Boys Finals: Points A to B

March 22, 2012

Loaded expectations come with being the favorite for any MHSAA championship. 

But a pair of favorites and two groups of strong contenders make for loaded fields for both the Class A and B Boys Basketball Finals this weekend at Michigan State's Breslin Center.

In Class B, reigning champion Lansing Sexton is a heavy favorite, but 2011 runner-up Muskegon Heights and 2010 champion Detroit Country Day also are in the mix. And in Class A, top-ranked Saginaw and No. 2 Romulus both have reached the final weekend of the MHSAA winter season.

Below is a schedule for Friday's Semifinals and all four Saturday Finals. Tickets cost $8 per session, and parking at Michigan State is $5. All Semifinals will be streamed live at MHSAA.tv along with the press conferences after each, and the A Final will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Detroit -- with Class B then broadcast on delay at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Click for scores as they come in, and return to Second Half for coverage of all 12 games this weekend at Breslin.

Friday's Semifinals
Class A

Rockford (21-5) vs. Romulus (22-3) - 1 p.m.
Saginaw (24-2) vs. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North  (22-4) - 2:50 p.m.
Class B

Stevensville Lakeshore (23-2) vs. Muskegon Heights (20-6) - 6 p.m.
Detroit Country Day (21-5) vs. Lansing Sexton (25-1) - 7:50 p.m.

Saturday's Finals
Class A - 4 p.m.
Class B - 8 p.m.
Class C - Noon
Class D - 10 a.m.

Now, a look at this season's Class A and B Semifinalists (Click for previews of the Class C and D Semifinalists.):

Class A

MACOMB L’ANSE CREUSE NORTH
Record/rank:
22-4, unranked
League finish:
First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Coach:
Jay Seletsky, 10th season (140-80)
Championship history:
Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins:
54-52 and 64-59 over Romeo, 51-50 over Fraser (Regional Semifinal), 43-41 over Detroit Denby (Regional Final).
Players to watch:
Tyler Conklin (6-3 jr. G – 12 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.0 apg), Robert Hopkins (6-3 jr. G – 9.5 ppg).
Outlook:
L’Anse Creuse North might be the biggest surprise of this weekend after finishing 10-11 a year ago and posting two sub-.500 records over the last three seasons. But Seletsky has led the team to three league titles in five seasons, and his team knows not only how to win, but how to win close games – eight wins this season were by three or fewer points, and two more were by four points.

ROCKFORD
Record/rank:
21-5, unranked
League finish: Tied for first in O-K Red
Coach: Nick Allen, first season (21-5)
Championship history: One MHSAA title (2003).
Best wins: 62-55 over Class B honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian, 36-35 over Hudsonville, 43-32 over East Kentwood, 55-53 over Okemos (Quarterfinal).
Player to watch: Chad Carlson (5-9 jr. G – 13.2 ppg, 59 3-pointers).
Outlook: After a tough league race that ended with Rockford sharing the championship with both Hudsonville and East Kentwood, Rockford was plenty prepared for the tournament – and came back from 10 down in the second half to win the Quarterfinal. Carlson runs the point and is the player teams focus on most. But four more – 6-1 Alex Durkin, 6-3 Mitch Caywood, 6-1 Chase Fairchild and 6-6 Ivy Johnson – all average 5.5 points per game and help bring a physical edge.

ROMULUS
Record/rank:
22-3, No. 2
League finish: First in Western Wayne Athletic Conference
Coach: Nate Oats, 10th season (195-50)
Championship history: One MHSAA title (1986), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 67-62 over No. 5 Detroit Pershing (Quarterfinal), 76-62 over No. 10 Saginaw Arthur Hill, 83-67 over No. 9 Kalamazoo Central, 86-51 over Class B honorable mention Muskegon Heights, 60-59 over Class B No. 3 Detroit Country Day, 69-57 over Class B No. 9 Dearborn Heights Robichaud.
Players to watch: Elbert Matthews (6-4 jr. G – 13.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.3 apg), Raven Lee (6-3 sr. G – 12.7 ppg, 3.0 apg), Wesley Clark (6-0 jr. G – 12.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.4 spg, 37 3-pointers).
Outlook: Romulus regularly plays one of the state’s toughest regular-season schedules, and regularly drives deep into the Class A tournament. The Eagles’ run to a runner-up finish in 2005 was the first of five Regional and six District championships in the last eight seasons under Oats. Lee has committed to sign with Eastern Michigan.

