Article - High School Sports Scene

Geoff Moff

Sports Scene

Beyond the record-shattering statistics and the postseason honors, Swan Valley junior running back Alex Grace had a season full of memorable highlights on the field.

When the Vikings needed the 6’2″, 180-pounder to provide a big play, he did.

Grace broke the Michigan High School Athletic Association record for season yards in what looked like a script from a storybook. With his team trailing Lansing Sexton 20-14 late in the fourth quarter of the Division 4 state quarterfinal game, he smashed the state record with a 80-yard touchdown run that eventually gave the Vikings a 21-20 lead with less than four minutes left.

Sexton responded with a touchdown and knocked off Swan Valley 26-21. Grace finished the game with 36 carries for 236 yards and set the state record at 2,952 yards, eclipsing the 2,890 yards set by Chippewa Valley’s Chris Lomasney.

The season ended like it started, with Grace making the big plays.

In the season-opener against rival Nouvel Catholic Central, Grace fumbled twice in the first half , as Nouvel staked a 20-7 halftime lead. Grace battled through heat-related cramping to score three touchdowns, including a 6-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds left in the game to lift the Vikings to a 27-20 victory.

After a light load and an easy win over Shepherd, the Vikings started slowly against Freeland, which had come in with a two-game win streak against the Vikings. By the end of the first quarter, Grace had only 15 yards, and his team was down 13-0. He ended the game with a career-high 337 yards and four touchdowns on 38 carries .

“It all starts up front,” said Grace, who credited his offensive line throughout the season. “The offensive line did an excellent job of making holes. When I got a little tired in the end and I was breathing heavy, I just kept thinking this could be my last play and just keep running hard.”

In wins over Freeland, Ovid-Elsie, Alma, and Hemlock that improved the Vikings to 6-0, Grace rushed for 1,256 yards and 13 touchdowns. His encore to that four-game stretch was 145 yards rushing and three touchdown on seven carries in a win over Chesaning. He also threw a pair of touchdowns in the win.

After closing the unbeaten regular season with 276-yard and 243-yard efforts, Grace was limited to 187 yards and two touchdowns on a rain-soaked, mud-filled field at Heritage for the Division 4 first round playoff game with Yale.With the top-ranked Vikings on the verge of getting upset, Grace squirted through for the game-winning 4-yard touchdown run with 2:10 left in the game.

He continued his penchant for big games when the Vikings needed him the most. He scored four of his five touchdowns in the first quarter of Swan Valley’s 54-28 win over Garber in the second round of the playoffs. Grace finished with 19 carries for 262 yards in the win.

Grace was rewarded as The Associated Press Division 3-4 Player of the Year. He ranks 13th on the MHSAA career rushing yard list with 5,115 yards, and he needs only 2,689 yards to reach the second-most career yards in MHSAA history. He probably can’t catch East Grand Rapids running back Kevin Grady, Jr., who holds the career mark at 8,431 yards.

And while it’s unlikely Grace will smash his own state record and take the career mark with 3,316 yards next season, he’s going to have plenty of memorable moments again during his effort.

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Geoff Moff

Sports Scene

MIDLAND – Bullock Creek’s girls basketball coach Justin Freeland didn’t have to provide motivation to get his players to the gym for summer workouts and fall conditioning.

A 48-45 overtime loss to Powers Catholic in the Class B state semifinal game is all that the Lancers needed to make them hungry. And with four starters back this winter, that hunger in their bellies is starting to growl.

“Everything that I asked these ladies to do, they did,” said Freeland, who enters his 12th season as head coach and 20th season overall with the Bullock Creek girls basketball program. “That’s one of the reasons this team is so successful.”

Freeland boosted his team’s non-conference schedule, and it is already paying dividends. The Lancers opened the season on the road with a 43-33 win over 2013 Class C state runner-up Nouvel Catholic Central and then knocked off Frankenmuth, 44-32.

