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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

Football, Swim, Volleyball Stream LIVE

November 14, 2018

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

It’s the biggest streaming weekend of the Fall sports season on the MHSAA.tv, FoxSportsDetroit.com and MHSAANetwork.com websites and the FOX Sports app.

The weekend centers on MHSAA.tv wrapping up its Fall coverage with live video streaming of all Semifinals and Finals in Girls Volleyball, the championship round of all three Lower Peninsula Girls Swimming & Diving Finals and 13 Semifinal games in the 11-Player Football Playoffs – most of which will be produced by members of the School Broadcast Program. All live events are shown on a subscription basis.

The 8-Player Football Finals on Saturday (Nov. 17) at Marquette’s Superior Dome between Pickford and Morrice at 11 a.m. in Division 1 and Rapid River and Onekama at 2 p.m. in Division 2 will be streamed live on the Prep Zone on the FoxSportsDetroit.com website and the FOX Sports app. The games also will be shown on FOX Sports Detroit on Tuesday (Nov. 20), with Division 1 at 8 p.m. followed by Division 2 at 11 p.m. 

It's also the last week of the PrepZone on FoxSportsDetroit.com, with three 11-Player Football Semifinal games being streamed live. All games will be archived at MHSAA.tv.

The MHSAANetwork.com website will carry live free audio of all Volleyball Semifinal and Final matches Thursday through Saturday (Nov. 15-17), as well as the 8-Player Football Finals.

Here is this week's video streaming schedule (all events live online):

Thursday - Girls Volleyball Semifinals - MHSAA.tv & MHSAANetwork.com

Division 3

  • Unionville-Sebewaing v. Traverse City St. Francis - Noon
  • Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central v. Bronson - 2 p.m.

Division 2

  • Grand Rapids Christian v. Lake Odessa Lakewood - 4:30 p.m.
  • Pontiac Notre Dame Prep v. Corunna - 6:30 p.m.

Friday - Girls Volleyball Semifinals - MHSAA.tv & MHSAANetwork.com

Division 4

  • Mendon v. Southfield Christian - Noon
  • Leland v. Carney-Nadeau - 2 p.m.

Division 1

  • Lake Orion v. Farmington Hills Mercy - 4:30 p.m.
  • Northville v. Rockford - 6:30 p.m.

Saturday - 8-Player Football Finals – Prep Zone on FoxSportsDetroit.com & MHSAANetwork.com

  • Pickford v. Morrice, Division 1, 11 a.m.  
  • Rapid River v. Onekama, Division 2, 2 p.m. (Approx.)
  • Delayed cable broadcast on FOX Sports Detroit, Tuesday, Division 1 - 8 p.m.; Division 2 – 11 p.m. Archived at MHSAA.tv.

Saturday - Girls Volleyball Finals - MHSAA.tv & MHSAANetwork.com

  • Division 4 Final, 10 a.m.
  • Division 3 Final, Noon
  • Division 1 Final, 2 p.m.
  • Division 2 Final, 4 p.m.

Saturday - L.P. Girls Swimming & Diving Finals - MHSAA.tv - Noon

  • Division 1 – Eastern Michigan University
  • Division 2 – Oakland University
  • Division 3 – Holland Aquatics Center

Saturday - 11-Player Football Semifinals – Prep Zone on FoxSportsDetroit.com – 1 p.m.

  • Belleville v. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, Division 1
  • DeWitt v. Detroit Martin Luther King, Division 3
  • Grand Rapids Catholic Central v. Edwardsburg, Division 4

Saturday - 11-Player Football Semifinals on MHSAA.tv - All games 1 p.m.

  • Clarkston v. Saline, Division 1
  • Midland v. Muskegon Mona Shores, Division 2
  • Birmingham Groves v. Warren DeLaSalle, Division 2
  • Zeeland East v. Muskegon, Division 3
  • Chelsea v. Williamston, Division 4
  • Hudsonville Unity Christian v. Saginaw Swan Valley, Division 5
  • Marine City v. Portland, Division 5
  • Montague v. Traverse City St. Francis, Division 6
  • Montrose v. Jackson Lumen Christi, Division 6
  • New Lothrop v. Lake City, Division 7
  • Cassopolis v. Madison Heights Madison, Division 7
  • Breckenridge v. Harbor Beach, Division 8
  • Holton v. Reading, Division 8

A subscription to MHSAA.tv is $9.95, and allows 30 days of viewing live content on the NFHS Network. All sporting events – live or delayed – are available on a subscription basis only for their first 72 hours online. They become available for free, on-demand viewing approximately 72 hours following their completion.