Moment: Rouge, Betts Win 4th Straight
April 15, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Willie Betts remains the only athlete in Michigan high school history to play on four MHSAA championship basketball teams, a feat he completed as part of River Rouge's fourth-straight Class B title winner in 1964.
This time, Betts helped the Panthers to an 86-67 win over Lakeview in the Final.
Fred Hudson led the way for the Panthers, scoring 31 points. The victory also was the 100th in MHSAA Tournament play for legendary Rouge coach Lofton Greene. River Rouge finished the 1963-64 season 24-1, losing just once for the third-straight winter.
Moment: Rouge Holds Off Unity Challenge
April 14, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We continue with our third day of "Rouge Week" with River Rouge's third-straight Class B championship during the 1960s, clinched with a 59-49 victory over Hudsonville Unity Christian in the Final.
Unity, ranked just behind the Panthers at No. 2 in Class B heading into the MHSAA Tournament, gave Rouge a run nearly to the end. Unity pulled within 38-36 at the outset of the fourth quarter before Boice Bowman, Bill Dunson and Larry Brazon keyed a 9-2 run to help the Panthers pull away.
Dunson, an all-stater as a senior that winter, scored a team-high 16 points. Bowman added 15. Rouge finished 25-1 for the second-straight season.