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Hoops on Film: 1961 Class D Boys Final

July 27, 2015

By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director

A battle of undefeated teams from schools both no longer in existence is highlighted this week as part of MHSAA.tv’s Hoops On Film Series.

From the late 1940’s to the mid 1970’s the Michigan High School Athletic Association shot portions of the action at its boys and girls 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 post-game 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. DVD’s may be purchased directly from the MHSAA.tv Website – just click the Get DVD button below the player. 

Here’s a look at this week’s game, with recap courtesy of MHSAA historian Ron Pesch:

Marquette Pierce 68, Freesoil 61 – 1961 Class D Boys Final - After 35 years as a coach in the Upper Peninsula, Vic Hurst was rewarded with his first MHSAA title as Marquette Pierce downed a determined Freesoil squad, 68-61, in a Class D battle of the undefeated. Dave Benson led the Warriors with 17 points, while teammates Dennis DeMerse and the Laurich brothers – Conrad and Larry – each added 15. The matchup came after each school's first Regional crown and ended up the only time either school would ever reach the Finals. Pierce would close after the 1961 season, and its only other Regional appearances came back-to-back in 1955 and 1956. Freesoil would win four more Regional titles during its history – three consecutive form 1966-68. The high school closed after the 2006-07 school year and was absorbed into the Mason County Eastern school district.

Previous releases:
1958 Class A Boys Final: Detroit Austin 71, Benton Harbor 68 - Watch
1976 Class D Girls Final: Lake City 58, Perkins 48 - Watch
1971 Class A Boys Final: Flint Northern 79, Detroit Kettering 78 - Watch
1954 Class A Boys Final: Muskegon Heights 43, Flint Northern 41 (OT) - Watch
1973 Class C Boys Final: Detroit East Catholic 50, Saginaw St. Stephen 49 - Watch

O-K Crossover Top MHSAA TV Coverage

September 20, 2016

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director

A crossover game in the Ottawa-Kent Conference headlines this week’s schedule of live events on MHSAA.tv being produced by members of the School Broadcast Program.

Cedar Springs (2-0 O-K White, 3-1 overall) hosts Grand Rapids Christian (2-0 O-K Gold, 4-0 overall) at 7 p.m. Friday. 

In its eighth year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics.

The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.  

All sporting events – live or delayed - are available on a subscription basis only for their first 72 hours online.  They become available for free, on-demand viewing approximately 72 hours following their completion.

Here’s this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of video streams available being produced by SBP members, as well as live stats from MHSAA member schools using Digital Scout:

Tuesday – Sept. 20

Wednesday – Sept. 21

Thursday – Sept. 22

Friday – Sept. 23

  • Football – Coleman at Breckenridge – 6:30 p.m. - LIVE
  • Football – Traverse City West at Alpena – 7 p.m. – LIVE
  • Football – Oscoda at Rogers City – 7 p.m. – LIVE
  • Football – Charlton Heston Academy at Onaway – 7 p.m. – LIVE
  • Football – Mt. Morris at Goodrich – 7 p.m. – LIVE VIDEO & STATS
  • Football – Grand Rapids Christian at Cedar Springs – 7 p.m. - LIVE
  • Football – Marquette v. Gladstone – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Plymouth v. Canton – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Oxford v. Farmington – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Eben Junction Superior Central v. Stephenson – 7 p.m. - STATS
  • Football – Beaverton v. Sanford Meridian – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Davison v. Saginaw – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – St. Clair v. St. Clair Shores South Lake – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Hudsonville v. Holland West Ottawa – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Grand Ledge v. Jackson – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – East Jackson v. Manchester – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Fowlerville v. Lansing Catholic – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Oakland Christian v. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Addison v. Michigan Center – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Swartz Creek v. Flint Kearsley – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Saranac v. Bath – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – St. Johns v. Lansing Waverly – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Erie-Mason v. Hudson – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Calumet v. Hancock – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Lowell v. Greenville – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Corunna v. Flint Beecher – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Gwinn v. Negaunee – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Wyoming Lee v. Belding – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Bay City Central v. Midland – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – New Lothrop v. Belding – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Hanover-Horton v. Napoleon – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Grand Rapids West Catholic v. Coopersville – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Grand Traverse Academy v. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Traverse City Central v. Gaylord – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Saginaw Arthur Hill v. Saginaw Heritage – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Midland Dow v. Flint Powers – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary v. Hemlock – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central v. Grosse Ile – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Grosse Pointe South v. Grosse Pointe North – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Laingsburg v. Fowler – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Sparta v. Allendale – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy v. Adrian Lenawee Christian – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Stanton Central Montcalm v. Fremont – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Battle Creek Harper Creek v. Battle Creek Pennfield – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Marlette v. Ubly – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Lansing Everett v. Lansing Eastern – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Whitehall v. Montague – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Wayland Union v. Grand Rapids South Christian – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Petersburg-Summerfield v. Britton-Macon – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Mayville v. Morrice – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – St. Clair Shores Lake Shore v. St. Clair Shores Lakeview – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Baraga v. Powers North Central – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Wyoming Kelloggsville v. Grandville Calvin Christian – 7 p.m. – STATS
  • Football – Adrian v. Ypsilanti – 7 p.m. – STATS

Saturday – Sept. 24

The NFHS Network has announced new pricing for 2016-17, eliminating the Day Pass and lowering the cost of a Month Pass to $9.95. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. Some schools also will be selling Annual Passes at a discounted rate. A portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program.

The SBP programming schedule is expected to expand now that school is in session across the state.  A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA website. Schools interested in becoming a part of the School Broadcast Program should contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office. 

A weekly staple on the MHSAA.tv website and the MHSAASports Channel on YouTube is back for another year with highlights of selected games last week produced by members of the Association’s School Broadcast Program. This week's package includes clips from the St. Clair/Clinton Township Clintondale and Traverse City Central/West football games, plus highlights from the Central/West "Patriot Game" festivities.

This week’s highlights package consists of clips from Vicksburg at Plainwell and Flint Southwestern at Davison football and Okemos at East Lansing girls swimming & diving.