2008 MHSAA Team State Preview - Division 3
Here is what to watch for throughout the Division 3 districts and regionals. There will be a few good early matchups, however, most of the top teams will not meet up until they get to Battle Creek.
Notable District Matchups:
--- #4 Remus Chippewa Hills vs Big Rapids @ Chippewa Hills District ---
Chippewa Hills entered the year as a favorite in D3 and they still are heading into districts. They have some of the best talent in D3 and are a threat to make a run against the division's best. Big Rapids is not one of the usual suspects in D3, however, they have a solid team with some studs that make them a threat to put up big points on anyone. Big Rapids picked up a win over a tough Niles team in the regular season, which shows that they can hang. If Chippewa Hills is on, they should win this, but it should be closer than many may expect.
--- #8 Corunna vs #9 Montrose @ Chesaning ---
This is definitely the best district matchup in D3. Corunna and Montrose are two of the most storied programs not only in D3, but in the entire state. Both teams are down this year compared to their glory years, however, they are still top 10 teams in the division. Montrose has shown signs of greatness this year with wins over top teams like Clarkston, Richmond, and Romeo, however, they have been inconsistent as well. This would be a tough one to predict, but these two rivals should make up for an exciting district matchup.
Regional Breakdown
Here is a breakdown of what teams will be battling out at each regional for a shot at advancing to the D1 Team State Finals in Battle Creek.
117-3 at Cheboygan
Top contenders: Gladstone, Roscommon
Outlook: Gladstone is one of the best teams in the UP and boasts some of the UP's best individuals with studs like Deno, Mileski, and Vallier. Roscommon has been solid for the past few years as well and this should be a good matchup of two of the best northern programs. Both teams have holes in their lineup, which should lead to some bumping around for matchups. Gladstone appears to have more firepower, which gives them the edge.
Our Pick: Gladstone
118-3 at Essexville Garber
Top Contenders: #3 Swan Valley, Caro
Outlook: Swan Valley boasts some of the best lightweights in the state. The question is will their studs down low be enough to carry them against the top teams in D3? They should be enough to at least get through this regional, however, their is still a question mark in their lineup as they have been without #1 ranked Darius Wass as 112 most of the year. Caro is a solid team that cannot be overlooked, however, it appears that they lack the horses to run with Swan Valler. With or without a healthy Wass, SV should get through here, but they will need him if they want a shot at going deep in Battle Creek.
Our Pick: Swan Valley
119-3 at Shelby
Top Contenders: #4 Remus Chippewa Hills, #7 Shelby, Whitehall
Outlook: Chippewa Hills gets tested right away with Big Rapids in their district, and the competetion doesnt get any easier at regionals as Shelby and Whitehall are both solid squads. Shelby and Whitehall have split this year, with Shelby winning the most recent dual convincingly. Shelby has also beaten Hamilton, so they have the expierence and should have some confidence going in against Chippewa Hills, however, it would be big upset if they could pull this one off.
Our Pick: Remus Chippewa Hills
120-3 at Zeeland West
Top Contenders: #10 Hamilton, South Haven, Allendale
Outlook: This regional is not the deepest as Hamilton is the only ranked team coming in, currently 10th in the D3 rankings. Hamilton is a good looking team that has picked up some notable wins throughout the year including victories over D2 teams Niles and Petoskey, and 1 point loss to D1 Jenison. Allendale may have a shot as they have a pretty solid team from top to bottom and South Haven is always a threat with their big guns to put up points, but they might not have the depth to advance in duals with top teams.
Our Pick: Hamilton
121-3 at Delton Kellogg
Top Contenders: #6 Lakewood, Delton Kellogg
Outlook: Lakewood appears to be set for their first trip to Battle Creek as a member of Division 3. The Vikings, who have been a D2 power for the past decade or so, have been pretty solid all year with big wins over Richmond, Roscommon, and Corunna. Delton Kellogg should not be overlooked as they have only one loss on the season and alot of talented young kids that should give Lakewood a run for their money.
Our Pick: Lakewood
122-3 at Corunna
Top Contenders: #5 Durand, #8 Corunna, #9 Montrose, Brooklyn Columbia Central
Outlook: This is one of the better regions in D3 led by up and coming Durand. Durand has
the big names to hang with just about anyone, however, they will have their work cut out for
them if they want to have a shot in Battle Creek. The winner of the Corunna/Montrose dual
will make for a great matchup with Durand. Brooklyn Columbia Central is another team to
keep an eye on, they are pretty strong from top to bottom and could surprise one of these
teams. Durand is favored, but they will have to battle to get out of this tough regional.
Our Pick: Durand
123-3 at Richmond
Top contenders: #1 Goodrich, Richmond
Outlook: Goodrich is one the best teams in the state as they boast studs all over their lineup from top to bottom. It is hard to imagine anyone giving them trouble here, however, Richmond is a strong D3 team that has been to the finals year in and year out. Richmond is down this year and will have their hands full with Goodrich.
Our Pick: Goodrich
124-3 at Madison Heights Lamphere
Top Contenders: #2 Dundee
Outlook: Dundee has some of the best young talent in the state and they should cruise through this region. They appear to be on a crash course towards Goodrich in what should be an epic showdown in Battle Creek.
