Benton Harbor Back in Breslin Spotlight
March 21, 2014
Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
EAST LANSING – Benton Harbor’s players came off the court Friday night to their band playing and fans who had filled most of the horseshoe at the north end of the Breslin Center.
It’s hard to believe the Tigers hadn’t played in an MHSAA Semifinal since 1993. But Benton Harbor basketball is back in a big way – and one win from the school’s first title since 1965.
Led by coach Corey Sterling – who played on that 1993 team – the Tigers continued their longest run in more than a decade with a 69-52 win over Cadillac to earn a spot in Saturday night’s Class B Final.
“What Benton Harbor is known for is basketball,” Tigers senior guard John Robinson, Jr., said. “For us to come back in 2014 and make a run is really big for the community and for the Benton Harbor program.”
Benton Harbor will face either Milan for Detroit Douglass at 6:30 Saturday night.
Sterling is in his second season leading his alma mater, guiding it to a 17-9 record this winter after the Tigers went 17-7 a year ago. That 1993 team was the last to make a championship game as well, where it fell in a heartbreaker 67-64 to Detroit Pershing.
Benton Harbor had won two Regional titles since, the last in 2001. But the Tigers’ reputation as a basketball power has faded only a bit, getting a boost in part during the middle of last decade when Wilson Chandler starred before moving on to DePaul and now the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.
“One thing we try to do is have the guys come in who played back in the day,” Sterling said. “(These players) are aware that the last champion was in 1965. They’re aware that I played here at Breslin in ’93 and lost by three. We remind them that Benton Harbor is a basketball school with a rich tradition. And they’re just really hungry. They don’t want their season to end.”
It took only about a quarter Friday to realize it wouldn’t end until the final day.
Benton Harbor took its first double-digit lead 1:09 into the second quarter and kept it for good over the final 18 minutes. Four players scored in double figures, led by senior forward Cortez Moore with 18 points plus 11 rebounds.
Sophomore forward Jaton Gunn added 13 points and nine rebounds, Robinson had 11 points and sophomore point guard Curtis Dawson had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Senior forward Jalen Brooks led Cadillac with 30 points despite constant attention from one or multiple defenders. But the next highest Vikings scorer totaled only five points.
Brooks was the team’s second-leading scorer last season when it fell to Detroit Country Day also in a Semifinal.
“It’s really exciting, especially for our juniors and after what we came off of from football (Cadillac finished 11-1 and won its District),” Brooks said. “That translated to the basketball court. People look at our team, and we’re not the biggest. Most people wouldn’t think we’d get where we’ve gotten. But we have a lot of heart, and I think that has a lot to do with it.”
Both teams entered the postseason unranked. Cadillac finished 19-7, with two losses by two points or fewer.
Five of Benton Harbor’s losses were by three or fewer points, which no doubt has helped as the Tigers have taken down two top-five teams over the last two weeks.
“We might’ve lost nine games this year, but we play in one of the toughest conferences in the state,” Sterling said, referring to the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West. “All our losses built character. So when teams make a run on us, we overcome it. We know how to finish games.”
Click for a full box score and video from the press conference.
PHOTOS: (Top) Benton Harbor's John Robinson, Jr., brings the ball upcourt during Friday's first Class B Semifinal. (Middle) Cadillac's Jalen Brooks dunks for two of his 30 points.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Cadillac's Jalen Brooks led all scorers in the Class B Semifinal against Benton Harbor with 30 points. Here he drives the lane for a basket and the foul - a 3-point play! (2) Cortez Moore led Benton Harbor with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Here he scores on a putback.
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 10
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 3, 2025
We are only three weeks away from the start of MHSAA Boys Basketball District Tournaments, and just under two weeks away from publishing those brackets – and movement up and down statewide Michigan Power Ratings (MPR) lists should continue to be captivating as we advance on our Feb. 16 pairings announcement.
Among notable risers over the last week were Romulus Summit Academy North in Division 2 and Fowler in Division 4, and we highlight both below along with several more continuing to make a hard drive toward pole position for the start of the postseason.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 49, Grand Rapids Northview 48 Even without injured all-stater Trey McKenney, St. Mary’s (10-6) can play with the elite and edged a good one in Northview (12-4) at the Red Hawk Showcase at Aquinas College.
2. Adrian Madison 43, Onsted 37 The Trojans, just 10-13 a year ago, moved into a tie for first in the Lenawee County Athletic Association at 12-3 overall by handing Onsted (15-1) its only defeat.
3. Elk Rapids 56, Harbor Springs 39 The Elks (12-4) avenged a 61-59 loss to Harbor Springs (12-3) from Jan. 10 to move into first alone in the Northern Shores Conference.
4. Detroit Cass Tech 77, Grand Rapids Christian 62 (OT) Cass Tech (14-1) forced overtime during the final seconds of regulation, then pulled away from the Eagles (9-7) in overtime of this game at Aquinas.
5. Cadillac 60, Traverse City West 53 Cadillac (11-4) handed West its only Big North Conference loss and put itself in strong position to at least share the title with three league games left (and one BNC loss as well) compared to five games remaining for the Titans (12-2).
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Detroit Martin Luther King (14-3) The Crusaders enter this week’s Detroit Public School League Tournament coming off a third-place finish in the PSL Blue but still definitely a favorite for the city championship. League losses came by two points to champion Renaissance (10-7) and eight to second-place Cass Tech (14-1) in mid-December. The third defeat came at the end of November to Illinois state contender Chicago Kenwood Academy. In the meantime, King has defeated nonleague Birmingham Groves (12-5), Saginaw United (13-5), Auburn Hills Avondale (11-6), Kalamazoo Central (12-2), Flint Carman-Ainsworth (11-4) and most recently Grand Rapids Catholic Central (10-5).
