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JACKSON – The regular-season schedule is nearing its final stretch and that means conference-title chases are tightening and this week’s results could determine who brings home league titles and which teams gain top seeds in the upcoming district tournament.
Here’s a look at how the local power rankings shape up as we head into another riveting week of basketball action in the Jackson area.
HONORABLE MENTION
Homer (7-3)
The Trojans are on pace for their first winning season since 2017 and can add to their win total with a home win over Concord (2-7) tonight. They’ll travel to league-leading Jonesville (8-2) on Thursday and finished the week with a matchup against Union City (0-11).
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Lumen Christi (7-3)
The Titans have reeled off four straight wins thanks to a suffocating defensive effort that led to wins over Coldwater (36-34), Battle Creek Pennfield (43-42) and Hastings (32-28) last week. Their schedule gets a lot more challenging this week with matchups against Jackson Northwest (8-3) and Marshall (6-3).
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Springport (6-3)
The Spartans picked up league wins over Homer (54-41) and Reading (xx) last week but fell to Jonesville (40-32) in a critical Big Eight Conference showdown. They’ll look to keep pace in the league race this week with two games against Bronson (8-3) and a matchup with Quincy (1-9).
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Jackson Northwest's Layne Sleight (4) shoots the ball during a high school girls basketball game at Western High School on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. Western won the game over Northwest.J. Scott Park | MLive.com
10. Jackson Northwest (8-3)
The Mounties couldn’t overcome slow starts against Parma Western (69-64) and Adrian Lenawee Christian (59-49) last week but have a chance to get things rolling again with a home game against Lumen Christi (7-3) tonight, followed by a road trip to Coldwater (3-9) on Thursday.
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Leslie's Tommi Fedewa (24) shoots during a girls basketball game at Stockbridge High School on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. Stockbridge won the game over Leslie, 39-35.J. Scott Park | MLive.com
9. Leslie (7-1)
The Blackhawks kicked off the week with a road win over Lake Odessa Lakewood (52-45) on Monday and will host Lansing Christian (3-6) and Olivet (10-2) later this week. A win over the Eagles could make the GLAC championship race more intriguing down the stretch, as Leslie is scheduled to host Stockbridge (9-2) next week.
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8. Hillsdale Academy (9-1)
The Colts rolled past Jackson Christian (40-33) and Pittsford (53-30) last week and fended off Athens (39-38) on Monday to extend their winning streak to six games. The No. 8-ranked team in Division 4 will host Hudson (1-8) on Thursday before closing out the regular season against North Adams-Jerome (4-5) and Camden-Frontier (6-2).
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Jackson players cheer on a fellow teammate during the game against Ypsilanti Lincoln at Spring Arbor University on Jan. 27, 2020. Mikayla Carter | MLive.com
7. Jackson (5-2)
The Vikings picked up a pair of SEC White road wins last week over Tecumseh (41-37) and Adrian (48-33) to jump back into the league-title conversation. They’ll host Adrian on Friday before pivotal matchups against Chelsea (8-2) and Dexter (8-3) next week that will likely determine the SEC White championship.
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6. Jonesville (8-2)
The Comets created some separation from Springport in the Big Eight standings with a 40-32 road win over the Spartans last week and tighten their grip on the league championship trophy with wins over Union City (0-11), Homer (7-3) and Quincy (1-9).
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Stockbridge's Grace Hall (10) shoots the ball during a girls basketball game at Stockbridge High School on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. Stockbridge won the game over Leslie, 39-35.J. Scott Park | MLive.com
5. Stockbridge (9-2)
The Panthers lost to Olivet (54-42) last week but bounced back with wins over Vermontville Maple Valley (58-32) and Perry (51-25). Matchups with Lake Odessa Lakewood (5-5) and Lansing Christian (4-6) this week should help prepare the squad for pivotal road games against Leslie (7-1) and Olivet (10-2) next week.
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Michigan Center girls basketball team huddles after the Division 3 regional semifinals at Columbia Central High School on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Michigan Center defeated Lumen Christi 61-28. Mikayla Carter | MLive.com
4. Michigan Center (6-1)
The Cardinals remained inactive this past week due to a COVID-19-related quarantine within the program. They’ll return to action Friday with a matchup against Addison (0-9) and host No. 1-ranked Grass Lake (11-1) on Saturday in a rescheduled game from March 2. The two rivals will also meet again on March 18 at Grass Lake High School in the two teams’ regular-season finales.
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Columbia Central's Gracelyn Miller (3) dribbles against Michigan Center's Alize Tripp (11) during a MHSAA Division 3 girls basketball district final at Grass Lake High School on Friday, March 6, 2020. Michigan Center won the game over Columbia Central, 47-35.J. Scott Park | MLive.com
3. Columbia Central (9-3)
The Golden Eagles clinched the Lenawee County Athletic Association on Monday with a win over Onsted and will face Clinton (5-5) and Parma Western (9-2) later this week. The non-conference clash with the Panthers will yet another challenge for the squad after matchups against Sand Creek (8-4), Grass Lake (11-1), Edwardsburg (6-3) and Adrian Lenawee Christian (7-2) earlier this season.
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Parma Western's Reece Hitt (33) shoots the ball during a girls basketball game at Parma Western High School on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Grass Lake won the game over Parma Western, 54-48 in a non-conference battle of top Jackson County teams.J. Scott Park | MLive.com
2. Parma Western (9-2)
The Panthers dropped a narrow contest against top-ranked Grass Lake (54-48) last week but bounced back with a rivalry game win over Jackson Northwest (69-64) and Battle Creek Pennfield (43-29. They’ll take on Coldwater (3-9) and Hastings (1-10) in Interstate Eight Conference action this week before hosting Columbia Central (8-3) on Saturday Harper Creek Chandler Park (6-2) on March 15 in non-league matchups.
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Grass Lake's Lauren Pongracz (11) shoots the ball during a girls basketball game at Parma Western High School on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Grass Lake won the game over Parma Western, 54-48 in a non-conference battle of top Jackson County teams.J. Scott Park | MLive.com
1. Grass Lake (11-1)
The Warriors picked up impressive wins over Parma Western (Division 2) and Detroit Renaissance (Division 1) last week and should extend their winning streak to double digits with matchups against Manchester (4-5) and Napoleon (3-4) this week before a road trip to rival Michigan Center (6-1) on Saturday.
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MORE JACKSON-AREA SPORTS COVERAGE
Vote for the Jackson-area Player of the Week for March 1-6
Michigan Associated Press girls basketball rankings for March 8
Jackson-area basketball highlights: Stockbridge’s Gwen Rogozinski reaches 1,000-point milestone
Multisport mindset fuels Homer boys basketball to league title contention
Hillsdale senior named voted Jackson-area Player of the Week for Feb. 22-27
Jackson-area basketball highlights: Late rally falls short for Jackson Northwest girls
Jackson-area basketball highlights: Parma Western girls fend off Jackson Northwest
Jackson-area basketball highlights: Demarion Smith sets school record against Manchester
Battle-tested Grass Lake girls basketball showcases grit in road win over Parma Western
Michigan Center girls basketball enters two-week quarantine due to positive COVID test
"8" - Google News
March 09, 2021 at 08:31PM
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Jackson-area girls basketball power rankings for week of March 8 - MLive.com
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