“Nouvel returned a lot of ladies from last year, and we were able to grind out the win,” Freeland said. “And Frankenmuth, I personally think, has its best team out there in five years. They have size, a little bit of speed, and are always well-coached by Tom Keller. We have just enough offense, and our defense really carried us through those two games.”

Bullock Creek also has a tough conference schedule in the Tri-Valley Central, with Freeland and Hemlock on the schedule. The Lancers travel to state powerhouse Ludington in January and will see talented teams in a pair of Tri-Valley Conference crossover games.

“Obviously Freeland had Miss Basketball [Tori Jankoska], who now is a Big Ten player, and I think Karli Harrington is a top-10 player in the state now,” Coach Freeland said. “Hemlock is a real tough game, and Freeland might have lost Jankoska, but they have so many players who are good and successful coming back.

“The schedule will help us.”

While small forward Kendra Shankel graduated, the Lancers return a versatile lineup led by junior Ellie Juengel. Juengel started at point guard but has made the move to shooting guard after last year’s top reserve, sophomore Madison Hill, made the move from small forward to point guard.

“Hill’s development has been a huge leap,” Freeland said. “She is our best on-ball defender, and she really frees up Juengel to be a shooter. And when Hill goes out, Juengel can swing over. That versatility really allows them to play off each other.”

Bullock Creek has the quickness and skill to run three or four guards on the floor at the same time, and they have a strong inside presence in junior power forward Halee Nieman, a first team all-TVC Central selection last year. Sophomore center Alyssa Mudd is “very talented,” while Hannah Heldt is a defensive stalwart at small forward.

“Hannah is the best off-ball defender I’ve ever coached,” Freeland said. “She has a great basketball IQ and a high motor. She is very valuable on the defensive end. We’ve got a lot of things going good for us at the moment.”

Madalyn Waldmann has played four seasons of varsity basketball and gives the Lancers a veteran leader off the bench, while Lexi Shaver, the only other senior on the team’s roster, is “the best teammate on the team,” Freeland said.

Freeland said the expectations are high, and the team knows how little margin of error there is come playoff time.

“You can never expect to make it or not make it [back to the Breslin Center for the Final Four]” Freeland said. “One year we were 23-0 going in to the regional and were 24-0 heading into a regional final, and both times had tight losses. Last year we won the quarterfinal by a point.

“But last year was a valuable experience and a motivator for us to give it our best shot. A loss in overtime in the semifinals has driven us to work even harder.”

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Winter means plenty of activity at bowling lanes across the state, with high school keglers working to be at their best for the state finals.

DIVISION 1

Teams to watch statewide: boys―Jackson, Mona Shores, Salem, Heritage; girls―Davison, Macomb Dakota, Walled Lake Central

Top local teams: boys―Heritage; girls―Davison

Preview:

boys―Todd Hare of Heritage would like to think that his team, which was state runner-up last year, can go all the way this season. “We always set two goals every season, and that is to win our conference (SVL) and to qualify for states,” he said. “I know we can have a great team, but it will take hard work and dedication by every member of our team to achieve our goals.”

Top players in state: boys – Brad Wozniak, Traverse City Central; Alex Zarbaugh, Belleville; girls―Barbara Lawson, Grand Ledge

Top local players: Tyler Scott, Ben Kastros, Derrick Norman, Morris Pruitt, Heritage

State finals prediction: boys―Heritage over Jackson; girls–Walled Lake Central over Macomb Dakota

DIVISION 2

Teams to watch statewide: boys―John Glenn, Lapeer West, Sturgis; girls―Ionia, Northwest, Charlotte, Bay City Western

Top local teams: boys― John Glenn, Charlotte, Bay City Western; girls―Ionia, Charlotte, Bay City Western

Preview: Lapeer West looks strong for the boys, but John Glenn will have something to say about it. Ionia and Bay City Western are two strong teams for the girls.