SAGINAW
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 1
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Coach: Julian Taylor, first season (24-2)
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recently 2008), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 88-76 and 66-62 (District Final) over No. 10 Saginaw Arthur Hill, 71-62 over No. 2 Romulus, 73-59 over Bay City Western.
Players to watch: Travontis Richardson (6-2 sr. G – 15 ppg), Julian Henderson (6-2 jr. F – 12 ppg).
Outlook: Like Romulus, Saginaw annually plays a strong regular-season schedule featuring not only tough competition from the Saginaw Valley, but also many of the best from the Detroit area and beyond. Those two losses this season were by five to Arthur Hill – a loss which Saginaw later avenged – and late, by a point, to No. 9 Kalamazoo Central. Five other players average at least eight points per game behind solid backcourt duo Richardson and Henderson.

Class B

DETROIT COUNTRY DAY
Record/rank:
21-5, No. 3
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Coach: Kurt Keener, 34th season (653-176)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA titles (most recently 2010), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 89-52 over Harper Woods Chandler Park (Regional Final), 110-75 over Class D No. 7 Southfield Christian, 65-55 over Class A No. 10 Saginaw Arthur Hill.
Players to watch: Robert Puleikis (6-9 sr. C – 12.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg), Jodan Price (6-7 sr. F – 11.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.1 apg), Austin Price (6-3 jr. G – 10.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.9 apg).
Outlook: All eight of Country Day’s championships have come under Keener, and the Yellowjackets face a familiar opponent to start this potential run – Sexton, which Country Day beat in the 2010 Final and lost to in a 2011 Semifinal. Puleikis earned an all-state honorable mention this week and is one of a number of sizable Yellowjackets – the team also brings 6-6 and 6-3 players off the bench.  

LANSING SEXTON
Record/rank:
25-1, No. 1
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Blue
Coach: Carlton Valentine, sixth season (122-25)
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recently 2011), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins:  56-37 over No. 9 Dearborn Heights Robichaud (Quarterfinal), 66-56 over No. 4 Lansing Catholic (District Final), 80-71 over Class A No. 9 Kalamazoo Central, 70-57 and 93-80 over Class A honorable mention East Lansing, 72-60 and 75-58 over Class A No. 3 Lansing Eastern,
Players to watch: Bryn Forbes (6-3 sr. G – 18 ppg, 44 3-pointers), Anthony Clemmons (6-1 sr. G – 15 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.1 apg), Denzel Valentine (6-6 sr. G – 14.2 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 8.4 apg), Jalen Hayes (6-7 jr. F – 12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg).
Outlook: Despite a one-point loss to Detroit Pershing during the season’s first half, it’s fair to argue Sexton is the state’s top squad, regardless of class. Four starters are back from last season, and all will play at the Division I college level – Valentine was named Associated Press Class B Player of the Year this week and has signed with Michigan State, while Clemmons has signed with Iowa, Forbes with Cleveland State and Hayes has a number of offers. The team’s top two guards off the bench last season also are back, and 6-9 freshman Trevor Manuel mans the middle.

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS
Record/rank:
20-6, honorable mention
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Coach: Keith Guy, ninth season (189-39)
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recently 1979), eight runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 51-44 over No. 8 Cadillac (Quarterfinal), 64-51 over Rockford, 84-78 over Class A honorable mention Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 67-54 over Class C No. 7 Shelby
Players to watch: Juwon Martin (6-5 jr. F – 15.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Deshaun Thrower (6-0 soph. G – 11 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.4 apg), Mike Davis (6-4 soph. F – 10.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg).
Outlook: Although Muskegon Heights is seeking its first championship in more than three decades, few teams are more regular guests at Breslin Center. The Tigers are reigning runners-up and also finished runners-up in 2005. They’ve won their District every season under Guy, and also five Regionals including their last three. And this could be just the start on that next championship – the team has just three seniors, but six sophomores including two who start and Davis, a big contributor off the bench.

