'If you want it, go get it.'
July 31, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
SOUTH LYON – "If you want it, go get it. It's out there."
Annette Babers has lived on both sides of that message, as both the pursuer and achiever. And she explained how today's high school players can do the same last week in speaking to more than 200 athletes, parents and coaches attending the MHSAA's Reaching Higher girls basketball clinic at South Lyon High School.
Reaching Higher, in its fourth year and in coordination with the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan, provides the state's elite basketball prospects with a day not just of basketball training, but also instruction in what it takes to succeed both academically and socially at the college level.
And becoming a well-rounded athlete – physically, mentally and spiritually – was a main point of emphasis for Babers, considered one of that nation's top high school players in 1988 while a senior at Saginaw High (she averaged 24.8 points, 21 rebounds and 15 blocks per game) before going on to start at Michigan State University and playing professionally in Turkey.
She's also the aunt and a major influence in the life of Draymond Green, who finished his career at MSU this spring and was drafted by the Golden State Warriors.
Mixing in the lessons she'd learned while telling the story of her basketball career, Babers provided these nuggets:
- "Listen (and) be obedient. If you're obedient, you're going to have that drive. You're going to have that determination – if you've got love for the game."
- "If you want that next level, it's right there. Go get it. ... It's out there. You don't realize how much you can do ..."
- "You know there's more to this than just playing. You've got to get your body physically fit. You've got to get your mind ready."
- "Whatever you do, please, (mind your) attitudes. You never know who's watching."
- "Your parents have given you the tools of life. You've got to use them."
- "You've got to find the circle you're going to be in. And make sure your parents are part of that circle."
Combined, 280 of the state's top boys and girls players were invited to Reaching Higher, as chosen by a selection committee made up of coaches from all over the state. The boys came to South Lyon on July 18, followed by the girls on July 26.
The six-hour sessions included skill training and three 36-minute games, plus a variety of speakers including current and former players Babers, University of Michigan standout Zach Novak and former Wake Forest and current German League standout Kyle Visser, who played his high school basketball at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central. Also providing valuable insights were coach Marc Comstock, Childress Sports Consulting, Dave Ginsberg of Management and Motivational Strategies and University of Michigan NCAA compliance officer Elizabeth Heinrich.
Total, 81 coaches from 55 college programs attended either the boys or girls sessions, representing all three NCAA levels and the NAIA. Games were reffed by MHSAA officials, who also participated in training sessions throughout both days.
PHOTOS: (Top) Battle Creek Central senior Kayla Freeman (with ball) cuts through a haze of opponents on her way to the basket. (Middle right) Annette Babers speaks to the more than 200 players, parents and coaches at South Lyon High School. (Middle left) Salem senior Chris Dierker launches a shot during a drill at the boys clinic.
PHOTO: New Boston Huron sophomore Hailey Richardson (92) and Utica Ford senior Cris Harper (15) lead a group through an agility drill.
PHOTO: All three rounds of games during both Reaching Higher sessions were officiated by MHSAA referees, who also received instruction and evaluation. Left, Kendal Smith from the Metro Detroit Officials Association talks technique with a group during a break in their game.
PHOTO: Reaching Higher participants return to the South Lyon High School gym after receiving instruction in the school's cafeteria. Standing tall is Ann Arbor Skyline junior Tristan Wilson (37).
PHOTO:Richland Gull Lake sophomore Alexis Ahlert prepares to shoot a free throw during her team's game Thursday.
Breslin Bound: 2023-24 Girls Report Week 8
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 29, 2024
February is league championship time on basketball courts all over Michigan, and our first girls basketball title winners could be crowned this week.
As we leave January behind, those potential deciders are among several big-time matchups coming up, and we continue to focus on local title implications below (and keep an eye on Stoney Creek/West Bloomfield, Baraga/Lake Linden-Hubbell and Ishpeming/Munising this week as well).
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and 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. Rockford 55 Lansing Catholic 48 The reigning Division 1 champion Rams (13-1) finished a three-win week by downing the reigning Division 2 champion Cougars (8-3) at the Calvin University Showcase.
2. Frankenmuth 54, Freeland 49 The Eagles (9-2) firmed up their lead in the Tri-Valley Conference Red by finishing a regular-season sweep of the Falcons (11-2), and remain the only team to defeat Freeland this winter.
3. Fremont 41, Ludington 35 Fremont’s first win over Ludington (7-6) since 2007 put the Packers (10-2) in first place alone in the West Michigan Conference Lakes, a game ahead of the 2022-23 league champ.
4. East Grand Rapids 60, Lowell 49 The Pioneers (8-5) have won five straight and with this victory have a half-game edge atop the Ottawa-Kent Conference White standings, with either Lowell (9-3) or Byron Center set to join them as co-leader with the result of their matchup tonight.
5. Utica Ford 56, Romeo 54 (OT) Ford bounced back from a 41-38 upset by rival Utica to maintain its lead in the Macomb Area Conference White as Romeo (9-4) also entered the evening with just one league defeat.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
East Kentwood (12-1) The Falcons are continuing an impressive climb from 12-10 two seasons ago to 16-8 last winter and now a near-perfect start to this winter – their only loss was 51-49 on Dec. 21 to Lowell at the Cornerstone Holiday Classic. Eight of East Kentwood’s victories have come against teams with winning records, and the Falcons broke Rockford’s 33-game winning streak two weeks ago and sent Grand Haven to 11-2 with a 58-45 win Friday. The Rockford rematch is Feb. 16.
