- Michigan
Top 25 Michigan boys basketball rankings for Jan. 21, 2020: There’s a new No. 1 team in the state, while Bridgeport, Brother Rice and West Ottawa join the top 25
There’s a new No. 1 in the state after Monday night’s win by then-No. 12 Flint Beecher over the former top team, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. Three new teams enter the rankings, as well, in Bridgeport, Birmingham Brother Rice and Holland West Ottawa.
Here are T.J. Kelley’s top 25 boys basketball rankings for the week of Jan. 21, 2020:
1 Ann Arbor Huron (8-0, 3-0 1st SEC Red) — Dominant wins over Monroe and Temperance Bedford last week with Ann Arbor Skyline at home on Jan. 24 for first place in the SEC Red. Mark your calendars for March 3 when the Hurons face Ypsilanti Lincoln at EMU’s Convocation Center. Previous ranking: 2
2 Hudsonville (8-0, 3-0 tied 1st O-K Red) — Holding strong atop the O-K Red with wins against league rivals, Grand Haven and East Kentwood last week. The Eagles travel to Rockford (4-6, 3-1 O-K Red) on Jan. 24, where the Rams are always tough at home and can get a slice of first place in the League. In two weeks, West Ottawa (8-0, 3-0 tied 1st O-K Red) hosts Hudsonville in a showdown for sole possession of first place. The Redhawk Classic at Grand Rapids City High School is loaded and as far as rankings this week’s rankings, Hudsonville vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in a matinee must see on Feb. 1. Previous ranking: 5
3 Flint Beecher (8-1, 5-0 1st GAC) — Beecher had a big win over Benton Harbor to open the New Year and a great win on Monday over previous No. 1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the Horatio Williams MLK Freedom Classic at Ferndale High School shooting the Bucs from No. 12 to No. 3 in the rankings. The GAC was the Bucs’ for the last decade and there doesn’t seem to be any changes headed into the 2020s. A Feb. 7 home game vs. Burton Bendle (7-1, 5-1 2nd GAC) is more than likely the only chance that Beecher won’t win the league again. Try to find a body double for March 3, as there are a lot of great games that day, including Beecher hosting Grand Blanc. Previous ranking: 12
4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (8-1, 2-0 1st CHSL-Central) — Double-digit road wins vs. league rivals Novi Detroit Catholic Central and the Detroit U-D Jesuit put O-Lake at the top of the CHSL Central. Monday’s 70-61 loss to current No. 3 Flint Beecher in the Freedom Classic in Ferndale moves the Eaglets to No. 4 in this week’s rankings. Tuesday’s game at Warren DeLaSalle (7-1, 1-1 3rd CHSL Central) followed by next week’s road game at Brother Rice (6-3, 1-1 3rd CHSL Central) on Jan. 28. Previous ranking: 1
5 Clarkston (7-1, 2-0 2nd OAA Red) — Double-digit win over Detroit King to start the week in the Horatio Williams MLK Freedom Classic after a 10-day break. A battle of the lone undefeated teams in the OAA Red takes place at Ferndale (4-4, 3-0 1st OAA Red) on Jan. 22 followed by Friday’s home game vs. North Farmington (8-3, 2-1 3rd OAA Red). Previous ranking: 4
6 Grand Rapids Christian (8-0, 2-0 1st O-K Gold) — Each of last week’s wins were by two points, albeit against O-K Gold rivals, Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg and Wyoming. This week doesn’t get easier as trips to East Grand Rapids (7-2,3-1 2nd O-K Gold) on Jan. 21 and Forest Hills Eastern (6-2, 1-1 4th O-K Gold) will be more than likely test the Eagles. Previous ranking: 6
7 Grand Rapids Catholic Central (7-1, 3-0 O-K Blue) — Home wins over Allendale (4-4, 2-1 O-K Blue) and Coopersville (4-3, 1-1 O-K Blue) put the Shamrocks in sole possession of first place in the division. Jan. 21 is a road game vs. Covenant Christian (7-2), which will be a tough out in Division 3 when the state tournament rolls around, while their Jan. 24 game at Sparta is match up of the O-K Blue’s first- and last-place teams. March 5 at Ypsilanti Lincoln will be a good one. Previous ranking: 8
8 River Rouge (9-1, 2-0 1st Michigan Metro Athletic Conference-Blue) Three double-digit wins over the last eight days, starting with University Prep Art and Design, followed by league rival Ecorse (5-3, 1-1 2nd MMAC-Blue), and North Farmington in the Freedom Classic at Ferndale has the Panthers on a six-game win streak with a Jan. 21 game at Harper Woods (5-3, 1-1 2nd MMAC Blue) and Jan. 24 vs. University Prep. Previous ranking: 9
9 Waterford Mott (6-2, 4-0 1st Lakes Valley Conference) — A six-game winning streak and average of win margin of 35 points in four of those games has Mott rolling since Kentucky commit Isaiah Jackson returned from injury. Until Mott plays White Lake Lakeland (5-3, 3-0 2nd LVC) on Jan. 28, South Lyon East (5-2, 3-1 3rd LVC) will hope to slow down the visiting Corsairs on Jan. 24. Previous ranking: 13
