Columns | Upbeat Sports

Girls Basketball

The Way-Too-Early rankings: Division 1-3 Girls

7/31/2019 | Girls Basketball | By Eden Laase |

For our final installment of the Way-Too-Early Rankings, I’m taking over for Bryce because frankly, I’m too pumped about the Division 1-3 girls teams this season. Last season’s Division 3 Regional Semifinal between Westwood and West Iron County was one of the best games of the year. The two teams attacked each other’s weaknesses for a back-and-forth contest that...

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Boys Basketball

The Way-Too-Early rankings: Division 1-3 Boys

7/30/2019 | Boys Basketball | By Bryce Derouin |

After last season’s dramatic and controversial ending in the Division 3 state final, it’s not an exaggeration to say Iron Mountain will have the state’s attention in 2019-20. There will be those interested in how the Mountaineers bounce back on their revenge tour after having what many feel was a state title robbed from them, and others who will track...

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Girls Basketball

The Way-Too-Early rankings: Division 4 girls

7/10/2019 | Girls Basketball | By Bryce Derouin |

The Division 4 UP champion may have been decided this summer when the MHSAA released its division classifications for girls basketball. With St. Ignace earning a Division 4 designation, the Division 3 schools in the UP could let out a sigh of relief knowing they won’t have to deal with the defending Division 4 state runner-ups this next season, while...

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Boys Basketball

The Way-Too-Early rankings: Division 4 boys

6/27/2019 | Boys Basketball | By Bryce Derouin |

As far back as I can remember visiting ESPN.com and other sports websites, I always found myself intrigued by the novelty of a “Way-Too-Early Top 25 Rankings” story for college football or basketball. It would be the morning after the national title game, and sure enough, a staff writer would have a story up ranking the top 25 teams for...

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Spring

Making predictions for the 34th UP All-Star game

6/13/2019 | Spring | By Bryce Derouin |

The final UP basketball event of the 2018-19 season will take place Saturday in Newberry with the 34th annual Upper Peninsula All-Star Classic. The event regularly brings together some of the UP’s top players and for some fans, it’s their first look at them. With the game coming nearly three months after the players’ last official appearance, it’s always interesting...

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Girls Basketball

Step in right direction: MHSAA seeding top two teams a smart decision

5/9/2019 | Girls Basketball | By Bryce Derouin |

The girls district matchup between the Westwood Patriots and Negaunee Miners was one of the most anticipated matchups last season. Two of the best teams in the UP — rivals at that — in a do-or-die contest. But many had an issue with when the game was played — on a Monday, in the opening round of the postseason. Despite...

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