Muskegon (14-2) The Big Reds are in pursuit of a fourth-straight Ottawa-Kent Conference Green title and lead after sharing the championship with Mona Shores a year ago. Muskegon also has loaded its nonleague schedule again and is the only team to defeat East Lansing (16-1), with other solid wins over Hudsonville (12-3), Green second-place Byron Center (12-5) and over the weekend Ann Arbor Huron (12-4). The two losses – Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (16-1) and Warren Lincoln (12-4) – no doubt provided good looks as well. The Byron Center rematch is Friday, and dates against Grand Blanc and Kalamazoo Central also are notable coming up.
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (13-2) The Chargers are in Division 2 this season after reaching the Division 3 Quarterfinals a year ago. Playing as an independent, they continue to line up strong opponents from all four divisions – four teams with double-digit wins highlight the remaining schedule, topped by North Muskegon (14-0) and Schoolcraft (12-4). Covenant is coming off a big win over Bellaire (13-4), with another over Allendale (11-4) also popping off the page and losses to Hudsonville Unity Christian (16-1) and reigning Division 4 champion Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (13-2) smart plays for postseason prep. Unity and Allendale are in the same District bracket.
Romulus Summit Academy North (16-2) The Dragons enter this week’s Charter School Conference Tournament after earning the Gold championship and did so winning all 10 of their league games by double digits including in handing last season’s Division 3 runner-up Detroit Old Redford (14-1) its only defeat. Summit’s only losses were to Walled Lake Central (15-3) and East Lansing, and the Dragons also have league wins over Detroit University Prep (13-5) and Detroit Lincoln-King (12-6) and nonleague victories over Renaissance and Groves. University Prep and Old Redford were two of three teams to hand Summit losses during its 22-3 run last season.
DIVISION 3
Centreville (13-1) The Bulldogs are undefeated against Michigan opponents, their only loss to an Indiana team, and coming off three wins last week including a 59-50 defeat of Hartford (13-2) that left Centreville in first alone in the Southwest 10 Conference as it pursues a repeat title. The rematch is Feb. 18, and the Bulldogs also have swept White Pigeon (10-5). Wednesday’s game at Schoolcraft will be a great nonleague test after defeating Centreville last season.
Riverview Gabriel Richard (15-2) The Pioneers are building toward a potential big finish again after reaching the Division 3 Semifinals a year ago. They’ve won 10 straight, and during this run handed Jackson Lumen Christi an 88-65 loss that not only was the Titans’ only defeat but eventually decided the Catholic High School League AA title. The losses were to Division 1 Grand Blanc (10-6) and Division 2 Flint Powers Catholic (14-0), both during December, and this winning streak also includes a 79-58 win over Division 1 Flint Carman-Ainsworth (11-4).
DIVISION 4
Fowler (15-2) The Eagles opened this season with a 62-59 victory over reigning Division 4 champ Tri-unity Christian and haven’t looked back, with 13 wins by at least 12 points. Fowler will have a chance Tuesday to avenge its first loss this winter, 51-49 to rival Pewamo-Westphalia from Dec. 18, and doing so would make the Eagles and Pirates tied atop the Central Michigan Athletic Conference with four league games remaining for both. Fowler’s other loss came to Division 2 Fruitport (13-3), and wins over Fulton (11-5) and Division 2 Marshall also have provided nice bumps.
Norway (12-4) A 65-64 win over Stephenson last week kept Norway in position to share the Skyline Central Conference large-school championship with Munising, which the Knights fell to in their season opener. The big test will be Crystal Falls Forest Park on Feb. 11 – the Trojans handed Munising their lone league loss and already defeated Norway nonleague Jan. 2. The Knights’ other losses were to Iron Mountain (14-2) and West Iron County, but they bounced back from the latter by downing Kingsford (11-3) and Stephenson (10-6) for the second time, and they also are benefitting from an early win over Felch North Dickinson (12-5).
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Detroit U-D Jesuit (16-1) at Warren Lincoln (12-4) – This has become one of the most anticipated matchups of this entire regular season, with the Cubs rising to become one of the top contenders in Division 1 and Lincoln sharp again after winning Division 2 last year.
Tuesday – Oxford (16-0) at Lake Orion (13-5) – The Wildcats can pull away a little more comfortably from second-place Lake Orion in the Oakland Activities Association Red, or the Dragons can avenge Oxford’s 57-37 win from Jan. 3 and move into position to share the title.
Tuesday – Beal City (12-3) at McBain (13-1) – Beal City’s 57-48 win in their first meeting remains McBain’s only loss, and the result of this rematch could eventually decide the Highland Conference title.
Friday – Lansing Waverly (14-2) at East Lansing (16-1) – East Lansing is first and Waverly second in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue thanks to the Trojans’ 75-65 win in their first meeting Dec. 19.
Friday – Bad Axe (13-3) at Millington (14-1) – These two are tied atop the Big Thumb Conference White standings with Bad Axe having won their first meeting 60-54 on Jan. 15.
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PHOTOS (Top) A Mount Pleasant defender works to block Cortez Porter’s path to the basket during the Oilers’ recent 52-45 win over Davison. (Middle) Negaunee's Brady Mager (4) tries to wall off Marquette's Ford Richardson (11) as Richardson drives during his team’s Dec. 10 win over the Miners. (Davison/Mount Pleasant photo by Terry Lyons. Negaunee/Marquette photo by Cara Kamps.)