Top players in state: boys―Alex Ouelette, John Glenn; Collin Fox, Charlotte

Top local players: boys―Alex Ouelette, John Glenn; Collin Fox, Charlotte; girls―Claudia Gielda, Bay City Western

State finals prediction: boys― Lapeer West over John Glenn; girls― Ionia over Bay City Western

DIVISION 3

Teams to watch statewide: boys― Corunna, South Haven, Fremont; girls―Pennfield, Flat Rock, Ishpeming

Top local teams: boys–Birch Run, Freeland; girls―Ovid-Elsie, Swan Valley, Belding

Preview: It should be a competitive division for both boys and girls. Corunna, Fremont, and South Haven hope to go for the top boys’ spot, and Pennfield and Flat Rock could take home the honor for girls.

Matt Fabus coaches both boys’ and girls’ Ovid-Elsie teams and likes their prospects. For the boys, “we should place first or second in the conference, do well in regionals, to make it to states,” he said. “We have three seniors back and should have a strong season.

“The girls were 9-1 for first in the conference, second in regionals, 10th in team state. We have three seniors back for a strong team and should do well in conference, regionals, and states, plus tournaments.

Top players in state: boys―Sam Brandt, Fremont; girls – Adrianna Jackson, Caro

Top local players: boys―Cody Bodrie, Garber; girls―Hannah Chase, Alma

State finals prediction: boys―Fremont over South Haven; girls―Flat Rock over Pennfield

DIVISION 4

Teams to watch statewide: boys―Jonesville, Rogers City, Sandusky; girls―Ithaca, Calvin Christian, Vandercook Lake, Sandusky

Top local teams: boys―Alma, Ithaca, St. Louis; girls―Ithaca, Sandusky

Top players in state: boys― Bailey Budnik, Rogers City; girls ― Rebecca Bannasch, Rogers City

Top local players: boys― Zach Fenby, St. Louis; girls―Meghan Ludu, Hemlock

State finals prediction: boys―Rogers City over Sandusky; girls―Sandusky over Ithaca

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The state crowns three champions in hockey. Will the area get a state champion this year? Right now, it’s not likely unless someone emerges with a hot postseason.

DIVISION I

Teams to watch statewide: Brighton, East Kentwood, Detroit Catholic Central

Preview: Coach Paul Moggach’s Brighton team will be going for its third straight state title with plenty of firepower. Captains Danny Boso, Tyler Hayes, and Brett Pietila will head a balanced attack.

Detroit Catholic Central hasn’t won a state title since 2010 but had a 21-0 scoring advantage over its first six opponents in going 6-0 to start this season.

Top players in state: Danny Boso and Tyler Hayes of Brighton, Carter Cerratani of Detroit Catholic Central

State final prediction: Detroit Catholic Central over Brighton

DIVISION 2

Teams to watch statewide: Hartland, Livonia Stevenson, Port Huron Northern, Trenton

Top local teams: Davison, Midland Dow, Heritage

Preview: Hartland was state finalist last season and figures to be one of the main powers again along with Port Huron Northern and Livonia Stevenson.

Dominic Lutz returns for Stevenson. He scored two goals the championship game, and he remains the top player for Stevenson.

Midland Dow has started out 5-0 and could make some noise.

Top players in state: Dominic Lutz and Tyler Irvine of Livonia Stevenson, Austin Flores and John Nagel of Hartland

Top local players: Kevin Cressy, Heritage

State final prediction: Livonia Stevenson over Trenton

DIVISION 3

Teams to watch statewide: Cranbrook, Houghton, Sault Ste. Marie

Top local team: Powers Catholic

Preview: Sault Ste. Marie may be ready to take that step up this season after being runner-up last year. “We will have a solid year and move guys to the next level,” said coach John Ferroni.

Defending champion Cranbrook showed how tough it is in a mid-December game against Detroit Catholic Central. Cranbrook posted a 5-2 victory over the Division 1 power. Sam Miletc had 12 goals and 19 points in his team’s first six games.

