High 5s: 11/28/12

November 28, 2012

The final MHSAA championships of the Fall 2012 season give us our final High 5s before heading into winter. This week, we recognize both an individual and a team that achieved new heights. 

Drake Harris
Grand Rapids Christian junior
Football

A 6-foot-4, 180-pound receiver who has committed to play both football and basketball at Michigan State beginning in 2014, Harris posted one of the finest receiving season in MHSAA history capped by playing a huge role in his team's first MHSAA championship. The Eagles beat Orchard Lake St. Mary's 40-37 in overtime Saturday for the Division 3 title. His eight catches for a Finals-record 243 yards and a touchdown put his unofficial season totals at 91 catches for 2,015 yards and 25 scores. Once confirmed, the season yardage will rank as the most in MHSAA history and 12th nationally for one season (his yards per game rank fourth and yards per catch sixth on the NFHS lists). Harris also ranked fourth for catches and second for touchdown catches on the MHSAA single-season lists.

Just ducky: "I'm probably more energized now after he hit that kick," Harris said after teammate Joel Schipper's winning field goal Saturday. "I was probably more tired a little bit during the game. But we condition all practice. We play fast. We play like Oregon, move the ball, (at) a high tempo. We're all in condition, so we really weren't that tired." 

Bring on the new guy: Harris has caught more than 3,000 yards worth of passes from senior Alex VanDeVusse over the last two seasons, but will play with a new quarterback in 2013. "I've been with Alex since sophomore year. I guess I have to start over and work hard all next season and hope to get back here."  

Be like Calvin: "Calvin Johnson, I want to be just like him when I get older. I know I'm a little skinny right now, but when I get to college, I know they'll put weight on me. I watch film on him all the time, watch him running routes. So I take my game after him. He's the best wide receiver in the NFL right now, probably one of the best wide receivers to play the game, in my opinion." 

Click to read more. 

Portland football

The Raiders, unranked despite entering the postseason 8-1, finished with their first MHSAA title won in their first trip to the Finals. Portland defeated Grand Rapids West Catholic 12-9 in the Division 5 championship game after knocking out 2011 champion Flint Powers Catholic in the Regional Final. For the playoffs, Portland outscored its five opponents 169-66 while holding three to nine or fewer points. In finishing 13-1 and setting a school record for wins, the Raiders beat nine playoff teams total including eventual Division 3 Semifinalist DeWitt. 

Click to read more. 

Previous 2012-13 honorees:

Today in the MHSAA: 2/20/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 20, 2023

1. SWIMMING & DIVING Marquette swept Upper Peninsula Finals victories, both extending championship winning streaks to conclude the season – MHSAA.com Girls | Boys

2. BOYS BASKETBALL Detroit Cass Tech came back from a late double-digit deficit to win the Detroit Public School League Tournament final 74-70 in overtime over Detroit Martin Luther King – Detroit News

3. GIRLS BASKETBALL Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard defeated Farmington Hills Mercy 41-27 to win the Catholic League Cardinal championship, its first league title since 1993 – MLIVE-Detroit

4. COMPETITIVE CHEER Allen Park clinched a sixth-straight District title, winning in Division 2 – Southgate News-Herald

5. BOYS BASKETBALL Redford Union edged Romulus 57-55 to clinch the Western Wayne Athletic Conference title – Hometown Life

6. WRESTLING Whittemore-Prescott advanced six from the Girls Regional at Hartland – Bay City Times

7. HOCKEY Division 2 No. 3 Alpena finished an outright Big North Conference title run with a 3-2 win over No. 7 Traverse City Central – WBKB

8. WRESTLING Division 4 No. 4 Bronson qualified 12 wrestlers to the Individual Finals, including two Regional champions – Coldwater Daily Reporter

9. BASKETBALL Rockford’s girls clinched the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title for the first time in more than a decade, and Grand Rapids Christian’s Durral Brooks went over 1,000 career points – Grand Rapids Press

10. COMPETITIVE CHEER Macomb L’Anse Creuse North and New Baltimore Anchor Bay won Division 1 District championships – Macomb Daily

Also of note …

GIRLS BASKETBALL Martin defeated Galesburg-August 52-46 to secure the outright Southwestern Athletic Conference Central title – FOX 17

BOYS BASKETBALL Sault Ste. Marie clinched the Straits Area Conference title with a 69-66 win over St. Ignace – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

BOYS BASKETBALL Lars Huffman went over 1,000 career points in Mackinaw City’s 99-58 win over Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian – Petoskey News-Review

GIRLS BASKETBALL Josie Schrot set two school records and made the MHSAA record book during St. Louis’ big win over Saginaw Nouvel – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun