Watervliet Grace Christian

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Mendon vs. Marcellus/Watervliet Grace Christian
7:00 p.m. – Howardsville Christan vs. Decatur

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship

 

Division 4 at Lawrence

Monday 3/4

7:00 p.m. – Kalamazoo Phoenix vs. Lawrence

Wednesday 3/6

5:30 p.m. – Gobles vs. Kalamazoo Phoenix/Lawrence
7:00 p.m. – Martin vs. Byron City Zion Christian

Friday 3/8

7:00 p.m. – Championship