Morrice’s basketball season ended at 17-6 with a 58-36 loss to Adrian Lenawee Christian in the Class D regional finals on Thursday. Lenawee Christian was up 11-3 after the first quarter, 27-16 at halftime and 41-22 after the third quarter. Griffin Lewis scored 15 points for Morrice. Ronnie Hubble had seven points.
Morrice won its first Class D regional semifinal game since 1984 with a 71-63 win over Bellevue on Tuesday. Morrice was up 22-13 after the first quarter, and trailed 33-30 at halftime and 49-45 after the third quarter. Morrice had a 26-14 scoring advantage in the final eight minutes. Ronnie Nuble scored 22 points for Morrice while Griffin Lewis had 21 points and Jake Bindschatel added 12.
Dustin Neyer’s 25-foot jumper at the buzzer stunned Fulton 50-47 in Wednesday’s regional title Class D game in Big Rapids and ended Fulton’s season at 21-3. Neyer grabbed the ball when Brooke Hyble’s inbounds pass at 0.8 seconds, intended to hit a teammate underneath the basket, went too far, hit the backboard and caromed to Neyer whose desperation shot just beat the buzzer. The ball bounced around the rim before going in for the game-winner.
Fulton was up 17-8 after the first quarter, 24-21 at halftime and 37-32 after the third quarter. Sacred Heart had an 18-10 scoring edge in the fourth. Colton Ames had 22 points for Fulton.
Dustin Neyer’s 25-foot jumper at the buzzer stunned Fulton 50-47 in Wednesday’s regional title Class D game in Big Rapids and has the Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart Irish playing in Tuesday’s quarterfinal game at Cadillac against Frankfort. Neyer grabbed the ball when Brooke Hyble’s inbounds pass at 0.8 seconds, intended to hit a teammate underneath the basket, went too far, hit the backboard and caromed to Neyer whose desperation shot just beat the buzzer. The ball bounced around the rim before going in for the game-winner. Sacred Heart is 20-3.
Fulton was up 17-8 after the first quarter, 24-21 at halftime and 37-32 after the third quarter. Sacred Heart had an 18-10 scoring edge in the fourth. Kevin Gamble had 24 points for Sacred Heart.
Heritage’s hockey season ended in the Division 2 quarterfinals March 4 at Ferris State University. The 5-3 loss to Reeths-Puffer finished the Heritage season with a 21-5-1 record.
Kyle Kendra had four goals and an assist for Reeths-Puffer.
Heritage had built a 2-0 lead on goals by Jacob Mackie and London Bonenfant in the first period. Reeths-Puffer scored in the second, then Daniel Krauseneneck’s shorthanded goal, assisted by Devan Bayne, made it 3-1 Heritage. But Reeths-Puffer, led by Kendra, scored four unanswered goals.
“I thought we controlled the play, but they scored two goals in the last minute and a half of the second period to tie us, which gave them the momentum in the third period,” said Heritage coach J.J. Bamberger. “After they took the lead, we had a lot of chances, but we just didn’t capitalize on our opportunities.”
Bamberger said senior leadership paved the way for his team this season. “Tyler Angers had a great year, earning first team all-state honors. Kevin Cressey had a great year as a senior goalie, earning all-state second team honors. We tried to make sure we peaked at playoff time, which I think we did but came up a little short of our goal.”
It was a season Heritage fans will remember for a long time. “Although we came up short in our goal to reach The Frozen Four at Compuware, I still think we had a successful season,” Bamberger said. “We won the Traverse City Christmas Tournament for the first time in school history. As a coach, whenever you have a group that worked as hard as these kids did, you appreciate them as a group.”
Southeastern Michigan won all three hockey titles in Michigan this season. Detroit Catholic Central, Trenton, and Farmington got the job done March 8 at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.
DIVISION 1
Catholic Central regained its hold on Division 1 state titles with a 5-1 win over Brighton. Carter Cerretani and Ryan Burnett each scored two goals for Catholic Central, while Domenic Mancinelli had one goal.
“Our team unity was the key. Our motto all year was E.L.E. (Everyone Loves Everyone), and we wrap our arms around it, embrace it, and feed off it,” said coach Doug Itami. “The loyalty and compassion in the room is evident, as every player plays for the guy sitting next to him.”
Catholic Central ended the season at 23-7. Brighton ended at 23-6-1.
“We played fast, as our attack mode and quick start the first 10 minutes was the key factor in setting the tone for us,” Itami said. “Our poise and focus in front of the 4,300-plus crowd was surprisingly good. Our goal-tending was solid, and our special teams were effective in key moments.
