Moment: Future Pro Stars Clash in Class A

April 16, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The 1958 Class A Boys Basketball Final pitting Detroit Austin and Benton Harbor has been considered among the classic MHSAA Tournament games of the 20th century.

The matchup featured two of the state’s all-time great prep players, Austin senior Dave DeBusschere and Benton Harbor senior Chet Walker. Both would go on to memorable college and professional careers, Walker playing 13 season in the NBA with seven all-star selections and DeBusschere playing 14 seasons with eight all-star selections. DeBusschere later would be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.

They would close their high school careers with DeBusschere scoring 32 points and Walker 25 as Austin won its only Finals championship in boys basketball with a 71-68 victory.

MHSAA historian Ron Pesch recalled the game for the "Legends of the Games" celebration honoring both teams. As Pesch noted, "it was the key contributions by some unsung teammates in the final minutes of the title game that would leave a lasting impact and set the game apart."

State Champs! Michigan: Hangtime 3-3-23

March 3, 2023

Join Lorne Plant, TJ Kelley and Scott Burnstein for the ninth episode this season of STATE CHAMPS! Hangtime.

0:00 – Open
0:42 – Farmington’s Greg Grays ‘26
2:58 – Mr. Basketball predictions
7:22 – Games on SC! recaps
8:48 – CHSL Bishop Championship, #3 Brother Rice vs #5 UofD Jesuit
13:15 – CHSL Cardinal Championship, Detroit Loyola vs Riverview Gabriel Richard
15:24 – North Farmington clinches OAA Red vs Ferndale
19:16 – BCAM Chalk Talk clip with Brother Rice Head Coach, Rick Palmer
21:54 – Scott and TJ explain the impact of Coach Palmer at Brother Rice
26:22 – Top 20 rankings
29:09 – Weekend preview
33:27 – TJ on Division 2 Districts
36:30 – Scott on Division 1 Districts
41:04 - Close