Buckley Ends Wait with 1st Semifinal Win
March 23, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
EAST LANSING – Buckley’s boys basketball team waited a long time to make this history – more than 100 years on the court, and then through a double overtime Semifinal on the other side of the Class D bracket Thursday.
But however long it took to earn the program’s first MHSAA championship game berth, it was going to be worth it.
The Bears’ best run ever will reach this season’s final day, as they won their first Semifinal in team history 68-61 over Lansing Christian at the Breslin Center to advance to Saturday’s 10 a.m. Final against two-time reigning champion Powers North Central.
Only twice previously had Buckley made the season’s final week, playing in Quarterfinals in 2010 and 1998. But the Bears have built a dominating 26-0 run this winter keyed by a talented group of juniors who have brought plenty of attention to their small town tucked 20 miles south of Traverse City.
“Speechless. Unbelievable. (I’m sad) it’s over, but I’m glad we’re here,” junior Austin Harris said.
“Sometimes like tonight, I’m just standing out there watching these guys shoot free throws,” junior teammate Denver Cade added, “and I’m like, ‘Man, we did it. We’re here. Let’s just keep winning.’”
That toughest task is next to come. Buckley takes its perfect season into the championship game against the Jets, who needed double overtime in their Semifinal to get past Southfield Christian and extend their nation-best winning streak to 82 straight victories.
That 40-minute classic left Buckley and Lansing Christian waiting a little longer to finish the night. But the Bears were more than ready when they got their chance.
Buckley led for all but 16 seconds during the final 27 minutes against the Pilgrims (19-7), yet by only two after senior Nick Jamieson’s 3-pointer pulled them to within 61-59 with 1:03 to play. But the Bears closed on a 7-2 run making 7 of 8 free throws while Lansing Christian connected on only one shot in four attempts while trying to catch up over that final stretch.
“I thought that might be a problem,” Buckley coach Blair Moss said of the delay. “But these guys came right out. I said let’s go get them, let’s attack them. We’re not scared of anybody. We’ve been doing it all summer long, all fall, and I’m so proud of these guys because they took it right to them.”
Harris led with 28 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and Cade added 13 points and nine rebounds. Guard Joey Weber, another junior, added 10 points and six boards.
Lansing Christian said good-bye to a strong senior group, with center Preston Granger leading one more time with 15 points and eight rebounds, Forrest Bouyer adding 13 points and Matt Havey scoring 10. All five starters will graduate this spring, but having brought the Pilgrims to their second Semifinal in five seasons.
“I met with them in August … and said what do you want to do?” Lansing Christian first-year coach Chris Mustaine said. “I’m brand new, this is a senior-heavy team. What do you want to do? What do you want to accomplish? Do we want this to be fun, or what are our goals?
“And they laid it out. They said we want to play at Breslin. We want to be the best possible team we can be, and they have spent every day since that day in August trying to do that, all the way up to today. Even in the middle of the fourth quarter, we said how can we get better? And they did; we just came up a couple shots short, a couple missed free throws short of having a shot at it at the end.”
For Buckley, the biggest test is yet to come. But the Bears were looking forward to that challenge already late Thursday night.
“We came down here and we talked,” Moss said, “and we said we’re not going to go home yet.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Buckley’s Ridge Beeman (30) tries to direct a shot around the outstretched arms of Lansing Christian’s Forrest Bouyer. (Middle) The Pilgrims’ Matt Havey (3) pushes the ball upcourt.
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 9
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 27, 2025
While sub-zero temperatures froze out several games during the first half of last week, the state’s boys basketball scene warmed up plenty on the way to the weekend as Michigan’s hopefuls continued to build their title aspirations with just about a month remaining before District play begins.
This week will see our first league champions crowned, conference tournament play begin, and a flurry of other key matchups as we move closer to the final stretch of the regular season.
“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. Riverview Gabriel Richard 88, Jackson Lumen Christi 65 RGR (13-2) sits alone atop the Catholic High School League AA after handing the Titans (13-1) their only loss this season in what also was a matchup of statewide Division 3 contenders.
2. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 66, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 64 The Warriors (14-1) avenged a string of three losses to St. Mary’s (8-6) from last season, including in their Division 1 Quarterfinal.
3. Grand Rapids Northview 57, Grand Rapids South Christian 55 Northview (11-3) held onto the top spot in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold, but now alone in sending the Sailors (9-4) into second place.
4. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist 70, Southfield Christian 65 (OT) Inter-City (12-2) broke a first-place tie with Southfield Christian (11-3) in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue in a meeting of top Division 4 teams statewide as well.
5. Flint Powers Catholic 60, Warren Fitzgerald 58 The Chargers (13-0) remained perfect on the season in edging Fitzgerald (12-2) at the Downtown Showdown at Detroit Cass Tech.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Detroit U-D Jesuit (14-1) The Cubs have emerged from another elite group in the CHSL Central this season and clinched a share of the league title with Friday’s 60-58 win over Toledo Central Catholic. That came just two days after a 79-78 edging of Ann Arbor Huron, one of several notable wins this winter. Jesuit handed Brother Rice its lone loss, 58-44 on Dec. 6, and owns a 63-54 win over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and a 65-52 victory over Clarkston among other highlights. The Cubs will get a few more tests before the CHSL Tournament begins Feb. 8, most notably against reigning Division 2 champion Warren Lincoln on Feb. 4.
