Districts from Hell: Class B

Mario Whitley looks to lead Frankenmuth to another district title.

Districts from Hell refer to those opening week basketball brackets where not only are there two or more teams capable of winning it, but could do damage further into March once they do.

Lansing Eastern: 15-5 Haslett is back down from Class A and the CAAC-Red champion after going 10-0 in league play. Junior guard Mitchell Mowid will lead Haslett in the semifinals against the winner of either Lansing Eastern or Lansing Catholic. Williamston was Bank Hoops’ preseason pick to win the state championship and the Hornets look the part of a contender as they’re 18-2, 10-0 in the CAAC-White and they haven’t lost in 2018. Senior guard Cole Kleiver has had an all-state caliber season. Everyone knows about Williamston’s 6-7 junior Sean Cobb and it’s been a breakout season for another 6-7 junior Joseph Hahnenberg. Williamston will play Fowlerville or Lansing Sexton in the district semifinals.

Detroit Mumford: Detroit Henry Ford opens with Detroit Cornerstone on Monday and has the district’s strongest resume with a 15-5 mark and Detroit PSL-West title. Coach Ken Flowers knows how to advance in March and has an All-City senior guard, Anthony Roberts, ready to earn offers after de-committing from Bryant. A likely Friday matchup awaits between Henry Ford and Detoit Old Redford, which will mean the Trojans’ x-and-o’s and toughness against ORA’s sheer talent with the state’s No. 1 junior guard Mark Watts and No. 1 2020 prospect 6-7 Isaiah Jackson. Old Redford is 14-5 but those losses include top 10 Class A teams Ann Arbor Skyline and Hazel Park. The district darkhorse is Detroit Mumford, awaiting the Cornerstone-Henry Ford winner. Mumford is 15-1 but did it largely in the obscurity of the PSL’s second division.

Frankenmuth: A terrific semifinal awaits between TVC-East rivals 19-1 Bridgeport and 18-2 Frankenmuth. The Eagles’ two losses are both to Bridgeport. They led at halftime of the second one but lost 60-53. The Bearcats haven’t lost since the season opener against Lansing Everett and went 10-0 to win their league. They play very hard, taking on the image of their coach Kevin Marshall who is old school and into it. 6-5 junior SirQuarius Ball is one of the few who can match up physically with Eagles all-state senior Mario Whitley. Also for Bridgeport senior guard Charles Garrett is an all-around athlete and the leading scorer and junior guard Markele Garrett the top perimeter threat. Muth senior guard Sam Gray is a talented complement to Whitley.