Highlight Reel: Boys & Girls Lacrosse Finals
June 11, 2016
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
Three teams maintained their winning ways at the MHSAA Lacrosse Finals on June 11, as Birmingham Brother Rice, East Grand Rapids and Rockford all successfully defended their titles in games played in Brighton and Howell.
Below are links to video highlights from Saturday’s games. Click on the final scores to watch games in their entirety and purchase DVDs.
Boys Finals
Division 1: Birmingham Brother Rice 10, Detroit Catholic Central 8
Great Scott - Birmingham Brother Rice and Detroit Catholic Central traded goals for most of the first half of the Division 1 Final, but Brother Rice took a 5-4 halftime lead on a goal off a restart by Ryan Scott.
Shamrocks Keep It Close - Detroit Catholic Central pulls closer in the fourth period against Brother Rice on this goal from Brennan Kamish.
Division 2: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 10, East Grand Rapids 6
Hallock Hammers It - Tanner Hallock of Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central scored the first two goals of the Division 2 championship game against East Grand Rapids, the first coming on this blast with 8:31 remaining in the first period.
Pretty Play For Pioneers - In transition, East Grand Rapids gets its first goal against Forest Hills Central. Ben Keller finishes the play.
Girls Finals
Division 1: Rockford 12, Birmingham United 9
Stachler Steals One - Birmingham United jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Rockford midway through the first half of the Division 1 title game. The fourth goal came when Jena Bazil steals the ball from Rockford's goalkeeper, and Anna Stachler converts on the turnover.
Mac Attack - Rockford scored the last four goals of the game against Birmingham United; the second off a restart by Mekenzie Vander Molen proved to be the game winner.
Houle Stones Waechter - In the final minute of the Division 1 Final, Birmingham United's Abbie Waechter breaks loose for a 1 v. 1 on Rockford goalie Briana Houle, who makes the big save to preserve the lead.
Division 2: East Grand Rapids 13, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 11
Cranes Start Hot - Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood started off the Division 2 Final against East Grand Rapids with three unanswered goals in less than four minutes. Here's some nifty work by Isabelle Scane on the second goal.
Elliott to Duca - East Grand Rapids opened up a six-goal lead in the second half. The goal that proved to be the game winner came from Auden Elliott with the assist by Lindsay Duca, who had eight assists on the day, one short of a Finals game record.
PHOTO: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and East Grand Rapids face off during the Division 2 girls championship game.
Hoops on Film: 1961 Class D Boys Final
July 27, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
A battle of undefeated teams from schools both no longer in existence is highlighted 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:
Marquette Pierce 68, Freesoil 61 – 1961 Class D Boys Final - After 35 years as a coach in the Upper Peninsula, Vic Hurst was rewarded with his first MHSAA title as Marquette Pierce downed a determined Freesoil squad, 68-61, in a Class D battle of the undefeated. Dave Benson led the Warriors with 17 points, while teammates Dennis DeMerse and the Laurich brothers – Conrad and Larry – each added 15. The matchup came after each school's first Regional crown and ended up the only time either school would ever reach the Finals. Pierce would close after the 1961 season, and its only other Regional appearances came back-to-back in 1955 and 1956. Freesoil would win four more Regional titles during its history – three consecutive form 1966-68. The high school closed after the 2006-07 school year and was absorbed into the Mason County Eastern school district.
Previous releases:
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