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
Watch 29 Girls District Hoops Finals Live
March 6, 2020
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
Here is the schedule for MHSAA Girls Basketball District Final games with live streaming video on Friday (March 6) on the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv:
- District 4 at Grand Blanc - Davison v. Grand Blanc - 7 PM
- District 5 at Waterford Kettering - Rochester Adams v. Clarkston - 6 PM
- District 6 at Bloomfield Hills - West Bloomfield v. Auburn Hills Avondale - 7 PM
- District 7 at White Lake Lakeland - Walled Lake Western v. Walled Lake Central - 6 PM
- District 8 at Holly - Hartland v. Howell - 7 PM
- District 9 at Rockford - Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern v. Rockford - 7 PM
- District 13 at Stevensville Lakeshore - Kalamazoo Central v. Portage Central - 7 PM
- District 17 at Brighton - South Lyon East v. Brighton - 6 PM
- District 26 at Bloomfield Hills Marian - Royal Oak v. Bloomfield Hills Marian - 7 PM
- District 31 at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - St. Clair Shores Lakeview v. Harrison Twp. L'Anse Creuse - 6 PM
- District 32 at Macomb L'Anse Creuse North - Macomb Dakota v. Port Huron - 6 PM
- District 35 at Cadillac - Cadillac v. Big Rapids - 7 PM
- District 40 at Chesaning - Chesaning v. Ovid-Elsie - 7 PM
- District 42 at Fremont - Sparta v. Newaygo - 7 PM
- District 48 at Plainwell - Plainwell v. Battle Creek Harper Creek - 7 PM
- District 66 at Negaunee - Negaunee v. Ishpeming Westwood - 7 PM
- District 69 at Maple City Glen Lake - Maple City Glen Lake v. Traverse City St Francis - 7 PM
- District 72 at Hart - Hart v. Evart - 7 PM
- District 76 at Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian - Pewamo-Westphalia v. Grandville Calvin Christian - 7 PM
- District 79 at Kalamazoo Christian - Kalamazoo Christian v. Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep - 7 PM
- District 94 at Otisville LakeVille Memorial - Flint Beecher v. Flint Hamady - 7 PM
- District 96 at Bad Axe - Cass City v. Bad Axe - 7 PM
- District 102 at St. Ignace - St. Ignace v. Pickford - 7 PM
- District 103 at Pellston - Harbor Springs Harbor Light Christian v. Mackinaw City - 6 PM
- District 112 at Kingston - Ubly v. Kingston - 7 PM
- District 121 at Plymouth Christian - Adrian Lenawee Christian v. Plymouth Christian Academy - 7 PM
- District 123 at Huron Valley Lutheran - Westland Huron Valley Lutheran v. Lutheran Westland - 7 PM
- District 124 at Southfield Christian - Southfield Christian v. Livingston Christian - 7 PM
- District 126 at Auburn Hills Oakland Christian - Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes v. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian - 7 PM
You can always reach a list of the upcoming tournament games by Clicking Here.
The Girls Basketball action is part of a week of more than 200 live events on MHSAA.tv and the NFHS Network. You can Click Here to look at the latest list of all upcoming varsity games.
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 a month. 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. School Broadcast Program participants benefit as a portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program.
A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA Website.