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."
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.
Previous 2012-13 honorees:
- Julia Bos, Grand Rapids Christian cross country - Click for more
- Morgan Bullock, Zeeland swimming - Click for more
- Nathan Burnand, Waterford Mott cross country - Click for more
- Aaron Chatfield, Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian soccer - Click for more
- Erin Finn, West Bloomfield cross country - Click for more
- Alex Grace, Saginaw Swan Valley football - Click for more
- Billy Heckman, Portage Central tennis - Click for more
- Codi Jenshak, Escanaba tennis - Click for more
- Amanda McKinzie, Battle Creek St. Philip cross country - Click for more
- Connor Mora, Cedar Springs cross country - Click for more
- Kelsey Murphy, Plymouth golf - Click for more
- Dewey Lewis, Rockford soccer - Click for more
- Nick Raymond, Erie Mason cross country - Click for more
- Jacqueline Setas, Lansing Catholic golf - Click for more
- Michael Sienko, Williamston tennis - Click for more
- Carli Snyder, Macomb Dakota volleyball - Click for more
- Beal City volleyball - Click for more
- East Kentwood soccer - Click for more
- Flint Beecher football - Click for more
- Grand Blanc boys soccer - Click for more
- Holland girls swimming and diving - Click for more
- Ithaca football - Click for more
- Lansing Everett football - Click for more
- Ludington boys tennis - Click for more
- Muskegon Mona Shores girls golf - Click for more
Today In The MHSAA: 3/9/21
March 9, 2021
Title time continued on the basketball court Monday where at least three teams clinched conference championships to top our list of headliners.
1. Boys Basketball: Romulus Summit Academy handed Detroit Edison its first loss, 49-46, to clinch the Charter School Conference championship – Detroit News
2. Girls Basketball: Brooklyn Columbia Central clinched the Lenawee County Athletic Association title with a 33-30 win over Onsted – Jackson Citizen Patriot
3. Boys Basketball: Otsego claimed a fourth-straight Wolverine Conference title with a 61-36 win over Allegan – Kalamazoo Gazette
4. Boys Basketball: Ke’ontae Barnes became Muskegon Orchard View’s all-time leading scorer during an 86-42 win over Kent City – Local Sports Journal
5. Girls Basketball: Harper Woods Chandler Park won a matchup of title contenders, 79-78 – MLive-Detroit
6. Boys Basketball: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s downed Ferndale 81-40 as Will Smythe drained 12 3-pointers – Oakland Press
7. Hockey: Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central downed Division 1 No. 8 West for the second time in four days, this time 7-1 – Up North Live
8. Girls Basketball: Freeland downed Alma 38-25, but the Panthers’ Alyssa Leister went over 1,000 career points – Saginaw News
9. Girls Basketball: Sarah Marvin posted a triple-double to lead Byron past Linden 71-37 – Owosso Argus-Press
10. Boys Basketball: Reese downed Bad Axe 82-80 in overtime to maintain first place in the Greater Thumb Conference West – Huron Daily Tribune
Also of note …
Wrestling: Montabella’s Shaun Balhorn went over 500 career wins, becoming the 31st coach in his sport to do so – Greenville Daily News