Tourney Time Preview- Boys

A look at the upcoming tournament games for Newaygo, Fremont, Grant and White Cloud.

 By Ken DeLaat

Newaygo District D2
Monday
Fremont (6-16) vs. Reed City (5-17) 5:30pm
Big Rapids (15-6) vs. Newaygo (9-13) 7pm

Wednesday
Ludington (13-8) vs. Fremont/Reed City winner 5:30pm
Hart (15-7) vs. Big Rapids/Newaygo winner 7pm

Friday
Finals 7pm

If you want evidence of how loaded the top of this district is note that Big Rapids, the second place team in the CSAA Red, isn’t one of the top two seeds.
Reed City has a few quality games under their belt as does Fremont. Both teams struggle when it comes to putting the ball in the basket, The Packers have lost by more than 25 points 9 times, the Coyotes 7. Fremont has won 2 of their last 7 and Reed City has won 1 so neither comes into this one with any momentum. I’d say it’s anyone's game but whoever gets off to a good start offensively will have the edge.
Big Rapids has had no problem with the Lions in their two meet-ups. Newaygo has had issues with their defense all season yielding over 70 points 11 times. The only time the Cardinals gave up more than 70 was in their last game when Grant scored 79 but it took 3 overtimes for them to get there. Friday was an emotional loss for BR but Kent Ingles (667 career wins) still roams the bench area for the Cards so I doubt there will be enough of a hangover to affect the outcome.

Forest Hills Eastern District D2
Monday
Tri County (6-16) vs. Comstock Park (2-20) 7pm

Wednesday
Grant (20-2) vs. Tri County/Comstock Park winner 5:30pm
Sparta (11-11) vs. Forest Hills Eastern (7-15) 7pm

Friday Finals 7pm

This District is Grant’s for the taking. The #1 seed plays the survivor of Tri County, who they defeated twice by a total of 66 points, and the Panthers who won their opening game and have gone 1-20 since. The Tigers won’t come in over confident though. Not with Dan George on the bench. Their practices this week will be as intense as ever and they will be ready and focused on Wednesday. If all goes as expected the interesting game will be Friday. Sparta is one of 2 teams (Cedar Springs the other) who dealt the Tigers a loss and should they get past the Hawks it will set up an interesting rematch for the finals. Interesting note: The Spartans play in the River Cities Alliance conference and finished in 5th place, Teams from the RCA are 12-0 when playing teams from the CSAA.

Shelby District D3
Monday
White Cloud (10-12) vs. Shelby (3-19) 5:30pm
Manistee (12-10) vs. Hesperia (6-16) 7pm

White Cloud nipped  Shelby back in early December holding the Tigers to just 26 points while they managed only 30.Defense, for the most part, has been solid for Coach Jones’ squad. Their problem has been using that defense to score points.They’ve hit for more than 55 just 4 times and yielded more than 55 just 4 times. They also come in having dropped four in a row. Shelby has also lost 4 in a row and fallen short in 13 of their last 14. WC should be able to advance against a team whose 3 wins include 2 over an offensively anemic Holton team and an early January win over Hesperia. If they do they will have to tangle with the Bucks one of the 4 powerhouse teams from the Highland Conference
The Mariners come into their matchup with the Panthers riding a 4 game streak including an upset win over a strong Whitehall team on the road.

Wednesday
Pine River (17-5) vs. White Cloud/Shelby winner 5:30pm
Mason County Central (13-9) vs. Manistee/Hesperia winner 7pm

Finals 6pm