Highlight Reel: Class A-B Semifinals

March 26, 2016

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director

The Finals field is set for the MHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament, presented by Sparrow Health System, with the last four teams determined during Friday’s Class A and B Semifinals at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

To watch a game in its entirety and order DVDs, click the score of the game below. Here are Friday’s highlights: 

Class A

Detroit U-D Jesuit 72, Macomb Dakota 51 

Winston Makes It Happen - Cassius Winston scored a game high 27 points for U-D Jesuit, but also had 12 assists, including one on this play.

Transition Dunk - Here's a back-and-forth sequence in the second half of the Detroit U-D Jesuit vs. Macomb Dakota Class A Semifinal that ends up in a dunk for Dakota's Thomas Kithier. 

North Farmington 60, Lansing Everett 48

Quick Three - Billy Thomas hit two 3-pointers in the first minute of the second half to extend North Farmington's lead against Lansing Everett in this Class A Semifinal. Thomas finished with 26 points. 

Vikings Score Off Steal - Here's a steal by Lansing Everett's Victor Edwards converted into a fastbreak basket by Jamyrin Jackson, who led all scorers in this Class A Semifinal with 27 points.

Class B

Detroit Henry Ford 70, Williamston 48

Hot Hornet - Williamston's Riley Lewis led all scorers in a Class B Semifinal with Detroit Henry Ford with 32 points, including an old-fashioned three-point play on this sequence. 

Bey Putback - Detroit Henry Ford had a 21-point performance from Kavon Bey - getting two here on a putback against Williamston in this Class B Semifinal.

Stevensville Lakeshore 61, Big Rapids 60 

Davenport Double - Watch Big Rapids' Jeffrey Davenport with the great defensive play at one end of the court, and then he doubles his pleasure with a layup at the other end.

Breakaway Basket - A huge play in the closing moments of the Class B Semifinal between Stevensville Lakeshore and Big Rapids was this fastbreak basket by Lakeshore's Gibson Archer. Archer finished the game with 15 points.

The Boys Basketball Finals are presented by Sparrow Health System.

PHOTO: Everett's Jamyrin Jackson (11) drives toward the basket while North Farmington's Jacob Joubert (5) blocks his path.

 

Future Becomes Now as Freshman Oliver Pulls Douglass Past Dollar Bay

By Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com

March 12, 2026

EAST LANSING — Judging by the Detroit Douglass and Dollar Bay rosters Thursday, one thing is for certain:

The day’s first Division 4 Semifinal might not be the last time those two schools – located 553 miles apart on opposite ends of the state – hook up at the Breslin Center over the next few seasons.

In a matchup between teams with rosters dominated by underclassmen, Douglass had a little too much on this occasion, advancing to the Division 4 championship game for the first time since winning it all in 2021 with a 58-47 win. 

Douglass head coach Pierre Brooks had high praise after the game for Dollar Bay head coach Jesse Kentala and how he prepared his team, and knows the Hurricanes could be running into the Blue Bolts again. 

“I heard about the young guys they have on their team,” Brooks said. “I think Coach told me they were here in 18 or 19. So hey, I wouldn’t mind seeing them again.”

One advantage Douglass had Thursday – and will if they meet again in the near future – is freshman Damani Oliver. 

Entering the game leading his team in scoring at over 22 points a game, Oliver played like someone beyond his years, scoring 17 of his 21 points during the second half to help Douglass pull away. 

Tourtillot makes a move into the lane while guarded by Douglass’ Dimauvion Smith-Powe (35). “I (didn’t) see too many (Detroit) Lions games this year because every Sunday, he’s calling me to get into the gym,” Brooks said. “He’s definitely put in the work and I’m glad in the second half he decided to really pick it up.”

Holding a 22-17 lead at halftime, Oliver started the third quarter with a four-point play and finished the third with 10 points to help Douglass take a 40-35 lead into the fourth. 

The Hurricanes put the game away from there, going up 51-38 with 3:44 remaining on a basket by sophomore Quinn Davis.

He also scored 14 points for Douglass, which didn’t shoot the ball well from the perimeter. Douglass was just 4 of 20 from 3-point range, but made that up a bit with a 30-22 rebounding advantage. 

Junior Baron Colbert scored a game-high 23 points for Dollar Bay (24-3), which was making its first Semifinal appearance since 2019. With just three seniors, three freshmen and two eighth graders on the roster, Dollar Bay should be heard from again.

Kentala just hopes that if his team returns next year or beyond, the weather will be a little better.

Many of the school and community’s fans couldn’t make it down to the game as expected because the Mackinac Bridge was closed due to a winter storm.

“It’s been a great ride,” Kentala said, talking about his team’s tournament run. “I thought our plan was right. I thought these guys executed it just beautifully. I thought we did everything in our power. I thought we kept them guessing. We mixed up our zone and man pressure. I thought we attacked, I thought we were fearless, I thought we were tough. Sometimes the shots don’t fall, and (Oliver) really stuck a few key shots. A really nice player.”

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Douglass’ Kamari Howard (12) gets a shot up over Dollar Bay’s Liam Tourtillott (20) during Thursday’s first Division 4 Semifinal at Breslin Center. (Middle) Tourtillot makes a move into the lane while guarded by Douglass’ Dimauvion Smith-Powe (35). (Photos by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)