Moment: Rouge Runs Title Streak to 5
April 16, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
After setting the Lower Peninsula record the season before, River Rouge completed the streak that remains the standard for boys basketball programs with a fifth-straight MHSAA Finals title in 1965.
The Panthers won Class B for the fifth-consecutive season by downing South Haven 87-65. Rouge led only 54-52 after three quarters, but scored 33 points during the final period to seal the clincher.
The 87 total points also broke a Rouge Class B Final record set the year before (86) and remained the record (tied in 2003 by Grand Rapids South Christian) until Class was replaced by Division for basketball tournament classification in 2019.
Frank Price led with 28 points. Sam Campbell added 16. Rouge finished the season 24-2. (Side note: Price's daughter Franthea led Rouge to its first MHSAA girls basketball title, in 1984.)
Only Crystal Falls (now Forest Park), with six straight championships from 1938-44, has won more consecutive MHSAA titles in boys basketball, and that streak came during a time when separate tournaments were conducted by peninsula. Crystal Falls’ streak skips the 1943 season, when Finals weren’t played because of World War II.
Shooters Rain Supreme at Breslin Center
March 28, 2013
The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan awarded its top 3-point and free-throw shooters at the championship game halftimes during the Boys and Girls Basketball Finals over the last two weekends.
Four champions were crowned, while the same player finished runner-up for both boys contests.
All four shooting championship matches were broadcast on MHSAA.tv and can be watched by clicking the links below.
Girls free throw: Waterford Mott junior Lauren Hung defended her "Top Shooters" title by winning this competition for the second straight season, this time over Lincoln Alcona junior Karina Cole. Click to watch.
Girls 3-point: St. Joseph senior Lauren Brower defeated Marlette senior Jenna Hirsch for the championship. Click to watch.
Boys free throw: Carsonville-Port Sanilac senior Matt Falls edged Shelby junior Jason Beckman. Click to watch.
Boys 3-point: Sterling Heights Stevenson junior Brandon Hughes finished ahead of Beckman. Click to watch.
PHOTO: (In clockwise order) Top Shooters champions for girls free throw, boys free throw, boys 3-point and girls 3-point contests pose with their finalists certificates at the Breslin Center.