10 Benton Harbor (8-1) — The Tigers nearly doubled up Grandville in an 88-45 win last week putting together a two-game win streak after dropping a game to Flint Beecher to start the season. Benton Harbor can look forward to a strong opponent on Feb. 1 vs. Ypsilanti Lincoln at the Redhawks Classic in Grand Rapids. A trip to River Rouge on Feb. 22 will be the game of that day. Previous ranking: 14
11 Ypsilanti Lincoln (6-1, 4-0 1st SEC White) — Last week, the defending Division 1 State Champions took out the SEC White’s Tecumseh and Dexter by a total margin of 72 points. Jan. 20’s 75-68 win over DEPSA was much tougher and Chelsea (7-2, 3-1 2nd SEC White) will look to get a share of first place when they host the Rail Splitters on Jan. 24. Previous ranking: 10
12 Mt. Pleasant (9-0, 4-0 1st SVL Red) — The last two weeks were highlighted by a neutral-site victory over Flint Carman-Ainsworth at Saginaw Valley State on Jan. 20, and the Oilers have a firm hold of the SVL Red. Bay City John Glenn (7-1, 2-1 2nd SVL-Red) might be able to get closer to first place when Mt. Pleasant hosts John Glenn on Jan. 24. Previous ranking: 23
13 Detroit Cass Tech (10-1, 7-0 1st PSL West) — Last week’s 50- and 40-point wins vs Detroit Northwestern and Detroit Renaissance put the Technicians in the drivers seat of the PSL West with just two league games remaining; Jan. 21 at Detroit Cody and Jan. 24 at home vs. Detroit CMA (8-2, 4-1 2nd PSL West). With wins, Cass can lock up the top seed in the PSL West headed into the City Tournament, which starts in two weeks. Cass also beat Canton on Jan. 20 in Ypsilanti. Previous ranking: 16
14 Muskegon (5-1, 2-0 1st O-K Black) — A strong, 67-66 win over Ferndale on Jan. 20 at the Freedom Classic started the week off right, with easier games at Jenison on Jan. 21 and Jan. 24 at Muskegon Mona Shores, who are at the bottom of the O-K Black. Feb. 1 vs. Saginaw in the Redhawks’ Classic is one of seven loaded games at Grand Rapids City High School. Previous ranking: 22
15 Bridgeport (9-0, 5-0 1st Tri-Valley Conference East) — A 50-point win over Saginaw Swan Valley and a win over Ann Arbor Skyline (7-2) on Monday has the Bearcats rolling. They haven’t lost a regular season game since the 2017-18 season. Previous ranking: N/R
16 Detroit King (9-3, 6-0 1st PSL East) — King should hold on to the top seed of the PSL East tournament bracket, which starts next week, as Denby and Southeastern will have uphill battles. King had quality wins at Pershing (4-5, 1-3 5th PSL East) and then at home last Friday vs. Douglass (9-2, 4-1 2nd PSL East) before dropping a 55-41 game to No. 5 Clarkston on Monday at the Freedom Classic Games at Ferndale HS. Previous ranking: 17
17 Detroit Douglass (9-2, 4-1 2nd PSL East) — Douglass should hold onto its position when the PSL tournament bracket is released next week. The Hurricanes bounced back nicely from a loss to No. 16 Detroit King on Friday for a win over Farmington on Monday in the Freedom Classic at Ferndale High School. Previous ranking: 20
18 North Farmington (8-3, 2-1 3rd OAA Red) — Previous ranking: 7
20 Birmingham Brother Rice (6-3, 1-1 3rd CHSL Central) — Previous ranking: N/R
19 Warren De La Salle (7-1, 3rd 1-1 CHSL Central) — Wins vs. Rochester Adams and Novi Detroit Catholic Central after a loss to No. 20 Birmingham Brother Rice on Jan. 11. A road win at No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s on Jan. 21 can help the Pilots move closer to first place in the CHSL Central. Previous ranking: 21
21 Grand Blanc (7-3, 3-0 1st SVL Blue) — Super sophomore Ty Rodgers has been fighting the bug that kept many in the area out of commission and Grand Blanc has dropped two of three in his absence. Two weekends ago, No. 9 Waterford Mott got the better of the Bobcats, as did No. 20 Birmingham Brother Rice this past weekend. The schedule isn’t waiting for Grand Blanc as it has Kalamazoo Central on Jan. 24 and Ferndale on Jan. 25. Previous ranking: 3
22 Grand Rapids Union (7-1, 3-1 2nd O-K Black) — The Redhawks have rebounded nicely from their loss to No. 14 Muskegon and will have Muskegon Mona Shores on Jan. 21 and then Kenowa Hills on Jan. 24. They’ll play Flint Carman-Ainsworth in the Redhawks Classic on Feb. 1. Previous ranking: 19
23 Hanover-Horton (6-1, 4-0 tied 1st Cascades Conference) — A Jan. 14 win over Grass Lake and a 45-point road win vs. Vandercook Lake have the Comets leading the Cascade Conference with a big game on Jan. 29 at Napoleon (6-1, 4-0 tied 1st Cascades Conference) will help shape the league standings. Until then, Michigan Center is on the clock, as they host Hanover-Horton on Jan. 23. Previous ranking: 25
24 Holland West Ottawa (8-0, 3-1 2nd O-K Red) — Previous ranking: N/R
25 Ferndale (4-4, 3-0 1st OAA Red) — Previous ranking: 11
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DROPPED OUT: No. 15 Flint Carman-Ainsworth; No. 18 East Lansing; No. 24 Saginaw
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CLICK HERE for the initial top 25 rankings.
CLICK HERE for the Jan. 6 rankings update.
