We know Hartland’s Parker Sundman and Brighton’s Trevor Viau are going to get their looks and get their points when Hartland and Brighton renew their rivalry Monday night on opening night of the MHSAA boy’s state basketball districts at Hartland High School.
Sundman and Viau are the stars but they might not decide who advances to a Wednesday night battle against Fenton.
Hartland against Brighton is often not pretty. There is no winner. There is a survivor.
Who survives the blood bath in the paint?
Who survives the wicked screens that are set throughout the game?
Who is man enough to sink a big three-point shot with a defender barking in your face?
Who is the role player that steps up?
That was the case when Hartland (12-10) pounded out a 53-51 victory over Brighton in January. It was also the case when Brighton (11-11) returned the favor 61-47 a month later.
“They know what it takes to win district games,” Hartland Coach Kevin Blouin said of his team. “We just focus on every possession. When one is done you just move on to the next one. I know it is cliché, but it is very important this time of year.”
Both teams have improved over the course of the season. Brighton is more balanced, having established an inside attack. That has given the Bulldogs sharp shooters more room from the outside.
Guess where Hartland got better. You guessed it. The Eagles are tougher inside and are ready to sharpen their elbows against the more physical Bulldogs. Brighton is also one of the hotter teams in the area. They’ve won seven of their last nine games and even the two losses showed Brighton is not to be looked past.
They battled but lost a five-point game to Canton who was unbeaten in the KLAA West Division. And they lost by five to Belleville, runner up in the KLAA East Division.
“You want to play the best at the end and I think we are pretty close to where we want to be,” Brighton Coach Michael Griest said.
Hartland stumbled late with three straight losses, but is coming off a satisfying 10-point win over Livonia Stevenson.
“We are shooting the ball well, moving the ball well,” Blouin said. “We are good defensively so I am happy where we are as a team.”