PREP SPORTS ⚫ NEWS AROUND METRO FLINT

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BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

FLINT (CCN) — Visiting Lansing Catholic was no match for the high-flying Lady Chargers of Flint Powers Catholic High School Monday night (Feb. 16, 2026) behind their Miss Basketball candidate Kendyl Smith..

They thumped the Lady Cougars in front of their home fans at Goggins Field House in one of the worst beatings (boys or girls) in Lansing Catholicl's illustrious basketball history.

But only 5-12 this season, Lansing Catholic's ladies are not having such a banner campaign this winter. But they've been competitive most games they've lost. There was a 35-point loss to Lansing Sexton (50-15) on Dec. 16 and a 51-point loss to Portland (79-28) on Jan. 9.

But absolutely nothing like Monday night.

Powers Coach Ryan Trevithick had his offense firing on all cylinders and the defense played lights out.

It was the final tune-up for the Lady Chargers before they play for the Saginaw Valley League championship on Friday (Feb. 20, 2026). That one will also be at Goggins Field House.

It won't be easy for the Lady Chargers who are now 18-2 overall this season and a perfect 14-0 atop the Valley's South Division. Championship game opponent Saginaw Heritage racked up an impressive 15-5 overall record.

Worse yet, winning the Valley's North Division included beating Midland 47-39 — the same Midland team that spanked Powers 57-47 in a Feb. 3 non-league affair at Powers.

Senior Smith scored 20 points in only 16 minutes of action Monday night.  She was 4-of-9 from 3-point range and 8-for-16 overall from the field. She also passed out 6 assists and made 6 steals.

She broke the school record for a career.

Smith went over 1,500 points and also surpassed 500 assists.

PHOTO CAPTION: Kendyl Smith poses with her two nephews after breaking the career scoring record for Flint Powers Catholic.

THIS WEEK'S BOYS' BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Conference-by-Conference Games

Saginaw Valley League Championship Game

Thursday, Feb. 19 at Grand Blanc High School

Grand Blanc vs. Saginaw Heritage (7 pm)

Metro League Championship Game

Thursday, Feb. 19 at Holly High School

7:30 pm: Tuesday, Feb. 17 Winners

Genesee Area Conference (GAC)

Championship Game

Friday, Feb. 20 at Burton Bendle High School

Tournament Openers on Tuesday, Feb. 17

Semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 17

THIS WEEK'S GIRLS' BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Conference-by-Conference Games

Saginaw Valley League Championship Game

Thursday, Feb. 19 at Flint Powers Catholic

Flint Powers Catholic vs. Saginaw Heritage (7 pm)

Metro League Championship Game

Thursday, Feb. 19 at Holly High School

5:30 pm: Tuesday, Feb. 17 Winners

Genesee Area Conference (GAC)

Championship Game

Thursday, Feb. 19

Finals Location Not Yet Determined

Tournament Openers on Tuesday, Feb. 17

Semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 16

Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — Grand Blanc's unbeaten boys waste no time getting back into action after Friday's 67-53 victory at Flint's Goggins Field House on the campus of Powers Catholic. They play tonight (Dec. 20, 2025) against Milford in the Corsairs Christmas Classic at Waterford Mott.

Milford is coming off a 17-7 overall campaign but the Mavericks are only 2-3 so far this season.

Grand Blanc is 5-0 overall. 

The Bobcats went into Saginaw on Tuesday night (Dec. 16, 2025) and won a 48-45 thriller over Saginaw United before besting Powers on Friday night (Dec. 19, 2025) at Powers. (See related story above)

Tuesday's triumph at Saginaw United gave third-year Coach  Doreace Martin's Bobcats revenge for last year's 71-62 loss on their home floor to the Phoenix.

State Champs has Grand Blanc 8th in its top 10 rankings and the Bobcats were 10th in the most recent ratings by The D Zone.

Powers came into Friday's showdown at 3-1 overall after losing earlier in the week when dropping  a tough 73-67 affair on Tuesday night (Dec. 16, 2025) at Flint Carman-Ainsworth.

Davison thumped Lapeer 89-40 on Tuesday to warm up for what was to be a showdown with the Cavs but weather prevented that one on Friday night in Davison. No word yet on what it will be re-scheduled.

Coach Mike Williams saw his Davison club move to 3-3 overall by blasting Lapeer after losing its first two games of the season and next goes to The D Zone Showcase in Hazel Park to face Novi.

While Grand Blanc is at the Corsairs Christmas Classic at Waterford Mott tonight against Milford, Flint C-A goes to Hazel Park to face Lincoln Park in the D Zone Showcase. Lincoln Park is 6-9 atop the Downriver League and a perfect 7-0 overall.

Grand Blanc has already had a steady dose of  tough games, starting off by winning a 76-75 overtime thriller over Hamtramk at the Horatio Williams Tip-Off Classic in North Farmington.

That's the only loss on Hamtramk's  5-1 record. The Bobcats also gave Saginaw Heritage's its only loss on a 6-1 slate atop the Valley's North Division.

While also knocking off local arch rivals C-A and Powers where records can always be thrown out the window, Grand Blanc's hectic schedule continues without time to relax as the Bobcats go to The D Zone Showcase at Hazel Park to face state-ranked Auburn Hills Avondale.

Avondale is currently unbeaten at 4-0 atop the Oakland Activities  Association Red where finishing as the runner-up each of the last two seasons with identical 16-victory campaigns.

Avondale's 69-51 victory over  West Bloomfield in the OAA-Red opener raised eyebrows for sure.

The showdown with state-ranked Grand Blanc is part of a rugged holiday break slate that also features match-ups against Hamtramck, Freeland and Detroit Mumford.

How Grand Blanc fares against Avondale should therefore impact where the Bobcats wind up in the next state poll of top contenders around the state in Division 1 were they lost a year ago in the state tournament to defending state 2023 state champs and 2024 semifinalist Orchard Lake St. Mary.

Grand Blanc's girls, regional finalists before losing to West Bloomfield a year ago after losing in the 2023 Division 1 state finals to the same school, were absolutely no match Friday night (Dec. 19, 2025) for Flint Powers Catholic which appears to be a Division 3 state powerhouse.

The Lady Chargers threatened to run the Lady Bobcats out of Goggins Field House by storming to a 78-21 romp behind talented Miss Basketball candidate Kendyl Smith's 27 points. (See related story above)

The senior star was an all-state selection a year ago when averaging more than 20 points per game and close to double figures as well in distributing assists. She's doing double figures in assists so far this season. The fourth-year varsity performer recently de-committed from Central Michigan University to announce she's headed for a Christian education at Liberty University.

