Breslin Bound: Girls Report Week 1

December 9, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Just like that, fall is done – and so is the first week of MHSAA girls basketball season.

“Breslin Bound” also is back, giving fans a quick lowdown each week on 10 teams that impressed me over the seven days prior.

What’s below isn’t a statewide ranking by any means – simply a top-10 list of notables that stuck out last week and a little info on each as we start the yearly quest to learn more about the teams we’ll be watching most when our tournament begins during the final week of February.

This week’s list (records/results based on those submitted on MHSAA.com):

1. DeWitt (2-0, Class A): The Panthers are expected to do big things this winter again, but may not have been expected to beat Grand Ledge 62-51; the Comets are considered a Class A championship contender.

2. Marquette (3-0, Class A): The Redettes are building off last season’s fine finish with another quick start that included wins over downstate Brighton and U.P. power St. Ignace at Petoskey’s Invitational.

3. Midland Bullock Creek (2-0, Class B): The Lancers have had an excellent run in girls basketball over the last decade, and it’s looking good to continue after a 10-point win over Saginaw Nouvel and a 12-pointer over Frankenmuth to open 2013-14.

4. Farmington Hills Mercy (2-0, Class A): The Marlins always are in the hunt, but another 2-0 start was noteworthy because it included avenging last season’s loss to Canton.

5. Eaton Rapids (2-0, Class B): The Greyhounds opened by beating potential Class A power Haslett by 13 and followed with a five-point win over solid Corunna.

6. Olivet (2-0, Class B): The Eagles long have been a girls basketball power, but rarely have opened with and beaten a Class A team like Lansing Waverly, which went on to finish the week with a win over frequent contender East Lansing.

7. Frankfort (2-0, Class D): A quick start for the Panthers included a 42-38 likely-to-be-considered upset of solid Class C Traverse City St. Francis.

8. Reese (2-0, Class C): The Rockets restarted after last season’s 23-1 finish with wins over traditionally strong Class B Frankenmuth and Millington.

9. Rock Mid Peninsula (2-0, Class D): The Wolverines won six games in 2012-13, but opened with a 38-point victory over Rapid River and an eight-pointer over Carney-Nadeau.

10. Warren Mott (3-0, Class A): The Marauders are nearly halfway to last season’s eight wins thanks to three quick victories during the first week. 

PHOTO: A Saginaw Valley Lutheran player (left) looks to pass around a Freeland defender during the Falcons' win last week. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

Moment: Powers Avenges 1999 Defeat

April 20, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

After being stung by Detroit Country Day’s fourth-quarter comeback and buzzer-beating game winner in the 1999 Class B Final, the Flint Powers Catholic girls basketball team would not offer an opportunity for the same dramatic ending in the teams’ 2000 rematch.

This time, the Chargers halted Country Day’s fourth-quarter surge a few points short, holding on for a 47-42 victory.

Senior Kelly Koerber – Powers’ leading scorer in the 1999 defeat – again set the pace, putting up 19 points while connecting on 9 of 12 shots from the floor. The Chargers actually trailed Country Day by two at halftime before going on a 15-4 third-quarter run to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Koerber’s future Western Michigan teammate Carrie Moore led Country Day in scoring this time with 19 points as well.

The win gave Powers a 27-1 record for the season, its only loss coming to Flushing by a point. Powers would go on to also win the third-straight Class B Final matchup between the Chargers and Yellowjackets in 2001, 54-53, to cap a perfect 28-0 season.

Here’s the full broadcast of the 2000 Final from FOX Sports Detroit.