Semifinals features a rematch from the 2023 state championships

SOS is on the brink of making history. Not the good kind. SOS woke a few hundred times Tuesday night with a terrible hacking cough.

The All-Knowing One was able to schedule an appointment with Dr. Adams, the Pride of Okemos.

SOS was coughing so much, several other patients took off and suggested Dr. Adams put SOS out of his misery.

Of course, Mrs. SOS agreed wholeheartedly, but SOS insisted on waiting until Thursday to see if he was feeling well enough to make the trip from lovely Allen Park to East Lansing.

In his almost 54 years at the Free Press, SOS has never used a sick day and now that SOS is semiretired, he is no longer eligible for sick days.

But SOS is eligible to continue picking games and doing it better than anyone in the continental United States.

In Tuesday’s quarterfinal games, SOS was a terrific 15-1, missing only Rochester Hills Northwest’s upset of Sandusky.

So here we go as the girls tournament moves to East Lansing.

Division 1

Grand Blanc (22-4) Belleville (23-2), noon Friday. This will be a step up in competition for Grand Blanc. Chelsea Bishop will have to play her best game of the season to get past Belleville and phenom Sydney Savoury, the top freshman in the state. Belle Tire 62, Blankety-Blancs 61.

Rockford (26-1) vs. West Bloomfield (25-1), 2 p.m. Friday. This is the rematch the state has been anticipating ever since the brackets were announced. Rockford pulled off the upset in the final last season, but the chance of that happening again are remote since Rockford’s Sienna Wolfe underwent ACL surgery last week. West Broomfield 58, Rockford Files 51.

Division 2

Negaunee (26-1) Detroit Edison (21-3), 5:30 p.m. Friday. When Negaunee began to sputter last week, Jenna Maki came to the rescue to save the Miners. But this is a whole new deal for Negaunee. Edison is used to playing in these games and Isis Johnson-Musah is ready to explode. Thomas Edison 62, Nagging 53.

Grand Rapids West Catholic (26-1) vs. Ann Arbor Richard (27-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday. West Catholic is making its third straight semifinal appearance thanks to some tremendous team defense. It doesn’t hurt, either, if Reese Polega hits big shot after big shot. Richard is ranked No. 1, but it didn’t play like it in the quarterfinals. Richard L Shook 52, Catholics in Grand Rapids 51.

Division 3

Niles Brandywine (25-1) vs. Lake City (25-2), noon Thursday.

The Brandywine players are trying to duplicate what the Brandywine boys team accomplished last weekend — win a state title. Ellie Knapp and Kadence Brumitt can provide the firepower, but what can they do to stop Lake City’s Kenzie Bisballe and Allie Bisballe. That may be too much to overcome. Town Pump Saloon 62, Brandy’s Wine 61.

Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (18-9) vs. Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (24-4), 2 p.m. Thursday. SOS has just one request from Arbor Prep’s Utomi twins — Stephanie and Stacy — whatever you do, please stay out of foul trouble. And if you guys to find yourselves in foul trouble, make sure your teammates get the ball to Taylor Wallace so the offense will be in good hands. Arbor Day 66, North by Northwest 60.

Division 4

Ishpeming (26-1) Fowler (24-3), 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Believe it or not, SOS can recall 50 years ago. Yeah, he’s way older than that. SOS remembers it has been 50 years since Ishpeming won a regional and now it is one victory away from the state championship game. To claim the title all the Hematites have to do is knock off Fowler, which is no easy task. only Tom Izzo wins more in March than the Fowler girls. Mat Ishbia 45, Foul or

Fair 41.

Frankfort (22-5) vs. Kingston (26-1), 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Kingston girls have had another terrific season, as usual. But now the question is can Kingston break through and get to the state championship game. Of course it can, as long as Molly Walker is feeling better than SOS. But Frankfort is rarin’ to go and will be ready for the Breslin Center. Dempsey’s Cottage 62, Kingston Trio 54.

Mick McCabe is a former longtime columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at mick.mccabe11@gmail.com . Follow him on Twitter @mickmccabe1. Save $10 on his new book, “Mick McCabe’s Golden Yearbook: 50 Great Years of Michigan’s Best High School Players, Teams & Memories,” by ordering right now at McCabe.PictorialBook.com.