Highlight Reel: Class C Semifinals
March 26, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian and Flint Beecher advanced to the MHSAA Class C Boys Basketball Final with Semifinal wins Thursday at the Breslin Center.
Click below for highlights from all four teams that took the court.
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian 48, Boyne City 45
Huckaby Leads NorthPointe - Preston Huckaby of Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian led all scorers in a Class C Semifinal against Boyne City with 26 points - two of them on this layup off a steal.
Ramblers Roar Back - Boyne City went on a 10-0 fourth-quarter run and pulled to within a point on a layup by Tanner Kruzel.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Flint Beecher 71, Hanover-Horton 43
Beecher Buc Bomber - Samuel Toins hit 6 of 8 from 3-point land for Flint Beecher in the Class C Semifinal against Hanover-Horton. Here's one his treys from the first quarter.
Double-Double For Laketa - Preston Laketa led Hanover-Horton with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Here he scores on a putback.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
PHOTO: Hanover-Horton’s Bryce Walker (12) works to get past Beecher defenders Samuel Toins (20) and Jordan Roland.
Bates Becomes 1st Sophomore POY
April 15, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Ypsilanti Lincoln standout Emoni Bates has been named Gatorade’s national boys basketball “Player of the Year” – becoming the first sophomore to win the national award.
Bates earlier was named the Michigan award winner for the second time. The award recognizes athletic excellence but also academic achievement and on and off-court exemplary character.
The 6-foot-9 do-everything player capably is able to man all five positions on the court, and this season averaged 33.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game while leading Lincoln to an 18-3 record before play was halted because of COVID-19. Bates has scored 1,343 points through his first two seasons of high school basketball.
Additionally, Bates carries a B average and has volunteered in local elementary school literacy campaigns and as a youth coach, as well as participating in clothing and shoe drives for community churches.
PHOTO: Ypsilanti Lincoln’s Emoni Bates dunks during the 2019 Division 1 Semifinals at Breslin Center.