At the End, it's Lake Michigan Catholic

August 17, 2016

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director

A back-and-forth battle for the 1988 Class C girls basketball title is the subject of this week’s 80s Finals Flashback series on MHSAA.tv.

The eighth game in our weekly summer series has St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic taking on Ontonagon.

Here’s a look at this week’s game:

Week of August 15 – St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic 41, Ontonagon 39 – 1988 Class C Girls Basketball FinalThis one was tight all the way.  Ontonagon led at halftime, 24-20, but Lake Michigan Catholic rallied to lead after three quarters, 30-28. Ontonagon led by as many as four points during the final period.  With 34 seconds remaining, Tirzah Wilson nailed both ends of a bonus situation to give Lake Michigan Catholic a 41-39 victory. Catholic's Kelly Rose led all scorers with 17 points, and also grabbed a Finals record 25 rebounds. Jill Mattson paced Ontonagon with 13 points.   

A new game will be posted online each Monday through the week of August 22.  DVDs may be purchased directly from the MHSAA.tv Website – just click the “Get DVD” button below the player.

Previous Flashbacks

August 8: Grand Rapids South Christian 69, Redford Bishop Borgess 66 – 1988 Class B Boys Basketball Final - Watch
August 1: Dearborn Divine Child 50, Okemos 45 (OT) 1986 Class B Girls Basketball Final - Watch
July 25:
Muskegon 16, Detroit Martin Luther King 13 – 1988 Class A Football Final - Watch
July 19:
Northport 80, Beal City 78 – 1988 Class D Boys Basketball Final - Watch
July 12:
Detroit Cass Tech 52, Saginaw 51 – 1987 Class A Girls Basketball Final - Watch
July 5:
Traverse City 24, Detroit Catholic Central 14 – 1988 Class A Football Final - Watch
June 28: Saginaw Buena Vista 33, Flint Beecher 32 – 1986 Class B Boys Basketball Final - Watch

In Memoriam: Brenda Henry (1967-2021)

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 30, 2021

Brendaettie “Brenda” Henry, a dedicated academic and athletic presence at Detroit Western International High School for more than three decades and an integral member of the tournament management staff annually for the MHSAA Girls & Boys Basketball Finals at Breslin Center, died unexpectedly April 21.

Henry had served on staff at Western since 1989, most recently as an academic interventionalist in charge of working with seniors and getting them scholarships, and she also oversaw Western’s night school IMPACT (formerly Second Chance) Program that assists high school students with credit recovery.

Brenda HenryShe also had served as Western’s athletic director for four years and coached volleyball, basketball and track & field, and she was a registered MHSAA basketball official for 14 of the last 16 seasons.

Every winter for nearly 15 seasons, Henry’s educational service extended to her MHSAA basketball family as she contributed to championship weekends at Breslin and previously Eastern Michigan University.

“Brenda had a huge heart for people, and that’s why she was such a valuable part of our basketball tournament staff for so many years,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “She was a huge reason the Breslin experience has been special for so many people.”

Henry, an alum of Detroit Northern High School, worked in Detroit Public Schools for more than 35 years total. She also was a sign language interpreter and active part of her church community.