Top players in state: Will Gauthier and Chase Gamelin of Sault Ste. Marie, Sam Miletic of Cranbrook

Top local players: Austin Kane and Spencer Owen, Powers Catholic

State final prediction: Cranbrook over Houghton

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Athletes of the Month

The Karli Herrington File

Hemlock High School

Sports: Volleyball / Basketball

Season Accolades: In a 57-14 win over Ovid-Elsie during the fourth game of the season, Karli joined sister Shelby and became only the second player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark during a career. She scored a game-high 16 points in the win.

Accomplishments: Karli averaged 19 points, 15.1 rebounds, and 4.1 blocked shots per game a season ago. She also led the Huskies to the volleyball regional final, where Hemlock lost to Unionville-Sebewaing. As a freshman, she played on the Hemlock team that made it to the Breslin Center.

Future: Herrington will attend Central Michigan University on a basketball scholarship.

The Keyon Addison File

Saginaw High School

Sport: Football / Basketball

Season Accolades: Addison scored a game-high 10 points in Saginaw’s season-opening 74-27 win over Heritage. In football, he was one of the top running backs in the league and a key defender.

Accomplishments: As a sophomore, Keyon was a key member on the Class A state championship team and as a junior helped the Trojans make it back to the Breslin Center and the state semis before losing to Detroit Southeastern. Keyon was a four-year starter on the Trojans’ football team.

Future: Addison has set his sights on playing football at the next level and hasn’t given up on possibly playing basketball at the next level.

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DIVISION I

Teams to watch statewide: boys–Clarkston, Marquette, Traverse City Central; girls―Traverse City Central, Traverse City West

Top local teams: boys–Rockford, Heritage; girls–Rockford, Heritage

Preview: Heritage will be the top local team in this division for both boys and girls. It looks to compete for the Central Alpine ski conference title. Tom Yura is the team’s top prospect. He ran cross country in the fall to get in shape for skiing.

State finals prediction: boys–Marquette over Traverse City Central; girls―Traverse City Central, Traverse City West, Walled Lake Central

DIVISION 2

Teams to watch statewide: boys―Petoskey, Cranbrook; girls―Harbor Springs, Petoskey

Top local teams: boys―Clare, Greenville, Mount Pleasant, Okemos; girls―Mount Pleasant, Okemos

Preview: Petoskey coach Erik Lundteigen is confident that his team can again compete for a state title with all-staters like Garret Lundtegen and Trever Kingsbury returning. The boys’ and girls’ teams both won state crowns last year.

Clare’s boys have been Central Alpine Ski Conference champions in the past and should be strong again.

Top skiers in state: boys―Grant Lundteigen, Trever Kingsburg of Petoskey; girls―Mia Ciccoretti of Petoskey

State finals prediction: boys―Petoskey over Cranbrook; girls―Harbor Springs over Petoskey

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Jeff Chaney

Sports Scene

It’s never easy for a student to transfer to another school right before his or her senior year – no matter what the reason.

But that is what Josh Hafner did, transferring from St. Johns High School to Ithaca before his final year of high school.

He did not transfer because of a job change of one of his parents. Hafner is a talented football player, and he transferred because he wanted to be part of something special.

Hafner was a solid wide receiver/defensive back in St. Johns, and he brought his talents north to Ithaca to play for a team that was looking to win its fourth straight state title.

Ithaca did win the title, and Hafner played a big part, catching four balls for 45 yards and a touchdown in the 41-22 win over Clinton in the Division 6 state title game.

“It was an extremely tough decision,” Hafner said. “I thought a lot about it, I had a lot of talks, and at one point I called it off and thought I was going to stay with my friends. But I had to make a choice of what I wanted to do with my life.”

That decision turned into a memory of a lifetime, as it gave him the opportunity to play for a state championship team at Ford Field.

“Even though I left my friends, I have had a lot of support,” Hafner said. “It was the right decision; we won a state championship, and I still have all my friends, too – and new ones now.”

Hafner said that the reason he made the move wasn’t just to have the opportunity to play for a state championship team. That was just an added bonus. The biggest reason was that, as a wider receiver, Ithaca’s wide open offense and the chance to play with top-notch quarterback Travis Smith were too much for him to pass up.

