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MUSKEGON, Mich. – After battling Mother Nature over the past 10 days, the Michigan high school girls basketball season has regained its rhythm, with several Muskegon-area teams pushing toward a conference championship. There is.
As the postseason approaches, take a look at five local teams headed in the right direction in mid-January and honor the region's best teams with MLive Muskegon's Power Rankings.
Featured teams
Fremont (9-2)
The Packers just scored a historic win Tuesday night in Ludington, marking the first time since 2007 that the Fremont girls basketball program won at Ludington High School, ending a 23-game losing streak against the Orioles in the process. The road will get tougher as the season progresses, but for now the Packers are the team to beat in the Western Michigan Conference Lakes Division race.
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Heart (8-2)
The Pirates are on their way to West Michigan Conference Rivers Division honors with respectable wins over Montague, Manistee and Shelby last week, and the play of Lillin Porter, Breslin Porter and Kelsey Copenhaver He has improved and has built some depth by teaming up with a dynamic team. Duo of Abbey Hicks and Addie Hovey.
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Grand Haven (11-1)
The Buccaneers have won three straight against Jenison, West Ottawa and Grandville and remain in the hunt for the OK Red Conference title heading into Friday night's showdown with East Kentwood. However, with the season-ending injury to senior standout Emersen Berndt, the team needs to continue building a balanced scoring force. The team will rely on players like Maddie Schopp, Mallory Wojtesek, Jillian Soler and Eden Smith to shoulder the burden of continuing to strive for league and district titles.
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Western Michigan Christian (6-2)
The Warriors are on a four-game winning streak, including wins over Grandville Calvin Christian and North Muskegon, and have clinched first place in the Alliance League standings. The up-and-coming team will have a chance to further solidify its status as a league and district title contender next week against Spring Lake and Grand Rapids Covenant Christian.
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Muskegon (7-4)
The Big Reds fell short to state title contender Detroit Renaissance last weekend, but bounced back this week with blowout wins over Zealand East and Grand Rapids Union to maintain top spot in the OK Green Conference standings. A win against Wyoming on Friday will give them some breathing room in the league, followed by a rematch with Reese-Puffer and a matchup with Mona Shores in the coming weeks.
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Muskegon Area Girls Basketball Power Rankings
Honorable mention
Ludington (6-6)
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T9. Kent City (6-4)
T9. Holton (9-2)
T9. North Muskegon (7-4)
8. Grant (5-3)
7. Western Michigan Christian (6-2)
6. Central Mason County (8-2)
5. Fremont (9-2)
4. Spring Lake (6-1)
T2. Heart (5-2)
T2. Muskegon (4-3)
1. Grand Haven (8-1)
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