Smith's 18 points led the way earlier in the week when Powers raised some eyebrows by knocking off traditional state powerhouse Frankenmuth in easy fashion 69-45. That non-league romp was a day before clobbering Flint Carman-Ainsworth 82-37 in its Saginaw Valley League South Division opener.

Smith scored 28 points in the lopsided victory over C-A when drilling in 6 3-pointers. She also passed out 6 assists for the second game in a row. Smith scored 32 points on opening night when also pumping in 6 from 3-point range and making 5 steals on the night.

Presley Schriner came off the bench to give Powers a balanced attack of four players in double figures against Frankenmuth along with Paige Ringwelski checking in with 9 points. Eva Smith and Bella Haley pumped in 13 points apiece 

===========================

Here is last week's local Valley results :

Saginaw Valley League South Division Boys

Valley Games on Friday, Dec. 19

Grand Blanc 67, Flint Powers Catholic 53

Flint Carman-Ainsworth at Davison (postponed)

Valley Games on Tuesday, Dec. 16

Grand Blanc 48  Saginaw United 45

Flint Carman-Ainsworth 73,  Powers Catholic 67

Davison 89, Lapeer 40

Saginaw Valley League South Division Girls

Valley Games on Friday, Dec. 19

Flint Powers Catholic 73, Grand Blanc  21

Davison 69, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 50

Valley Games on Tuesday, Dec. 16

Flint Powers Catholic  82,  Carman-Ainsworth 37

Davison 53, Lapeer 40

Grand Blanc  50, Saginaw United 43

Non-League Game on Monday, Dec. 15

Flint Powers Catholic 69, Frankenmuth 45

===========================

Here is the upcoming schedule for local Valley South Division teams over the next 8 days:

Upcoming Action for Saginaw Valley League

South Division Boys

(All Games 7 pm unless noted otherwise)

Non-League Games on Saturday, Dec. 20 

Flint Carman-Ainsworth vs. Lincoln Park

(D Zone Showcase at Hazel Park)

Grand Blanc vs. Milford (6 pm)

Corsairs Christmas Classic at Waterford Mott

Non-League Game on Monday, Dec. 22

Davison vs. Novi (11 am)

D Zone Showcase at Hazel Park

Grand Blanc vs. Auburn Hills Avondale (6:30 pm)

D Zone Showcase at Hazel Park

Flint Power Catholic at Bay City John Glenn

Non-League Game on Saturday, Dec. 27

Grand Blanc Game to be Determinedly

DCC Classic at Detroit Catholic Central  in Novi

Flint Powers Catholic vs. Columbus Beechcroft

of Ohio (2 pm)

Romulus Summit Academy Christmas Showcase

Non-League Game on Sunday, Dec. 28

Grand Blanc vs. Lansing Waverly

Romulus Summit Academy Christmas Showcase

Non-League Game on Monday, Dec. 29

Flint Carman-Ainsworth vs. East Kentwood (6 pm)

Romulus Summit Academy Christmas Showcase

Davison vs. Croswell-Lexington (Noon)

Flint Kearsley Christmas Showcase

Non-League Game on Tuesday, Dec. 30

Flint Carman-Ainsworth vs. East Kentwood (6 pm)

Romulus Summit Academy Christmas Showcase

Davison Game to be Determined

Flint Kearsley Christmas Showcase

Non-League Game on Friday, Jan. 2

Mt. Morris at Flint Powers Catholic

Non-League Game on Saturday, Jan. 3

Grand Blanc vs. Saginaw Heritage (3 pm)

Grand Blanc vs. Clarkston (6 pm)

Charlie Carmody Classic in Grand Blanc

Carman-Ainsworth vs. Waterford Mott (1:30 pm)

Charlie Carmody Classic in Grand Blanc

Non-League Game on Saturday, Jan. 3

Grand Blanc at Grand Haven (2:45 pm)

Non-League Game on Tuesday, Jan. 6

Southfield A&T at Flint Powers Catholic

Non-League Games on Wednsday, Jan. 7

Carman-Ainsworth at Goodrich

Bay City Central Davison

Non-League Game on Wednesday, Jan. 14

Detroit University Prep at Flint Powers Catholic

=========================

Upcoming Action for Saginaw Valley League

South Division Girls

(All Games 7 pm unless noted otherwise)

Non-League Game on Wednesday, Dec. 23 

 Grand Blanc at Clarkston

Non-League Game on Thursday, Dec. 23 

Hartland at Flint Powers Catholic

Non-League Game on Wednesday, Dec. 29 

Pewamo-Westphalia at Flint Powers Catholic

Non-League Game on Saturday, Jan. 3

Flint Powers Catholic at Detroit Renaissance 

Non-League Game on Wednsday, Jan. 7

 Detroit Mumford at Grand Blanc

Non-League Game on Thursday, Jan. 8 

Flint Powers Catholic at Midland Dow

Valley Game on Friday, Jan. 9 

Davison at Flint Powers Catholic (6 pm)

Grand Blanc at Lapeer

Non-League Game on Tuesday, Jan. 13 

Clarkston at Flint Powers Catholic 

Bay City John Glenn at  Grand Blanc 

Valley Game on Friday, Jan. 16 

 Davison at Grand Blanc

Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — It was only the second game of Metro League games counting for real but both divisions have some exciting races shaping up.

Defending Metro League champion Flint Kearsley fell to 0-2 under Coach Joe Corcoran by losing a 61-55 thriller in its new barn Friday night (Dec. 19, 2025) to Swartz Creek.  Goodrich, meanwhile, is back in first place atop the Stars Division with Lake Fenton.

Goodrich beat Corunna 59-32 Friday night while Lake Fenton cruised a a72-46 romp over Clio.

Coach Kevin Root's Dragons won for the third time in four starts to go to 3-3 overall. They're tied for the top spot in the Stripes Division with the Flushing Raiders.

Flushing dumped Linden 65-46 to stay unbeaten in the Stripes Division at 2-0 in the Stripes Division while going to 4-2 overall under third-year boss Tyler Szczepanski .

Holly kept even with Swartz Creek at 1-1 in Stripes Division action by nipping Fenton 83-82 in overtime.

The loss dropped Fenton to 0-2 in the Metro League in a tie with Flint Kearsley.

Corcoran's Hornets are 2-3 overall with Kearsley's other Mero League loss coming at Flushing.

