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
List of 2021-22 MHSAA Network Affiliates Growing as Fall Sports Ramp Up
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 31, 2021
More than 70 radio stations and web audio outlets have joined a growing list of Michigan High School Athletic Association Network affiliates for the 2021-22 school year, with more expected to come on board as fall sports schedules continue to build toward a busy September and October.
Affiliates carry games and also the MHSAA Network radio show – “This Week in High School Sports” – which began its seventh season last week.
A list of MHSAA Network affiliates can be found on the MHSAA Website. Below is a list of those affiliates and links to their broadcast platforms through Aug. 30.
Alma - WQBX (104.9 FM)
Auburn Hills - WAHS (89.5 FM)
Benton Harbor - WSJM (94.9 FM)
Bloomfield Hills - WBFH (88.1 FM)
Bloomfield Hills - BRBN
Canton - WSDP (88.1 FM)
Caro - WIDL (92.1 FM)
Cheboygan - WCBY (1240 AM)
Cheboygan - WCBY (100.7 FM)
Deckerville - Thumb Tailgater Sports
Dowagiac - Dowagiac Chieftains Network
Escanaba - WCHT (93.5 FM)
Escanaba - WCHT (600 AM)
Escanaba - WYKX (104.7 FM)
Escanaba - WDBC (94.5 FM)
Escanaba - WUPF (107.3 FM)
Ferndale - WDTK (101.5 FM)
Frankenmuth - Frankenmuth Sports Network
Flushing - MFNT
Gaylord - WMJZ (101.5 FM)
Grand Haven - WGHN (92.1 FM)
Grand Haven - WGHN (94.9 FM)
Grand Haven - WGHN (1370 AM)
Grand Haven - WMPA (93.1 FM)
Grand Haven - WAWL (103.5 FM)
Grand Haven - Michigan Game Night
Grand Haven - JoeInsider.com
Grand Rapids - WMAX (96.1 FM)
Grayling - WQON (100.3 FM)
Grayling - WGRY (101.1 FM)
Grayling - WJML (1110 AM)
Grayling - WJNL (1210 AM)
Grayling - W266CS (101.1 FM)
Hancock - WMPL (920 AM)
Hillman - WKJZ (94.9 FM)
Hillsdale - WCSR (92.1 FM)
Hillsdale - WCSR (99.5 FM)
Holland - WHTC (1450 AM)
Holland - WYVN (92.7 FM)
Houghton - WHKB (102.3)
Iron Mountain - WZNL (94.3 FM)
Ironwood - WJMS (590 AM)
Jackson - WKHM (970 AM)
Jackson - WKHM (105.3 FM)
Manistique - WTIQ (1490 AM)
Marquette - WFXD (103.3 FM)
Marquette - WZAM (106.9 FM)
Marquette - WZAM (970 AM)
Marquette - W286BC (105.1 FM)
Marquette - W262AG (99.9 FM)
Marquette - WKQS (101.9 FM)
Marquette - WRUP (98.3 FM)
Marquette - GTO (97.5 FM)
Marquette - WUPG (96.7 FM)
Marquette - WUPT (100.3 FM)
Midland - WMPX (97.7 FM)
Mt. Pleasant - WMMI (92.3 FM)
Muskegon - WLCS (98.3 FM)
Muskegon - WVIB (100.1 FM)
Novi - WOVI (89.5 FM)
Ontonagon - WUPY (101.1 FM)
Ovid - WOES (91.3 FM)
Prudenville - WTWS (92.1 FM)
Rockford - Michigan Sports Radio
Sault Ste. Marie - WUPN (95.1 FM)
St. Ignace - WWMK (106.3 FM)
Stevensville - Lakeshore Lancers Network
Tawas City - WKJC (104.7 FM)
Tawas City - WQLB (103.3 FM)
Tawas City - WTZM (106.1 FM)
Temperance - WMLZ-LP (107.9 FM)
Traverse City - WWMN (106.3 FM)
Warren - WPHS (89.1 FM)
West Bloomfield - WBLD (89.3)
MHSAA.tv and the NFHS Network enjoyed an exciting opening weekend of football video streaming, with 16 games played as part of the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic, Battle at the Big House and Xenith Prep Kick Off Classic receiving a combined 22,494 live views on MHSAA.tv, with the Big House game featuring Traverse City Central and DeWitt leading that list with nearly 5,000 views. Those totals do not include views by those who watched two Xenith games live on MHSAA broadcast partner Bally Sports Detroit’s cable channel and digital platforms.
Bally Sports Detroit will take its live cable broadcast to Muskegon on Friday (Sept. 3) for the Big Reds’ 7 p.m. matchup with Detroit Cass Tech. The game can be watched on live TV on Bally Sports Detroit-PLUS and on BSD’s website.
MHSAA broadcast partner State Champs! Sports Network will begin its series of live Saturday football streams this week as well, covering Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean at Grand Rapids Catholic Central at 4 p.m. Sept. 4.
A number of other intriguing events are scheduled to be streamed live on MHSAA.tv, including the following:
FOOTBALL
Sept. 2: Cedar Springs at Rockford, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2: Livonia Stevenson at Dearborn Fordson, 7 p.m.
All football games: MHSAA.tv Football
VOLLEYBALL
Aug. 31: Marquette at Menominee, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1: Traverse City Central at Traverse City West, 5 p.m.
Sept. 1: Saginaw Valley Lutheran at Midland Bullock Creek, 7 p.m.
All volleyball matches: MHSAA.tv Volleyball
BOYS SOCCER
Sept. 1: Ludington at Whitehall, 5:45 p.m.
Sept. 1: East Grand Rapids at Grand Rapids South Christian, 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 2: Ann Arbor Skyline at Saline, 7 p.m.
All soccer matches: MHSAA.tv Boys Soccer
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 per month. Subscribers have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. School Broadcast Program participants benefit as a portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program. More than 400 MHSAA member schools are participants in the School Broadcast Program, now in its 13th year, producing games using traditional hands-on student crews or via Pixellot cameras installed at stadiums and gymnasiums across the state. A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA Website.