Boys 1997

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 21st Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

Team Page (Team info, Schedule, Results, Stats)

Outlook: Nine players return from a team that lost to top-ranked Midland Bullock Creek in overtime in the districts. Center Cassidy Boensch is a threat in the middle who has scored 939 points, pulled down nearly 700 rebounds and blocked 400 shots. Jenai LaPorte is a four-year starter who has signed with Grand Valley State. She’s the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,152 points. Back from an ACL injury is Kalle Martinez, a junior who has a school-record 35 points in a game and has committed to play at CMU. Jamie Brisson is a four-year returning starter. Other players in the rotation are junior Kenedy Clyde, sophomore Jericho Long, Megan Luczak and Jessica Duncan. Maddie Payne will see action on the wing, and other bench help comes from Dakota Cunningham, Elisabeth Christie, Olivia Nicholas and Savannah Solomon. - Detroit Free Press

Bay City John Glenn (15-4, Class A): Standout junior guard Kalle Martinez is back from an ACL injury and that’s good news for coach Cory Snider, now in his sixth season of running the show. Martinez has lots of options to work with, including 6-3 senior center Cassidy Boensch (Grand Valley), who had a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) in a win over Southfield-Lathrup Saturday, and 5-6 senior guard Jenai Laporte (Grand Valley), who is the program’s leading scorer and a great perimeter threat. - Detroit News

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 21st Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

Team Page (Team info, Schedule, Results, Stats)

Outlook: This could be the team making it to the Breslin Center from the west side of the state in Class A. Deep and talented, seniors Sadia Johnson and Taylor Washington will lead the way, but the most talented player could be underclassman Toshanae Owens, a matchup nightmare for opponents. The three will receive plenty of help from Arjanae Morgan. - Detroit Free Press

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 21st Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

Team Page (Team info, Schedule, Results, Stats)

Outlook: The Lady Crusaders lost just two games last year, and both were to Birmingham Marian, the eventual Class A state champion. As always, King will be a threat in the Detroit Public School League but must replace a boatload of starters. Coach William Winfield will run, and run, and run with this group led by Alicia Norman, a junior who already is a three-year starter. - Detroit Free Press

Detroit King (24-2, Class A): It lost the PSL’s premier player in Janae Williams and its inside punch of Leah Mathis and Malayasia McHenry, but King still has a standout guard in three-year starter Alicia Norman to build around. Norman averaged 12 points while running the offense last season, helping King reach the state semifinals. Jasmine Flowers, a 6-2 senior, will be counted on to score in the paint with the absence of Mathis and McHenry. - Detroit News

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 20th Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

Team Page (Team info, Schedule, Results, Stats)

Outlook: Even though the team has three starters returning, coach Ronald Woodhull said Kettering would be young after losing to eventual Class A state champ Birmingham Marian a year ago. Senior Haley Tewes is a combo guard with size at 5-11. Emily Bernas is 5-10 and a three-point threat who has worked on attacking the basket. Lillia Schoof is a 6-foot junior who is an excellent athlete, can rebound and nearly averaged a double-double in the state tournament. Sophomore Marnae Holland is in line for a starter’s role, and at 5-10, she’s a good defender and slasher. Senior guard Sammi Shaner and junior forward Maddy Kase round out the rotation. - Detroit Free Press

Waterford Kettering (23-2, Class A): Three starters return from a regional championship team that lost to two-time state champion Birmingham Marian in a quarterfinal. That trio of starters are talented, led by 5-11 senior Haley Tewes, 3-point threat Emily Bernas and 6-foot junior Lillia Schoof, who averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds during the second half of the season. - Detroit News