STEVENSVILLE LAKESHORE
Record/rank:
23-2, No. 7
League finish: First in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference
Coach: Sean Schroeder, 10th season (164-70)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 44-35 over Sturgis (Regional Semifinal), 65-55 over No. 10 Otsego (Regional Final), 58-48 over honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian (Quarterfinal), 69-63 over Class A No. 9 Kalamazoo Central.
Players to watch: Austin Kaiser (sr. G – 10.1 ppg, 36 3-pointers), Loren Johnson (sr. G – 10 ppg, 3.4 apg).
Outlook: Lakeshore has won 16 straight and lost only to Kalamazoo Central and Niles this season. The Lancers won their second Regional title and third District and league titles in six seasons. Balance is key – seven players average between six and 10 points per game, with senior Ryan Avery also among three at 10 ppg.

PHOTO: Lansing Sexton senior guard Anthony Clemmons (right) is back trying to lead the Big Reds to a second-straight Class B championship.

TC Christian's Broderick Sets Standard for Boys Hoops 3-Point Shooting

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 2, 2026

Traverse City Christian’s Reece Broderick tied an MHSAA record on Jan. 24, 2025, when he drilled 15 3-pointers during an 85-36 win over Grand Traverse Academy. He finished with 45 points total, with a high of six 3-pointers during the first quarter.

Those 15 contributed to his season total of 108 – which ranks fourth all-time – and he closed his four-year, 89-game varsity run that winter as the MHSAA career record holder with 368 3-pointers.

Total, he has five listings in the MHSAA boys basketball record book, with his 104 3-pointers as a junior continuing to rank fifth for a single season and just behind his senior-year performance.

See below for several recently-added listings to the boys basketball record book, and click the heading to see the record book in full. Several more applications have been received and are in the process of being confirmed.

Boys Basketball

Austin Cole played his roles well on both ends of the court in Burr Oak’s Jan. 10, 2023, win over Athens, and magnificently on the defense end. The sophomore had 15 steals in the 55-33 victory, setting a new single-game record, to go with his 11 points.

Eight days after Cole’s 15-steal game, senior Cody Boling tied the record with 15 steals in Center Line’s 79-54 win over Hazel Park – during which Boling also scored 31 points.

Five days after Boling’s 15-steal game, Crystal Falls Forest Park’s Felix Quevedo also totaled 15 steals, on Jan. 23, 2023, against Gwinn. Quevedo finished that season with 134 steals – fifth-most all-time – over 24 games.

Ben Miller finished his three-season varsity career at Dundee in 2018 with 316 rebounds over 24 games that winter to make the single-season list and 700 rebounds to make the career list in that category.

Saginaw Nouvel’s MJ Yeager added two more record book entries during a brilliant junior season in 2022-23. His 118 3-pointers over 26 games rank second on that list, and his 90-percent free-throw shooting success rate tied for 13th-highest for one season. He’s now playing at Oakland.

Mesick’s 2022-23 success included a District championship and a series of record book entries, especially for 3-point shooting. The Bulldogs were added three times for single-game 3-pointers, with a high of 18, and their 231 over 25 games rank sixth all-time. Carter Simmer was added for 88 3-pointers for the season and 195 over his four-season career. Teammate Ashtyn Simerson was added for 107 steals over 25 games.

Brandon Johns enjoyed a decorated four-season career at East Lansing from 2015-18 that saw him score 1,753 points and make the MHSAA record book with 378 free throws, 891 rebounds and 270 blocked shots – all over 89 games. He went on to play at University of Michigan and Virginia Commonwealth.

David Shillinger provided a record book-worthy defensive boost to Ludington during the 2022-23 season with 87 steals over 23 games as the Orioles finished 20-3.

Cooper Whipkey capped his Mackinaw City career in 2022-23 on three record book lists – for 93 3-pointers as a senior, 214 over his four-season varsity career, and also for 81 steals as a senior. Teammate Lucas Bergstrom made the single-season rebounds list with 331, and 2021 graduate Kal O’Brien was added for 708 rebounds over his four seasons. Lars Huffman made the single-season steals list in 2022-23 with 81 as well and the career list with 245 over four seasons. He's continuing his track career at St. Norbert (Wis.).

