The CSAA Playoffs, A Preview

Bragging rights, revenge matchups and a bit of pre tourney prep on hand this week

By Ken DeLaat, N3 Sports

The CSAA is holding a pre tournament matchup for conference teams. The 2 game playoff is divided into 4-team groups with those who finished 1-4 in the standings facing off as will the teams that ended in the 5-8 positions and the bottom 3. The winners will play each other Thursday as do the losers so that each team has a couple of tuneups before the State Tourney kicks off next week.
Locally we have three teams involved in the same bracket with Newaygo and Grant set to do battle Tuesday while Reed City and White Cloud meet just days after their regular season finale. 
Today we offer a bit of a preview of these contests.

5th-8th place teams

Newaygo (6-14, 8th) at Grant (13-7, 5th) 7 pm
In their last meeting the Lions erased an 11 point halftime lead by the Tigers to enter the final frame up by 3 but were handicapped by having a series of players in foul trouble. Three Lion starters fouled out in the 4th while Ashbaugh caught fire and when the dust settled it was Grant who held off their visitors for the win.
The Tigers are coming off a 40 point beatdown delivered by Kent City. They have struggled against the better teams they have played and their lone victory over a team with a winning record was a strong showing against a surging Holton team last week. They have arguably the best player in the area in Ashbaugh and Pleune and Hance can both score in bunches and you cannot leave Obenauf or Thompson alone or they will hurt you.
The Lions have improved dramatically in many areas as the season has progressed.
Except in scoring consistency.
 They have a tendency to go cold at inopportune times…like going scoreless for 4 ½ minutes after taking the lead in the first Grant game. Painter is a quality defensive baller who can knock it down from distance, Toth finds scoring opportunities down under and freshman Amaya Lathrop, who looks to be part of a bright future for Coach Thomasma’s team, has a sweet shot from beyond the arc. Goodin is a scrapper when it comes to playing the glass and Riddering’s ball handling has improved markedly this season.
They’re in Grant again so the Tigers have an edge there and having the best player on the court is always an advantage. But if the Lions can find a hot hand early their defense is going to keep them in the game and since it’s Grant/Newaygo anything can happen. 

White Cloud (8-1, 7th)  at Reed City (9-11, 6th) 7 pm
The Coyotes dropped 6 in a row to start the season and have since regrouped to go 9-5 the rest of the regular season. Malackanich and Hammong provide the bulk of the offense on most nights. They’re hosting Districts and with Big Rapids and Ludington in the mix I wouldn’t expect many Coyote fans to be buying tickets for the Regionals. Still this is a solid team who took care of business against the Cloud last Friday.
Speaking of offensive woes…
The Indians have averaged about 25 points a game since opening the season with 4 wins in a row and 4 times they failed to reach 20. That being said they are tenacious on defense but the inability to score early has put them in the position of having to play catchup and they struggle to find the hot hand that can get them back into the game. Reeve and Gomez tend to lead the scoring parade and Edwards has gotten hot now and then but lacking the consistent shooter who can bang in a few triples when needed has hurt them. They also have a tough District coming next week opening with the Mason County Central team that tore them up earlier this season. The Cloud’s chances rely on being able to shut down the Yotes enough to keep them in sight, keep them from dominating the glass and hope for a little spark from a few shooters down the stretch. 

1st-4th place teams

Central Montcalm (10-10, 4th) at Big Rapids (18-2, 1st) 
The Cardinals swept through the conference schedule including a 28 point win over the Hornets earlier this season
Central Montcalm has lost three in a row to 3 good teams. After Tuesday it will be 4 in a row to 4 good teams.

Morley Stanwood (14-4, 3rd)  at Kent City (17-3 2nd)
The ‘Hawks have a quality team and have put together a solid season but the Eagles want a rematch with the Cardinals and they are not likely to be anything but laser focused for this one.

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