Cancer Free, Haske Pulls Double Duty

March 3, 2016

By Dennis Chase
Special for Second Half

TRAVERSE CITY – Keith Haske calls coaching basketball “therapeutic.”

It’s a term that now holds more meaning for the 58-year-old Traverse City St. Francis basketball coach, who is recovering from a stage four throat cancer diagnosis two years ago.

“When you’re coaching you just kind of lose yourself,” he said. “You don’t think about how you’re feeling or what you went through.”

Coaching has been a major part of Haske’s life for 32 years – 13 at St. Johns, 13 at Charlevoix and six at St. Francis. Even when he felt weak and tired last season, Haske continued as the boys coach, using an amplified headset at practice to lessen the strain on his throat.

His health, he said, is continually improving. He’s cancer free. His energy and strength are returning – so much so that he added to his workload this season by taking on the girls varsity coaching duties, too.

“When you go through this stuff you almost have a renewed energy,” he said. “Your body fights so hard to beat the cancer, and you go through so much suffering, that when you come out the other side things really don’t faze you as much.”

This is a time of the year that will test Haske’s stamina because his schedule is busier than ever. He coached three doubleheaders last week. With the girls reaching Friday’s MHSAA Class C District Final, he’ll coach five games in five days this week. It could be a repeat next week if the boys and girls advance along the tournament trail.

“I can’t tell you how much fun that would be,” Haske said.

Another tough District matchup awaits, though. The girls team (21-1) played Elk Rapids (15-6) on Wednesday and will next face host Glen Lake (20-2). The boys (12-7) will face Johannesburg-Lewiston (16-2) – the team that knocked the Gladiators out last season– in their District opener Monday.

It’s a challenging schedule. But Haske, who’s taken four teams to the MHSAA Finals, is accustomed to challenges. None bigger than his battle with cancer.

The diagnosis came the day after Easter in 2014. Haske, who kept physically fit, couldn’t believe what the doctor was telling him.

“I said, ‘There’s no way,’” he recalled. “I never smoked, never chewed tobacco, things you would attribute (to throat cancer).”

He wasn’t the only one stunned.

“Most of the team started breaking down crying,” senior Dylan Sheehy-Guiseppi remembered when Haske broke the news. “We were so shocked. We couldn’t understand how it happened to him.”

Neither could Haske’s close friends.

“Your first take is that it’s pretty devastating because you don’t know (what to expect),” Adam Wood, who played for and coached under Haske at Charlevoix, said. “Cancer can run the gamut as far as severity. The one thing I did know is that he would fight it as hard as he could.”

Haske took his fight to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He, and his wife Barb, spent most of the summer there as Haske underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatment.

It was on a return trip to Houston a few months later – he still goes back every four months for scans – when he learned he was cancer free.

“When I left (in July) they were still worried about one of the lymph nodes, whether they got it or not,” Haske said. “Sometimes it gets inflamed from the radiation, and they can’t tell.”

Turns out, it was inflammation. No cancer was detected.

On the way home, Haske received a call from principal Eric Chittle, who then revealed the good news at a school assembly.

“The whole student body went crazy,” Haske said. “It was cool.”

For Haske, the dean of students at the high school, it was a big hurdle to clear. But there was a side effect – Haske’s throat was still inflamed, and he struggled to eat.

“When I came back I went six months without eating a single morsel of food,” he said. “I lived on Ensure and ice cream.”

He ended up losing 53 pounds – and at one point inquired about a feeding tube.

“He (doctor) said, ‘You don’t need it. You’ve been through the worst. You’ll be all right,’” Haske recalled. “He was right. A couple weeks later it started to turn around.”

After the boys basketball season concluded last March, and as Haske’s health improved, the girls basketball job opened up. Haske had coached girls basketball at Charlevoix for three seasons, leading the Rayders to a 27-1 record and a Finals appearance in 2004. He stepped down when the girls season was switched from fall to winter.

