KALAMAZOO, MI - A new top dog has taken over the Kalamazoo girls basketball scene.
As we reach the midway point of the girls basketball regular season, Portage Central has emerged as the new top team in the Kalamazoo-area - soaring to the top of the SMAC, and highlighted in this week's power rankings.
We'll take a look at the Mustangs, along with all the other top teams, in this week's power rankings.
After a 57-43 loss to a talented Sturgis team, Kalamazoo Christian ensured to make a statement to the SAC-Valley with Friday's 63-34 blowout win over Schoolcraft. The Comets drained ten 3-pointers and saw star junior Elli VanDusen drop a game-high 23 points with 12 rebounds in the dominant win, vaulting to first place in the conference. VanDusen has taken over as the team's star player after the departure of Jordyn Bonnema, the program's all-time leading scorer, and she's caught fire in recent weeks.
The 6-foot Division-I prospect is surrounded by a strong supporting cast, including seniors Reese Gernaat, Lily Manion and Reagan Zuiderveen. It's a group that looks to rise up to its next challenge next week, as they'll take on unbeaten Grand Rapids Covenant Christian at home.
Portage Central
Onward Portage - here come the Mustangs. After Tuesday's 45-33 win over Battle Creek Central, Rob Brown's group is in sole first place of the SMAC at the midway point of the regular season. Central got a dominant performance from 6-foot-1 junior forward Olivia Griswold, who poured in a game-high 15 points - including 12 alone in the first half - to propel the Mustangs to victory. Griswold has been on a tear of late, while wings Justyce Boeve and Ava Tate provide athleticism and speed around her.
This year's team is not only much more experienced, but they've also got plenty of depth, too. That should give Central plenty of confidence to remain atop the SMAC, and be among the favorites to make a sizable run in the tournament in March.
Climax-Scotts
The Panthers have won three straight games after back-to-back losses over the holiday break. Climax-Scotts first took care of a solid South Haven team before handling Battle Creek St. Philip and Bellevue over the last week. Star senior center Holly Talbert leads this year's squad, while senior Adalynn Reeves and junior Kendal Reitz are talents in their own rights that compliment an experienced roster.
Talbert led the Panthers to a regional finals appearance last season, averaging 15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 steals per game and shooting 50 percent from the floor. If she can replicate that kind of production, look for C-S to be right in the mix in Division 4 this season.
Otsego
It's tough to think of a more talented player in the Wolverine Conference than Brooke Smalldon, a rising junior phenom that has powered the Bulldogs to a stellar 6-1 start. Smalldon has scored in double figures in all of Otsego's first seven games, including a monster 16-point, 12-rebound, 3-assist and 3-block performance to lead the Bulldogs to a huge rivalry win over Plainwell last Friday. Yet, Otsego has plenty of talent to go around, especially juniors Malania Miller and Madden Fitzpatrick, while senior Audrey Lingbeek has brought a stable veteran presence.
It's a formula that has the Bulldogs atop the Wolverine, with a huge showdown against Sturgis looming next week.
Mendon
With a senior-laden squad, Mendon has won its past three games to remain deadlocked with Climax-Scotts atop the SCAA-West. The Hornets are led by senior point guard Gracie Schultz, along with senior center Cienna Nightingale and senior forward Rowan Allen - a combination that powered Mendon’s run to the Division 4 volleyball state finals.
Mendon has a road game against Colon on Friday before a massive showdown with rival Climax-Scotts at home on Tuesday.
On the bubble: Mendon (7-2), Lawton (5-2), Gobles (6-2), Martin (4-3), Galesburg-Augusta (6-2), South Haven (5-3), Constantine (4-4), White Pigeon (5-3), Centreville (6-3), Marcellus (5-3)
This week: Defeated Mattawan (44-41), Friday at Loy Norrix
This week: Defeated Coloma (71-9), Friday at Constantine
This week: Thursday vs. Berrien Springs, Friday at Parchment
This week: Defeated Lake Odessa Lakewood (56-43), lost to Sturgis (50-33), Friday vs. Niles
This week: Defeated Plainwell (50-33), Friday at Three Rivers
This week: Defeated Stevensville Lakeshore (43-22), Friday at Mattawan
This week: Defeated Battle Creek Central (45-33), Friday vs. Portage Northern