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.

 

2021 Experience Helps 2022 Tri-unity Earn Return to D4 Final

By Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com

March 24, 2022

EAST LANSING – Sometimes, there’s just no substitute for experience.

Such was the case in Thursday’s second Division 4 Boys Basketball Semifinal between Wyoming Tri-unity Christian and Genesee Christian at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.

While Tri-unity Christian was in the Semifinals for a second-straight year and fourth time in the last seven years, Genesee Christian was playing on the stage for the first time.

Tri-unity Christian’s familiarity with Breslin and overall skill won out, as the Defenders reached another championship game with a 77-33 win. 

The Defenders (20-6) will attempt to win their first Finals title since 2011 at 10 a.m. Saturday when they play Ewen-Trout Creek. 

“If you haven’t been there, it can be pretty intimidating,” Tri-unity coach Mark Keeler said of playing in a final four game. “Last year, we came here. It helped us for this year.”

The big quarter for Tri-unity Christian was the second, as the Defenders went on a 12-0 run to start the quarter and take a 26-12 lead with 5:54 remaining until halftime. 

Tri-unity Christian ended up outscoring Genesee Christian in the second quarter, 25-7, to take a 39-19 lead at the break. 

The Defenders continued to grow their lead in the third quarter, going on an 8-0 run to move ahead 53-23 with 1:11 remaining in the third. 

Tri-unity Christian/Genesee Christian basketballThe game featured a matchup of two of the state’s top point guards in Division 4, Tri-unity Christian senior Brady Titus and Genesee Christian junior Trenton Boike. 

Titus entered the game averaging just under 30 points a game, while Boike was averaging over 23 points a contest.

Titus finished with a game-high 21 points on 9 of 17 shooting for the Defenders, while Boike had seven points for the Soldiers (21-5).

Now, Titus and the Defenders can try and earn some redemption after a loss to Detroit Douglass in last year’s championship game. 

“Last year was tough,” Titus said. “We came up short. But I think it will impact the want to win. That’s really what it is. Just having the drive to win the next game.”

Tri-unity Christian shot 58.3 percent from the field for the game and outrebounded Genesee Christian by a 41-19 margin. 

Junior Tyler Chapman led Genesee Christian with 10 points. 

Despite the loss, it was obviously a memorable and historic season for Genesee Christian.

“For the guys, I felt so proud of them,” Genesee Christian coach Dan Chapman said. “With COVID and everything the last couple of years, we kind of looked forward to this group. To do it with all the seniors that I’ve coached since fifth grade, it was everything you’ve dreamed of.” 

More good news for the Soldiers is that Boike and Chapman will headline a nice crop of juniors that will be back next year. 

“Just the experience part will help a lot,” Boike said. “It will help us next year when we get back here.”

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS (Top) Tri-unity Christian’s Brady Titus (25) works to get up a shot over Genesee Christian’s Jonah Derderian (24) during Thursday’s Semifinal. (Middle) Teammates watch in anticipation as the Defenders’ Stephen Bouslog (24) attempts a 3-pointer. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)