On Feb. 14, 2006, Benzie Central’s Tyler Moss totaled 14 steals in a game when he did so during a 71-63 win over Elk Rapids. Moss was a senior that season. Jaxon Childers made his presence known on both ends of the court throughout his four-year Benzie Central career, and defensively he made state history. Childers finished 2023-24 with 305 steals over 91 career games, good for 11th on that all-time list. He also made the single-season list with 98 as a sophomore and 93 as a junior. He played football at Northern Michigan.

Trent Hopkins made the list for most 3-pointers in one season in 2022-23, draining 81 in 223 attempts over 23 games for Auburn Hills Oakland Christian.

Cameron Peterson’s junior season at Rudyard in 2022-23 included a historic highlight, and he’s been added for his 20 points during the second quarter of a Jan. 21 game against Brimley. Peterson made six 3-pointers and another field goal over those eight minutes.

Carson Knoll undoubtedly found the zone Jan. 6, 2023, when he scored 21 points during the second quarter of Frankenmuth’s 68-28 win over Saginaw Swan Valley. Frankenmuth as a team also was added for making 16 3-pointers in a 75-45 win over New Lothrop that Jan. 18 and 15 against Standish-Sterling during the 2018-19 season.

Parker Hovey’s 217 assists over 24 games as a senior in 2022-23 are ranked 10th on that single-season list. The Hart graduate is continuing at Hope College.

Adrian Lenawee Christian’s 88-38 win over Britton Deerfield on Feb. 2, 2024, got off to a fast start – fast enough to make the record book. Lenawee Christian was added for points scored in one quarter after taking a 41-9 lead by the end of the first. Lenawee Christian also was added for making 216 3-pointers in 2024-25 and 196 in 2023-24.

Posen senior Logan Timm contributed plenty all over the floor in 2023-24, but most memorably on defense with 176 steals over 24 games. He also made the single-game steals list four times, with a high of 14 twice.

Senior Zander Smith drilled 12 3-pointers in a Feb. 2, 2024, New Haven win over Detroit Universal Academy, tying for fifth on the single-game list in that category. New Haven also made the team list with 19 total.

Among Cory Coe’s accomplishments as a senior in 2001-02, the Williamston senior made 90 percent of his free-throw attempts to make that record book list. He went on to play at Hillsdale College.

The 22 made free throws by Steve Balza on Feb. 14, 1989, ranked sixth-most in one game in MHSAA history at the time and remain tied for 10th-most 35 years later. He was a senior that season at St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran and attempted 30 total that game against Covert.

Bronson then-junior Kamron Brackett reached the record book for the first time in 2023-24 with 103 steals over 23 games, and he just missed the single-game steals list with 10 in two contests.

A little more than a decade later, LeRoy Pine River’s Tyler Lewis has reached the record book for his outstanding perimeter shooting as a senior in 2012-13. He was added to the season 3-pointers list with 84 after making nearly half his shots from beyond the arc. He went on to play at Lansing Community College.

After already earning a single-season steals listing as a junior, Grand Rapids Wellspring’s Zeekeal Jackson finished his career in 2023-24 with 267 steals over four seasons and 74 games. Grand Rapids Wellspring also was added to the records for making 206 3-pointers that winter, and 15 in a game.

Layk Woodruff and Reese Longstreth helped Beaverton coach Roy Johnston finish his career in 2023-24 as the all-time winningest in Michigan boys basketball history. Woodruff made the single-season 3-pointers list with 91 over 24 games, while Longstreth made the rebounds list with 310.

Austin Vang was like a wall on Suttons Bay’s side of the floor during a Feb. 18, 2025, win over Boyne Falls. The Norsemen then-senior set an MHSAA record with 16 steals.

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central’s Jonas VanderWoude finished his high school career in 2024 making the record book for the first time with a .901 free-throw percentage over 26 games. He’s playing now at Davenport.

On Feb. 4, 2025, Hannahville Nah Tah Wahsh made a state-record 32 3-pointers in a 96-50 win over Wetmore Munising Baptist; all of the team’s points were scored from beyond the arc. Senior Jayden Sagataw tied for the fifth-most on the single-game individual list with 13.