Lake Fenton thumped Clio 72-46 Friday night to stay deadlocked with Goodrich at 2-0 in Metro League play. THe Blue Devils are 5-3 overall while Goodrich is 3-2 under veteran leader Gary Barnes. 

Owosso clipped Ortonville Brancon 58-44 in Friday's other Metro League match-up.

Earlier in the week, Flushing, Swartz Creek, Flint Kearsley and Fenton all lost Tuesday non-league affairs. Holly beat Midland Dow 46-43 on Monday night.

Flushing's loss was 48-24 to Howell, Swartz Creek was toppled 63-44 by Frankenmuth, Fenton was dropped 63-54 by neighboring Hartland and Flint Kearsley was nipped  61-60 at Waterford Mott.

Here is a look at all last week's Metro League match-ups and non-league results:'

Metro League Stripes Division

League Game on Friday, Dec. 19

Holly 83  Fenton 82 (OT)
Flushing 65 Linden 46
Swartz Creek 61, Flint Kearsley 55

Metro League Stripes Division

League Game on Friday, Dec. 19
Goodrich 59, Corunna 32
Lake Fenton 72, Clio 46
Owosso 58, Ortonville Brandon 44

Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025

BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

(CCN) — Goggins Field House on the campus of Flint's Powers Catholic High School will be rocking on Friday night (Dec. 19, 2025).

Arch rival Grand Blanc will be in town for a doubleheader with its girls' and boys' teams.

Flint Powers Catholic's highly-regarded girls will be on the big stage with a big crowd expected for the match-up between two teams that take center stage locally on the boys' stage. Grand Blanc's boys are the defending co-champions of the Saginaw Valley League's South Division while the Powers boys used a 14-0 overall start a year ago to hold down the No. 1 ranking in Division 3 for most of the season. The Chargers were upset in the state tournament by Goodrich to finish with the Valley's best overall record at 20-3.

But Powers lost a 71-69 barnburner in last year's home-court contest against Grand Blanc and later lost a triple overtime thriller at Flint Carman-Ainsworth to cost the Chargers a boys' crown in Valley play. They were two of the best local games of the season in boys' action a year ago.

Coach  Zach Collins 

Metro Flint News/Talk Radio will broadcast both games from Powers as part of its Friday night tripleheader. Tip-off for the girls is 5:30 pm with Tim Crow and will "The Thrill" McNeil on the play-by-play. The live girls' game will be followed by a live broadcast of the Powers Catholic-Grand Blanc boys' contest and a tape delay presentation of Crow and McNeil at Mt. Morris on Tuesday night (Dec. 16, 2025) in a showdown between two of the last three remaining unbeatens in Mid-Michigan Activities Conference (MMCA) play. Montrose overcame an 11-3 start by Mt. Morris and rallied to win 43-36. (See story at right if reading on your laptop of PC, or scroll down if you are reading on a mobile device)

The Bobcats of Coach  Doreace Martin are one of only two Metro Flint regional area schools ranked in the first D Zone Top 60 rankings. They are 10th and neighboring rival Clarkston is 12th. 

State Champs has Grand Blanc 8th in its top 10.

The Bobcats are 4-0 overall, Powers 3-1.

Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025

MT. MORRIS (CCN) —.In a game where every bucket felt like a premium, the Montrose Rams used a suffocating defensive effort to grind out a 43-36 victory over the Mount Morris Panthers on Tuesday night (Dec. 16, 2025).

From the opening tip, it was clear that points would be hard to come by. 

Both teams struggled to find a rhythm against aggressive man-to-man schemes, but Montrose’s ability to control the glass and limit second-chance opportunities proved to be the difference. The Rams held the Panthers to single digits in multiple quarters, effectively neutralizing the home court advantage.

The victory keeps Montrose’s perfect season intact, moving the Rams to 4-0 overall and further solidifying their spot at the top of the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference (MMAC) standings.

For the Panthers, the loss drops them to 1–2 overall on the young season, despite a spirited effort that kept the game within reach until the final minutes.

It wasn't the prettiest offensive performance, but a pressure defense led by guards Jackson Beardsley and Connor Gross caused several turnovers by the Panthers. The Rams' offense was led by Beardsley with 14 points and MJ Daily who scored 13 points coming off the bench.

Mt. Morris was led by SirShawn Tate III with 14 points. The Panthers' offense was slowed a little when guard DeVaughn Jones (8 points) got into early foul trouble — picking up three first half fouls and adding his fourth foul early in the third quarter.

Montrose will look to carry this defensive momentum into their next matchup — a 7 pm home game against MMAC rival Durand on Jan. 6. 

Mt. Morris will aim to find more offensive consistency with another home game against Byron on Friday (Dec. 19, 2025) at 7 pm.

A replay of the Montrose-Mt. Morris broadcast will be on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio Friday after Flint Powers Catholic's boys and girls battle against arch rival Grand Blanc. All the action begins at 4:30 pm with a season preview for prep teams around the Metro Flint regional area.

The Grand Blanc-Powers girls' game tips off at 5:30 pm, followed by the Grand Blanc-Powers boys' battle and the replay of Montrose's action at Mt. Morris.

Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025)

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — All four local schools from the Metro Flint regional area are optimistic about a Saginaw Valley League South Division championship season in boys' basketball. 

Fans at all four schools are talking about winning it all is the new season nears.

All four open with non-league play this week.

 Zach Collins is coming off his best season at Flint Powers Catholic after leading his team to the No. 1 ranking in the state in Division 3 a year ago when two late-season heartbreaker losses to Grand Blanc and Flint Carman-Ainsworth cost the Chargers a Valley title despite sporting the Valley's best overall record at a sparkling 20-3.

The Chargers are aiming to give Collins a rebound effort to win his first Valley title in 12 years of coaching there.

Mike Williams hasn't won it all in the Valley since taking over at Davison in 2021, following six state titles in 17 seasons at Flint Beecher where he never had a losing record.

Last year's Cardinals were under .500 in Valley action at 5-6 and only 11-11 overall for this second lousy showing in Davison since taking the job with such high expectations. His first team had a losing record at 8-12 after the man he replaced (Robert Hadden) led his last team to a 12-4 campaign.

Davison entered last season coming off its best showing under Williams at 9-2 in the Valley when losing the title by a single game during the 2023-24 campaign when posting a 17-5 overall mark. They lost the Valley title by two games a year earlier when going 17-7 overall.

