Grand Rapids Schools To Watch For In The State High School Basketball Tournament [Video]

The annual Michigan March Madness, the MHSAA boys high school basketball tournament, gets underway tonight with the District rounds.

Several area schools are poised to make long runs into the tourney, with at least two area schools being the odds on favorites to make it to the Championships at the Breslin Center in East Lansing on March 25.

Class A: Grand Rapids Christian

The powerful Eagles have five players heading to Division I college programs, including powerful forward Xavier Tillman, who's MSU bound.

The Eagles are undefeated, having rolled over opponents by an average of over twenty points per game, and have gone out of their way to test themselves with games against Detroit Country Day and Lawrence North out of Indiana. If they aren't the best team in the state, I don't know who is.

Can they handle the pressure of being the favorite? We'll find out in the regionals when they'll likely face Muskegon or West Ottawa, who have one loss between them.

GR Christian plays Monday night in the Ottawa Hills district against East Grand Rapids at 7pm.

Class B: Wyoming Godwin Heights

This is the deepest Class in terms of talent in the Grand Rapids area.

Heights took the Class B crown in 2015, made it to the semis last year and have reloaded for another run to State. Their only loss was to the aforementioned Christian, and they have a group of quick and talented shooters who can run up the points.

Other area schools with a shot at making a run in Class B include Catholic Central and Hudsonville Unity Christian. Bridgeport and New Haven from the east side of the state will be the biggest hurdles for Godwin down the road.

Godwin Heights opens District play Monday night at home against GR Aviation at 8pm.

Class C: Calvin Christian

Calvin advanced to the championship game a year ago, losing to Flint Beecher. They lost several key players to graduation, but have a respectable 15-4 mark heading into District play. The Knights have as good of chance as any in what may be considered the most wide open Class in the state.

Flint Beecher is poised to repeat in Class C with Michigan Center and McBain in the mix for the title as well.

Calvin Christian begins their quest to return to Breslin Monday night at NorthPointe Christian against the host school at 7pm.

Class D: Wyoming Potter's House or Tri-Unity Christian

These two schools will square off in the District opener, with the winner having the best chance to carry the Grand Rapids area banner in the state's smallest division.

Potter's House has the better record at 13-6, but Tri-Unity at 11-8 has played the tougher schedule, and has a deeper tournament resume, having made a run to the semi finals last season. Tri-Unity defeated Potter's House by 11 back in December.

Powers North Central from the Upper Peninsula is looking for their third straight D title. Southfield Christian from the Detroit area drops down from Class C this year and looks to be their biggest challenge.

Potter's House and Tri-Unity will play Wednesday at 6:30p at Byron Center Zion Christian.