St. Francis athletic director Tom Hardy thought about the possibilities and approached Haske, a member of the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame, about adding a second coaching job. After consulting with Barb, who he said has been “unbelievable” in his recovery process, Haske accepted.

Wood, who is now the boys basketball coach and athletic director at Lake Michigan Conference rival Harbor Springs, was among the first to call his former coach.

“He asked, ‘Adam, am I crazy?’” Wood said laughing. “My response was ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘I’ve been getting a lot of that lately.’

“For him to take that on was beyond impressive. It was all about the kids.”

What about physically?

“When I saw him this year I told him he looked great,” Wood said. “He said he felt great. The difference between this year and last is quite dramatic.”

Haske – who is mentoring two young coaches in the system, Tyler Sanborn and Stephanie DeNoyelles – said the casual fan might not even realize what he’s been through.

“If you were looking at me across the gym you wouldn’t have any idea,” Haske said. “If you get closer, I still have some swelling in my jaw, and I talk a little funny sometimes.”

But he’s enjoying every minute.

“The kids here are great, and that makes it so much easier,” he said. “You just don’t have many problems.”

The players are thankful to see their coach returning to his old self.

“He’s not only a basketball coach, he’s a mentor,” Sheehy-Guiseppi said. “He wants to make sure you’re taking care of stuff outside the game of basketball first. He really cares about you as a person, and he looks forward to helping you grow as a person.”

St. Francis officials adjusted Haske’s work schedule during the winter to accommodate his coaching, and Hardy had to work out arrangements with league members to schedule more varsity doubleheaders.

“All the schools were great about it,” Hardy said. “We have not had an issue with Keith having to be at two spots at the same time.”

Now comes the challenge of March Madness. And for the girls, that means a showdown with Glen Lake.

“They’re a lot like us,” Haske said, when asked about the Lakers. “They don’t have any one person you can key on. They have five or six girls that all share the ball and are dangerous. They’re tough in the paint and they can shoot. They’re very balanced, very sound.”

So are the Gladiators, who have won 19 in a row. Senior Annie Lyman is the leader, averaging 14 points, eight rebounds, five steals and five assists per game.

“She does it all,” Haske said. “She’s a tough, aggressive player.”

Juliana Phillips, a 6-foot-4 junior who has committed to play volleyball at St. Louis University, and 6-foot senior Lauren McDonnell also average in double figures.

Haske likes the growth he’s seen in his team.

“I think we’ve made great strides in understanding the system and what we’re trying to do,” he said. “We have some pretty talented kids. We have some size, some quickness, some kids who can shoot it. It’s a well-rounded team.”

The boys, meanwhile, are trying to find some consistency. Haske thought the Gladiators were turning the corner when Gabe Callery hit a mid-court shot at the buzzer to stun previously unbeaten East Jordan earlier this year. But St. Francis dropped three consecutive road games in February.

“A lot of it is shooting,” Haske said. “There are nights we just don’t shoot it well. When we do shoot it well, we’re a really good team.”

How good will be determined in March.

Dennis Chase worked 32 years as a sportswriter at the Traverse City Record-Eagle, including as sports editor from 2000-14. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

PHOTOS: (Top) Traverse City St. Francis coach Keith Haske huddles with his boys basketball team during a game against Grayling. (Middle) St. Francis' girls team, here against Kalkaska, will play for a District title Friday. (Below) Haske speaks with a few of his players during a District game against Grand Traverse Academy. (Photos by Julie English.)

Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 11

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 10, 2025

One of the most anticipated moments of every basketball season is coming up Sunday, when the MHSAA will publish this winter's Boys Basketball District brackets, this season for the first time with all teams seeded based on Michigan Power Ratings (MPR).

MI Student AidMPR is calculated using wins and losses for games played between teams entered into the MHSAA Tournament. Scores of games, margin of victory and location of games are not included in the MPR formula. The final MPR number is 25 percent of the team's winning percentage, plus 50 percent of its opponent's winning percentage, plus 25 percent of its opponent's opponent's winning percentage – the total rewarding both success and strength of schedule.