Marquette (10-2) After starting the season 1-2, Marquette has been on a roll defeating three double-digit win teams – Ishpeming Westwood (11-4), Iron Mountain (11-2) and Kingsford (10-2) – plus Grand Blanc 66-65 after a long trip downstate Jan. 18. Marquette leads Kingsford by a game in the Great Northern Conference heading into the second half of the league schedule. The two losses came on back-to-back nights during the first weekend of December at Traverse City West and then Traverse City Central and by a combined seven points, and the Sentinels could see both again in District play after West halted their 20-4 campaign last season in a District Final.
DIVISION 2
Warren Lincoln (10-4) The reigning Division 2 champion sits atop the Macomb Area Conference Red standings but additionally has navigated a schedule loaded with Division 1 contenders. The Abes have wins over Ann Arbor Huron and Muskegon, plus a rising Clinton Township Chippewa Valley team, and the losses came to East Lansing, Byron Center (by two points), Brother Rice and Northview (by four points). As noted above, a major matchup is coming Feb. 4 when Lincoln hosts Detroit U-D Jesuit, and the Abes will close the regular season against Warren Fitzgerald during their 313 Classic.
Yale (14-1) The Blue Water Area Conference has five teams (of eight) at 8-5 or better, and Yale tops the league with its only loss this season to MAC Gold contender St. Clair (12-4) on Dec. 17. The Bulldogs won their first meeting with second-place Imlay City 46-33 three weeks ago and will host the rematch Feb. 18; Imlay City was first and Yale second in the BWAC last season as Yale finished 16-6 overall. Yale has had only three single-digit games this winter, but shined downing Lapeer by three, Linden by three and Harbor Beach (12-1) by two in consecutive games over the second half of the holiday break.
DIVISION 3
Ithaca ((10-3) The Yellowjackets bounced back Friday from two straight losses to get past Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 34-32 and maintain a tie for first with Saginaw Valley Lutheran atop the TVC Blue. A 50-48 defeat to Valley Lutheran was Ithaca’s closest of three this season, and the rematch is Feb. 14. The Yellowjackets also lost to last season’s league champion Saginaw Nouvel but will get an opportunity to avenge in the regular-season finale Feb. 21. Wins over Jack Pine Conference Division 1 leader Standish-Sterling (12-2) and Highland Conference leader Beal City (10-2) have shown their potential, and the third loss came to Big Thumb Conference White co-leader Millington (12-1).
Schoolcraft (10-3) Few teams have a more impressive list of losses, as Schoolcraft has sharpened itself in defeats to Flint Powers (13-0) and Lumen Christi (13-1) and in their first matchup against Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley foe Parchment (10-2). The Eagles will meet Parchment again Feb. 7 with hopes to taking back at least a share of first place, but they also have sizable tests coming up against reigning Division 4 champion Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (10-2), Southwest 10 Conference co-leader Centreville (10-1) and Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (11-2). Schoolcraft defeated Tri-unity and Centreville last season on the way to finishing 22-4.
DIVISION 4
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (10-2) The Defenders have celebrated coach Mark Keeler’s 700th win this season and of course would love to send him into retirement with a seventh Finals championship in March. They have an early lead in the Alliance League and win over reigning champion Wyoming Lee after finishing second to Lee the last two seasons, and their only losses have come to Fowler (13-2) by three points Dec. 3 and Division 2 Grand Rapids West Catholic by seven during the Cornerstone University Holiday Classic at the end of last month. Tri-unity also owns wins over Adrian Lenawee Christian (12-2) and Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (11-2) with the above-noted matchup with Schoolcraft and a later one with Beal City good tests before the postseason.
Harbor Springs Harbor Light Christian (11-2) Last season’s Northern Lakes Conference co-champion leads the new West division and does have a win over East leader Alanson, 58-47 after those two shared the formerly-combined NLC title a year ago. All of Harbor Light’s 11 wins this winter have come by nine or more points, and they’ve taken good losses to Traverse City Christian (12-2) and Pickford (11-1). The Swordsmen will get another chance against TC Christian at home Feb. 11, and a matchup with Harbor Springs (11-2) the night before also will be telling of the team’s potential to continue building on last year’s 20-5 finish.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Monday – Hartford (11-1) at Centreville (10-1) – This will be their first of two meetings, and they are both undefeated in league play and tied atop the Southwest 10 Conference.
Thursday – Haslett (11-1) at Mason (12-1) – Mason has a one-game lead atop the Capital Area Activities Conference Red thanks to a 65-63 win over second-place Haslett on Dec. 13.
Thursday – Onsted (13-0) at Adrian Madison (10-3) – Onsted’s one game lead on Madison in the Lenawee County Athletic Association came from a 59-34 win over the Trojans on Dec. 12.
Friday – Traverse City West (11-1) at Cadillac (9-4) – West also owns a slim lead atop the Big North Conference thanks to a 60-46 win over Cadillac in their first meeting Dec. 12.
Saturday – Grand Rapids Christian (9-4) vs. Detroit Cass Tech (11-1) – This is the 2:45 p.m. game at the Red Hawk Showcase at Aquinas College and will come about 17 hours after Christian plays Grand Rapids Catholic Central for first place in the O-K White.
MHSAA.com's weekly “Breslin Bound” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTOS (Top) Iron Mountain's Oskar Kangas (0) dunks the ball off a fourth-quarter inbounds pass during his team’s 58-32 win over Ishpeming Westwood on Thursday. (Middle) Detroit Cass Tech’s Donavin Eddins (12) gets up a shot in traffic during his team’s 68-57 win over Rochester Adams on Dec. 30. (Iron Mountain/Westwood photo by Cara Kamps. Cass Tech/Adams photo by Team Arreguin Photos.)