Let me get to the point and be perfectly clear – the MHSAA NEEDS to seed their girl’s lacrosse tournament. Here’s why: coaches are lamenting the fact that the MHSAA still uses the archaic “pull it out of the hat” method to create their tournament. The consequences are this – first round matchups between Hartland and Midland, AA Pioneer and Northville, GP South and Birmingham and Brighton and South Lyon. The first round! It is ridiculous. And potential 1st or 2nd round games between FHN and Rockford, Detroit Country Day and Marian and East Grand Rapids and Forest Hills Central. If this year doesn’t lead for a push to change this mess, nothing will. Coaches and AD’s – I implore you to get behind a movement to change how this tournament is set-up. Do it for the student/athletes, the coaches and the fans!
Now, on to the Boy’s side, where they do it right, and have since the inception – they seed the State Tournament.
Division I
There are a few clear-cut favorites – Rice, Rockford, Catholic Central, Lake Orion and Saline stand out. But some of the regions in D I should be very competitive. Region 2 is the “Region of Doom” this year. Hartland, Brighton and Haslett all have a shot, with Hartland the current favorite.
Region 4 is interesting. Northville is quite good, but they haven’t played many games this year. Walled Lake Northern is solid and battle tested. South Lyon East and Livonia could surprise as well.
Clarkston, Midland and Grand Blanc make-up a strong Region 8.
Amazingly, I have no beefs with the way the regions were seeded.
Division II
I really don’t want to post a “Blow Out” counter on the site this year. It’s exhausting trying to keep track of all of the one-sided games. But I fear that some of the matchups in D II will leave me no choice.
The top teams in the division are really, really good and the developing teams are still developing or dealing with a ton of graduations the last couple of years.
Forest Hills Central, East Grand Rapids and Detroit Country Day look tough to beat, as does Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, surprise CHSL Finalist.
Okemos is favored in Region 13, but they may get a challenge from Divine Child or Tecumseh – may.
In Region 9, Traverse City St. Francis got the top seed, but Forest Hills Northern had a pretty good resume. That decision was a bit of a surprise.
Region 11 features Forest Hills Eastern, a state finalist in 2019. They should cruise, but the regional semis and finals are played at Portage Northern, who is the #2 seed.
Cranbrook got the top seed in Region 14, even though they finished with an under .500 record. Their schedule is brutal, and they should be ready to go in the tournament. I really don’t see Shrine or Notre Dame Prep taking them down.
I’m looking forward to the tournament this year after having the 2020 version ripped away from all of us by the virus that will not be named.
Next week, I will go over the early game in both the boys and girls tournaments, list my favorites and identify a few Cinderella’s.
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