Breslin Bound: Boys Report Week 2
December 20, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
As with football during the fall, Second Half tries to hit all classes and all corners of the state for these weekly boys and girls basketball reports.
But sometimes, focusing on the powers in Class A and B is simply unavoidable.
Most of this week's 10 notable performances came from some of our biggest and best-known schools. (Results and records based on those reported to Score Center at MHSAA.com)
1. Warren DeLaSalle (3-0) – The Pilots have been the Detroit Catholic League team to beat for half a decade, and that could continue this winter. DeLaSalle beat Farmington Hills Harrison 64-50 before edging Class B power Grand Rapids Christian 77-76 in double overtime.
2. Gibraltar Carlson (2-0) – The Marauders’ 70-53 win over Saginaw Buena Vista might not have earned the biggest headline from Saturday’s Metro Detroit Saginaw Valley Challenge at West Bloomfield. But given Buena Vista’s rich tradition, it was still intriguing – although Carlson is coming off a run to its Regional Final too.
3. Romulus (2-1) – I hope to avoid repeating teams on this list from week to week. But Romulus beating reigning two-time Class B champion Lansing Sexton 67-52 makes the Eagles a must again.
4. Grand Rapids Christian (1-3) – It’s been a tough go for these Eagles, who are expected to contend in Class B. But despite finishing the week with that close loss to DeLaSalle, they did beat reigning Class A runner-up Rockford 48-39 earlier on.
5. Rockford (1-2) – The Rams also opened with a couple of losses, but finished the week with a 63-53 win over Muskegon – which made this list last week and is considered a possible contender this season.
6. Bessmer (5-0) – After going 10-11 in 2011-12, Bessemer is halfway to matching that win total. Last week’s were close ones – 50-48 over Hurley, Wis., and 55-51 over Ironwood.
7. Lansing Eastern (2-1) – The Quakers have had three Division I college prospects graduate or move to schools out of state over the last two years, but keep rolling. They picked up solid wins over Williamston (68-58) and East Lansing (55-50).
8. East Jackson (4-0) – The Trojans are off to another nice start coming off a 15-win season. They opened last week beating Brooklyn Columbia Central 51-45 before doubling up Manchester 102-61 – after another high-scoring 100-94 win over Manchester a year ago.
9. Saginaw (4-0) – The reigning Class A champion is on the move again. After beating Midland 86-77 and then Saginaw Heritage 81-34, the Trojans came back Saturday to beat a strong Detroit Southeastern team 57-56 in the MDSV Challenge.
10. Flint Southwestern (3-1) – The Knights are already halfway to last season’s win total, thanks in part to victories last week over Flint Northwestern (63-59) and Flint Powers Catholic (70-39).
PHOTO: Grand Rapids Christian's Drake Harris attempts to drive around a Rockford defender during last week's win against the reigning Class A runner-up. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Flashback 100: Rice's Championship-Winning Ways Started at Flint Northwestern
April 11, 2025
Walter Clayton Jr. led Florida to the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball championship, scoring a tournament-high 134 points over six consecutive victories. Despite his impressive performance, Clayton’s total still fell 50 points short of the all-time record for a single NCAA Tournament — held by Glen Rice, who scored 184 points during Michigan’s title run in 1989.
That 1989 NCAA championship wasn’t Rice’s first taste of victory. Before his college success, he led Flint Northwestern to back-to-back MHSAA Class A state titles in 1984 and 1985. The Wildcats compiled a dominant 55-1 record over those two seasons — a mark that stood as an MHSAA record until Powers North Central went 55-0 over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. In 1985, Rice averaged 28.6 points per game, finishing the season with 802 points — still the 22nd-highest total in state history.
Flint Northwestern’s 1984 boys’ basketball championship was the first in school history. That same year, the girls team also claimed the Class A title — marking its first championship as well — and repeated in 1985.
After winning titles in both high school and college, Rice went on to enjoy a 15-year NBA career, highlighted by an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. A three-time NBA all-star, he averaged 18.3 points per game over his career.
Rice remains the all-time leading scorer at University of Michigan, where his No. 41 jersey has been retired. Flint Northwestern High School closed its doors in 2018.
Previous "Flashback 100" Features
March 28: Youngquist's Times Still Among MHSAA's Fastest - Read
March 18: After 40 Years, Coles' Shot Remains Among Century's Most Famous - Read
March 7: Walled Lake Northern's Hellebuyck Reigns as NHL's Elite Netminder - Read
Feb. 27: Zeerip's Mat Stats Remain Rarely-Challenged Chart Toppers - Read
Feb. 21: Before TV Stardom, Kerwin Excelled as All-State Skier - Read
Feb. 14: Detroit Central Star Voted into Pro Football Hall of Fame - Read
Feb. 6: Multi-Sport Star Look Becomes Super Bowl Officiating Legend - Read
Jan. 31: Johnson Family Put Magical Stamp on Michigan High School Hoops - Read
Jan. 24: Future Hall of Famers Face Off First in MHSAA Class A Final - Read
Jan. 17: First-Ever WNBA Draft Pick Rocked at Salem, Won Titles at Tennessee - Read
Jan. 10: Despite Launching Before 3-Point Line, Smith Still Tops Scoring List - Read
Jan. 3: Edison's Jackson Earns Place Among State's All-Time Elite - Read
Dec. 20: Future Olympian Piper Leads Grosse Pointe North to Historic Heights - Read
Dec. 13: The Other Mr. Forsythe in Michigan School Sports - Read
Dec. 6: Coleman's Legendary Heroics Carry Harrison Through Repeat - Read
Nov. 29: Harbaugh Brothers' Football Roots Planted in Part at Pioneer - Read
Nov. 22: 8-Player Football Finals Right at Home at Superior Dome - Read
Nov. 15: Leland Career Helps Set Stage for Glass' International Stardom - Read
Nov. 8: Future Baseball Pro Led Escanaba's Legendary Football Title Run - Read
Nov. 1: Michigan High School Baseball Trio Provide World Series Voices - Read
Oct. 25: Before Leading Free World, Ford Starred for Champion GR South - Read
Oct. 18: Mercy Links Legend Becomes World Golf Hall of Famer - Read
Oct. 11: Fisher Races to Finals Stardom on Way to U.S. Olympic First - Read
Oct. 4: Lalas Leaves High School Legacies on Ice & Pitch - Read
Sept. 27: Tamer's History-Making Run Starts in Dexter, Continues to Paris - Read
Sept. 20: Todd Martin’s Road to Greatness Starts at East Lansing - Read
Sept. 13: James Earl Jones, Dickson High Hoops to Hollywood Legend - Read
Sept. 6: Pioneers' Unstoppable Streak Stretches 9 Seasons - Read
Aug. 30: Detroit dePorres Rushes to 1995 Class CC Football Championship - Read
(Photos courtesy of MLIVE/Flint Journal.)