Today in the MHSAA: 3/1/17
March 1, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Ranked hockey teams met in Divisions 1 and 3 on Tuesday as those playoffs moved through their second night and the boys basketball regular season moved one closer to finishing up for 2016-17.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Boys Basketball
River Rouge closed the regular season 19-1 with an impressive 62-47 win over Class D favorite Southfield Christian – MLive-Detroit
New Haven edged Flint Beecher 108-104 in triple overtime despite 63 points and 11 assists from Beecher’s Malik Ellison – Flint Journal
Flint Northwestern downed Flint Academy West 72-56 thanks to 35 points from Darious Young in what was expected to be the final home game for the heralded program – Flint Journal
Da’Quarius Cooper had 35 points and 20 rebounds off the bench in Muskegon Mona Shores’ 78-58 win over Muskegon Catholic Central – Muskegon Chronicle
Clarkston clinched its 11th straight Oakland Activities Association Red title with a 68-61 win over West Bloomfield – Oakland Press
Hillsdale finished the regular season 20-0 with a 73-30 win over Adrian Madison – Hillsdale Daily News
Hockey
Top-ranked Flint Powers Catholic downed No. 9 Saginaw Heritage 5-0 in a Pre-Regional – Flint Journal
In Division 1, No. 8 Utica Eisenhower downed No. 7 Lake Orion – Macomb Daily
Holland West Ottawa Athletics Complex Recognized with National Award
December 12, 2023
Holland West Ottawa Public Schools’ new athletics complex, with architectural firm GMB, has been recognized as the top multi-field facility nationally by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities.
West Ottawa’s new stadium consists of two turf playing fields. The west field was designed deliberately without a surrounding track to bring the stands and field closer together with a central tunnel beneath the grandstands for the home team to enter onto the field. The same synthetic turf, light posts, and state-of-the-art audio/video systems are utilized on both fields for an equitable experience for all users.
Multiple ground-level entry points with access to the fields, barrier-free locker rooms and multiple seating options with elevator access also create accessibility for spectators, players, coaches, and support staff.
“This facility allows our students the opportunity to play in one of the premier complexes in the state of Michigan,” said Jeff Malloch, assistant superintendent of business services at West Ottawa Public Schools. “We have seen continued interest in lacrosse, football, and soccer, and this complex will be utilized by our community youth from elementary age to high school student-athletes.”
Adding elevated fan experiences, such as a concourse level between the upper and lower sections of the home stands, bigger bleachers, and updated concession stands and restrooms establish a venue for multiple sports and attract the entire community to utilize the facility.
“This is a one-of-a-kind facility for West Michigan, and it’s been wonderful to see student-athletes from across the state enjoy the complex’s unique amenities,” said Nate Bosch, a landscape architect with GMB. “The collaboration needed to make this project come to life was an inspiring process to be a part of, and we are so pleased to celebrate this accomplishment with West Ottawa.”
This is the first time a GMB project has been awarded a multi-field facility of the year honor by the ASBA. GMB also has received four Project of the Year honors in the outdoor tennis category and 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects over the past 12 years.
(Photos by M-Buck Studio.)