While Collins at Flint Powers at William at Davison are in search of their initial Valley championship hardware, Flint Carman-Ainsworth boss Jay Witham has won six titles during a 204-victory career there and it took Doreace Martin just two seasons to bring home a Valley South championship banner to Grand Blanc

Grand Blanc, co-champion a year ago, kicks off its 2025-26 season on Friday (Dec. 5, 2025) in the Horatio Williams Tip-off Classic at Wayne State University. The Bobcats face Hamtramck which is coming off a 15-victory season as an independent school.

 It's the third campaign under Coach Doreace Martin who led the Bobcats to a co-title after a two-year drought. They were undefeated Valley champions in the 2022-23 season under Tory Jackson after a perfect Valley campaign a season earlier under Michael Thomas. They were co-champs of the Valley with Flint Carman-Ainsworth when winning the 2021 state title under Thomas.

Williams led his first team to a third-place finish in the Valley, tying Saginaw Arthur HIll behind Valley champion Saginaw Heritage and runner-up Davison.

The Hamtramck battle will be Grand Blanc's only non-league warm-up before getting down to business in the Valley with the league opener set for Dec. 9 at Grand Blanc followed by a Dec. 16 trip to Flint Carman-Ainsworth.

The Cavaliers, who stormed all the way to the Division 1 state semifinals at the Breslin Center in East Lansing last March after catching fire late in the year with the big upset over Powers, have scheduled four warm-up games before hosting their arch rivals and defending Valley co-champs on Dec. 16 in Flint Township at its home campus on Linden Road. 

Coach Witham's Cavs start at home on Tuesday (Dec. 2, 2025) against Swartz Creek, then go to Lansing Waverly three days later before facing Saginaw United on Saturday (Dec. 6, 2025) at Ballenger FIeld House on the campus of Flint's Mott Community College in the Vehicle City Classic. C-A plays at 7:30 pm after a 3 pm tip-off by another Valley school, Davison. The Cardinals will face Center Line which won the Macomb Area Conference Silver Division title a year ago with a perfect 9-0 record.

Davison opens on Thursday (Dec. 4, 2025) at Lake Orion and then goes with Grand Blanc to the Horatio Williams Tip-off Classic to face North Farmington on Friday (Dec. 5, 2025) at 5 pm.

Davison's home opener is on Dec. 9 against South Lyon East before going on Dec. 12 to open Valley action at Saginaw United.

 Collins will kick off his 12th season in search of his first Valley crown after his best Valley finish a year go when his team started off 14-0 overall before losing 71-69 on its home floor to Grand Blanc and then dropping  a triple overtime thriller at Flint Carman-Ainsworth.

The Chargers had the Valley's best overall record but made a district round exit to close at 20-3 when Goodrich pulled off an upset over a team that was ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 3 until the loss to Grand Blanc. 

The Chargers open the 2025-26 season at home with non-league tests against Burton Bendle on Tuesday (Dec. 2, 2025) and Caro on Friday (Dec. 5, 2025). Powers then goes to Bay City John Glenn on Dec. 9 for its final non-league tune-up before going to Lapeer for its Valley opener on Dec. 12.

EARLIER SEASON BOYS' BASKETBALL RESULTS

Conference-by-Conference Games

Saginaw Valley League South Division Boys

Valley Games on Friday, Dec. 12

Grand Blanc 67, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 50

Saginaw United 77, Davison 58 

Flint Powers Catholic 75, Lapeer 33

Valley Opener on Monday, Dec. 8

Grand Blanc 80, Saginaw Heritage 52

Valley Opener on Saturday, Dec. 6

Saginaw United 59, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 53

(Vehicle City Classic at Mott Community College)

Saginaw Valley League South Division

Non-League Games on Tuesday, Dec. 9

Detroit Catholic Central 77, Carman-Ainsworth 55

Davison 59, South Lyon East 50

Flint Powers Catholic at Bay City John Glenn

Valley Non-League Game on Saturday, Dec. 6

Center Line 68, Davison 60

(Vehicle City Classic at Mott Community College)

Non-League Games on Friday, Dec. 5

Lansing Waverly 86, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 55

Flint Powers Catholic 80, Caro 57 

North Farmington 62, Davison 47

Horatio Williams Tip-Off Classic at Wayne State)

Grand Blanc 76, vs. Hamtramck 75 (OT)

Horatio Williams Tip-Off Classic at Wayne State)

Non-League Game on Thursday, Dec. 4

Lake Orion 72, Davison 53 

Non-League Games on Tuesday, Dec. 2

Flint Carman-Ainsworth 60, Swartz Creek 50

 Flint Powers Catholic 77, Burton Bendle 55

Metro League Stars Division

Non-League Games on Tuesday, Dec. 9

Fenton 57, Owosso 40
Flushing 46, Lake Fenton 44 (OT)
Holly 42, Goodrich 57
Kearsley 56, Brandon 51
Linden 66, Corunna 44
Swartz Creek 59, Clio 40

Non-League Game on Wednesday, Dec. 8

 Lake Fenton at Flint Kearsley

Non-League Games on Friday, Dec. 5

White Lake Lakeland at Holly

Corunna at Chesaning

Lake Fenton at South Lyon East

Clio at Birch Run

Non-League Games on Tuesday, Dec. 2

Royal Oak at Holly

Corunna at Pinckney

Genesee Christian at Lake Fenton

Non-League Games on Monday, Dec. 1

Clio 54, Vassar 46

Ortonville Brandon 50, Lapeer 48

Metro League Stripes Division

Non-League Games on Tuesday, Dec. 2

Swartz Creek at Flint Carman-Ainsworth

Royal Oak at Holly

Linden at Richmond

Non-League Games on Friday, Dec. 5

White Lake Lakeland at Holly

Milford at Linden

Non-League Game on Wednesday, Dec. 8

 Lake Fenton at Flint Kearsley

Non-League Games on on Tuesday, Dec. 9

 Fenton at Owosso
Flushing at Lake Fenton
Holly at Goodrich
Flint Kearsley at Ortonville Brandon
Linden at Corunna
Swartz Creek at Clio 

Metro League Openers on Friday, Dec. 12

Holly at Linden

Metro League Games on Friday, Dec. 12

​​Friday Dec 12
Holly 47 Linden 69
Fenton 34 SC 65
Kearsley 46 Flushing 62
Lk Fenton 65 Corunna 48
Owosso 42 Goodrich 45 Res
Clio 44 Brandon 49

Metro League Games on Friday, Dec. 12

Owosso at Goodrich

Lake Fenton at Corunna

Clio at Ortonville Brandon

EARLIER SEASON GIRLS' BASKETBALL RESULTS

Conference-by-Conference Games

Saginaw Valley League South Division Boys

Valley Games on Friday, Dec. 12

Flint Powers Catholic 79, Lapeer 8

Davison 43, Saginaw United 33

Flint Carman-Ainsworth 58, Grand Blanc 47

Saginaw Valley League South Division Girls

Non-League Game on Saturday, Dec. 13

South Lyon East 66, Grand Blanc 22

(Swartz Creek Showcase)

Davison 37, Lake Orion 26

Non-League Game on Tuesday, Dec. 9

Howell 59, Grand Blanc 17

Non-League Game on Monday, Dec. 8

Rochester Davison 27

Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025)

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — All four local schools from the Metro Flint regional area are optimistic about a Saginaw Valley League South Division championship season in boys' basketball. 

