Senior's Steal Seals 2nd Straight Title
March 23, 2013
By Bill Khan
Special to Second Half
EAST LANSING — Even on an MHSAA championship basketball team, there’s not always peace and harmony within the ranks.
There are still internal fires to be put out by coaches, whose job descriptions don’t call for pleasing everyone all of the time.
When Jalen Pettes was disappointed with limited playing time early last season, Flint Beecher coach Mike Williams had to talk the then-junior into sticking with the program.
“He had a tough time,” Williams said. “The first seven, eight games, he didn’t play much. He was ready to quit. I had a meeting with he and his mom. I told him, ‘Jalen, if you give me everything I want in practice, I guarantee you that by next year, I’m not going to be able to take you out of the game — period. But you’ve got to bring it.’”
Pettes played sparingly the rest of the season during Beecher’s championship run, but his work ethic in practice forced Williams to keep his promise this season.
Overshadowed by the exploits of Mr. Basketball Monte Morris, Pettes’ tenacious defense is one of the key reasons Beecher is celebrating back-to-back MHSAA Finals championships in boys basketball for the first time.
Pettes’ fifth steal of the game with 2.4 seconds remaining thwarted Laingsburg’s final attempt at springing an upset, as Beecher held on for a 40-39 victory on Saturday at the Breslin Center.
It’s the fifth MHSAA Finals title for the program, which would’ve won three Class B championships in a row from 1985-87 if not for Chris Coles’ miraculous half-court buzzer-beater for Saginaw Buena Vista in
the 1986 Final.
“I love winning it this way,” Williams said. “It’s just that much more gratifying to know that we earned it.”
Beecher’s success through the years has been predicated upon a stifling defense. Pettes acknowledges that he isn’t going to light up score sheets like Morris, but he became a key contributor to this year’s championship by completely buying in to the Buccaneers’ defensive philosophy.
“I really don’t score a lot,” Pettes said. “I just like to play defense and get stops and let my team do the rest. Defense just comes easy to me. I just like playing defense.”
Once he committed to stick with the team last season, he honed those defensive skills against two of the best guards in the state.
“Jalen had to guard Monte Morris and Antuan Burks all last year in practice,” Williams said. “In order for him to get on the floor last year, he had to play defense in practice. So now you take a year later, he’s four or five inches taller and stronger, and he doesn’t fear anybody, because he’s been guarding Mr. Basketball his whole life.”
Laingsburg (24-3), which received only honorable mention in the final Associated Press rankings, almost sprung a huge upset on the top-ranked Buccaneers (27-1).
The Wolfpack, which led 18-12 in the second quarter, took a 35-34 lead with 5:02 remaining on a free throw by Ryan Wade. Back-to-back scores\ near the basket by Markell Lucas and a driving layup by Morris gave Beecher a 40-35 lead with 2:25 to go.
Shaun McKinney cut the lead to one by hitting two free throws with 2:04 left and a basket with 1:05 remaining.
On Beecher’s next possession, Morris drove to the basket, only to have his shot rejected by Sam Edwards. Laingsburg got the ball, pushed it up the floor and called timeout with 17.5 seconds on the clock.
What followed was a helter-skelter possession which ended when Pettes came up with a loose ball and was fouled with 2.4 seconds left. Pettes sat on the floor clapping his hands, then pumped his fist as he got up.
“When I got that steal, I knew we won the game,” he said.
Pettes missed the front end of a one-and-one, McKinney grabbed the rebound for Laingsburg, but time expired as he heaved a long pass down the floor toward Jake Zielinski.
“My heart goes out to our guys,” Laingsburg coach Greg Mitchell said. “I’m so thankful for their effort. I thought we played really, really good team basketball today. A bounce or two here or there and we’re feeling a little bit better than we are right now.
“This was a team that was not expected to win our league, not expected to win our district, not expected to win our regional, certainly not expected to get here. But we’re a couple points shy of being the state champs. That’s going to be a tough one.”
