District 2 PREVIEW

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>District Playoff basketball kicks off Monday, March 4th as some teams limp into the postseason, while others expect to make a deep playoff push. Here is a sneak peak of District 2, hosted by Midland Dow High School. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cadillac (13-9) vs Midland (9-13) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cadillac finished third in the Big North with a 5-5 record, while Midland finished near the bottom of the SVL with a 2-9 record. However, Midland does have the offensive firepower from their junior guards to light it up outside and compete against talented opponents. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PREDICTION: Cadillac defeated Mount Pleasant by 4 during the regular season and the Oilers defeated Midland by double digits, so Cadillac should win in a close game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mount Pleasant (13-9) vs Bay City Western (11-11)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mount Pleasant finished fourth in the SVL this season at 7-4, while Bay City Western finished 8th at 5-6. In their regular season matchup, it was the Oilers winning in a close seven- point game. This should certainly be a very competitive game, but the Oilers have 3 All-Conference guards and that should be too tall an order for Western to shut down in this semi-final matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PREDICTION: Mount Pleasant's Lakyn Karr, [player_tooltip player_id='854703' first='Ava' last='Petrino'], and [player_tooltip player_id='336004' first='Jordyn' last='Egger'] combine to lead the Oilers to victory over outstanding senior PG [player_tooltip player_id='792674' first='Brooke' last='Swartz']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Semifinals/Finals Prediction</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finals: Midland Dow has been a standard for excellence in girls basketball and consistently wins or finishes in the top of the Saginaw Valley League on a yearly basis. They should have no problem winning the district and will be a favorite to win the regional round next week as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["336004"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='336004' first='Jordyn' last='Egger'] is a lengthy guard who excelled for Mount Pleasant this season (SVL All-Conference) against SVL opponents with 14 pts, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. She is an excellent three level scorer with deadly accuracy from beyond the arc when she gets hot. If she plays her best basketball, the Oilers will have a great opportunity to play in the district finals.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["792674"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='792674' first='Brooke' last='Swartz'] earned 1st team all-conference for Bay City Western as one of the most effective point guards in the conference. She averaged 17 pts, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists in SVL games this season. Brooke uses her skilled ball handling to set up her teammates to score and has the shiftiness to attack downhill; she is a dangerous pull-up shooter outside. A dominant performance could help her team upset the Oilers this week.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["424147"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='424147' first='Payton' last='Palmer'] has been the impact performer for Midland High all season. She earned an SVL all-conference with her knock down 3 point shooting, passing vision, and ball handling abilities. Payton averaged 11 pts, 2 assists, 5 rebounds, and a steal per game. Her shifty ball handling can move the defense and open up lanes for teammates to score; Payton will need to put on a show against Cadillac for her team to play spoiler.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["614649"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='614649' first='Melanie' last='Kolnitys'] has been the consistent most valuable two way player for Midland Dow since she arrived as a Freshman last season. She earned all-conference first team honors while averaging 11 pts, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals per game. Her tenacious on ball defense and effective passing makes her a prototypical point guard. She has the downhill quickness to score inside and will knock down outside shots as well. Melanie is going to be a key factor in how far the Chargers go this postseason.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e6417eb0029"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">At the Buzzer</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evan Bell</strong>&nbsp;is currently a scout for Prep Girls Hoops, Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach at Lapeer High School, and Director of<strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/lapeer-county-cobras/"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/lapeer-county-cobras/"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/lapeer-county-cobras/"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/lapeer-county-cobras/"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/lapeer-county-cobras/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='715992' first='Lapeer' last='County Cobras']</strong></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>. Our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prepnetwork.com/frequently-asked-questions/">mission</a>&nbsp;at PGH is to cover as many athletes with D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO potential in the state as possible. If you know a prospect off our radar, please DM Evan through Twitter @CoachEvanBell or email him at lapeercountycobras@gmail.com</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->