Fans at all four schools are talking about winning it all is the new season nears.

All four open with non-league play this week.

 Zach Collins is coming off his best season at Flint Powers Catholic after leading his team to the No. 1 ranking in the state in Division 3 a year ago when two late-season heartbreaker losses to Grand Blanc and Flint Carman-Ainsworth cost the Chargers a Valley title despite sporting the Valley's best overall record at a sparkling 20-3.

The Chargers are aiming to give Collins a rebound effort to win his first Valley title in 12 years of coaching there.

Mike Williams hasn't won it all in the Valley since taking over at Davison in 2021, following six state titles in 17 seasons at Flint Beecher where he never had a losing record.

Last year's Cardinals were under .500 in Valley action at 5-6 and only 11-11 overall for this second lousy showing in Davison since taking the job with such high expectations. His first team had a losing record at 8-12 after the man he replaced (Robert Hadden) led his last team to a 12-4 campaign.

Davison entered last season coming off its best showing under Williams at 9-2 in the Valley when losing the title by a single game during the 2023-24 campaign when posting a 17-5 overall mark. They lost the Valley title by two games a year earlier when going 17-7 overall.

While Collins at Flint Powers at William at Davison are in search of their initial Valley championship hardware, Flint Carman-Ainsworth boss Jay Witham has won six titles during a 204-victory career there and it took Doreace Martin just two seasons to bring home a Valley South championship banner to Grand Blanc

Grand Blanc, co-champion a year ago, kicks off its 2025-26 season on Friday (Dec. 5, 2025) in the Horatio Williams Tip-off Classic at Wayne State University. The Bobcats face Hamtramck which is coming off a 15-victory season as an independent school.

 It's the third campaign under Coach Doreace Martin who led the Bobcats to a co-title after a two-year drought. They were undefeated Valley champions in the 2022-23 season under Tory Jackson after a perfect Valley campaign a season earlier under Michael Thomas. They were co-champs of the Valley with Flint Carman-Ainsworth when winning the 2021 state title under Thomas.

Williams led his first team to a third-place finish in the Valley, tying Saginaw Arthur HIll behind Valley champion Saginaw Heritage and runner-up Davison.

The Hamtramck battle will be Grand Blanc's only non-league warm-up before getting down to business in the Valley with the league opener set for Dec. 9 at Grand Blanc followed by a Dec. 16 trip to Flint Carman-Ainsworth.

The Cavaliers, who stormed all the way to the Division 1 state semifinals at the Breslin Center in East Lansing last March after catching fire late in the year with the big upset over Powers, have scheduled four warm-up games before hosting their arch rivals and defending Valley co-champs on Dec. 16 in Flint Township at its home campus on Linden Road. 

Coach Witham's Cavs start at home on Tuesday (Dec. 2, 2025) against Swartz Creek, then go to Lansing Waverly three days later before facing Saginaw United on Saturday (Dec. 6, 2025) at Ballenger FIeld House on the campus of Flint's Mott Community College in the Vehicle City Classic. C-A plays at 7:30 pm after a 3 pm tip-off by another Valley school, Davison. The Cardinals will face Center Line which won the Macomb Area Conference Silver Division title a year ago with a perfect 9-0 record.

Davison opens on Thursday (Dec. 4, 2025) at Lake Orion and then goes with Grand Blanc to the Horatio Williams Tip-off Classic to face North Farmington on Friday (Dec. 5, 2025) at 5 pm.

Davison's home opener is on Dec. 9 against South Lyon East before going on Dec. 12 to open Valley action at Saginaw United.

 Collins will kick off his 12th season in search of his first Valley crown after his best Valley finish a year go when his team started off 14-0 overall before losing 71-69 on its home floor to Grand Blanc and then dropping  a triple overtime thriller at Flint Carman-Ainsworth.

The Chargers had the Valley's best overall record but made a district round exit to close at 20-3 when Goodrich pulled off an upset over a team that was ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 3 until the loss to Grand Blanc. 

The Chargers open the 2025-26 season at home with non-league tests against Burton Bendle on Tuesday (Dec. 2, 2025) and Caro on Friday (Dec. 5, 2025). Powers then goes to Bay City John Glenn on Dec. 9 for its final non-league tune-up before going to Lapeer for its Valley opener on Dec. 12.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — Flint Powers Catholic and Hartland are at the top of the polls in high school hockey.

Hartland is ranked number one in Division 1 while Powers is number one in Division 2. Orchard Lake Saint Mary is number one in Division 3 in the latest state rankings by Michigan Hockey Hub.

The online magazine's rankings are recognized by the Michigan High school Athletic Association (MHSAA) on its web site as its official rankings.

Flint Powers is the defending state champion in Division 2 and Coach Travis Perry's Chargers 

have won it all two of the last three years.

They won 10-2 in their  their Saginaw Valley League opener on Nov. 19 at Bay City Civic Arena against the Bay City Wolves. They then beat the Davison-based co-op team known as the Genesee County Generals to go to 2-0 in the Valley on Wednesday (Dec. 3, 2025) at the Dort Federal Arena in Flint.

The 5-1 triumph over their arch rivals led by veteran boss Doug Towler was followed by Saturday's 9-1 romp over Jackson Lumen Christi in a non-league battle at 810 Sports Complex in Clayton Township. 

The Chargers are now 6-1 overall atop the Division 2 polls.

The only other local team from the Metro Flint regional area to crack the top 10 in any division is Clarkston in Division 1 where the Wolves are ranked at number four.

That was before losing their Oakland Activities Association Red Division opener 3-0 Friday night (Dec. 5, 2025) to Rochester Adams at the Suburban Ice House in Rochester.

