Girls Basketball State Quarterfinal Preview.

Written Thursday March 14th at 8:25 AM

Here is my insight on the Division One State Quarterfinals with both games at Callahan Hall at Detroit Mercy. I'll go more in depth on both of these games on my podcast on Monday.

WEST BLOOMFIELD vs Temperance Bedford

 

INSIGHT: The Mules are in their back in the State Quarterfinals for the first time since 2021 after beating Detroit Cass Tech 44-32 in the regional finals after they kept the Technicians scoreless in the second quarter. They have a really tall task ahead of them playing West Bloomfield who has had a ton of success in the postseason. The Lakers had no issue with Royal Oak winning 58-25 in the regional finals and have come off two really good wins over Detroit Renaissance and Farmington Hills Mercy. West Bloomfield features a ton of proven experience and a deep bench.

 

PROJECTION: The Mules have not seen a team like West Bloomfield in the Southeastern Conference, probably Saline is the closest to the Lakers. The Lakers should put on a show especially the Davis sisters. Temperance Bedford does not match up really well with the Davis sisters, Destiny Washington, Sheridan Beal, Kendall Hendrix, you name it. This is setting up to be a rematch between the Lakers and the Rockford Rams in the Division One State Semifinals.

 

STONEY CREEK vs Grand Blanc

 

INSIGHT: The Cougars are coming into this State Quarterfinal riding with a ton of confidence after winning their first ever regional crown. Stoney Creek used a 24-9 first quarter start and had the lead ballooned to 19 at one point along with holding the Cougars to five fourth quarter points in their 59-45 win over Macomb Dakota in the regional final. Sarah LaPrairie scored a career high 32 points while Izzy Ivezaj added 10 points. Grand Blanc is coming off a 44-42 escape of Clarkston in the regional final which was their first regional crown since 1977. The Bobcats would have now played almost everyone in the Red with the exception of Lake Orion and Rochester in the last three weeks.

 

PROJECTION: The Cougars have a real shot to get to the Breslin Center. I’m concerned about how Stoney Creek is going to guard Chelsea Bishop and Aliyah McQueen. Grand Blanc has size and height but so does Stoney Creek. The Bobcats despite them pressing a ton are very prone to dribble drivers, Elliana Robak and Elia Morgner combined for 33 points for Clarkston in their loss to Grand Blanc and LaPrairie, Merrick Schawbach and Ivezaj are proven dribble drivers. If this becomes a depth game and if LaPrairie gets into foul trouble in any way possible, the Cougars will lose. This should be really tight but LaPrairie somehow stays out of foul trouble, she'll lead Stoney Creek to a rough matchup with likely Belleville.