Breslin Bound: Boys Report Week 6

January 15, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Undefeated teams quickly are becoming few as boys basketball season heads into mid-January. 

But this week's list of teams making noise includes a handful that remain perfect – although a few more will face their toughest challenges soon. 

Records and scores below are based on those submitted to the MHSAA.com Score Center.  

1. New Haven (6-0) – Coming off 21 wins last season, the Rockets had high expectations – and made great on a good start with a 101-98 double-overtime win over Mount Clemens on Friday; Mount Clemens hadn’t lost.

2. Detroit Pershing (9-0) – The Doughboys just keep proving their status as Detroit's best, downing Detroit Martin Luther King 78-64 and then Detroit Douglass 73-67 in overtime last week.

3. Stevensville Lakeshore (7-0) – A Class B Semifinalist a year ago, Lakeshore is surging again with only one win by fewer than 11 points this season – and that was against South Bend St. Joseph of Indiana.

4. Holt (10-1) – The Rams further cemented themselves as the class of Greater Lansing this season by beating reigning Class B champion Lansing Sexton 50-46 on Friday.

5. Frankenmuth (8-0) – This week’s “Battle of the Fans” contestant will need all the support against rival and top Tri-Valley Conference East competitor Bridgeport on Friday, but the Eagles survived a 50-46 win over Essexville Garber a week ago.

6. Climax-Scotts (8-0) – The Panthers got their first test this season in a 51-42 win over Bellevue on Friday, but no other opponent has come within 14 points.

7. Muskegon Western Michigan Christian (7-3) – After opening 1-3, the Warriors have won six straight and handed Spring Lake its first loss, 49-47, on Saturday.

8. Ithaca (7-0) – The Yellowjackets know how to play football, but they’ve long had a strong hoops program as well and have an early lead in the TVC West.

9. Lake Linden-Hubbell (7-0) – The Lakes had to survive overtime against Hancock and then three more against Calumet in December, but have won four straight by at least 18 points.

10. DeWitt (6-2) – A relative newcomer to Class A, the Panthers shocked the local competition with a 56-54 win last week over Okemos, and also own a five-point victory over  improved Grand Ledge.

PHOTO: Ithaca's Markes Gadlen (14) pushes the ball upcourt against Carson City-Crystal this season. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

Dr. Naismith Visits the MHSAA Finals

April 4, 2013

The MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals, in just their 13th season in 1938, were treated to a visit by the man who knew the game better than anyone at the time – the inventor of the game, Dr. James Naismith. 

He addressed a luncheon prior to the title games that year, and then presented the trophies and medals at the conclusion of each Lower Peninsula championship game at the Grand Rapids Civic Auditorium. 

The MHSAA and Fox Sports Detroit – with an assist from the Brooklyn Exponent and Grand Rapids Christian High School (Class B champion that season and provider of the photo above) – told the story during this winter's Finals, the 75th anniversary of Naismith's visit.