Falcons Divine in Class B Final Return

August 5, 2016

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director

Some great defense in overtime propels Dearborn Divine Child to a championship in this week’s 80s Finals Flashback series on MHSAA.tv. 

The sixth game in our weekly summer series is the 1986 Class B Girls Basketball Final between the Falcons and Okemos.

Here’s a look at this week’s game:

Week of August 1 – Dearborn Divine Child 50, Okemos 45 (OT) – 1986 Class B Girls Basketball Final - Runner-up in the 1985 Class B championship match, Dearborn Divine Child battled to a 50-45 overtime win over Okemos. Sue Nissen led the winners with 22 points. Leading most of the second half, Okemos fell behind, 43-41, on Andrea McAllister's breakaway with 1:33 left in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Amy Zack tied the game with a five-foot jumper, and the Chieftains had a chance to win with one second to play in regulation. After being fouled, Zack missed the front end of a one-and-one, and the game went into overtime.  Then, in the final minute of overtime, Nissen scored underneath with about 30 seconds to play, stole the inbounds pass and fed Cathy Siroka for another basket. (Watch that last-minute scoring sequence by Clicking Here)

A new game will be posted online each Monday through the week of August 22.  DVDs may be purchased directly from the MHSAA.tv Website – just click the “Get DVD” button below the player.

Previous Flashbacks

July 25: Muskegon 16, Detroit Martin Luther King 13 – 1988 Class A Football Final - Watch
July 19:
Northport 80, Beal City 78 – 1988 Class D Boys Basketball Final - Watch
July 12:
Detroit Cass Tech 52, Saginaw 51 – 1987 Class A Girls Basketball Final - Watch
July 5:
Traverse City 24, Detroit Catholic Central 14 – 1988 Class A Football Final - Watch
June 28: Saginaw Buena Vista 33, Flint Beecher 32 – 1986 Class B Boys Basketball Final - Watch

Be the Referee: Under the Bus

February 28, 2019

This week, MHSAA assistant director Brent Rice explains why officials usually are not the correct target for frustrations when basketball games get out of control.

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Under the Bus - Listen

It seems whenever a high school game breaks down in a negative way, the coaches, players, fans, and school administrators quickly blame the officials.

It’s easy to take out aggression on these nameless – faceless – almost inanimate objects. But sloppy or chippy play is on the coaches to control – not the officials – as they simply call what happens. Fans up in the stands then quickly follow the lead of their coach berating the officials, thinking they are so well-versed in the art of officiating – but often don’t have the guts to put on the stripes themselves.

Officials aren’t perfect, but often they have to clean up messes created by others during the game – the people who should really be thrown under the bus.

Past editions

February 21: You Make the Call - Listen
February 14: Because They Love It - Listen
February 7: Coach/Official Communication - Listen
January 31: Backcourt Violation? - Listen
January 24: Required Hockey Equipment - Listen
January 17: You Make the Call: 10-Second Clock - Listen
January 10: Tripping in Hockey - Listen
January 3: Sliding in Basketball - Listen
December 27: Stalling in Wrestling - Listen
December 20: Basketball: You Make the Call - Listen
December 13: Basketball Uniform Safety - Listen
December 6: Coaching Box Expansion - Listen
November 29: Video Review, Part 2 - Listen
November 22: Video Review, Part 1 - Listen
November 15: You Make the Call - Sleeper Play - Listen
November 8: 7-Person Football Crews - Listen
November 1: Overtime Differences - Listen
October 25: Trickery & Communication - Listen
October 18: Punts & Missed Field Goals - Listen
October 11: What Officials Don't Do - Listen
October 4: Always 1st-and-Goal - Listen
September 27: Unique Kickoff Option - Listen
September 20: Uncatchable Pass - Listen
September 13: Soccer Rules Change - Listen
September 6: You Make the Call: Face Guarding - Listen
August 30: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
August 23: Football Rules Changes - Listen