“St. Johns has a great running program; here, we throw the ball a lot,” Hafner said. “Defenses can’t cover that, and Travis is such a great quarterback. Defenses had a hard time stopping us, because if they stopped one thing, we would just throw to another route.”

That’s exactly what happened in the state championship game, as Hafner caught a 15-yard pass from Smith and went head-over-heels into the end zone for the Yellowjackets’ first touchdown of the game.

“I had dreams of [that] moment,” Hafner said. “I can’t even tell you; it’s the best feeling in the world. I actually had a dream that I was doing that – if we could have made it to Ford Field I was going to jump over someone.”

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Geoff Mott

Sports Scene

Defense in football is meant to be played with an attitude.

That’s exactly how Brent Showers played it during his career at Rockford High School.

The 5’11”, 235-pound Showers led the Rams in tackles with 120 and helped his team to a 9-2 record and a Division 1 district championship game.

For that kind of season, he earned his second straight all-state status and was named the High School Sports Scene Defensive Player of the Year.

“I like to play with a chip on my shoulder and knowing that I am going after someone else,” Showers said. “Knowing that I have an advantage, more than a disadvantage as an offensive player, knowing I’m trying to take you down, that’s what’s great about playing defense.”

Of the 120 tackles, 23 were for loss. Showers also had four sacks, two pass break ups, and three forced fumbles for a Rockford team that was definitely led by its defense this year.

He also played a little offense for the Rams at fullback and thrived at that position, also.

Currently, several teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, as well as some teams in the Mid-American Conference, are looking at him for the linebacker position.

A three-year starter for the Rams, Showers is also a very good baseball player. It is no surprise that he starts at catcher, a position closely related to linebacker.

“My leadership skills [are my greatest asset],” Showers said. “I’m a very vocal person and love talking, and that has made it possible for me to communicate better on the football and baseball fields.

“My dream is to play both in college,” he added. “Knowing how hard it would be to be a quarterback of the defense and quarterback on a baseball team as a catcher, that would be hard. I’m leaning towards football now. I’m just glad to start the next chapter in my life.”

Showers is happy with what he is leaving behind. “I’m glad with how I went out as a player [at Rockford],” he said. “I wish we could have ended as a team better. I learned a lot from the program, and it was a blessing to play for Rockford so long.”

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Geoff Mott

Sports Scene

SAGINAW TWP. – The Heritage girls basketball team has many familiar faces back from last year’s state quarterfinal team, including four of five starters.

And while first-year coach Vonnie DeLong is unfamiliar to the Hawks’ bench, she is quite familiar to the Saginaw Valley League.

DeLong, 47, coached Arthur Hill for 11 seasons, finishing with a 142-65 record before stepping down in 2003 to take the head coaching job at Saginaw Valley State University. She posted a 35-72 record in four seasons with the Cardinals, stepping down in 2008. The former Carrollton prep star has returned after a five-year hiatus.

She takes over for Tim Conley, who retired after 22 seasons as Heritage’s coach with a 291-205 record.

“The kids don’t change,” DeLong said after the Hawks defeated Saginaw 61-48 in both teams’ SVL North opener. “Basketball doesn’t change.”

Center Jayde Abenth is one of three seniors on the team. She’s a three-year starter and was a little surprised when Conley left the program. “I was upset at first because I had been playing for three years for him,” she said. “But change is good.

“[DeLong] is a really good coach, and she knows what she’s talking about. We’re just starting to click.”

After a season-opening loss on the road to Brighton, the Hawks responded strongly with a 54-29 win over host Grand Blanc and a road win against the Trojans. Four of Heritage’s first five games are on the road, and the Hawks are learning on the fly.

“It’s a process right now, and the girls aren’t used to everything right now,” DeLong said. “We’ve got a good base and tough schedule to start. We work on things in the games and see how we fare.

“We’ve been working in the gym since the summer, but you can’t put your offense in then. I’m hoping after the Christmas break, when we are really re-teaching the offense, that we’ll see a bigger improvement by mid-January.”

