Local girls basketball teams ready for postseason

The second season has arrived.

Lenawee County teams will open the 2022 district basketball week Monday with games in three different divisions at four locations.

Here’s a preview:

DIVISION 2 AT ADRIAN

Tecumseh (18-2) and Chelsea (17-3) are the favorites, with 14-6 Onsted looming on Tecumseh’s side of the bracket.

It’s no coincidence the only two times Tecumseh allowed more than 45 points in a game they lost. Both of those games were to SEC White Division champion Chelsea.

“I’ve said all season that defense wins championships,” said Tecumseh coach Kristy Zajac. “If we can shut down each team’s best players and play great team defense, we will have a chance to win. At this point of the season everyone knows what every team does. It will come down to execution and who wants it more.”

Adrian (2-16) and Hillsdale (3-17) open the district at 5:30 p.m. Monday with Onsted taking on Milan (6-12) in the second game. Chelsea gets the Adrian-Hillsdale winner while Tecumseh gets the Milan-Onsted winner. The finals are at 6 p.m. Friday.

DIVISION 3 AT MADISON

Erie Mason (17-3) comes into the district on a 13-game win streak while Whiteford (9-11) has won seven straight games.

Madison is the host and haven’t played since Feb. 19. The Trojans (10-10) will open the district against Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (8-11), who snapped a four-game losing skid by beating Ida to close the regular season. Whiteford takes on Sand Creek (7-12) in the second game.

Top-seeded Blissfield (15-5) will play the Madison-SMCC winner while Tri-County Conference champion Erie Mason (17-3) gets the Whiteford-Sand Creek survivor.

Erie Mason’s Lizzie Liedel finished the regular season with a 28.3 points per game average. She’s made 62 3-pointers.

Blissfield coach Ryan Gilbert called it a wide-open district.

“Erie Mason has to be the favorite,” he said. “They have the best player (Liedel). Madison and Whiteford are playing well and Sand Creek (Emily Carbajal) has a player that can take over a game herself. It should be a fun week.”

DIVISION 3 AT MANCHESTER

The champions of the Lenawee County Athletic Association and Big 8 Conference could be on a collision course.

Addison (2-16) and Clinton (3-17) open the district with Hudson (10-9) taking on Manchester (7-11) in the second game Monday. On Wednesday, Jonesville gets the Addison-Clinton winner with Columbia Central awaiting the Hudson-Manchester winner.

Jonesville (17-3) won the Big 8 while Columbia Central (15-4) took honors in the LCAA for the fourth consecutive year. CC features the twin towers of 6-foot-3-inch Tadessa Brown, a Clemson signee, and 6-2 Zoie Bamm, who’s being recruited by several Division I schools.

Hudson has put together a nice season and will look to get past Manchester from the Cascades Conference.

“I think playing a tough schedule will help us in our district,” said Tigers' coach Anthony Barron.

DIVISION 4 AT SUMMERFIELD

Lenawee Christian (14-6) is the favorite, but Summerfield (10-10) has several players back from a team that reached the state semifinals a year ago. Morenci has 12 wins and Waldron (13-7) has won six straight games.

BD (6-14) and Morenci (12-7) play 7 p.m. Monday, the only first-round game. The Cougars take on Waldron at 5:30 Wednesday with Summerfield playing the BD-Morenci winner in the second game.

The finals are at 7 p.m. Friday.

LCS finished the regular season ranked No. 4 among Division 4 schools according to the Michigan Power Rankings formula. It closed the season by winning four of the last five games.

“We are excited with our kids' growth and look forward to the second season,” said LCS head coach Jamie Salenbien. “It will be important for us to be consistent with our defense to be successful.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: MHSAA girls basketball postseason play begins in Lenawee