With the start of the boys’ basketball season today, let’s take a look at a few highlight games for St. Joe, Lakeshore, and Benton Harbor.
Friday, 12/9 Portage Central at Lakeshore
When Lakeshore opened the 2021-22 season, they played all of the games in December on the road, the Lancers home opener wasn’t until January. For the past few years, the Lancers have opened with a non-conference contest against South Haven before jumping into SMAC Conference play. Lakeshore will forego the game with the Rams and jump into the season with Portage Central, whom they defeated twice last year, a 32-29 at in Portage and then a 43-21 rout of the Mustangs at Lakeshore.
Friday, 12/9 Buchanan at Benton Harbor
It’s taken over six seasons, but the Benton Harbor Tigers will be playing a conference game. The Tigers play their first game in the new Lakeland Conference when they take on Buchahan. The Tigers went 22-3 a year ago. And if Buchanan thought playing in front of the “Herd” was tough, wait until the Bucks face the Tigers and the legend and a few spirits of the Don Farnum Gynasium.
Tuesday, 12/13 Kalamazoo Central at St. Joseph
St. Joe meets Kalamazoo Central for the first time since the Bears loss to the Maroon Giants in the Regional semifinals last spring. St. Joe only fell by a point in the regular season matchup last year 50-49 in Kalamazoo. They met again after the Bears won the district tournament at Portage Northern. This matchup will be at the Bear Den is St. Joseph.
Thursday, 12/15 St. Joseph at Lakeshore
St. Joe and Lakeshore met three times last season, both regular season games were settled by just two points. St. Joe won 40-38 at the Bear Den, while Lakeshore won later in the season at home 44-42. The third meeting was settled by three points in the district finals at Portage Northern with the Bears winning 52-49.
Thursday, 12/22 Watervliet at Benton Harbor
This game is a definite must see, or must listen as it’ll be live on WSJM Sports. As Watervliet heads to Benton Harbor. Both the Tigers and Panthers come in with a district championship from last year. Watervliet finished at 19-4 last season and would love an early season win against a marquee program like Benton Harbor in their pocket as they head into the bulk of the SAC schedule
Tuesday, 1/10 St. Joseph at Benton Harbor
Despite no longer being in the same conference, St. Joe and Benton Harbor choose to continue their cross-river rivalry. We’ve come to call it “The War by the Harbor Shore.” The Tigers won 66-56 at St. Joseph last year. And you never know what to expect when the Tigers and Bears meet.
Friday, 1/13 Brandywine at Benton Harbor
Another Lakeland Conference game for the Tigers, and a battle between the two frontrunners for the conference title. Brandywine won the BCS Division championship a year ago, with most of a number of schools from their old division (Buchanan, Berrien Springs) joining the new Lakeland Conference.
Tuesday, 1/17 Lakeshore at Kalamazoo Central
Lakeshore gets a chance to avenge their only home defeat last season when they visit the legendary Zuidema Gymnasium and the Maroon Giants. The Lancers fell 50-39 last season in what was the Lancer first home game last year and only home loss.
Tuesday, 1/24 Gull Lake at Lakeshore
Another one of those “Revenge” games, as Lakeshore takes on the Blue Devils this time at Lakeshore. Gull Lake edged out Kalamazoo Central for the SMAC East Division title last year and went 5-0 against the member of the SMAC West Division, including a 56-42 win over Lakeshore.
Monday, 1/30 Benton Harbor at Battle Creek Central
Hopefully, Battle Creek Central will choose to play this game at the Fieldhouse in Battle Creek, because there is no other place that this game can or should be played. The Tigers and Bearcats games are talked about to this day, there are even a few posted on YouTube. They’ve even moved previous games to nearby Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. These two former Big 8 schools along with Kalamazoo Central were always at the top 3 of the league standings.
Tuesday, 1/31 Niles at St. Joseph
This begins the first of a four game homestand for St. Joe, and like their game with Benton Harbor, St. Joe continues their rivalry with former SMAC member Niles. St. Joe held on for a 44-42 win on the Vikings home court last season.
Friday, 2/3 Lakeshore at St. Joseph
You have to expect this game to be just as critical for both teams as the first meeting will be in mid-December.
Tuesday, 2/14 Kalamazoo Central at Benton Harbor
Another former Big 8/SMAC battle with Kalamazoo Central at Benton Harbor. There is really only one person that knows both sides of this rivalry, it’s Kalamazoo Central head coach Ramsey Nichols. Who used to be the head coach for Benton Harbor.
Wednesday, 2/15 St. Joseph at Edwardsburg
When St. Joe travels to face Edwardsburg, it’ll be first time the Bears and Eddies have faced each other since the 2011-2012 season. The Eddies come in after a 16-8 regular season, finishing second in the Wolverine Conference, and like the Bears coming in as the defending district champion, before falling in the regional semifinals.
Tuesday, 2/28 St. Joseph at Grand Haven
This series started a few years ago when the Buccaneers and Bears played a home and home series over two seasons. It was put on a brief pause during the pandemic but picked back up last year. St. Joe is still looking for their first win in the series.
Thursday, 3/2 Lakeshore at Brandywine
Last year, Lakeshore called this game a “Clash of Champions” because it was, Lakeshore who had wrapped up the SMAC West Division crown face Brandywine who won the BCS Division crown. The Bobcats finished with a 13-6 record which includes a 48-43 loss to the Lancers. This season Brandywine has a new conference in the 5 member Lakeland Conference.
