Welcome Back to 'The Woods'

January 17, 2014

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Buchanan, here we come. 

The MHSAA and its Student Advisory Council will kick off "Battle of the Fans III" tonight with a return trip to Buchanan, last season's BOTF champion. 

Buchanan, tucked into the southwest corner of the Lower Peninsula, is a Class B school of 465 students hailing from a community of roughly 4,400. The Bucks earned voters' hearts in 2013 as most of that student body and community filled the home gym – fittingly referred to as "The Woods" – for the MHSAA's BOTF visit. 

The MHSAA will visit finalists Beaverton, Bridgman, Frankfort and Traverse City West later this month and during the first two weeks of February before crowning a champion on Feb. 21 and inviting representatives from the winning section to a banner presentation during the Boys Basketball Semifinals on March 21 at Michigan State's Breslin Center. 

Remember, follow the Battle of the Fans on the MHSAA's FacebookTwitter and Instagram social media sites by clicking hashtag #BOTF. The MHSAA-produced story and video from tonight's trip will be published Tuesday on Second Half. 

Here's Buchanan's application video for this winter's contest. 

PHOTO is courtesy of Buchanan High School. Battle of the Fans III is sponsored in part by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.

All Merry and Bright as 'Battle' Tour Begins

January 18, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

FRANKENMUTH – The Christmas spirit never fades in Frankenmuth. 

The holiday itself finished up a few weeks ago. But more than 250 students decked out in Santa hats and yuletide sweaters greeted the MHSAA for its first visit of this Battle of the Fans II season. 

Come back to Second Half after 2 p.m. Tuesday for a full report and our video of the reigning BOTF champion in action as its cheered on its Eagles during Friday's boys basketball win over Bridgeport.