Clarkston's only previous losses this season were to teams in pretty good company among the best in the state list. They lost 7-2 on Nov. 22 to Flint Powers at the Detroit Skating Club in West Bloomfield and 7-2 on Nov. 29 at the Hartland Ice House to Hartland.

New Coach John Brown's Hartland hockey club went to 2-0 in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) by pounding Salem 9 -1 in its last game. The Eagles are 9-1 so far this season overall with the only loss coming 3-2 to Howell which lost in an overtime thriller to Detroit Catholic Central in last year's Division 1 state championship game.

Hartland's season ended a year go when losing a 2-1 thriller in overtime to the eventual state champs from Catholic Central in overtime at the Hartland Ice House in the regional title game.

Hartland's next game is back in KLAA action on Wednesday (Dec. 10, 2025) at Novi.

The Eagles play on Friday (Dec. 12, 2025) at 2 pm in Flint at the Dort Federal Arena against the Fenton-Linden Area Griffins who are a co-op of players from Fenton, Linden and Lake Fenton high schools. Coach Jason Warda's Griffins have lost four in a row and they are only 2-6 on the season. 

But the two victories match last year's season total under Warda when they were 2-22-1.

Powers plays next on Wednesday (Dec. 10, 2025) when returning to Valley play against the only other unbeaten — Midland Dow which is 1-0-1 behind Powers in the early Valley standings. The game will be at Midland Civic Arena. Face-off is 7:15 pm.

Powers then heads for the Gaylord Showcase Friday (Dec. 12, 2025) and Saturday (Dec. 13, 2025) at Otsego County Sportsplex in Gaylord. The Chargers face Grand Rapids Catholic Central at 2 pm on the first day and tackle Alpena at 6 pm in the Saturday night game.

The Davison-based Genesee Generals were nipped 6-5 Saturday (Dec. 6, 2025) at Gladwin in non-league play after last week's loss to Powers in their Valley opener. They have 9 more non-league tune-ups before getting back to business in the Valley against Grand Blanc on Jan. 14. 

The Generals play this weekend in the Bay City Showcase at the Bay County Civic Arena. Friday's game is against Birmingham Groves at 12:30 pm, then Saturday's contest is at 9:20 am against Macomb L'Anse Creuse North.

Grand Blanc's hockey club has its second Valley date on Wednesday (Dec. 10, 2025). Coach Mike Schunot's Bobcats face the Bay City Wolves at Crystal Mountain Arena in Burton.

The Bobcats won 7-4 on Saturday (Dec. 6, 2025) over New Boston Huron at Mike Madano Ice Arena in Westland after losing their Valley opener on Wednesday (Dec. 3, 2025) at Midland  — 10-0 to Midland Dow.

Grand Blanc then has a long layoff for nothing but practices to get ready for its Jan. 6 showdown with  Powers at Crystal Mountain Arena.

Friday, September 12, 2025

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — Nine high school football teams in the Metro Flint regional area stayed perfect by winning their Friday night (Sept. 12, 2024) games.

The nine teams continuing their perfect ways one-third of the way through regular season action are Davison and Grand Blanc from the Saginaw Valley League; Goodrich, Owosso and Linden from the Metro League; Frankenmuth from the Tri-Valley Conference Red Division; Millington from the Big Thumb Conference White Division; Burton Bendle from the Genesee Area Conference (GAC); and Montrose from the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference (MMAC).

Davison and Grand Blanc from the Saginaw Valley League won non-league games, Davison winning 31-14 at Traverse City Central and Grand Blanc knocking off xxxxx xx-xx at home.

Mike Jerisk's Bendle Tigers have now swept the 2025 season series over Burton's other two high school varsity football programs. They beat Bentley 22-17 Friday night on enemy turf after beating Atherton 28-15 last week at Bendle when rallying to win when  falling behind 7-6 at halftime.

Montrose 

Click Here for Prep Sports Section

BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

(CCN) — Saginaw Valley League prep football powers Grand Blanc and Davison made strong 2025 non-league debuts on Thursday night (August 28, 2025) on the road.

Davison won 38-21 at Roseville while Grand Blanc avenged last year's season-opening loss at home to Muskegon Mona Shores by winning 35-20 on the west side of the state.

Our Metro Flint regional area's other Valley school, Flint-Carman Ainsworth, appears headed for another tough year after losing 41-16 Thursday on its home field to Bay City Central. The Cavaliers were 0-9 under Dajuan Massey a year ago under Dajuan Massey who resigned after the season.

They try again to get in the win column next week when hosting Grand BLanc in the Valley season opener. as new Coach Mario Harris goes again for his first varsity victory.

Flint Carman-Ainsworth as now lost 11 straight overall, stretching back to 2023. The Cavaliers last won 

The 35-14 loss to Grand Blanc last season

55-8

BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

(CCN) — The Metro League had everyone win on opening night except one school in the Stars Division while all but one team lost its non-league opener on Thursday (August 28, 2025) in the Stripes Division.

Goodrich, 2024 state champion in Division 4, opened defense of its title in the Metro League by beating Frankenmuth 17-14 at Goodrich.

It was revenge for last season's 22-0 loss in a non-league opener between the two schools.

Goodrich rolled to victories in its next 13 games en route to the first state championship in school history. Frankenmuth made it to the Division 5 state finals a year ago for the third time in the last five seasons.

Corunna was the only loser among the Metro League's Stars Division teams on Thursday night. Lake Fenton rolled 50-36 over New Boston Huron< Owosso clipped Pinckney 21-12, Ortonville Brandon thumped Flint Southwestern 65-0 and Clio rolled 54-20 over arch rival Mt. Morris. Corunna was a 39-14 loser to Fowlerville.

Linden was the lone winner among Stripes Division teams in Thursday's non-league openers. The Eagles beat L'anse Cruese 47-14.

Stripes Division losers included Flushing being clipped 27-24 by Ann Arbor Pioneer, Fenton dropped a 38-6 decision to Midland Dow, Holly being blanked 34-0 by Bay City Western, Swartz Creek getting dumped 21-6 by Yale and Flint Kearsley being blitzed 47-6 by Ann Arbor Huron.

Here's the schedule for next week's non-league action involving Metro League teams:

Metro League Stars Division Teams

Friday, Sept. 5 Non-League Games

 Linden at Corunna
Lake Fenton at Dearborn Divine Child
Owosso at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook
Goodrich at Lapeer
Clare at Ortonville Brandon
Clio at Lansing Eastern 

Metro League Stripes Division Teams

Friday, Sept. 5 Non-League Games

Linden at Corunna

Zeeland East at Flushing
Haslett at Fenton
Swartz Creek at Holt
Farmington at Holly
Bay City Central at Flint Kearsley

BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

(CCN) — Burton Bendle and Flint Elite were the only Genesee Area Conference prep football winners in opening night non-conference games.