Our Pick: Dundee
So there you have it, based on our predicitions, here is who the Top 8 will be from D1 that will be making the trip to Battle Creek (listed in order of quarterfinal matchups):
#4 Remus Chippewa Hills vs #3 Swan Valley
#5 Durand vs #2 Dundee
Gladstone vs #1 Goodrich
#10 Hamilton vs #6 Lakewood
State Final Outlook
#1 Goodrich and #2 Dundee are on a crash course for each other and it doesnt
look like anyone else in D3 can hang with them. This division is separated pretty
nicely in terms of districts/regionals as the top 6 teams in the latest D3 rankings go
without meeting until the state tournament, which is rare in most cases. Goodrich
should not be tested until the state finals as their quarterfinal (Gladstone) and
semifinal (Hamilton/Lakewood) matchups dont appeart to pose a serious threat.
Dundee on the other hand will have to work to get to the finals as they meet Durand
in the quarters and then CV or SV in the semis, which should make for a good dual.
Once we get closer to Battle Creek we will delve deeper into the state tournament
picture and take a closer look at Goodrich vs Dundee.
Full list of District/Regional/State Quarterfinal pairings listed below:
DISTRICT/REGIONAL PAIRINGS
February 14, 2008
No. 165-3 Iron River-West Iron County
Iron River-West Iron County (Crystal Falls-Forest Park )
Kingsford
Menominee
No. 166-3 Gladstone
Gladstone
Ishpeming (Ishpeming-Westwood )
Negaunee
No. 167-3 Elk Rapids Cheboygan Area
Elk Rapids
Grayling
Kalkaska
No. 168-3 Roscommon
Houghton Lake
Oscoda
Roscommon
Tawas City-Tawas Area
No. 169-3 Harrison Community
Beaverton
Gladwin
Harrison Community
Shepherd
No. 170-3 Midland-Bullock Creek
Freeland
Midland-Bullock Creek
Pinconning Area
Standish-Sterling
No. 171-3 Cass City
Caro
Cass City
Essexville-Garber
No. 172-3 Hemlock
Alma
Bridgeport
Hemlock
#3 Saginaw-Swan Valley
No. 173-3 Benzie Central
Benzie Central
Mason County Central
#7 Shelby
No. 174-3 Remus-Chippewa Hills
Big Rapids
Morley Stanwood
Reed City
#4 Remus-Chippewa Hills
No. 175-3 Whitehall
Fremont
Newaygo
Whitehall
No. 176-3 Howard City-Tri County Area
Grant
Howard City-Tri County Area
Lakeview
Stanton-Central Montcalm
No. 177-3 Comstock Park
Allendale
Comstock Park
Grand Rapids-West Catholic
Muskegon-Orchard View
No. 178-3 Wyoming-Kelloggsville
Grand Rapids-Catholic Central
Wyoming-Godwin Heights
Wyoming-Kelloggsville
No. 179-3 Hopkins
#10 Hamilton
Hopkins
Hudsonville-Unity Christian
Zeeland West
No. 180-3 South Haven
Berrien Springs
Buchanan
Coloma
South Haven
No. 181-3 Paw Paw
Dowagiac Union
Edwardsburg
Otsego
Paw Paw
No. 182-3 Centreville
Centreville (Colon Community )
Delton Kellogg
Kalamazoo-Comstock
Parchment
No. 183-3 Portland
Belding Area
#6 Lake Odessa-Lakewood
Portland
Vermontville-Maple Valley
No. 184-3 Hillsdale
Jackson Lumen Christi
Battle Creek-Pennfield
Hillsdale
No. 185-3 Chesaning
Chesaning
#8 Corunna
#9 Montrose-Hill Mc Cloy
Ovid-Elsie
No. 186-3 Durand Area
Bath (Laingsburg )
#5 Durand Area
Perry
No. 187-3 Stockbridge
East Jackson
Stockbridge
Williamston
No. 188-3 Brooklyn Columbia Central
Brooklyn-Columbia Central
Napoleon
Onsted
No. 189-3 Vassar
Birch Run
Frankenmuth
Millington
Vassar
No. 190-3 Otisville-LakeVille Memorial
Flint-Luke M Powers Catholic
#1 Goodrich
Otisville-LakeVille Memorial
No. 191-3 Yale
Capac
Croswell-Lexington
Imlay City
Yale
No. 192-3 Armada
Almont
Armada
Clawson
Richmond
No. 193-3 Macomb-Lutheran North
Linden-Lake Fenton
Macomb-Lutheran North
Mt Clemens
Pontiac-Notre Dame Preparatory School
No. 194-3 Madison Heights-Lamphere
Inkster
Livonia-Clarenceville
Madison Heights-Lamphere
Madison Heights-Madison
No. 195-3 Romulus-Summit Academy North
Flat Rock (Taylor-Baptist Park )
Grosse Ile
Romulus-Summit Academy North
Ypsilanti-Willow Run
No. 196-3 Ida
#2 Dundee
Erie-Mason
Ida
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