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
