Now Showing: Best of Spring, part 1
August 5, 2014
Spring sports championships dominate the final two weeks of the "Best of 2013-14” offerings on the MHSAA.tv Website, which is in its seventh week.
For eight weeks over the summer, MHSAA.tv will spotlight some of the best tournament action from the 2013-14 school year, presenting four games each week.
Each contest is easily identified with a “Best of 13-14” thumbnail on the home page of the MHSAA.tv Website. Here’s a look at the games which will be featured from August 4-11:
Gladstone v. Decatur: 2014 Division 3 Baseball Semifinal. Cody Huston delivered a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning to drive in the game-winning run and pitched a complete game one-hitter in Decatur’s 2-1 decision over Gladstone.
Utica Eisenhower v. Northville: 2014 Division 1 Girls Soccer Final. Jamie Cheslik had a goal and an assist to lead Northville to a 2-1 win. Emily Maresh had seven saves in goal for the winners.
Eaton Rapids v. Grand Rapids South Christian: 2014 Class B Girls Basketball Final. Allie Dittmer posted a double-double with a game-high 26 points and 13 rebounds as Eaton Rapids won its first-ever MHSAA girls championship with a 51-38 victory over South Christian.
Bay City Western v. Portage Central: 2014 Division 1 Softball Final. Western scored twice in the first and sixth frames and got three-hit pitching from Hannah Leppek to win the Division 1 title, 4-2
DVD’s of the “Best of 13-14” game videos are available through the MHSAA.tv Website.
Division 2 Final: 'Anything is Possible'
November 29, 2011
DETROIT – That was the motto of Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice’s football team this season.
And the Warriors had to believe it in order for Friday’s dream finish to become possible.
Brother Rice qualified for the Division 2 playoffs at 5-4 last month and after finishing just fourth in the Detroit Catholic League Central. But riding the legs of senior running back Devin Church, the Warriors finished this season with a 24-14 win over Lowell at Ford Field to earn their seventh MHSAA championship and first since 2005.
Church, who ran for more than 900 yards during the playoffs, piled up 244 and three touchdowns rushing in the Final.
“We did it to make Coach proud,” Church said. “We kept the tradition going.
“That’s everybody’s dream, to win a state title. To walk away with a ring, that’s a blessing.”
“Coach” is Al Fracassa, who finished his 43rd season by winning his 405th high school game. But this run provided a new experience for the longtime leader.
Playing in a conference that also includes Division 1 finalist Detroit Catholic Central, Division 3 finalist Orchard Lake St. Mary and playoff qualifier Warren DeLaSalle, the Warriors lost three league games by a combined four points. Brother Rice (10-4) picked up its fourth loss in Week 8 against Cincinnati LaSalle.
But wins over strong teams – Detroit Martin Luther King and Ann Arbor Pioneer among them – likely gave Brother Rice the playoff points boost it needed to get into the postseason.
“We were worried about making the playoffs again. You get down, but the kids, they taught me a lesson. They came out and they worked their tails off,” Fracassa said. “We had a motto before our season started. … Anything is possible. This motto really personifies this football team. Anything is possible, and they’re going to remember it the rest of their lives.”
Church – who will sign with Northern Illinois in February – ran the ball 33 times. His yards were the sixth-most in an MHSAA Final ever. And they were followed by some flattering comparisons from Lowell coach Noel Dean.
“I don’t want to belittle their team by making it about one player; they have a great team,” Dean said. “(Church) is a fantastic football player. One of the better ones I’ve seen. And I’ve coached against some pretty good running backs in my day. The Grady brothers and the Ducketts, I’ve seen some pretty good ones. He’s fantastic.”
Fracassa added: “He’s done that all year, for the last three years. This is not only his good game he played. He’s played good in every game he’s played.”
And while Church ran wild, the Warriors were able to contain Lowell all-state quarterback Gabe Dean, who was making his third straight appearance in the Division 2 Final. A senior now, he led the Red Arrows to a championship game win in 2009
Dean did throw for 190 yards and two touchdowns, but was able to get free for just 34 yards on the ground as Lowell (12-2) attempted to catch up, and catch Church, most of the afternoon.
“The veer offense, we learned how to shut it down this week in practice. And we did a great job in the game,” Brother Rice junior linebacker Jon Reschke said. “We got them out of the veer and into a shotgun formation, the spread offense, which they didn't want to be in, which helped us.”
Senior linebacker Mark Doman had a team-high 13 tackles for Brother Rice, and Reschke had 10. Junior linebacker Reed Stormzand had 20 to lead Lowell, followed by sophomore linebackers Garrett Stehley and Jake Stehley with 14 and 12, respectively.