We're still seeing plenty of movement up and down our statewide MPR lists, and more is sure to come as teams continue to finish off regular-season schedules and play in league tournaments that will conclude over the next seven days (including three we've noted below). 

“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 66, Detroit U-D Jesuit 65 It wouldn’t be stunning to see both of these teams playing at Breslin Center next month, and Lincoln (15-4) can build on this boost as it plays for a Division 2 title repeat.

2. East Lansing 62, Lansing Waverly 60 East Lansing (17-1) made a major move toward securing the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue, adding to an earlier 10-point win over the Warriors (15-3) to take a two-game lead with three to play.

3. Marquette 76, Detroit Cass Tech 59 This has to be Marquette’s most significant win on a statewide stage in some time, as the Sentinels (15-2) met Cass Tech (16-2) at the Northern Michigan Showcase at Traverse City St. Francis and showed they’re capable of contending in Division 1.

4. Pewamo-Westphalia 56, Grand Blanc 39 P-W (16-2) opened a three-game week by putting more distance between itself and second-place Fowler in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference and closed it with this big win over the Division 1 Bobcats (11-7).

5. Grand Blanc 71, Flint Powers Catholic 69 Before the loss to P-W noted above, Grand Blanc moved into a tie for first in the Saginaw Valley League by handing Powers (15-1) its only defeat.

Watch List

With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:

DIVISION 1

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (12-6) Despite losing Mr. Basketball candidate Trey McKenney to injury Jan. 9, St. Mary’s has climbed to No. 3 in statewide Division 1 MPR and gone 5-2 since the injury (not counting the team’s loss in the game during which he was injured). The two losses during that time were by one point to East Lansing (17-1) and two points to Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (18-1), and the Eaglets face Brother Rice again Tuesday in a Catholic High School League Bishop Tournament semifinal. The third in-state loss was to Detroit U-D Jesuit, a potential Bishop championship game opponent. St. Mary’s handed Rockford (18-1) its only loss, Wayne Memorial (16-2) one of its two, and also downed Grand Rapids Northview (14-4) and Auburn Hills Avondale (12-7) among others.

Wayne Memorial (16-2) The Zebras have won 12 straight, losing only to St. Mary’s and Birmingham Groves (14-5) both in December. Wayne can clinch a share of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East title against Westland John Glenn on Tuesday and has two wins over Dearborn (15-3) and a first over Belleville (14-4) in league play with that rematch coming up Friday. The Zebras also are coming off a 69-60 win over Traverse City West (14-3) at the Northern Michigan Showcase and will close the regular season with a crossover (and potentially overall KLAA championship game) against a counterpart from the KLAA West.

DIVISION 2

Grand Rapids South Christian (14-4) The Sailors opened this season 1-3 but have only one loss since mid-December – 57-55 to Grand Rapids Northview on Jan. 23. Northview leads the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold and South Christian is just a game behind, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 18. The Sailors most recently downed Belleville (14-4) at the Battle in the Igloo at Portage Northern, 58-46, and also owns wins over Pewamo-Westphalia (16-2), Holland Christian (12-6) and Grand Rapids Catholic Central (12-6). A possible District opponent is Grand Rapids Christian (11-7), which defeated South Christian in the season opener. The other losses came to Hudsonville Unity Christian (18-1) and Byron Center (13-6).

Standish-Sterling (16-2) The Panthers have clinched a share of a third-straight league championship, this time in their first season in the Jack Pine Conference Division 1 and thanks to last week’s 75-68 win over second-place Gladwin (15-3). Standish-Sterling is undefeated in league play, with its losses both during the first half of December to Ithaca (14-4) by two points and Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (12-5). The Panthers also have wins over Alcona (14-2) and Pinconning (15-3) and will see the JPC Division 2 champion Feb. 18. Gladwin also is in the District bracket Standish-Sterling will host.