Bendle nipped Johannesburg-Lewiston 36-34 on Thursday night (August 28, 2025) while Flint Elite won the lone contest on the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic card on Friday. Flint Elite, a co-op of players from Flint New Standard Academy and Burton Madison Academy, rolled on the turf at Flint's historic Atwood Stadium to a 46-20 triumph over Erie Mason.

It was Flint Elite's first appearance in the annual Vehicle City Gridiron Classic.

GAC member Flint Beecher also made its first appearance at the annual event staged at Kettering University's stadium. The Bucs were bombed there on Thursday afternoon, 55-14 by Petersburg Summerfield. 

In other week #1 non-league games on Thursday night, Genesee dropped a 26024 decision to  Melvindale Academy Business & Tech and GAC newcomer Flint Southwestern was blasted 65-0 at Ortonville Brandon while Burton's other two schools didn't post opening night success like city rival Bendle. Bentley was beaten 26-14 by Auburn HIlls Oakland Christian and Atherton was thumped 52-19 at Vassar.

Atherton also started 2024 with a loss when Vassar won on opening night in Burton.

The Wolverines went on to win seven of their next eight games in an historic season under Coach  Chane Clingman in the school's return to 11-man play.

It was Atherton's first state playoff appearance last season in 10 years and only the second one in school history since the Michigan High School Athletic Association began its state playoff era in 1975.

The Wolverines won the GAC title with a sparkling perfect 5-0 record it marked the school's first conference championship since joining the GAC 46 years ago when it was previously known as the Genesee Eight Conference.

They capped off GAC perfection by pulling out a 27-27 barnburner over Burton rival Bentley on a late 75-yard touchdown pass from Isaac Embury to Deavante Deleon.

Perhaps more importantly, last year's season finale triumph over Bentley also gave Atherton bragging right in City of Burton football because the Wolverines opened GAC play by blanking Bendle 27-0. 

The last time Atherton beat both Burton rivals in the same season was in 2016.

Atherton opens GAC play next week when going to Bendle. The Wolverine splay Bentley this year on Oct. 10 at home.

Here's next week's schedule for GAC teams:

GAC Friday, Sept. 5 Non-League Game

Burton Bendle at Burton Atherton 

Genesee at Flint Elite

Flint Beecher at Burton BentleyBurton Atherton 

GAC Friday, Sept. 5 Non-League Game

 Pinconning at Flint Southwestern

Week #1 Non-Conference Results

Vassar 52, Burton Atherton 19

 Oakland Christian 26, Burton Bentley 14

Burton Bendle 36, Johannesburg-Lewiston 34

Flint Elite 46, Erie Mason 20

 Melvindale Business & Tech 26, Genesee 14

Ortonville Brandon 65, Flint Southwestern 0

Petersburg Summerfield 55, Flint Beecher 14

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Today is one of my favorite days of the year.

Footballs will fill the air as the new prep season gets underway across the Metro Flint regional area.

I miss the feel of the rickety old press boxes of yesteryear that have been replaced by so many fancy buildings atop the stands at so many beautiful stadiums. Some in our region have even installed the expensive artificial turf once reserved for college stadiums.

But one thing that does not change is the special air that comes with the excitement of a new season. So many hopes and dreams will dim after tonight if the first game does not go well. 

But today is a day for dreaming.

Every single kid running out on the field to jump up and down on each other before the game thinks deep down inside that they will be champions nine weeks from now.

It's why thousands of young athletes give so much of themselves for the sake of the game.

They dream of being winners.

They work hard. They are passionate. They learn to depend on teammates and develop the kind of skills that will follow them throughout their lives. Win or lose, they get valuable lessons.

Lessons they use for the rest of their lives.

I got goose pimples watching my oldest grandson do that running on the field thing last week as he raced out there for his first game of tackle football. It's how every prep football player gets started with his friends in middle school.

 They get to find out if being a star during elementary school in flag football will transition to doing it in pads when the hitting starts. 

For the seniors in this year's class of football stars searching for glory, tonight is the beginning of the end. A final season. A last hurrah.

Whether it ends in disappointment or finishes with a championship celebration, every season starts with so much anticipation for greatness.

Today, every varsity guy runs on the field dreaming of becoming a champion.

It's why so many dedicate themselves with such determination in their training and while lifting weights months before the season starts

The delirious joy that fills every locker room today is a result of a special aura around high school football that makes young men fully invest their time, thoughts, effort, determination and passions into going to war on a football field.

It's a game where even the toughest of them will drop to their knees in the awful sorrow of defeat. It will bring them to tears.

But it will bring them to the brink of manhood.

Good luck young men.

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Mike Killbreath is an award-winning newspaper sports columnist. He appears on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio via The Daily Gazette Sports Weekend Show Sundays from 6-8 pm, The Daily Gazette Sports Night Show weekdays at 6 pm and on The Morning Gazette Radio Show weekday mornings from 8 am until 9:30 am. He's an award-winning news columnist and investigative reporter who is the former long-time owner of the local Metro Flint area chain of 14 community newspapers. This fall will be his 50th year as a journalist. He also hosts a new weekly national TV show known as The American Crusaders on cable TV and various OTT TV live streaming platforms.

BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

(CCN) — Two teams that made it to Ford Field for the state finals  a year ago will kick off the 2025 prep football season against each other Thursday night (August 28, 2025) at Goodrich High School.

Clarkston is also featured in one of the marquee opening night battles. The Wolves will be featured on the statewide streaming telecast at 4 pm Thursday by State Champs when facing perennial powerhouse Belleville in the annual Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University in Detroit.

Goodrich's host Martians, winners of their school's first ever state crown last fall, will host perennial state title contender Frankenmuth at 7 pm.

Frankenmuth reached the state finals last season before losing 42-7 to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. It was the third time the Eagles had reached the state championship game in Division 5 at Ford Field in five years under Coach Phil Martin.

While Martin is the winningest coach in his school's history since taking over the reins in 2018, Tom Alward is also the winningest coach in Goodrich school history. 

Goodrich won it all in Division 4 in 2024 after also reaching the state finals a year earlier for the first time in school history. 

Millington, defending state champs in Division 7, opens its season Thursday at 7 pm against arch rival Reese. They will stage the nightcap in the annual Vehicle City Gridiron Classic at Flint's historic Atwood Stadium.

