JACKSON – District time is over for boys basketball next week as each team heads to the Breslin Center to battle.
Now that each team has played their final regular season game, let's take a look at which teams are on the right track heading into the postseason.
Already clinching their first Interstate 8 title since 2019, the Panthers will next play against Harper Creek on Friday to close out the regular season and aim for an undefeated league record. Western has won its last four games in a row, and the Feb. 5 loss to Mason was the Panthers' only loss since Jan. 3.
The Vikings suffered a mid-season lull, but appear to have come out of it with four wins in their last six games, including Tuesday's win over Tecumseh, avenging their early-season defeat.
The Titans had a tough schedule with a Catholic League playoff final against Riverview Gabriel Richard and a top-10 showdown with Niles Brandywine, but before that they had a five-game winning streak, all by double digits. Was. Lumen Christi defeated his very talented Concord team with his 42 points.
The Mounties have won two straight and four of their past six. The loss to Hastings on Feb. 12 was avenged with a win over the Saxons four days later, and the Mounties now have 65 points with Tuesday's win over Marshall.
Saturday's loss to Napoleon in the Cascade Crossover title game halted a stretch in which the Comets had won six of seven games. Hanover-Houghton will have 11 days off before the district opener in Concord, awaiting the winner of Hudson-Addison, which in the case of Addison will be a rematch of a Feb. 5 game the Comets won by 31 points. becomes.
The truly scary thing about this Cardinals team may be their youth, with a freshman and three sophomores playing key roles. It's common for teams to get better as the season progresses, but the Cardinals were good enough from the start. Michigan Center had won eight straight games and faced an East Jackson team that had dominated in the regular season in the open district.
The Pirates, the Cascade Conference champions, have won 13 straight games since losing to Michigan Center and Jackson in December. They got their revenge in January by defeating the Cardinals, and have won each of their next six games by double digits. Grant Bradley's healthy return to the lineup added momentum to an already solid team.
The Yellow Jackets, who have won 10 of their past 11 games, can end their undefeated Big Eight streak by defeating Union City. Concord already leads the league by three games over Bronson with one game remaining and will play district play on its home court next week.
The Panthers advanced to the district tournament on a three-game winning streak with wins over Bronson, Fowlerville and Perry, with Fowlerville winning in double overtime.
The Royals, who had won six of their past eight games, were able to secure a third-place finish in the SCAA with a 9-5 record. After a tough game against Battle Creek Academy to end the regular season, Jackson Christian opens Division 4 district play against North Adams Jerome, fresh off a 56-9 win on Feb. 12. .