Grand Blanc's Isaiah McCree (1) makes a move toward the lane against Flint Powers Catholic.

DIVISION 3

Iron Mountain (16-2) The Mountaineers have a half-game lead in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East standings thanks to a split with second-place Ishpeming Westwood (14-5); Iron Mountain lost the first meeting 61-56 but won the rematch 58-32. The other loss was in December to Division 1 Marquette (15-2), and there are several strong wins including over Norway (14-4), Kingsford (13-5) and Negaunee (13-5). Iron Mountain has the opportunity to finish the regular season with plenty of momentum as well with rematches against Kingsford and Negaunee and a Feb. 20 meeting at Houghton (16-3) coming up.

McBain (15-1) The Ramblers are rolling again after missing out on the Division 3 championship game last season by a three-point overtime loss to eventual champion Niles Brandywine. Last week’s 79-64 win over Beal City pushed McBain into first place alone in the Highland Conference after the Aggies won their first meeting 57-48 on Dec. 13. McBain also finished a regular-season sweep of Evart (16-3) on Friday and has a second league game coming up against LeRoy Pine River (15-3) after winning the first one big Jan. 17. All 15 of McBain’s wins have come by at least 15 points, but the Ramblers could see Evart again in District play.

DIVISION 4

Battle Creek St. Philip (14-4) The Tigers have equaled last season’s 14 wins and lead the Southern Central Athletic Association West by a half game on Bellevue after finishing second to Bellevue last year. They’ve split their regular-season series, St. Phil winning the first game and Bellevue (11-3) the rematch, and they could see each other again at the District the Tigers are hosting. St. Phil also has a strong win over East Jordan (15-3) and a pair over third-place Colon (13-5) have provided a boost, as did a victory over Burr Oak (11-7) with that rematch coming up. The other losses were to Bronson, Union City (12-5) and Hillsdale Academy (14-4).

Clarkston Everest Collegiate (17-1) The Mountaineers have clinched their first league championship since 2021-22, in the CHSL Intersectional 1, and in a few weeks will attempt to add to a string of four straight District titles. The only loss this season came to Division 3 Jackson Lumen Christi (17-2), and 13 of Everest’s wins were by double digits – with one of the close ones a double-overtime victory over Division 2 Dearborn Divine Child. Everest will play in the CHSL St. Anne Tournament with Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (12-6), Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (9-9) and Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (8-7) and also could see host Our Lady in District play.

Can’t-Miss Contests

Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up: 

Tuesday – Freeland (15-2) at Bay City John Glenn (16-2) – John Glenn won the first meeting 70-65 on Jan. 14, and the winner of this rematch will be a massive step closer to claiming the Tri-Valley Conference Red title.

Friday – Catholic High School League Bishop Final at Detroit Mercy – Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (18-1), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (11-6), Detroit U-D Jesuit (17-2) and Warren De La Salle Collegiate (6-13) will play in Tuesday semifinals with a chance to advance.

Friday – South Haven (15-2) at Bridgman (12-5) – These two are both 7-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore with two league games to play and after Bridgman won the first meeting 55-53 in overtime.

Saturday – Charter School Conference Final at Schoolcraft College – Detroit Old Redford (16-1), Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac (14-0), Romulus Summit Academy North (18-2) and Detroit University Prep (15-5) play semifinals Tuesday to reach the final.

Sunday – Detroit Public School League Final at Wayne State – Cass Tech (16-2), Martin Luther King (16-3), Renaissance (12-7) and Central (15-3) play in Thursday semifinals with hopes of advancing to the title game.

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) East Lansing's BJ Windham (1) prepares to pass to a teammate during his team's win over Lansing Waverly. (Middle) Grand Blanc's Isaiah McCree (1) makes a move toward the lane against Flint Powers Catholic. (East Lansing/Waverly photo by John Johnson. Grand Blanc/Powers photo by Terry Lyons.)