Basketball Preview for Friday’s Games

Photo by Alexis Mercer

Boys

Newaygo at Big Rapids
The Lions have won twice. Those teams have a combined record of 0-8
Big Rapids has lost twice. Those teams have a record of 10-0.
They’re in BR, the Cards have a very strong starting 5 and don’t lose a lot with the first few off the bench.
Newaygo will give it all they’ve got, but it is going to be an uphill battle trying to contain the speed and firepower the Cardinals possess. 

Central Montcalm at Fremont
The Hornets have faced one team with a winning record and that was 3 days ago when Morley took them down in Stanton by a 16 point margin.
Granted the ‘Hawks are a good team but so are the Packers.
Add to that the visit to the Packer home court. Few places can match the crowds that fill the gym on game nights and the boisterous student section makes their presence known with authority.
Look for the hosts to come out using their speed and stifling defense to grab an early lead and if any of their sharpshooters are hitting it will be tough for the Hornets to put any sting into their game.

Grant at Chippewa Hills
The Tigers need a win. They have knocked on the door in their first 3 without a win then after taking down Reed City they went south to face a couple of strong OK teams losing big to a D-1 Chix team and falling a bit short against the Falcons of WC.
This might be the game they need to get back in the W column. None of the three teams the Warriors have lost to possess a winning record and only once have they been within 20 points.
The Tigers as we have said, are a better team than their record indicates and this is the third of 5 road games in a row before facing Newaygo at home a week from next Tuesday.

Holton at White Cloud
The Red Devils have looked strong in the early part of the season. 
Though their 3 wins came against squads with losing records they have been most impressive in the games they have lost holding leads and staying close to 3 teams with a combined record of 17-0. 
Finishing has been an issue in those games.
Tonight they visit White Cloud, a team that has improved a good deal but doesn't look to have the horses to keep up with the Devils. Holton is averaging over 10 points a game more than the Cloud who struggle on the offensive end and the RD’s have played a rougher schedule going in. Not saying WC can’t pull one out on their home court but a lot would likely have to go their way.

Hesperia at Lakeview
One team will get off the schneid as both sit at 0-5 thus far. The Wildcats don’t score much but the Panthers average under 30 a game including managing just 13 points at Newaygo earlier this week.

Morley Stanwood at Kent City
A battle for early Silver supremacy. The ‘Hawks have torn through their schedule thus far but that schedule has been easier than the path KC has taken.
While they look to be pretty even going in the Eagles are at home and the two losses before the break came against high quality teams with postseason aspirations.
Should be a really good one.

Tri County at Reed City
The good news is the Vikes have won 2 in a row making them undefeated against teams who are winless.
The not so good news? Against the better teams on the schedule the results were not so good as MS and BR each won handily.
The other good news?
They play another winless team tonight.
The other not so good news?
They play at Reed City, traditionally a tough place for visiting teams.

Girls

Newaygo at Big Rapids
The Lions have a chance to step up on the road when they face a Cardinal team possessing a good defense and a sporadic but occasionally prolific offense.
The Lions also can slap an in-your-face defense on opponents and can score in spurts so it could well be a back and forth battle. With as many as 5 teams in contention for the title this one looms large for both teams. 
It’s on the Cardinal court but the road doesn’t seem to trouble the Lions. They have a toughness to them and when the offense is clicking they are tough to beat.

Central Montcalm at Fremont
Two more teams who will battle for the top spot in the Gold. The Packers were  impressive in the way they clawed back against the Cardinals and grinded out a low scoring win with defense and sheer resilience.
The Hornets have filled in their graduation gaps pretty well and while not the powerhouse of last year they know how to win and  staved off a serious late run by the Lions. 
While the comeback against BR was admirable the Pack needs to score early tonight or CM will creep ahead and suddenly be up 10 points and game management is one of the Hornet strengths.

Grant at Chippewa Hills
As always the Tigers are having another enigmatic season with the lone win coming against a formidable Hornet squad. Three of their losses saw them in the game until the end and the other two were to teams with a combined 12-1 mark. 
The Warriors have trouble scoring and Grant has a good defense. If the Tigers can spread their scoring around they should be able to put up enough points to have a good shot at a win.

Holton at White Cloud
The Cloud has a bevy of scorers and can press a team into submission if they grab an early lead.They beat a pretty good Shelby squad earlier this week and we saw them take it to Kent City before the Eagles began raining home threes.
The Red Devils don’t possess the scoring power to match  WC and haven’t the defense to contain them. 

Hesperia at Lakeview
The Panthers have yet to score less than 30.
The Wildcats have yet to score 30 though they came close against Kent City and still lost by 53 points. 

Morley Stanwood at Kent City
Two undefeated teams and while the ‘Hawks have a pretty tough defense it would be mind boggling if they could hold down the Eagle scoring machine, a team able to fire from distance with astounding accuracy.
Morley can score as well and they will definitely have to if they want to stay close enough to pull out a win. 

Tri County at Reed City
The Vikes have lost twice to teams with a combined 12-1 mark.
They have beaten three teams with a combined 4-17 record.
Reed City is 0-5

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