Abenth is joined in the starting lineup by versatile senior guard Taylor Thompson. Junior guards Allie Miller and Aubree Snow push the pace for the Hawks and provide outside shooting, while new starter Alli Pape at forward is one of three talented freshmen on the varsity level.

Freshman forward Courtney McInerny grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds off the bench against a tough, veteran Saginaw front court, while freshman guard Haley Brefka plays with poise. Senior Joelle Schuknecht and juniors Haley Goodell, Carlee Couglin, Jordyn Brefka, and Indigo Dudley provide depth off the bench.

“We have people back, but we are still fairly young, with the three freshmen,” DeLong said. “There’s not a whole lot of experience there, and we’ve been able to win early. We make mistakes, but they stay in there and try to correct them.

“It’s hard to improve much until you play a few games and learn from them.”

The Hawks finished 16-10 last season and surprised Midland Dow in districts before winning the regional title. The season ended in heartbreaking fashion, with a 34-33 loss to Dexter in the Class A state quarterfinal game.

“Our expectations are still really high,” Abenth said. “We’re not going to let down. We keep working. I love playing with these girls.”

DeLong said the girls are working hard on a lot of new material but are talented enough to take another step forward this year.

“The expectations are high, and the kids want to get back to where they were,” she said. “It’s not that basketball has changed, but this is a different offense. We have different out-of-bounds plays, and it takes a little time to not revert back to some of the things you did last year.

“We’ll get there.”

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By BUTCH HARMON

The Saginaw High School boys basketball team is on a mission.

After winning the Class A state title in 2012, the Trojans fell to Detroit Southeastern in the state semifinals last year. Not only does Saginaw want to get back to the Breslin Center this March, but it also wants to take home the grand prize again.

“Oh yes, we want to get back,” senior point guard Keyon Addison said. “Our goal is always to get to the Breslin, and not just get there, but make it to the second day and win it all. That is always our goal.”

Winning a Class A state basketball title in Michigan is never easy, but the Trojans have the players that can make it happen, starting with Addison.

“Keyon is real focused,” head coach Julian Taylor said. “He is a real vocal leader, and he also leads by example. He understands what the team needs to be successful, and that is to play in attack mode. Both on offense and on defense.”

Utilizing their speed and quickness on both ends of the floor is a key to success for the Trojans. “Our strong point is our tempo,” Addison said. “We want to push the ball and create more opportunity to score.”

Addison is joined in the backcourt by freshman guard Ronquavious Southward.

“We expect big things out of Ronquavious,” Taylor said. “He’s pretty explosive with the ball.”

Saginaw also has outstanding players in the front court. Senior Jerry Smith (6’4″) returns along with sophomore Algevon Eichelberger (6’7″).

“Jerry is real solid for us,” Taylor said. “Algevon is also a lot stronger this year. He has been finishing real strong around the basket, and he continues to block shots on defense. His strength also allows him to keep his balance more. He’s staying on his feet and is able to get the offensive rebounds if he does miss a shot.”

As always, Saginaw will be battling it out with crosstown rival Arthur Hill for the Saginaw Valley Conference championship and then in the district tournament.

“We always have great games with them, but our focus is on one game at a time,” Taylor said. “We have a tough schedule with a lot of tough non-league games that will get us prepared for the tournament. We play Detroit Douglass, Detroit Consortium, Gary Bowan, Romulus, and Detroit Henry Ford. It’s a real tough schedule, and we need to take it one game at a time.”

If the Trojans take care of business, they certainly have the squad capable of reaching their ultimate goal.

“Our potential is sky high,” Addison said. “All we have to do is come to practice and work hard and listen to coach, and that will take us all the way.”

Taylor also believes that is possible. “I feel we have the team to make a successful tournament run,” he said. “Our goal is to get back to the Breslin. We need to play and practice hard and continue to work and stay humble, and things will fall into place.”

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Amazin’ Grace

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Saginaw Heritage looks for another promising season under new coach Vonnie DeLong

Saginaw High boys basketball aiming to return to state finals