Highlight Reel: Class C-D Semifinals

March 18, 2016

The Class C and D finalists at the 2016 MHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament, presented by Sparrow Health System, were determined Thursday in front of more than 5,000 fans at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Click the final score to watch the entire game and order DVDs.

Class C Semifinal – Traverse City St. Francis 53, Niles Brandywine 40

Muscle Hoops - A classic feed into the middle to Traverse City St. Francis center Juliana Phillips results in a basket that put the Gladiators in the lead to stay against Niles Brandywine. Phillips finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Bobcats Stay Close – The closest Niles Brandywine could get in the second half against Traverse City St. Francis was three points when Makenna Hartline scored two of her 17.

Class C Semifinal – Ypsilanti Arbor Prep 72, Ithaca 44

Kayla Cans One For Ithaca - Things went back and forth early between Ithaca and Ypsilanti Arbor Prep. Here the Yellowjackets take the least on a basket by Kayla Belles, who led her team with 16 points.

Chambers Leads Prep - Nastassja Chambers led Ypsilanti Arbor Prep against Ithaca with a game-high 24 points, including a transition basket here. 

Class D Semifinal – Pittsford 62, Waterford Our Lady 43

Clark Goes Coast To Coast - In the first quarter of this rematch of a Semifinal at last year's Class D tournament, Pittsford's Maddie Clark grabs the missed shot and takes it all the way for two of her game-high 24 points to go with 16 rebounds.

Senerius 3-Point Play - Tiffany Senerius led Waterford Our Lady against Pittsford with 20 points – including this old-fashioned three-point play in the second quarter. 

Class D Semifinal – Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 45, Stephenson 38

Eagles Tie It - This game had six ties, the last coming midway through the third quarter on this basket by Stephenson's Karley Johnson. Johnson led her team with 12 points.

Take That! And That! - Here's a couple of great defensive plays in the closing moments of the Class D Semifinal between Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart and Stephenson by Averi Gamble of the Irish – one smashing away a pass, the other blocking a shot. Gamble finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds. 

PHOTO: The Pittsford and Waterford Our Lady teams line up for the national anthem Thursday.

In Memoriam: Brenda Henry (1967-2021)

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 30, 2021

Brendaettie “Brenda” Henry, a dedicated academic and athletic presence at Detroit Western International High School for more than three decades and an integral member of the tournament management staff annually for the MHSAA Girls & Boys Basketball Finals at Breslin Center, died unexpectedly April 21.

Henry had served on staff at Western since 1989, most recently as an academic interventionalist in charge of working with seniors and getting them scholarships, and she also oversaw Western’s night school IMPACT (formerly Second Chance) Program that assists high school students with credit recovery.

Brenda HenryShe also had served as Western’s athletic director for four years and coached volleyball, basketball and track & field, and she was a registered MHSAA basketball official for 14 of the last 16 seasons.

Every winter for nearly 15 seasons, Henry’s educational service extended to her MHSAA basketball family as she contributed to championship weekends at Breslin and previously Eastern Michigan University.

“Brenda had a huge heart for people, and that’s why she was such a valuable part of our basketball tournament staff for so many years,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “She was a huge reason the Breslin experience has been special for so many people.”

Henry, an alum of Detroit Northern High School, worked in Detroit Public Schools for more than 35 years total. She also was a sign language interpreter and active part of her church community.