4 months ago
KALAMAZOO, MI – And past location were three.
Gobles, Mendon and South Haven are nan only Kalamazoo-area boys hoops teams still opinionated without a nonaccomplishment entering nan caller year, riding early-season momentum and staking declare successful nan latest group of area rankings.
As teams now settee into convention play and cogwheel up for nan bosom of nan boys hoops season, we’re present to rank nan area’s apical squads, on pinch which are already surging into 2026.
Check retired each those teams beneath successful nan latest Kalamazoo-area boys hoops powerfulness rankings.
5 connected nan emergence
Gobles
Make it 7 consecutive victories for nan Tigers to commencement nan play -- a squad that’s disconnected to its champion commencement successful astatine slightest 15 years. Gobles stunned Lawton astatine nan buzzer connected Tuesday acknowledgment to Aiden Beam’s heroics, capping a spirited comeback win. Jayden Otis led nan measurement pinch a monster double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds, while 6-foot-6 large man Aden Newberry added 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Gobles has acquisition and size, a large advantage astatine nan small-school level. Its propelled them to a stellar start, arsenic they now purpose to return patient power of nan SAC-Central pinch a large showdown against Galesburg-Augusta connected Friday.
Mattawan
After a reliable five-win play past year, Mattawan looks revamped and rejuvenated successful 2025-26 – nan Wildcats are disconnected to a 5-2 commencement led by a beardown halfway of 9 seniors. That acquisition came successful useful connected Tuesday, arsenic Mattawan earned possibly its biggest triumph of nan twelvemonth acknowledgment to a stunning 21-1 last framework sprint to tally distant pinch a 50-35 triumph complete Plainwell.
The Wildcats tin agelong teams retired pinch shooting, which starts pinch Hayden Campbell and Liam Walsh, while seniors Gavin Ruhrup, Ethan Bouma and Everett Wherley person each taken turns providing cardinal contributions. Ruhrup has fixed Mattawan a large assistance disconnected nan chair lately, grabbing 4 steals against Plainwell and finishing pinch six points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals against Haslett.
Mendon
Another week, different stellar showcasing from nan Gorham twins. Mendon’s prima elder duo has elevated nan Hornets to caller heights this season, providing an instrumental effect connected some ends of nan level en way to nan team’s 8-0 start. Owen Gorham eclipsed 1,000 points for his profession complete nan vacation break, joining his copy brother, Ryder, successful nan exclusive scoring club. That tandem mixed for 40 points successful Mendon’s blowout triumph complete Jackson Christian connected Tuesday.
But nan Hornets are proving to beryllium much than conscionable a two-man show. Carter Hutson and Dante Goto person provided a large punch successful their ain respective ways, further igniting an discourtesy that has scored 60-plus points successful 8 of its 9 games. The Hornets will look to support their footing atop nan SCAA-West pinch showdowns against Burr Oak and Colon successful nan adjacent week.
Schoolcraft
Schoolcraft played 1 of nan much competitory vacation break schedules successful nan area, and while it fell to some Division 1 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern and Division 2 Grand Rapids South Christian, those defeats will only salary dividends travel tourney time. The Eagles, a Division 3 program, person since returned to shape pinch back-to-back wins complete Ovid-Elsie and Battle Creek Lakeview to commencement nan caller year, arsenic Kodee Bienz poured successful a game-high 22 points successful nan Eagles’ 64-36 triumph complete nan Spartans connected Tuesday.
Wayne State perpetrate Jimmy Miller continues to beryllium a matchup nightmare for astir small-school teams, and if nan Eagles tin proceed to get buckets from Bienz, Ty Goddard and Co., don’t beryllium amazed to spot this squad still live heavy into March.
South Haven
It’s still early, but South Haven mightiness person its champion squad successful caller memory. The Rams are unbeaten and disconnected to a 7-0 commencement acknowledgment to nan move talents of prima defender Noah Weaver, while Isaac Chalupa, Grayson Knox and Max Verseput person each stepped up successful cardinal spots. Weaver dropped a season-high 30 points against Comstock connected Dec. 30, adding six rebounds and finishing 12-of-16 from nan field.
The Rams person handled business truthful far, but this week will beryllium telling – South Haven hosts some Niles Brandywine and Bridgman, 2 teams enjoying stellar starts themselves. The Bobcats look overmuch for illustration nan squad that won it each successful 2024, while Bridgman won nan SAC-Lakeshore past play and is disconnected to a 7-0 start.
On nan bubble: Portage Central (3-4), Portage Northern (4-3), Bangor (6-3), Comstock (4-3), Otsego (5-2), Bloomingdale (5-2), Vicksburg (4-5), Galesburg-Augusta (3-4), Parchment (5-3)
10. Gobles (7-0)
Previous ranking: Unranked
This week: Defeated Lawton (45-43), Friday astatine Galesburg-Augusta (3-4)
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9. Mendon (9-0)
Previous ranking: Unranked
This week: Defeated Jackson Christian (69-41), Friday vs. Athens Factoryville Christian (0-4)
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8. Kalamazoo Hackett (5-4)
Previous ranking: No. 9
This week: Defeated Galesburg-Augusta (64-60), Friday astatine Constantine (0-7)
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7. Plainwell (6-2)
Previous ranking: No. 3
This week: Lost to Mattawan (50-35), Friday astatine Otsego (5-2)
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6. Mattawan (5-2)
Previous ranking: Unranked
This week: Defeated Plainwell (50-35), Friday astatine Battle Creek Lakeview (2-7)
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5. South Haven (7-0)
Previous ranking: No. 7
This week: Wednesday vs. Niles Brandywine (7-1), Friday vs. Bridgman (7-2)
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4. Paw Paw (5-4)
Previous ranking: No. 4
This week: Friday vs. Three Rivers (1-6)
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3. Schoolcraft (6-3)
Previous ranking: No. 6
This week: Defeated Battle Creek Lakeview (64-36), Friday vs. Kalamazoo Christian (4-3)
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2. Loy Norrix (5-2)
Previous ranking: No. 2
This week: vs. Stevensville Lakeshore (4-3)
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- Kalamazoo Central (5-1)
Previous ranking: No. 1
This week: Friday astatine Battle Creek Central (5-3)
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