Breslin Bound: Boys Report Week 7
January 22, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The fireworks flew in Michigan boys basketball last week, as three Associated Press top-ranked teams fell, albeit against others considered contenders as well.
With boys basketball season now at its midpoint, it's fair to say doors remain open for more potential contenders to step in. See this week's list of high performers for some that could be in the mix.
1. Detroit Cass Tech (10-1) – The two-time reigning football champ has owned the basketball court too since falling in December to Harper Woods Chandler Park.
2. East Kentwood (10-0) – The Falcons won 17 games two years ago and 18 last season, and will make a run next month to improve on those totals again.
3. Detroit Consortium (6-2) – Consortium is looking to be in the Class C mix and looks good to contend after knocking off Class B giant Detroit Country Day last week 68-62.
4. Wyoming Godwin Heights (9-0) – On top of being considered arguably the top team in Class B, Godwin Heights gave Class D power Wyoming Tri-unity Christian its first loss, 60-58 last week.
5. Detroit Pershing (12-0) – Pershing was here last week too, but it’s hard to not include the Doughboys again after they beat Detroit Southeastern 63-54 and handed Flint Beecher its only loss, 56-53.
6. Munising (6-1) – Since opening with a loss to Gwinn, Munising hasn’t fallen and beat 2012 Class D Semifinalist Carney-Nadeau last week 40-37; C-N knocked Munising out in the Regional Final last season.
7. Frankfort (8-0) – Just 11-12 last season, Frankfort is only a few wins from besting that mark and looks good to accomplish much more.
8. Jackson Lumen Christi (8-0) – The Titans often have contended but rarely been favored during their decade in the Capital Area Activities Conference; they are the team to beat in the CAAC Gold this time.
9. Warren Woods-Tower (7-2) – After opening 1-2, the Titans have won six straight including a big win over previously-surging New Haven, 58-54 last week.
10. Beal City (6-3) – The Aggies have won four straight after a little bit of a delayed start due to a Ford Field football run; last week’s 62-61 win over Leroy Pine River was the best win so far.
PHOTO: Saginaw (white jerseys) improved to 14-1 on Saturday with an 86-61 win over Harper Woods Chandler Park. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
In Memoriam: Fred McLeod (1952-2019)
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 10, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Basketball fans all over Ohio and Michigan are mourning the death Monday evening of longtime play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod, who was known most for his broadcasts of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons over the last 36 years – but also made a few of the most memorable calls in MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals history.
McLeod, who was 67, was a voice of MHSAA Finals broadcasts from 1998 – FOX Sports Detroit’s first year of coverage – through the 2005 boys basketball championship games, his last before leaving FSD for FOX Sports Ohio.
According to a statement posted by the Cavs on their website, McLeod broadcast more than 1,000 games for that team during two stints, and 22 seasons for the Detroit Pistons, in addition to time supplying his voice for the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers as well over nearly four decades.
Below are McLeod’s calls from the final seconds of the 2005 Class D Final between Detroit Rogers and Bellaire and 1999 Class D Final between Detroit City and Muskegon Western Michigan Christian, both on FOX Sports Detroit.