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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

Weekly Highlights Return to MHSAA TV

August 30, 2016

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director

A weekly staple on the MHSAA.tv website and the MHSAASports Channel on YouTube returns this week with highlights of selected games produced last week by members of the Association’s School Broadcast Program.

This week’s highlights package consists of clips from football games between Traverse City West and Midland and Marquette vs. Traverse City St. Francis, and a boys soccer match between Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern and East Lansing.

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

Tuesday (Aug. 30)

Thursday (Sept. 1)

  • Boys Soccer – Williamston at East Lansing, 6:30 p.m. (On Demand)
  • Football – Negaunee at Calumet, 7 p.m. – LIVE
  • Football – Rochester Hills Stoney Creek at Lake Orion, 7 p.m. – LIVE VIDEO & STATS
  • Football – Marquette at Traverse City Central, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Ewen-Trout Creek at Stephenson, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Detroit University Prep at Adrian Lenawee Christian, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Flint Carman-Ainsworth at Saginaw Arthur Hill, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – DeWitt at Grand Ledge, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Greenville at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – North Muskegon at Whitehall, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Manchester at Addison, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Hanover Horton at Michigan Center, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Sanford Meridian at Lake City, 7 p.m.  (Stats)
  • Football – Howard City Tri-County at Stanton Central Montcalm, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Lake Odessa Lakewood at Belding, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Otsego at Sturgis, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Jackson Northwest at Battle Creek Harper Creek, 7 p.m.  (Stats)
  • Football – Hemlock at Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Vassar at Brown City, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Flint Powers Catholic at Saginaw Heritage, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Wyoming tri-Unity Christian at Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Bay City Western at Midland, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Harbor Springs at Houghton Lake, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Linden at Goodrich, 7 p.m.  (Stats)
  • Football – Lansing Catholic at Lansing Everett, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Charlotte at Fowlerville, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Mt. Morris at Flint Kearsley, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Midland Dow at Bay City Central, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Lansing Eastern at Lansing Waverly, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Unionville-Sebewaing at Marlette, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Benton Harbor at Grand Rapids South Christian, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Britton-Deerfield at Erie-Mason, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Holland West Ottawa at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – New Lothrop at Burton Bentley, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – St. Clair Shores Lake Shore at Marysville, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Walled Lake Central at Plymouth, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Garden City at Romulus, 7 p.m. (Stats)

Friday (Sept. 2)

  • Football – Birmingham Brother Rice at Mishawaka Penn, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – West Bloomfield at Oxford, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Warren Woods-Tower at St. Clair, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Davison at Mt. Pleasant, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Monroe St. Mary CC at Riverview, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Muskegon Oakridge at Whitehall, 7 p.m. (Stats)
  • Football – Detroit Denby at Detroit Osborn, 4 p.m. (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.

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.