Boys 2008

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)

The sailors are coming off a share of the OK Black Conference title and district title and are expecting to repeat. They have perhaps more depth this season, but they're young and may take time to gel. They could have one of the best backcourts in the state with Western Michigan University commit Jordan Walker, who is coming off ACL surgery in the spring, and freshman Alyza Winston. - Mlive

Outlook: Star junior guard Jordan Walker is already committed to Western Michigan. She had a great sophomore season, averaging 19 points, 8.2 rebounds and three assists per game. The three-year starter is surrounded by plenty of help with 5-10 junior DeDe Trotter and Mackenzie Quinn. Ryleigh Wehler is a talented sophomore while Nia Miskel is a solid defender and good athlete.-  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)

Midland Dow returns plenty of experience and motivation from a 20-3 team that lost in the Class A district final to Heritage. The Saginaw Valley League Champions return guard Ellie Taylor, who has already committed to St. Louis, along with 6-foot-2 center Kaylee Wasco. - Mlive

Outlook: A great season was ruined by Saginaw Heritage in the district final. Dow is the defending Saginaw Valley League champs. The returning starters all led by all-state candidate Ellie Taylor, a 5-9 junior guard who averaged 14 points, five rebounds and three assists per game and opened the season with a school-record 44 points. Junior post player Kaylee Wasco is 6-2 and averaged nine points and seven rebounds last year. Asjia Blanton looks to overcome a knee injury after averaging eight points and five rebounds per game a year ago. Nadia Atton is a 6-foot junior who’ll play volleyball in college. Rounding out the rotation are senior guard Alexie Flaminio, freshman guard Molly Davis and freshman guard Maizie Taylor. - Detroit Free Press

Midland Dow (20-3, Class A): Dow is one of the best passing teams in the state with an outstanding backcourt in 5-9 junior Ellie Taylor (14 points), senior guard Alexie Flaminio and freshmen Maizie Taylor and Molly Davis, who already has an offer from Toledo. Dow also has a threat inside in 6-2 junior Kaylee Wasco, who has multiple mid-major offers, including Western Michigan and Central Michigan. 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)

Heritage lost Saginaw Valley League MVP Allie Miller, who is at Tiffin, but the Hawks return a roster full of talent that is deep, tall and young. The front line features 6-foot-4 senior Jenna Falkenberg, 6-1 junior Courtney McInerney and 6-foot sophomore Jaela Richardson. Throw in junior guard Haley Brefka, sophomore guard Josh Bicknell and talented freshmen Moira Joiner and Mallory McCartney. With its youth and talent, expect plenty of improvement from the start of the year to the end. A year ago, Heritage was 22-4 and reached the state semifinals.  - Mlive

Saginaw Heritage (22-4) Outlook: Heritage lost to DeWitt in the Class A state semifinals a year ago and has two players capable of getting it back this year. Sophomore Jaela Richardson is the daughter of former Saginaw High, Michigan State and NBA star Jason Richardson. She averaged eight points and eight rebounds a year ago. She’ll get plenty of help from junior Courtney McInerney, who started last year and averaged seven points and five rebounds per game. Junior guard Haley Brefka started a year ago. The team is deep with good size but has three freshmen and two sophomores in the rotation. - 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)

Midland High was 15-6 last season, but suffered a summer setback when junior Jayden Williams tore her ACL. Still, a strong group of juniors led by Alex VanSumeren should keep the Chemics near the top of the Saginaw Valley League. - Mlive