Temperance Bedford (9-1) The annual contenders are leading the Southeastern Conference Red again, and Bedford sits alone at the top after sharing last season’s championship with Saline. After earning that share by defeating Saline in their second meeting in 2022-23, Bedford won the first meeting this time, 39-30 last week, and followed with a 56-40 victory over Dexter to send the Dreadnaughts into second place. Bedford’s only loss was in its season opener to Sylvania Northview (Ohio), and wins over Tecumseh and Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central have also been among the most attention-grabbing of the team’s first half.
DIVISION 2
Detroit Edison (10-0) The Pioneers are among the state’s elite again and impressing across the Midwest with wins over opponents from Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin and two more games coming up in Illinois this weekend. Closer to home, Edison most recently defeated Detroit Cass Tech 54-29 and Grand Rapids Catholic Central 64-57 as it seeks to return to Breslin after ending last season in a Regional Final. Chicago Kenwood (60-49 win) and Columbus Africentric (53-47) are among the top-ranked teams in their divisions in their respective states and surely were valuable prep as Edison readies to take on undefeated West Bloomfield and Detroit Renaissance on Feb. 6 and 8, respectively.
Frankenmuth (9-2) The Eagles are hoping to return to Breslin as well after finishing Division 2 runners-up a season ago, and their only losses this winter were to teams that also made the trip to East Lansing – Rockford and 2023 Division 2 semifinalist Goodrich, in back-to-back December games. As noted above, Friday’s win over Freeland highlights a 6-0 start to this calendar year, and the schedule is loaded over the next five weeks with road matchups at reigning Division 3 champion Hemlock and Lansing Catholic followed by Edison coming to Frankenmuth for a regular-season finale Feb. 29.
DIVISION 3
Blissfield (8-2) Last season’s Division 3 runner-up also is finishing off a solid first half, with last week’s 42-35 win over 10-win Adrian Madison keeping the Royals alone atop the Lenawee County Athletic Association standings. The losses were to Division 2 Tecumseh and undefeated Niles Brandywine, the latter just 45-43, and Blissfield is lined up nicely to surge into the postseason again with the Madison rematch and a tough faceoff with Division 2 Carleton Airport lined up for the end of February.
Springport (9-2) The Big 8 Conference co-leader (with Bronson and Concord) handed Colon its only loss this season Saturday, 50-40 at Spring Arbor and after downing Bronson 54-43 two days earlier. Springport finished 20-4 overall but second to Bronson in the Big 8 last season, and the Feb. 20 rematch is a game to circle, as is the Feb. 27 matchup with Concord, which defeated Springport 47-43 two weeks ago. Bath, Reading and Hanover-Horton should give the Spartans a challenging week but with opportunities to move up the Division 3 MPR list.
DIVISION 4
Lake Leelanau St. Mary (10-1) The Eagles might be taking the next step after winning 14 and 15 games the last two seasons, with their only loss this winter 45-42 to Division 3 Benzie Central. Last week’s 52-42 win over reigning Division 4 champion Maple City Glen Lake avenged a pair of losses from last year’s 14-9 run, and St. Mary also has avenged 2022-23 defeats to Gaylord St. Mary, Saginaw Valley Lutheran and Traverse City St. Francis. Upcoming games at Bedford (see above) and Sault Ste. Marie are especially intriguing.
Morenci (10-1) After starting 14-0 last season, this isn’t an unfamiliar situation for the Bulldogs. But they did last week defeat Adrian Lenawee Christian 44-28 after Lenawee ended Morenci’s 2022-23 in a District Final, and before that also avenged last season’s late loss to Petersburg Summerfield by winning 58-53 this time. Morenci tops the Tri-County Conference standings ahead of both, with rematches coming up Feb. 15 (Summerfield) and Feb. 20 (Lenawee). The only loss was 30-27 to Division 2 Adrian Madison.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Monday – Belleville (10-1) at Wayne Memorial (8-2) – Previously scheduled for Jan. 16, this matches the co-leaders in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East to finish off the first half of the league schedule.
Monday – Grosse Pointe North (11-1) at Macomb Dakota (12-2) – These two enter their rematch tied atop the MAC Red standings with two more league games to play and GPN having won the first meeting 50-41.
Tuesday – Elk Rapids (12-1) at Harbor Springs (10-2) – Elk Rapids’ 61-51 win in their first meeting Jan. 9 is all that separates these two at the top of the Lake Michigan Conference standings.
Wednesday – Detroit Henry Ford (9-0) at Detroit Communication Media Arts (9-1) – This is likely to clinch the winner at least a share of the Detroit Public School League Gold title, and Ford could win it outright if the Trojans also defeat Detroit Cody tonight.
Friday – Paw Paw (10-1) at Vicksburg (10-1) – This could eventually decide the Wolverine Conference title, as both have one league loss. Paw Paw won their first meeting this winter 60-50.
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) Bath’s Aubrie Schaibly (30) works to wall off Fowler’s Katie Spicer during the Eagles’ 46-41 overtime win Friday. (Middle) Ada Forest Hills Eastern’s Hannah Bhatnagar (5) puts up a shot against Forest Hills Northern earlier this season. (Top photo by Click by Christine McCallister; middle photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)