Today in the MHSAA: 3/16/17
March 16, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Buzzer beaters decided Boys Basketball Regional Finals all over Michigan on Wednesday as 32 teams secured spots in the final week of this season.
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
In a rematch of the Operation Friendship headliner from a few weeks ago, Detroit U-D Jesuit won a Class A Regional title with a 74-64 victory over Detroit Cass Tech – MLive-Detroit
Kalamazoo Central handed East Lansing its first and only loss in a Class A Regional Final, 75-60 – Kalamazoo Gazette
Undefeated Grand Rapids Christian won its Class A game on a buzzer beater 59-56 over Holland West Ottawa – Grand Rapids Press
Lake Fenton upset Frankenmuth in a big way in Class B, 68-52 – Flint Journal
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian also won on a buzzer beater in Class C, 51-50 over Muskegon Heights Academy – Grand Rapids Press
Beaverton won a Class C title 44-31 over Saginaw Nouvel on all-time winningest coach Roy Johnston’s 75th birthday – Midland Daily News
Manton moved on to the Quarterfinals with a nail-biting 47-46 Class C win over Boyne City – Cadillac News
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central also moved on with a Class C buzzer beater to down Adrian Madison 57-54 – Monroe Evening News
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.)