BELL'S BEST GAMES: Week Three

Each week throughout the season I will share previews for games featuring enticing matchups of prospects and teams. In case you missed it, here are the results from last week's featured games: Yale defeated St. Clair 45-32, #1 Ann Arbor Fa. Gabriel Richard defeated #4 Goodrich 59-53, Utica Eisenhower defeated Anchor Bay 59-48, Flint Hamady defeated #7 New Lothrop 43-38, and Marquette defeated Traverse City Central 47-36. Here are a few matchups I am eager to see the results of in week three.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Monday, Dec. 16th, 2024</h2>   Negaunee (D2, 4-0 ) @ #10 Calumet (D3, 3-0)   Time: 7:15 PM, Location: Calumet High School, Calumet   Negaunee had a magical postseason run last season as 1,000-point scoring guard Ella Mason (2024, Michigan Tech) led the Miners to a D2 semifinal appearance at the Breslin. The team is leaving wreckage in their wake with double-digit victories in all four games to start the season. Dynamic sisters [player_tooltip player_id='903030' first='Aubrey' last='Johnson'] (2025) and [player_tooltip player_id='903059' first='Gretel' last='Johnson'] (2027) are two crafty guards who give the Miners an advantage on both sides of the floor, while [player_tooltip player_id='904974' first='Clare' last='O'Donnell'] (2026) establishes an edge in the paint. They visit Calumet to face an undefeated Copper Kings team that just beat Ishpeming by 20 points. [player_tooltip player_id='1133937' first='Jackie' last='Kiilunen'] (2025) led the charge with 23 points and Allison Bjorn (2025) looked strong inside. This should be a great test for both teams and only one will leave the gym with their perfect record in tact.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday, Dec. 17th, 2024</h2>   #6 Leslie (D3, 3-0) @ #6 Haslett (D2, 3-1)   Time: 7:00 PM, Location: Haslett High School, Haslett   Leslie comes into this game undefeated after a dominant 24-point win against East Jackson and a statement victory against a talented Brooklyn Columbia Central team. They have a four-headed monster lineup to match up against with 2024 Dream Team point guard [player_tooltip player_id='519156' first='Reece' last='DeRose'] (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='919187' first='Ella' last='Locke'] (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='716677' first='Lily' last='Smieska'] (2025), and [player_tooltip player_id='422004' first='Rylie' last='Burley'] (2025). However, Haslett has their own formidable lineup of prospects with [player_tooltip player_id='502298' first='Christina' last='Dixon'] (2026), [player_tooltip player_id='734944' first='Alexis' last='Turner'] (2026), [player_tooltip player_id='751132' first='Avery' last='Hannah'] (2027), [player_tooltip player_id='734961' first='Calista' last='Blue'] (2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1105912' first='Danielle' last='Cleveland'] (2025), and [player_tooltip player_id='773894' first='Kaitlyn' last='Johnson'] (2026). The Vikings have annihilated their opponents after a disappointing opening loss against #2 Rockford. This will be a feather in the cap for whoever leaves the gym victorious.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday, Dec. 18th, 2024</h2>   #2 Tecumseh (D2, 3-0) @ #13 Blissfield (D3, 4-0)   Time: 7:00 PM, Location: Blissfield High School, Blissfield   Tecumseh won a double-overtime thriller against defending state champ DEPSA on Saturday and remains undefeated to start the season. They haven't played an easy opponent yet with two double-digit victories against Coldwater and Bedford. The Indians moved up to #2 in the state after their resilient come-from-behind win and have several prospects to watch in this game. SVSU commit [player_tooltip player_id='666667' first='Makayla' last='Schlorf'] (2026), EMU commit [player_tooltip player_id='419531' first='Alli' last='Zajac'] (2025), Adrian commit [player_tooltip player_id='420489' first='Ashlyn' last='Moorehead'] (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='807288' first='Addi' last='Zajac'] (2027), [player_tooltip player_id='421538' first='Lauren' last='Kilbarger'] (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='614714' first='Chloe' last='Bullinger'] (2026), and [player_tooltip player_id='734953' first='Maddy' last='VanBlack'] (2026) give Tecumseh a full stable of talent and depth. Blissfield has started their season hot with four straight double-digit victories and can make a statement about their merit to be considered a top D3 contender by competing well in this game. The Royals have a few prospects to watch in this one with talented guard [player_tooltip player_id='860218' first='Leigh' last='Wyman'] (2026) and tough power forward [player_tooltip player_id='959912' first='Peyton' last='Tennant'] (2025) being the headliners. This is an intriguing matchup and I am eager to see the result.