Quick Turnaround: Monday’s best-bet regional semifinals

Mr. Basketball finalist Brandon Johns and East Lansing look to avenge last year’s regional loss to Kalamazoo Central.

Class A

Clarkston 21-1 vs. Troy 17-5 @ West Bloomfield: This is the third meeting between OAA-Red opponents, and the Colts were within single digits of Clarkston the first two times. With Foster Loyer back in Clarkston’s lineup, an upset becomes a lot less likely.

East Lansing 20-3 vs. Kalamazoo Central 19-2 @ Battle Creek Lakeview: They didn’t look like much in the summer, but K-Central has quietly won 19 games when it matters. The Maroon Giants took this regional matchup last year, though they had Mr. Basketball Isaiah Livers in the lineup. Now it’s just East Lansing with a future Michigan forward, Brandon Johns.

Class B

17-6 Boyne City 17-6 vs. 17-6 Ludington @ Petoskey: This is Boyne City’s first year in Class B but the Ramblers won a district title anyway. Ludington is the defending state runner-up in B. The hero of last year’s state semifinals, Josh Laman, is back and the 6-5 junior is the Orioles’ leading scorer. The host site Petoskey, isn’t completely unfamiliar to either team. Boyne City plays the Northmen regularly in the regular season, and P-town is the hometown of Ludington coach Thad Shank.

Detroit Henry Ford Academy 14-7 vs. Detroit Old Redford 16-5 @ Livonia Clarenceville: There are three for sure and possibly four high-major recruits in this one — but Old Redford has the advantage with three of them, junior guard Mark Watts, sophomore forward Isaiah Jackson and sophomore center Aundre Polk.

Class C

DEPSA 12-10 vs. Detroit Pershing 12-10 @ Bishop Foley: Never mind the records, these are the two most talented teams in Class C and a rematch of the Detroit PSL championship game, which Edison won in one of the biggest blowouts in the history of that storied game. That can’t sit well with the Doughboys, who have a senior sleeper in 6-8 Johnny Davis who can now beat you inside as well as outside as he continues to fill out.

Dansville 17-6 @ Pewamo-Westphalia 18-5: These two split in the regular season, each winning on the others’ home court. P-W finished a game ahead of Dansville for second-place in the rugged CMAC — the Aggies already beat the first-place team, Laingsburg, in district play. 6-9 Dansville junior Caleb Hodgson is a triple-double waiting to happen.

Class D

Buckley 17-5 vs. Muskegon Heights 11-11: This is a great deal for $5 if you like up-and-down basketball. Buckley is finally looking like the team that made it to last year’s championship game, and as long as there’s high school basketball in Michigan, you know a Muskegon Heights team won’t be an easy out.

Potter’s House Christian 18-5 vs. Howardsville Christian 19-5: Howardsville Christian has a prolific scoring junior guard in Dylan Jergens. Potter’s House has a good guard of its own, senior Josh Cassell, as well as a 6-5 junior Nyuon Nhial averaging a double-double, and has played a stronger schedule.