Hoops on Film: 1976 Class D Girls Final
July 13, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
One of the earliest championship games in MHSAA girls basketball history is featured this week as part of MHSAA.tv’s Hoops On Film Series.
From the late 1940’s to the mid 1970’s the Michigan High School Athletic Association shot portions of the action at its boys and girls basketball finals on 16mm film. The films were loaned out, primarily to the participating schools, to help them relive the moments of playing in a championship game.
While many of the old films have wandered astray over time, about 60 games still exist in the MHSAA archives. Anyone in possession of such a film is encouraged to contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office ([email protected]) to discuss having the film converted to a digital format.
Some of the films only have portions of the second half and the post-game awards; some have most of the action. None of the films have sound. They range in length from 10 minutes to about an hour. A new film will be posted online each Monday through the week of August 17. DVD’s may be purchased directly from the MHSAA.tv Website – just click the Get DVD button below the player.
Here’s a look at this week’s game, with recap courtesy of MHSAA historian Ron Pesch:
Lake City 58, Perkins 48 – 1976 Class D Girls Final - Abby Currier scored 26 points and Becky Sessions added 22 as Lake City cruised past Perkins, 58-48, for the Class D title. Lynette Royer led Perkins with 23 points. This was the fourth Class D Final, as the girls basketball tournament started in 1973, and remains the lone championship game won by Lake City. The season before, the Trojans had bowed out in the Semifinals against eventual champion Flint Holy Rosary. The two teams met again in the semis in 1976, and this time it was Lake City which prevailed, advancing to the Final the following morning against Perkins and winning the school’s first MHSAA crown in any sport. It was the only appearance ever in an MHSAA statewide tournament final for Perkins, which merged the following year with nearby Rock to form Mid-Peninsula High School, about a half-hour’s drive north of Escanaba. The newly-formed Wolverines would win the Class D crown in 1977.
Previous releases:
1973 Class C Boys Final: Detroit East Catholic 50, Saginaw St. Stephen 49 - Watch
1954 Class A Boys Final: Muskegon Heights 43, Flint Northern 41 (OT) - Watch
1971 Class A Boys Final: Flint Northern 79, Detroit Kettering 78 - Watch
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.