Highlights Return to MHSAA.tv

January 14, 2015

By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director

Weekly highlights from games produced by MHSAA members participating in the School Broadcast Program return this week to the MHSAA.tv website.

This week’s highlights package features a showdown game from last week in the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League between undefeated Detroit Catholic Central (No. 1 in Div. 1 coaches association rankings) and once-beaten Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood (No. 1 in Div. 3 coaches association rankings), which ended in a 1-1 tie.

A rivalry boys basketball game with Dowagiac defeating Niles, 58-55, and a North Star League girls basketball game which saw Posen top Hillman, 48-42, are the other SBP produced games from last week in the highlights package, which can be viewed below. 

Last week was a busy back-to-school week for SBP schools, with video from 46 events in eight sports and another 41 games with live basketball stats, all taking place on the MHSAA.tv portal.

The School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.

Here’s the schedule of School Broadcast Program members planning to cover varsity competition over the next week for broadcast at MHSAA.tv (as of Jan. 12). The following will have live streaming video unless otherwise indicated:

Wednesday – January 14
Wrestling – Owosso at Haslett, 6 p.m.

Thursday – January 15
Boys Basketball – West Iron County at Calumet, 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball – AuGres-Sims at Posen, 7 p.m.

Friday – January 16
Boys Basketball – Lansing Waverly at Haslett, 6 p.m.
Ice Hockey – Detroit U-D Jesuit at Calumet, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Baraga at Calumet, 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball – Midland Dow at Mt. Pleasant, 7 p.m.
Ice Hockey – Warren DeLaSalle at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 7:15 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Posen at AuGres-Sims, 7:15 p.m.
Boys Basketball – Lansing Waverly at Haslett, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday – January 17
Wrestling – Mancelona Invitational, 10 a.m.
Ice Hockey – Detroit U-D Jesuit at Calumet, 7 p.m.
Ice Hockey – Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 7:30 p.m.

Monday – January 19
Competitive Cheer – O-K Conference Competition @ Comstock Park, 6:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball – Atlanta at Hillman, 7 p.m.

Tuesday – January 20
Girls Basketball – Goodrich at Haslett, 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball – Fife Lake Forest Area at Mancelona, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Byron Center at Comstock Park, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Hemlock at Montrose, 7 p.m.

Live stats of select basketball games are also available on MHSAA.tv. Check out the MHSAA.tv website on game night to see which schools are streaming live stats, or stop by to view stats following games on an On Demand basis. 

All sporting events – live or delayed - are available on MHSAA.tv on a subscription basis for their first 72 hours online. A portion of each subscription is returned to the school originating the broadcast. Subscriptions run either $9.95 for a Day Pass or $14.95 for a Month Pass. Some schools also offer Annual Passes at a discounted rate. All sporting events become available for free On Demand viewing three days after they have been posted. 

To view all of the recent School Broadcast Program productions, go to MHSAA.tv, click On Demand on the nav bar of the left side of the page, and on the Filters tab at the top of next page, click on All States and then select Michigan.  Schools interested in becoming a part of the School Broadcast Program should contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office.  

Division 2 Final: 'Anything is Possible'

November 29, 2011

DETROIT – That was the motto of Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice’s football team this season.

And the Warriors had to believe it in order for Friday’s dream finish to become possible.

Brother Rice qualified for the Division 2 playoffs at 5-4 last month and after finishing just fourth in the Detroit Catholic League Central. But riding the legs of senior running back Devin Church, the Warriors finished this season with a 24-14 win over Lowell at Ford Field to earn their seventh MHSAA championship and first since 2005.

Church, who ran for more than 900 yards during the playoffs, piled up 244 and three touchdowns rushing in the Final.

“We did it to make Coach proud,” Church said. “We kept the tradition going.

“That’s everybody’s dream, to win a state title. To walk away with a ring, that’s a blessing.”

“Coach” is Al Fracassa, who finished his 43rd season by winning his 405th high school game. But this run provided a new experience for the longtime leader.

Playing in a conference that also includes Division 1 finalist Detroit Catholic Central, Division 3 finalist Orchard Lake St. Mary and playoff qualifier Warren DeLaSalle, the Warriors lost three league games by a combined four points. Brother Rice (10-4) picked up its fourth loss in Week 8 against Cincinnati LaSalle.

But wins over strong teams – Detroit Martin Luther King and Ann Arbor Pioneer among them – likely gave Brother Rice the playoff points boost it needed to get into the postseason.

“We were worried about making the playoffs again. You get down, but the kids, they taught me a lesson. They came out and they worked their tails off,” Fracassa said. “We had a motto before our season started. … Anything is possible. This motto really personifies this football team. Anything is possible, and they’re going to remember it the rest of their lives.”

Church – who will sign with Northern Illinois in February – ran the ball 33 times. His yards were the sixth-most in an MHSAA Final ever. And they were followed by some flattering comparisons from Lowell coach Noel Dean.

“I don’t want to belittle their team by making it about one player; they have a great team,” Dean said. “(Church) is a fantastic football player. One of the better ones I’ve seen. And I’ve coached against some pretty good running backs in my day. The Grady brothers and the Ducketts, I’ve seen some pretty good ones. He’s fantastic.”

Fracassa added: “He’s done that all year, for the last three years. This is not only his good game he played. He’s played good in every game he’s played.”

And while Church ran wild, the Warriors were able to contain Lowell all-state quarterback Gabe Dean, who was making his third straight appearance in the Division 2 Final. A senior now, he led the Red Arrows to a championship game win in 2009

Dean did throw for 190 yards and two touchdowns, but was able to get free for just 34 yards on the ground as Lowell (12-2) attempted to catch up, and catch Church, most of the afternoon.

“The veer offense, we learned how to shut it down this week in practice. And we did a great job in the game,” Brother Rice junior linebacker Jon Reschke said. “We got them out of the veer and into a shotgun formation, the spread offense, which they didn't want to be in, which helped us.”

Senior linebacker Mark Doman had a team-high 13 tackles for Brother Rice, and Reschke had 10. Junior linebacker Reed Stormzand had 20 to lead Lowell, followed by sophomore linebackers Garrett Stehley and Jake Stehley with 14 and 12, respectively.

Click for full stats and play-by-play.