First Michigan AP girls basketball rankings released, area teams noticed

LANSING — The first batch of Michigan Associated Press girls basketball rankings were released this week and Northern Michigan comes well represented.

With a number of talented teams between Division 3 and 4, it’s no surprise to see many earn a spot in the rankings, or pick up an honorable mention spot.

Within the surrounding area, a trio of local squads earned rankings in Harbor Springs, Mackinaw City and Gaylord St. Mary.

Harbor Springs is ranked No. 4 within Division 3, the Snowbirds sit at No. 7 in Division 4 and Mackinaw picked up a No. 8 ranking in Division 4.

The Rams are off to another undefeated start at now 9-0 on the season and it hasn’t come against a slouch schedule.

Harbor opened the year with back to back wins over tough Ski Valley opponents Johannesburg-Lewiston and Inland Lakes, who hold a combined record of 14-5 this season, both with seven wins.

They’ve also defeated a 6-4 Lake Leelanau St. Mary team, a 7-1 Traverse City St. Francis team and earned a win in Northville over a Division 2 Warren Regina team.

The Rams have been led once again by sophomore guard Olivia Flynn, who’s averaging 26.7 points a game. Others have also stepped up around Flynn, with senior Sierra Kruzel averaging 13 points a night and senior Hailey Fisher adding 7.4 points a game.

The thick of the Lake Michigan Conference schedule awaits the Rams, though tough non-conference tests still remain as well in St. Ignace, Glen Lake and Gaylord St. Mary, all ranked opponents.

For Mackinaw City, it’s a 9-0 start to the season for a third straight year. It has also come with some good wins away from the Northern Lakes Conference.

The Comets earned an 11-point win over Cedarville early in the season, a team that earned honorable mention ranks in the first batch of rankings, then also topped Inland Lakes by 19 in December.

Wins over Manistique, Pickford and Cooks Big Bay de Noc have also come for the Comets in an Upper Peninsula beefed up schedule.

An eight-win Ovid-Elsie awaits the Comets later in the schedule, along with Onaway and Engadine.

The senior trio of Marlie Postula, Larissa Huffman and Madison Smith of course lead the way for the Comets, with Postula and Huffman tied for the team lead in points at 14.1 a night. Smith is also averaging 12.6 points and 9.4 rebounds a game, with Huffman adding 10.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists.

For Gaylord St. Mary, it’s the same ole story of success for the Snowbirds program.

St. Mary opened the year with a pair of losses in McBain against a 9-0 Escanaba team and a talented New Lothrop squad, but has gone on to absolutely roll ever since.

The tough Ski Valley schedule awaits the Snowbirds this season, along with Harbor Springs, Lake Leelanau St. Mary and East Jordan.

The Snowbirds have been led by a host of players, notably Macey Bebble and Ava Schultz, though Emma McKinley, Sydney Grusczynski and others have contributed some big nights.

Boys rankings will follow next week from the AP. Complete girls rankings for all four divisons below (records as of rankings release):

DIVISION 1

1. Detroit Renaissance (2) (7-0)

2. Farmington Hills Mercy (7-0)

3. West Bloomfield (2) (7-2)

4. East Grand Rapids (7-1)

5. Rockford (7-1)

6. Flint Carman Ainsworth (1) (6-0)

7. Grosse Pointe North (8-1)

8. Lowell (8-0)

9. Temperance Bedford (9-0)

10. Dearborn Divine Child (9-1)

Others receiving votes: DeWitt 23, Hudsonville 16, Wayne Memorial 15, Holland West Ottawa 14, Rochester Hills Rochester 9, Saline 9, Northville 4, Traverse City Central 3, Kalamazoo Central 3, East Kentwood 3, Jackson Northwest 2, Byron Center 2, Muskegon 1, Coldwater 1, Hartland 1.

DIVISION 2

1. Grand Rapids West Catholic (5) (8-0)

2. Detroit Edison (9-2)

3. Chelsea (8-1)

4. Lake Fenton (8-0)

5. Frankenmuth (6-1)

6. Goodrich (8-0)

7. Vicksburg (8-0)

8. Big Rapids (8-0)

9. Dearborn Divine Child (9-1) (tie) Tecumseh (6-2)

Others receiving votes: Haslett 22, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 19, Macomb Lutheran North 14, Escanaba 12, Detroit Country Day 11, North Branch 8, Ada Forest Hills Eastern 5, Houghton 5, Imlay City 5, Alma 4, Redford Westfield Prep 4, Saginaw Swan Valley 3, Benton Harbor 3, Croswell-Lexington 2, Spring Lake 2, Olivet 2, Romulus 2, Freeland 1.

DIVISION 3

1. Ypsilanti Arbor Preparatory (4) (5-2)

2. Dansville (7-1)

3. Blissfield (9-1)

4. Harbor Springs (8-0)

5. Evart (1) (8-1)

6. Lake City (8-1)

7. Hancock (8-0)

8. Buchanan (6-1)

9. Sanford-Meridian (8-1)

10. Ithaca (8-1)

Others receiving votes: Hemlock 21, Calumet 19, Bronson 17, Kent City 16, Niles Brandywine 12, Madison Heights Bishop Foley 10, McBain 8, Saginaw Valley Lutheran 8, Pewamo-Westphalia 6, Elk Rapids 5, Traverse City St. Francis 3, Watervliet 3, Hudson 2.

DIVISION 4

1. Maple City Glen Lake (4) (5-0) 60

2. Baraga (7-1) 44

3. Morenci (8-0) 40

4. Kingston (7-0) 39

5. Portland St. Patrick (5-2) 37

6. St. Charles (7-0) 32

7. Gaylord St. Mary (5-2) 30

8. Mackinaw City (8-0) 28

9. Norway (8-0) 26 (tie) Petersburg Summerfield (9-1)

Others receiving votes: Fowler 23, St. Ignace LaSalle 18, Colon 11, Mendon 11, Brethren 10, Cedarville 10, Genesee Christian 10, Munising 8, Ewen-Trout Creek 7, Martin 5, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 4, Ontonagon 1.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: First Michigan AP girls basketball rankings released, area teams noticed