Jalen Kampen capped his Parchment career in 2024-25 as one of the top free throw shooters in state history, connecting on 87 percent of his attempts as a senior to tie for 17th on the career list with a .807 percentage. He also made the single-season free throws made list with 162. As a team, Parchment made the single-game 3-pointers list with 15 and combined with opponent Delton Kellogg to make the list for two teams in one game as they had 24 together Jan. 7, 2025 – which tied for ninth-most on that list. Kampen is continuing at Central Michigan.

Carson Ososki earned an entry in the MHSAA record book in 2024-25 as a junior with his defensive work. He totaled 94 steals in 21 games played for Au Gres-Sims.

Shane Rykse finished his four-year Schoolcraft career in 2024 with 261 3-pointers, ranking 13th all-time, and with a career free-throw percentage of .852 that ranks fifth on that list. Additionally, Schoolcraft as a team was added multiple times including for 215 3-pointers (tied for 12th) during the 2023-24 season. Rykse plays at Spring Arbor. Tucker Walther capped his four-season Schoolcraft career in 2024-25 tied for fourth all-time having played in 104 varsity games. He helped his team to an 83-21 record and is continuing at Hope College.

Ewen-Trout Creek’s Jaden Borseth finished his four-year varsity career in 2022 with 2,073 points, one of only 47 players to reach 2,000. He continued at Gogebic Community College.

Austin Long finished his four-season varsity career at Vassar in 2024-25 on the all-time free throw list with 315 made in 420 attempts over four seasons and 91 games. He’s now playing football at Elmhurst (Ill.).

Cooper Wagner earned Saginaw Swan Valley’s first record book listing in this sport as a junior in 2024-25, with 112 steals in 24 games played.

Buckley’s Landon Kulawiak capped his four-season varsity career in 2024-25 on three career lists reflecting his scoring talents. He made the career points list with 2,034 over 91 games, the career 3-pointers list with 261 and career free throws list with 333. His 3-pointers total is tied for 13th.

Oskar Kangas finished his four-season varsity career at Iron Mountain in 2024-25  on the career rebounds list with 978 over 94 games. He also fell only 26 points shy of scoring 2,000. He’s playing at Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Gregory Grays’ 60-point game for Southfield-Lathrup against Toledo Scott (Ohio) in 1997 already was in the record book, but a few more listings have been added. Grays scored 25 points during the fourth quarter of that game, and he also made 20 of 21 free throws – including 20 straight. He went on to play at Penn State and Detroit Mercy.

Landen Reister earned his school’s first boys basketball record book entry in 2024-25, when he made the steals list with 83 over 25 games. He was a senior and is playing now at Grand Rapids Community College.

Trey Lynn became the second player in Brimley history to reach the record book in this sport, doing so for single-season steals three times including with 111 as a senior in 2024-25, and for his 299 steals over 87 games and four seasons. Lynn is playing baseball at Bay College.

Brad Coleman finished his Millington career in 2025 as one of an elite group who have scored at least 2,000 varsity points – but also is listed in multiple other categories. Coleman finished with 2,058 points over 96 games and four seasons, and he also ranks in career steals and four times in free-throw categories, including eighth all-time with 523 made in 670 attempts. He’s continuing his career at Grace Christian.

More than 40 years after graduating from Melvindale, Paul Bargardi was added for his 367 rebounds as a senior in 1982-83. He went on to play at Saginaw Valley State.

Luke Tropea earned multiple 3-pointers listings during his career at Chelsea as a freshman and Jackson Lumen Christi over his final three seasons before graduating in 2025. He made the single-season list as a senior with 90, and the career list with 233.

Onsted’s Ayden Davis finished his impressive four-year run in 2024 on single-season and career lists for rebounds and blocks. He ranks fifth all-time with 1,222 career rebounds over 90 games, and second on the blocks career list with 479 – with a fourth-best single-season listing of 161 blocks as a sophomore. He’s playing at Wright State.

PHOTO Traverse City Christian’s Reece Broderick shoots a 3-pointer against Gaylord St. Mary during his senior season. (Photo courtesy of Traverse City Record-Eagle.)