Highlight Reel: Class C-D Girls Semifinals
March 17, 2017
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
The first day of the MHSAA Girls Basketball Finals at the Breslin Center in East Lansing produced three first-time finalists in the Class C and D fields for Saturday's championship games.
Class C
Detroit Edison PSA 54, Flint Hamady 31
Edison Scores On A Steal - Detroit Edison scored the first 11 points of this Semifinal, with Gabrielle Elliott capping the run on this play. Elliott had 24 points in the game.
Hawks On A Run - Aryana Naylor led Flint Hamady with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Detroit Edison, including this fastbreak basket in the third quarter.
Pewamo-Westphalia 64, Maple City Glen Lake 51
Lakers Out to Early Lead - Maple City Glen Lake led throughout the first half in its Class C Semifinal with Pewamo-Westphalia. The Lakers got a three-point play along the way from Allie Bonzelet.
Spitzley Leads Pirates - Pewamo-Westphalia pulled away in the fourth quarter against Maple City Glen Lake in the second Class C Semifinal. Emily Spitzley had a double-double for the winners with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Class D
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 64, Engadine 59
Panko Paces Cardinals - Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter against Engadine. Rylee Pankow makes it 62-49 with this jumper.
Vaughn Goes Coast-To-Coast - Engadine led late in the first half against Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Class D. Olivia Vaughn gives the Eagles the lead driving the length of the floor for a basket.
Pittsford 57, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 39
First Class Scout - Scout Nelson scores on a putback for Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart in the second quarter against Pittsford. Nelson led the Irish with 16 points.
Clark Down The Lane - Maddie Clark led Pittsford with 19 points and eight rebounds against Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, with two points off this power move to the basket in the third quarter.
PHOTO: Maple City Glen Lake's Kelly Bunek launches a shot during Thursday's Class C Semifinal against Pewamo-Westphalia.
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