Hoops on Film: 1954 Class A Boys Final
July 2, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
This week's installment of MHSAA.tv's Hoops on Film series features the first championship victory for one of Michigan's most accomplished boys basketball programs.
This is the second of 10 games being brought back to MHSAA.tv this summer. From the late 1940’s to the mid 1970’s the Michigan High School Athletic Association shot portions of the action at its basketball finals on 16mm film. The films were loaned out, primarily to the participating schools, to help them relive the moments of playing in a championship game.
While many of the old films have wandered astray over time, about 60 games still exist in the MHSAA archives. Anyone in possession of such a film is encouraged to contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office ([email protected]) to discuss having the film converted to a digital format.
Some of the films only have portions of the second half and the postgame awards; some have most of the action. None of the films have sound. They range in length from 10 minutes to about an hour. A new film will be posted online each Monday through the week of August 17.
The game recap below is courtesy of MHSAA Historian Ron Pesch of Muskegon.
Muskegon Heights 43, Flint Northern 41 (OT) – 1954 Class A Boys Final - After three visits to the MHSAA Semifinals, Muskegon Heights grabbed its first-ever title with a 43-41 overtime win over Flint Northern at Jenison Field House in East Lansing. Tied at 41-41 at the end of regulation, the Vikings opted to hold the ball for nearly three minutes of the extra period, after the Tigers missed two shots following the opening tip-off. But as Vikings guard Bob Failing drove in for the final shot, he was called for a charging foul. Under the rules of the time, Murt Johnson of the Heights stepped to the line, and calmly sank two free throws for the only points of OT. Future University of Michigan star M.C. Burton scored 22 points to pace the Heights.
Previous releases:
1973 Class C Boys Final: Detroit East Catholic 50, Saginaw St. Stephen 49 - Watch
Today in the MHSAA: 5/8/25
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 8, 2025
1. BOYS LACROSSE Brighton clinched the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West title with 9-7 win over Hartland, which had won 76 straight league games – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. GIRLS SOCCER Standish-Sterling is the champion for this inaugural season of girls soccer in the Jack Pine Conference thanks to a 5-1 win over Ogemaw Heights – Bay City Times
3. TRACK & FIELD The Frankfort girls – No. 7 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – and Maple City Glen Lake boys both clinched their first Northwest Conference championships in this sport – Traverse City Record-Eagle
4. GIRLS SOCCER Pontiac clinched its first league title with a 1-0 win over Harper Woods in the Oakland Activities Association Gold – Oakland Press
5. TRACK & FIELD Ithaca’s LPD3 No. 7 girls and No. 3 boys teams clinched their third-consecutive Tri-Valley Conference championships, this time in the Blue – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
6. BOYS GOLF LPD2 No. 6 Richland Gull Lake claimed a third-straight Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference title, carding a two-round 611 – Kalamazoo Gazette
7. GIRLS LACROSSE Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood edged Farmington Hills Mercy 9-8 to advance to the Catholic High School League Tournament championship game – Oakland Press
8. GIRLS SOCCER Division 1 No. 14 Romeo downed No. 5 Utica Eisenhower 1-0 to finish a Macomb Area Conference Red sweep – Macomb Daily
9. GIRLS SOCCER St. Joseph and Division 2 No. 8 Stevensville Lakeshore played to a 1-1 draw – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
10. SOFTBALL Macomb Lutheran North and Division 2 No. 2 Dearborn Divine Child split a doubleheader – Dearborn Press & Guide