Beecher won, despite flu-like symptoms that hit Morris and fellow starter Emmanuel Phifier the morning of the game. Morris wasn’t in the game early in the third quarter when Laingsburg turned a 24-19 deficit into a 26-24 lead. He finished with 16 points and two assists, his lowest totals in six career MHSAA tournament games at the Breslin Center. Phifier had only four points.
“You could see that Monte was sick,” Williams said. “He could barely finish the game. But he pulled it out. Without him, we’re not sitting on this podium (as Class C champion) right now. He’s actually too sick to even walk out of the bathroom right now.”
Morris played in the 109th and final game of his Beecher career, breaking the MHSAA record of 108 games played by Flint Powers Catholic’s Patrick Lucas-Perry from 2007-08 to 2010-11. Beecher had a 98-11 record during Morris’ four years, including 55-1 during the last two.
McKinney scored 15 points and Zielinski 14 for Laingsburg.
“Finishing is what we want,” Zielinski said. “We were a couple plays short. We just have to live with the results.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Flint Beecher's Monte Morris (11) dunks during Saturday's Class C Final win over Laingsburg. (Middle) Laingsburg's Zach Walker (12) looks to pass to teammate Jake Zielinski (4) while Morris and others defend. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 8
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 20, 2025
Any given week of the boys basketball regular season, MHSAA teams play about 650 games.
Picking a few to highlight as potentially the most significant in the long run can be a bit of a guessing game – but this week’s educated guesses include an interesting variety, reaching the Thumb, Upper Peninsula, northern West Michigan and the shores of Lake Huron before we go heavy Metro Detroit for this week’s most intriguing matchups.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Warren Lincoln 76, Muskegon 66 The reigning Division 2 champion Abes (8-4) have taken some tough losses from strong competition, but send this prevailing over the Division 1 Big Reds (10-2) to the top of their best-wins list.
2. Bay City John Glenn 70, Freeland 65 The Bobcats (11-2) moved into first place in the Tri-Valley Conference Red over the last week with this upset of the Falcons (10-2) followed by a similarly big win over Frankenmuth.
3. Ishpeming Westwood 64, Negaunee 48 The Patriots (11-3) sit atop the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East after avenging a double-overtime 77-76 loss to the Miners (8-3) from Dec. 20.
4. Grant 61, Big Rapids 47 Grant (10-0) remained undefeated and moved into first place alone in the Central State Activities Association Red, with the rematch at Big Rapids (9-3) on Feb. 21.
5. Bad Axe 60, Millington 54 The Hatchets (9-3) handed Millington (9-1) their first loss and in doing so moved into a tie with the Cardinals for first in the Big Thumb Conference White.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
East Lansing (12-1) The Trojans added another important win last week, getting past rival Okemos 78-67 in double overtime to stay atop the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue. East Lansing also can count wins over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Warren Lincoln among their best, with the lone loss to another Division 1 contender in Muskegon. A Saturday matchup against Romulus Summit Academy North at Detroit Cass Tech is the next big test as the Trojans prep to build on last year’s Quarterfinal run, and the league title will rest on how East Lansing does in rematches with Lansing Waverly and Okemos next month.
Traverse City West (10-1) The Titans – District winners a year ago – are unbeaten this winter since falling to Grand Haven 68-62 on the road to open the season. Wins over Marquette, Midland Dow and Traverse City Central have been among the most notable, and they’ll get an important test against Wayne Memorial on Feb. 8 at Traverse City St. Francis. West also leads the Big North Conference after finishing second a year ago, thanks to a 60-46 win over reigning champion Cadillac; the rematch is Jan. 31.
DIVISION 2
Adrian (10-1) The Maples took the major step last season from solid to league contender, finishing 20-4 overall and second to Chelsea in the Southeastern Conference White. Two of those losses came to Chelsea, and Adrian already has a win over the Bulldogs this winter, 66-62 last week with the rematch Feb 4. The Maples also have handed the only league losses to second-place Tecumseh in Jackson, and downed Detroit Central 67-48 on Dec. 10, one of that team’s two defeats. Adrian’s came against 10-game winner Detroit University Prep.
