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Boys Basketball predictions: Finals will have a new look this time with four new champions taking home the hardware
East Lansing – One thing is certain heading to Saturday’s final. We will have four new champions when the day and the season is over.
Milan in Class B was the last defending champion to be eliminated. Wyoming Godwin Heights did the honors as the Wolverines out-muscles the Big Reds for a 70-64 victory on Friday. Godwin heights had 25 offensive rebounds, nine by Michael Williams.
Here’s a glance at the title games and a couple of surprise predictions.
Class A
Saginaw Arthur Hill (24-3) vs. Detroit Western (25-0), noon: The fact that Western defeated Arthur Hill 69-57 in December means little at this time. Both teams have changed so much since. Western has a whole new personality with transfers Josh McFolley and Gerald Blackshear. Arthur Hill seems so much more team-oriented as the season progressed. Eric Davis is more of a distributor now than he was as early as mid-January. Two weeks ago I would have picked Western. It’s a different day. Pick: Arthur Hill by 3.
Class B
Detroit Henry Ford (21-5) vs. Wyoming Godwin Heights (25-1), 6:30: Godwin Heights is fierce going after the offensive rebound. Henry Ford will wear teams down defensively. This game could be stuck in the 50s. Josh Davis of Henry Ford will have trouble getting points inside and if he’s not making his perimeter shots the Trojans will be on the short end. Pick: Godwin Heights by 4.
Class C
Flint Beecher (25-1) vs. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (21-5), 4:30: Take away the first quarter on Thursday and NorthPointe would have had little trouble defeating Boyne City. Beecher is the type of team that will come out of the gates quickly and NorthPointe might not have enough time to rebound. Pick: Beecher by 12.
Class D
Powers North Central (26-0) vs. Morenci (24-2), 10 a.m.: North Central’s superior size will be matched against Morenci’s superior quickness. In this case size does matter. Pick: North Central by 9.
