Logo

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

Follow Stats Live on NFHS Network

September 7, 2016

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director

Each week, football fans can track the progress of a number of games across the state on the MHSAA.tv website through the NFHS Network’s partnership with Digital Scout.

Schools using Digital Scout to record game statistics can connect that game to the online crowd, and if the game has live streaming video, the two feeds will be integrated. Viewers must have a subscription to be able to access the live content. More than 40 football games this Friday (Sept. 9) are scheduled to stream live stats.

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.

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:

Wednesday (Sept. 7)

Thursday (Sept. 8)

Friday (Sept. 9)

  • Football – Traverse City West vs. Traverse City Central – 6:15 p.m. LIVE VIDEO & STATS
  • Football – Goodrich at Montrose – 6:45 p.m. - LIVE
  • Football – Sault Ste. Marie at Marquette – 7 p.m. – LIVE
  • Football – Muskegon Mona Shores at Rockford - 7 p.m. – LIVE
  • Football – Whittemore-Prescott at Oscoda – 7 p.m. - LIVE
  • Football – Pewamo-Westphalia at Saranac – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Davison at Flint Carman-Ainsworth – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Fraser at Grosse Pointe South – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Haslett at Owosso – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Brown City at Cass City – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Sturgis at Paw Paw – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Lansing Catholic at Allendale – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Grosse Pointe Woods Univ. Liggett at Roch. Hills Lutheran Northwest – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Sanford Meridian at Roscommon – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Calumet at Hurley (WI) – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Jackson Lumen Christi at Battle Creek Harper Creek – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern at Grand Rapids South Christian – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Okemos at Lansing Everett – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Onsted at Erie-Mason – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Lake Odessa Lakewood at Perry – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Lake Odessa at West Bloomfield – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Cedar Springs at Greenville – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Mishawaka Penn at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Harbor Beach at Reese – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Holland West Ottawa at Caledonia – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Lansing Sexton at Grand Ledge – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Saginaw Heritage at Midland Dow – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Gladstone at Negaunee – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Holly at Flint Kearsley – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Midland at Flint Southwestern – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Lansing Waverly at Dewitt – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Goodrich at Montrose – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Hanover-Horton at Manchester – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Addison at Vandercook Lake – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Ida at Blissfield – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Comstock Park at Coopersville – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Laingsburg at Dansville – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – St. Clair at Clinton Twp. Clintondale – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Genesee at New Lothrop – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Beaverton at Houghton Lake – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Stanton Central Montcalm at Grant – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – North Muskegon at Muskegon Oakridge – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Ottawa Lake-Whiteford at Britton-Macon – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Stephenson at Crystal Falls Forest Park – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Onekama at Baldwin – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Oxford at Clarkston – 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Plymouth at Grand Blanc – 7 p.m. (Stats)

Saturday (Sept. 10)

  • Boys Soccer – Mason at East Lansing – 11:30 a.m. (On Demand)
  • Football – Grand Traverse Academy at Lawrence – 3 p.m. (Stats)

Now 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.  

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 highlights package consists of clips from football games between Rochester Hills Stoney Creek at Lake Orion, South Haven at Dowagiac and Montrose at Clio.