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday, Dec. 19th, 2024</h2>   H.H Dow (D1, 3-2) @ Midland (D1, 3-1)   Time: 5:30 PM, Location: Midland High, Midland   Midland Dow has won eleven straight games against Midland High since their 31-38 loss on December 19th, 2019. As fate would have it, the two teams will meet at Midland High on the same date five years after Midland's last win. For the first time this decade, the Chemics appear to have a team capable of keeping up with Dow on the scoreboard. Midland High has an ensemble of freshman prospects in [player_tooltip player_id='898878' first='Kaiya' last='Mahabir'] (2028), [player_tooltip player_id='933020' first='Ella' last='McLaughlin'] (2028), [player_tooltip player_id='933025' first='Emma' last='McLaughlin'] (2028), and [player_tooltip player_id='932751' first='Ellee' last='Arnold'] (2028). All-Conference sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='424147' first='Payton' last='Palmer'] (2025, Trine), seniors [player_tooltip player_id='425121' first='Madison' last='Page'] (2025), and Emmalea Terburgh (2025) give the Chemics talented depth. Midland started their season with an impressive opening night win against Flint Hamady, two blowout victories, and a loss to #11 Grand Haven. Midland Dow graduated a few vital seniors from their lineup last season, but have found their footing as All-Conference point guard [player_tooltip player_id='614649' first='Melanie' last='Kolnitys'] (2026) returns from injury to pair up with All-Conference Combo-Guard [player_tooltip player_id='866019' first='Allie' last='Stockton'] (2027). The Chargers beat a solid Brighton team by 16 points and made a strong statement by defeating a top-15 D2 Frankenmuth team by four. Sharpshooting 3-point threat [player_tooltip player_id='613004' first='Dalton' last='Deboer'] (2025, SVSU Tennis) is always a factor and Dow has several high-motor freshmen who can step up at any time. Despite losses to Milford and Grandville, the Chargers are a dangerous team and I expect this rivalry game to be a classic.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, Dec. 20th, 2024</h2>   #13 Chelsea (D2, 4-0) @ #13 Dexter (D1, 2-2)   Time: 5:30 PM, Location: Dexter High School, Dexter   The Dreadnaughts gym was a house of horrors for the Bulldogs last season as Dexter handed Chelsea their first loss in a 36-34 grudge match. Chelsea got their revenge later in the season with an emphatic 58-33 victory at home. Chelsea has strung together statement wins against Grass Lake, Sault St. Marie, and Grand Blanc to start the season as [player_tooltip player_id='423694' first='Avery' last='Lay'] (2025, GVSU) has averaged 27.8 ppg with Maggie McKale (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='865143' first='Aleeah' last='Wells'] (2027), and [player_tooltip player_id='979580' first='Audrey' last='McCarley'] (2028) also contributing mightily. Dexter has needed players to step up in the absence of star guard [player_tooltip player_id='423692' first='Alena' last='Blumberg'] (2025, SAU). [player_tooltip player_id='560399' first='Addison' last='Chase'] (2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1091197' first='Addy' last='Wylie'] (2026), [player_tooltip player_id='424569' first='Kendall' last='Cabana'] (2025), and [player_tooltip player_id='934632' first='Layla' last='Blumberg'] (2028) have each demonstrated their own brilliance at times in the past month. The Dreadnaughts defeated Brighton by five to begin the year and have competitive losses to #6 Detroit Renaissance and #5 Detroit Country Day. Friday night is going to be a thrilling rivalry game between two top-15 teams.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">At the Buzzer</h2>   Evan Bell is currently a scout for Prep Girls Hoops and Director of <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/prepare-2-win-basketball/"> </a><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/prepare-2-win-basketball/">             </a><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/prepare-2-win-basketball/"> </a><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/prepare-2-win-basketball/">[program_tooltip program_id='923712' first='Prepare' last='2 Win Basketball']</a>                . Our <a href="https://www.prepnetwork.com/frequently-asked-questions/">mission</a> 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 coachevanbell@gmail.com

Each week throughout the season I will share previews for games featuring enticing matchups of prospects and teams. In case you missed it, here are the results from last week's featured games: Yale defeated St. Clair 45-32, #1 Ann Arbor Fa. Gabriel Richard defeated #4 Goodrich 59-53, Utica Eisenhower defeated Anchor Bay 59-48, Flint Hamady defeated #7 New Lothrop 43-38, and Marquette defeated Traverse City Central 47-36. Here are a few matchups I am eager to see the results of in week three.