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

Spring Finals, Instant Downloads Launch

May 29, 2018

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties 

Fans watching live video streams of MHSAA Spring Championships will be able to take advantage of a new feature on the NFHS Network beginning with Saturday’s coverage of the MHSAA Track & Field Finals – powered by the Michigan Army National Guard.

 

Instant downloads of events taking place across the NFHS Network – including MHSAA Championships games on MHSAA.tv – will be available shortly following the conclusion of each stream. Just click on the blue Digital Copy button beneath the video player of the broadcast to order. Downloads will be the same resolution as live broadcasts, and are priced at $19.95. DVDs also will be available for $24.95.

 

Saturday’s Track Finals kicks off three straight weekends of MHSAA Spring Championships action on MHSAA.tv. All of the action can be viewed by purchasing a Month Pass for just $9.95.

 

Track action begins on Saturday at 10 a.m. (EDT) at Lower Peninsula sites in the greater Grand Rapids area at East Kentwood (Div. 1), Zeeland (Div. 2), Comstock Park (Div. 3) and Hudsonville (Div. 4); as well as at the Upper Peninsula Finals in Kingsford. Here’s the complete schedule (Boys run first in all events in 2018):

 

Lower Peninsula Finals

  • 10 a.m. – 3,200-Meter Relay Final; Round One – 100-Meter Dash, 110 & 100-Meter Hurdles, 200-Meter Dash
  • 1 p.m. – Running Finals (110 & 100 Hurdles, 100 Dash, 800 Relay, 1,600 Run, 400 Relay, 300 Hurdles, 800 Run, 200 Dash, 3,200 Run, 1,600 Relay)

 

Upper Peninsula Finals (All event times approximate & EDT)

  • 10 a.m. – 3,200 Relay
  • 11:45 a.m. – 110 & 100 Hurdles
  • 12:15 a.m.  – 100 Dash
  • 12:45 a.m. – 800 Relay
  • 1:15 p.m. – 1,600 Run
  • 1:45 p.m. – 400 Relay
  • 2:15 p.m. – 400 Dash
  • 2:45 p.m. – 300 Hurdles
  • 3:15 p.m. – 800 Run
  • 3:45 p.m. – 200 Dash
  • 4:15 p.m. – 3,200 Run
  • 5:15 p.m. – 1,600 Relay

 

Field events will not be shown, and awards presentations in all events will be shown when not in conflict with running events taking place at the same time.

 

Click for the Track Finals page at MHSAA.tv.

Over the following weekends, MHSAA Finals in Boys and Girls Lacrosse (June 9), Girls Soccer (June 15-16) and Semifinals and Finals in Baseball and Softball (June 14-16) will be streamed live. All events will be archived for free on-demand viewing, beginning three days after their completion. Subscriptions must be cancelled before the 30-day period is over to avoid recurring charges.

The Lacrosse, Baseball-Softball and Girls Soccer events also will have live streaming audio at MHSAANetwork.com.