Center Line (10-3) The Panthers, also 20-4 a year ago, enjoyed a highlight-filled week. First, during a 74-48 win over Eastpointe, standout Te’rez Holmes reached 1,000 career points. Two days later, Center Line edged St. Clair Shores South Lake 46-44 to move into first place alone in the Macomb Area Conference Silver. The Panthers have gotten other strong tests along the way, falling to Warren Fitzgerald, West Bloomfield and Detroit Central, and a rematch with South Lake on Feb. 6 will be one of the most important the rest of the regular season.
DIVISION 3
Grass Lake (12-0) The Warriors sit atop the Cascades Conference East, quite a jump after finishing third and winning just 11 games total last season. They have downed both of last year’s league co-champions, Michigan Center and Napoleon, and impressively Grass Lake has pulled out five wins by five points or fewer. The Warriors also own victories over both co-leaders from the Cascades Conference West, Hanover-Horton and Brooklyn Columbia Central.
Ironwood (7-2) Despite coming off a tough loss Friday at Houghton, Ironwood did down Dollar Bay 53-49 the night before to maintain the top spot in the Copper Mountain Conference after tying for fifth last season. The Red Devils also own an early 54-47 win over Ewen-Trout Creek, another CMC contender, and they play again Feb. 6. Ironwood started the season off right, downing Wakefield-Marenisco 50-48 after losing to W-M by four to end last season as District runner-up.
DIVISION 4
Adrian Lenawee Christian (9-2) The Cougars are coming off a tough 73-70 loss to Petersburg Summerfield, which sent Lenawee Christian into second place in the Tri-County Conference. But they get another shot at Summerfield on Feb. 4, and Lenawee also came back from an early league loss last season to win the title by three games. The Cougars do have a win this season over Britton Deerfield – which ended their 2023-24 in the District a year ago – and Lenawee’s only other loss this winter came to reigning Division 4 champion Wyoming Tri-unity Christian.
Onekama (9-2) The Portagers have gone from 12-12 and sixth in the Northwest Conference a year ago to approaching that win total already and one of three teams with only one loss in league play – although their face the other two over the next eight days and after falling to co-leader Maple City Glen Lake by 17 in their first meeting Dec. 13. Regardless, Onekama has handed defeats to Traverse City Christian and Pentwater – both 11-2 – and their three remaining games combined against Glen Lake and Frankfort are their only ones the rest of the regular season against teams currently with winning records.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Jackson Lumen Christi (12-0) at Riverview Gabriel Richard (10-2) – These are the only teams without a loss in the Catholic High School League AA, and this will be their only meeting of the league season.
Tuesday – Belleville (10-1) at Wayne Memorial (9-2) – This is the first of two meetings this season between the co-leaders of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East.
Wednesday – Ann Arbor Huron (9-2) at Detroit U-D Jesuit (11-1) – The Cubs lead the CHSL Central and in league play have seen some of the rest of the best in Division 1, but also will get a look at a semifinalist from last season with this nonleague matchup.
Friday – Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (10-1) at Southfield Christian (11-1) – These are the early leaders in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue, and their rematch won’t come until the league schedule finale Feb. 13.
Saturday – Warren Fitzgerald (11-1) vs. Flint Powers Catholic (11-0) at Detroit Cass Tech – This 1:30 p.m. matchup is the second game but arguably the most intriguing of a solid set at the Downtown Showdown.
MHSAA.com's weekly “Breslin Bound” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTOS (Top) Auburn Hills Avondale’s Qualaeb Ross (0) gets up a shot while surrounded by Detroit Martin Luther King defenders during King’s 51-41 win Dec. 30. (Middle) Flint Carman-Ainsworth’s Donovan Hamlin (1) gets to the basket during his team’s 78-61 win over Goodrich on Dec. 16. (Avondale/King photo by Team Arreguin Photos. Carman-Ainsworth/Goodrich photo by Terry Lyons.)