“Our captains – Luke Turner, Matt Sorisho, Carter Cerretani, Conner Gaffney. Luke, Carter, and Conner were the leaders and backbone of our team, keeping the group together emotionally during much adversity,” Itami added. “They worked hard to maintain focus and trust amongst the boys. Matt Sorisho was our soul.”
Sorisho was paralyzed from an injury in a hockey game last October.
Catholic Central won the semifinal game over Grandville, which was coping with the devastating loss of one of its captains, Ryan Fisher, who died in his sleep the day of the game from an enlarged heart. Teams from both sides huddled for a prayer after the game.
“The aftermath of the Matt Sorisho injury, the loss of Peter Halash (2012 CC Captain), and Ryan Fischer (Grandville) was a challenge for the entire group,” Itami said. “Though the team may have deserved a happy ending to the season, we knew we were not entitled; that we had to work hard every day to earn it. We believe we earned it.”
Halash, who played for the Topeka Roadrunners, died in January from a car accident.
“CC scored twice in the first five minutes of the game, and the advantage they created did not allow us to counter,” said Brighton coach Paul Moggach.
DIVISION 2
Trenton dominated Hartland in the title game 8-3 to earn its 14th state championship.
“Hartland scored first,” said Trenton coach Mike Turner. “That got us going. We answered and continued to score. Scoring to go up 4-1 in the last second of the second period was a difference maker.”
Justin Dunn and Mitchell Gaela each scored three goals for Trenton, and Quinn Preston and Philip Pugliese scored one each.
“Mitchell Galea, Justin Dunn, Andrew Sawyer had terrific seasons scoring and in points,” Turner said. “They were in the top five in the MIHL total points. We knew we were going to get offense every night.”
Trenton finished at 26-4-1, while Hartland finished at 20-10-1.
DIVISION 3
Jason Petras scored two goals in the first period for Farmington, which sneaked out a 2-1 victory over Sault Ste. Marie. John Lethemon was the winning goalie for Farmington, which was outshot 30-22. “We had 30 quality shots on an all-state goaltender and was only able to beat him once,” said Sault Ste. Marie coach John Ferroni.
“It was certainly very exciting,” said Farmington coach William Newton. “We played great defense and were very happy to get out to a two-goal lead. Scoring first was key for all six wins in the tournament. John Lethemon’s steady play was also amazing.”
“I am extremely proud that this group was so resilient that they could return to the final game the second year in a row,” Ferroni said. “Our younger players developed quickly, which was very satisfying, and helped the older kids reach their goals.”
Sault Ste Marie ended the season at 25-3-1, while Farmington finished 22-10.
Eaton Rapids has won its first ever girls basketball state championships. Eaton Rapids handed Grand Rapids South Christian, 26-1, its only loss of the season 51-38 in the Class B state title game Saturday night. The game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter and Eaton Rapids led 19-16 at halftime, and 31-24 after the third quarter. Allie Dittmer sored 26 points and brought down 13 rebounds for Eaton Rapids. Kathryn Mills had 11 points and five rebounds.
St. Ignace’s hopes of bringing a state title to the U.P. were dashed by Saginaw Nouvel’s girls basketball team with a 62-40 victory Saturday at Michigan State. Nouvel was up 13-6 after the first quarter, 23-22 at halfime and 47-29 after a huge third quarter. Nouvel had an 15-11 advantage in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Margo Brown had 16 points for St. Ignace.
Saginaw Nouvel was playing in its third girls basketball state championship game on Saturday in Class C at Michigan State and came up with a 62-40 victory over St. Ignace. Nouvel was state runners-up last season. Nouvel’s season ended at 22-4. Nouvel was up 13-6 after the first quarter, 23-22 at halfime and 47-29 after a huge third quarter. Nouvel had an 15-11 advantage in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Laurel Jacqmain had 23 points and seven boards for Nouvel while Rachel McInerney was spectacular with 10-of-12 shooting from the floor for 22 points and 23 rebounds.
Flint Powers Catholic’s girls basketball season ended in the Class B state semifinals with a 46-36 loss to Eaton Rapids on Friday. Eaton Rapids was up 14-5 after the first quarter, 22-17 at halftime and 29-28 after the third quarter. Eaton Rapids had a 17-8 scoring advantage in the final eight minutes. Flint Powers’ final record was 23-3.Francesca Coury and Sara Ruhstorfer had eight points apiece for Flint Powers.
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