Flashback: Chris Coles Sinks 'The Shot'

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

June 28, 2016

A 54-foot rainbow launched by Chris Coles at the buzzer of the 1986 Class B Boys Basketball Final is still remembered as "The Shot" in MHSAA history and is available to see again as the kickoff to this summer's MHSAA.tv "80's Finals Flashback" series. 

Coles' long-distance 3-pointer gave Saginaw Buena Vista a 33-32 win over reigning champion Flint Beecher in a rematch of the 1985 double overtime championship game thriller won by the Bucs. 

Tied at 31 with three seconds to play, Beecher sophomore Ernest Steward hit the first shot of a one-and-one situation to put the Bucs on top, 32-31. Stewart missed on the second attempt, allowing the Knights' Michael Jackson to grab the rebound and pass to Coles. The shot was Coles’ first attempt of the second half, and the senior’s only points in the contest. Shaun Randolph led the Knights in scoring with 19 points. Ricky Jackson paced Beecher with 18.

Click MHSAA.tv to watch the game in full, and check back every week for another 1980s classic. 

Hoops on Film: 1977 Class C Girls Final

August 10, 2015

By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director

Led by a then-sophomore who remains one of the most heralded players of its celebrated history, the DeWitt girls basketball team jumped to an early lead to pull away from Carrollton for the 1977 Class C title in this week's edition 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:

DeWitt 51, Carrollton 36 – 1977 Class C Girls Final - Plagued early by fouls, Saginaw Carrollton bowed to DeWitt, 51-36, in the Class C contest. DeWitt hit six free throws and jumped out to a 16-8 lead in the first quarter of play as a pair of Cavaliers starters were forced to the bench with foul trouble. The Panthers never looked back. Sophomore Kelly Robinson led the winners with 21 points and 15 rebounds, including 9 of 12 shooting from the free-throw line. Freshman Laura Collison scored 11 for the Cavaliers.

Previous releases:
1970 Class D Boys Final: Flint Holy Redeemer 62, Kingsley 60 - Watch
1961 Class D Boys Final: Marquette Pierce 68, Freesoil 61 - Watch
1958 Class A Boys Final: Detroit Austin 71, Benton Harbor 68 - Watch
1976 Class D Girls Final: Lake City 58, Perkins 48 - Watch
1971 Class A Boys Final: Flint Northern 79, Detroit Kettering 78 - Watch
1954 Class A Boys Final: Muskegon Heights 43, Flint Northern 41 (OT) - Watch
1973 Class C Boys Final: Detroit East Catholic 50, Saginaw St. Stephen 49 - Watch