MHSAA Tourney Preview: District 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The road to the state finals begins on March 2nd. Teams from four divisions will compete for 128 district titles across two peninsulas, and only one team from each district will add a trophy to their case. District previews will be released in the weeks leading up to the state MHSAA tournament to provide all-access insight into the teams and prospects that make up select districts. Let's take a closer look at District 2!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":907635,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/PXL_20240511_201432651-crop-3024x1986-1715527057.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-907635" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='932751' first='Ellee' last='Arnold'], 2028, Midland, Mystics-S40. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">District #2-Midland</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Favorite:</strong> Midland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Darkhorse</strong>: Mount Pleasant</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Midland (16-5), Mount Pleasant (15-5), Midland Dow (12-8), Bay City Western (9-10), Bay City Central (1-19)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Prospects:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='898878' first='Kaiya' last='Mahabir'], [player_tooltip player_id='932751' first='Ellee' last='Arnold'], [player_tooltip player_id='933020' first='Ella' last='McLaughlin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1226678' first='Jensyn' last='Ardouin'], Midland; [player_tooltip player_id='866019' first='Allie' last='Stockton'], [player_tooltip player_id='982125' first='Delaney' last='Deboer'], [player_tooltip player_id='614649' first='Melanie' last='Kolnitys'], [player_tooltip player_id='898090' first='Lauren' last='Schikorra'], Midland Dow; [player_tooltip player_id='1204144' first='Olivia-Jo' last='Rytlewski'], [player_tooltip player_id='1260272' first='Jenna' last='Tanner'], [player_tooltip player_id='1067368' first='Claire' last='Robinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='897182' first='Sydney' last='Wittbrodt'], Bay City Western.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":981177,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/08/281-Kaiya-Mahabir.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-981177" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='898878' first='Kaiya' last='Mahabir'], 2028, Midland, Mystics Select, PGH Freshman Showcase.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakdown:</strong> These five teams all belong to the Saginaw Valley League North Division. They've played each other twice this season, so there shouldn't be any surprises and very few adjustments to be made. Midland (8-2) finished second in the division with losses to Saginaw Heritage and Mount Pleasant. Mount Pleasant (7-3) finished third, losing to Saginaw Heritage twice and once to Midland. Midland Dow (4-6) finished fourth, Bay City Western (2-8) came in fifth, and Bay City Central (0-10) ended the season in sixth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":943482,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/07/PXL_20240711_205236898.MP_-crop-3024x1986-1720755998.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-943482" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='932749' first='Elizabeth' last='Laney'], 2028, Mount Pleasant, Mystics. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 2025, Midland Dow played the role of spoiler, defeating Mount Pleasant 79-72 before upsetting crosstown rival Midland 58-49 to win the district. Now, a year later, Midland enters as the favorite again, but it's Mount Pleasant who looks like the darkhorse favorite. Midland ran the table last season with a perfect 11-0 record in the SVL prior to the new conference alignment for the 2025-26 season. The Chemics split wins with Saginaw Heritage and Mount Pleasant during the regular season, while adding statement victories against ranked teams such as New Lothrop, Grand Haven, Flint Powers Catholic, Detroit Edison, and Clarkston. They suffered a serious blow, losing [player_tooltip player_id='933025' first='Emma' last='McLaughlin'] for the season, but proved they're still a team to be reckoned with and a serious playoff contender. Midland's strength is their speed, fast pace on both ends, aggressive defensive pressure, and team chemistry. They have infectious energy as a group that's tough to match for 32 minutes. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='898878' first='Kaiya' last='Mahabir'] is a shifty ball-handler, precision passer, scrappy defender, finisher/shooter, and sparkplug for the Chemics. [player_tooltip player_id='933020' first='Ella' last='McLaughlin'] is quick, lanky, capable of finishing off the dribble, disrupts opposing guards on defense, and pours in perimeter jumpers. Elle Arnold is one of the best forwards out there: mobile, fancy footwork, efficient finisher, shot-blocker, strong rebounder, long, and good in the mid-range. Throw in all-around contributor and Swiss army knife Jensyen Ardouin for good measure--that's why they're the favorite to win the district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1309889,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/PXL_20250611_185245641-crop-3024x1986-1756504982.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1309889" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='1204144' first='Olivia-Jo' last='Rytlewski'], 2029, Bay City Western, Mystics, Au Sable Shootout.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mount Pleasant isn't necessarily a surprise because the Oilers have consistently put out a competitive group for years in the SVL, with college talent coming through annually. Their big-name prospect, and a player I'm very excited to see go head-to-head with Ellee, is [player_tooltip player_id='932749' first='Elizabeth' last='Laney']. A mobile and skyscraper big with skill around the basket, her college ceiling matches her height. Elizabeth has been a double-double machine this season, and her performance on both ends will be crucial to pulling off the upset. The Borodychuk sisters have been on a tear for the Oilers and will need to continue that production in the playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id='1568852' first='Alexis' last='Borodychuk'] is a weapon from three-point distance, ripping the nets with three or more triples in multiple games. [player_tooltip player_id='1568853' first='Morgan' last='Borodychuk'] dishes out assists and frustrates opposing guards with her active defense, racking up steals. These three prospects will be major factors in the postseason for a dangerous Mount Pleasant team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":959882,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/08/D57E836E-6A10-499F-89CB-3CD0547D24D8_1_201_a.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-959882" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='982125' first='Delaney' last='Deboer'], 2028, Midland Dow, Mystics.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>: A Backcourt tandem to pay attention to in this district will be Midland Dow's [player_tooltip player_id='866019' first='Allie' last='Stockton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='982125' first='Delaney' last='Deboer']. Delaney, like her older sister, destroys the nets from three-point distance. She's confident and accurate with great balance and range. As anticipated, she's had a coming-out party this year for the Chagers, stepping into a prominent role on the offensive end, while being an impact player defensively as well. I've been very impressed by her play and expect her to keep catching attention. Allie is an explosive slasher with outstanding court vision and a nose for the ball. She has the ball on a string and is what you'd describe as a playmaker. Allie hits the hole like a running back, finishes at the rim through contact, locks up opposing guards, and is an impactful two-way contributor. Bay City Western's O.J. Rytlewski has elite athleticism, length, fundamental skills, and the ability to get to the rim; that's why she entered the season as Michigan's #1 prospect in the 2029 class. O.J. works equally hard on both ends of the court, loves the game, and stuffs the stat sheet. She posted a 20+ point game at Bay City John Glenn and added 19 against Midland. O.J. finishes with both hands, has a smooth shooting stroke, and great ball-handling control.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":936072,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/07/Allie-Stockton-crop-3226x2118-1719880732.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-936072" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='866019' first='Allie' last='Stockton'], 2027, Midland Dow, Mystics.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->