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
Track & Field Finals Lead Off Spring Championship Streaming
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 2, 2021
Live streaming video of the MHSAA Track & Field Finals on Saturday, June 5, will kick off three straight weekends of MHSAA Spring Championships action on the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv.
Track action begins at 10 a.m. (EDT) on Saturday at Lower Peninsula sites in the greater Grand Rapids area at East Kentwood (Div. 1), Zeeland (Div. 2), Jenison (Div. 3) and Hudsonville (Div. 4); as well as at the Upper Peninsula Finals in Kingsford. All of the action can be viewed by purchasing a Month Pass for just $10.99. Here’s the complete schedule:
Lower Peninsula Finals (All times EDT)
► 10 a.m. – 3,200-Meter Relay Final; other Running Preliminaries (100-Meter Dash, 100 & 110-Meter Hurdles, 200-Meter Dash)
► 1 p.m. – Running Finals (100 & 110 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
► 11:40 a.m. – 100 & 110 Hurdles
► 12:00 p.m. – 100 Dash
► 12:30 p.m. – 800 Relay
► 1 p.m. – 1,600 Run
► 1:30 p.m. – 400 Relay
► 1:55 p.m. – 400 Dash
► 2:25 p.m. – 300 Hurdles
► 2:55 p.m. – 800 Run
► 3:30 p.m. – 200 Dash
► 4 p.m. – 3,200 Run
► 4:45 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 the following links to watch:
LPD1 | LPD2 | LPD3 | LPD4 | UP (all)
Over the following weekends, MHSAA Finals in Boys and Girls Lacrosse (June 12), Girls Soccer (June 18-19) and Semifinals and Finals in Baseball and Softball (June 17-19) will be streamed live. All events will be archived for on-demand viewing after their completion.
The Lacrosse, Baseball/Softball and Girls Soccer events also will have live streaming audio on the MHSAA Network.
The coming two weeks also will feature pre-Finals games produced by MHSAA members participating in the School Broadcast Program. Today (June 2) features 10 Lacrosse Regional games on the broadcast schedule; click for listings: GIRLS | BOYS
Now in its 13th 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. Pixellot – the NFHS Network’s automated streaming solution – is used by schools wishing to live stream games but lacking the ability to staff the events. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 per month. Subscribers will have access to all live video and on-demand video from across the country. School Broadcast Program participants benefit as a portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program. (Subscriptions must be cancelled before the 30-day period is over to avoid recurring charges.)