Earlier Thursday action at the Vehicle City gridiron Classic on the turf at Kettering University's Atwood Stadium will include games at 1 pm and 4 pm. Flint Beecher plays in the opener against Summerfield. The 4 pm match-up features a rematch of the the Metro Flint regional area's longest on-going rivalry between Clio and Mt. Morris.

The Vehicle City Gridiron Classic wraps up with a single game on Friday.at 4 pm. It will pit Flint Elite against Erie Mason High. Flint Elite is a co-op squad of players from Flint's New Standard Academy and Burton's Madison Academy.  

Among the other Metro League Stars Division schools besides Goodrich and Clio with openers on Thursday, Corunna goes to Fowlerville, Lake Fenton hosts New Boston Huron, Ortonville Brandon hosts Flint Southwestern and Owosso hosts Pinckney. All six teams have a second non-league contest next week before their Stars Division slates begin on Sept. 12.

Linden and Swartz Creek open Thursday with home games while the other four Metro League Stripes Division teams hit the road. Linden hosts L'anse Cruese and Swartz Creek hosts Yale while Flushing goes to Ann Arbor Pioneer, Fenton is at Midland Dow, Flint Kearsely is at Ann Arbor Huron and Holly goes to Bay City Western. All six of the Metro's Stripes Division schools also have a second non-league date booked for next week in advance of Sept. 12 Metro League openers.

Frankenmuth opens Tri-Valley Conference Red Division play next week against Saginaw Swan Valley.

Millington has a second non-league date set for next week with its home opener against Standish Sterling. The Cardinals open defense of their Big Thumb Conference White Division title on Sept. 12 in Millington against Sandusky.

Vassar's Big Thumb opener in the Black Division is also on Sept. 12. The Vulcans will host the Reese Rockets after two non-league contests.

Vassar opens 2025 regular season play Thursday night at home with a 7 o'clock kick-off against Burton Atherton which won last year's Genesee Area Conference (GAC) championship in its return to 11-player football.

Atherton opens GAC action next week with a trip to Burton to face last year's No. 2 finisher, arch rival Bendle. The Tigers travel Thursday to Johannesburg-Lewiston their non-conference opener. Other GAC non-league openers on week #1 besides Flint Beecher and Flint Elite playing on the turf at Atwood Stadium and Flint Southwestern visiting Ortonville Brandon include Burton Bentley and Genesee opening at home. Bentley hosts Auburn HIlls Oakland Christian while Genesee plays host to Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech.

Mt. Morris is among seven of the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference's eight teams taking opening night bus rides. The exception is Otisville LakeVille which is at home on Thursday at 7 pm against Bath. Other Thursday 7 pm games include New Lothrop at Muskegon Catholic Central, Birch Run at Carrolton, Chesaning at Standish Sterling and Montrose traveling to Riverview Gabriel Richard

Durand opens at Gladstone with a  6 pm non-conference battle on Friday. The other MMAC school outside our coverage area (Ovid-Elsie) goes to Howard City Tri-County for its non-league opener on Thursday night.

All three local schools in the Saginaw Valley League have non-league openers on Thursday night. Davison is at Roseville, Grand Blanc is at Muskegon Mona Shores and Flint Carman-Ainsworth hosts Bay City Central. All three contests start at 7 o'clock.

Independents Flint Hamady and Flint Powers Catholic both open at 7 pm on Thursday.

Flint Hamady hosts Ogema Heights while Powers goes to Imlay City.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is veteran Goodrich boss Tom Alward. His Martians open defense of their Division 4 state title Thursday night against perennial state title contender Frankenmuth.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

EAST LANSING (CCN) — Midway through the third quarter, Frankenmuth had realistic visions of reaching the prep basketball girls' state finals to take aim at a first state championship under Coach Joe Jacobs.

It was 30-20 over Tecumseh which finished the regular season as the No. 2 ranked team in Division 2. Frankenmuth was No. 4.

But Tecumseh slowly chipped away at Frankenmuth's lead and outscored the Lady Eagles by 19 the rest of the way to win 52-43.

When ahead midway through the third quarter in East Lansing at the Breslin Center in the 2025 state semifinals — It seemed meant to be as Frankenmuth was ahead by 10, and rolling.

It was the worst record ever under Coach Jacobs who had 19-2, 22-3, 25-3 and 22-3 overall records since becoming Frankenmuth's varsity leader.

This year's team went into Friday's (March 21, 2025) state semifinals with four losses and didn't win an outright Tri-Valley Conference Red Division title under Jacobs for the first time. After four straight Tri-Valley-Red championships in a row with perfect 14-0 records, Frankenmuth lost 55-51 on Feb. 7 to Freeland which gained a share of the 2024-25 season championship by winning.

At state tournament time, Frankenmuth got revenge against Freeland in the Regional semifinals by prevailing 53-44.

A run to the state championship almost seemed appropriate since this was easily the best coaching job by Jacobs. His team not only rebounded to beat Freeland after splitting the season series to share the Tri-Valley-Red title, but the Lady Eagles had to overcome losing two of their first three games in non-conference tune-ups to start the campaign.

The only other loss before Friday was 45-36 on Feb 18 at Rockford — a state semifinalist in Division 1 this weekend with a 26-1 record as the No. 1 ranked team in Michigan.

Frankenmuth has only one previous state championship in girls' basketball. It came in 1992 when beating St. Joseph 67-54.

With the 10-point lead midway through quarter number three, these Lady Eagles were on the presbycusis of making it to the finals for the seventh time in school history. They were finalists in 1979 when losing 45-38 to Grand Rapids West Catholic, 1987 when falling 49-34 to Flint Beecher, 1990 when dropping a 47-38 decision to Grand Rapids West Catholic, 1993 when losing 50-43 to Dearborn Divine Child and 2023 under Coach Jacobs when finishing as the runner-up.

Tecumseh had not been to a state championship game in 50 years when a 10-2 run to end the third quarter tied the game at 32-32.

Coach Kristy Zajac shrugged off the slow start by her Tecumseh girls, saying, “Every game all year we start slow, but finish strong, and we were able to pull it out tonight. I’m super proud of these girls because they fought back, and this is a great win for our program.”

Alli Zajac, a Miss Basketball finalist, got into foul trouble early, too, to complicate matters for Tecumseh on Friday. She said, “It’s not a great thing that I was in foul trouble, but I’m kind of glad that I was just so I can see how well they work together when I'm not in there with them. It was amazing to see other girls step up.”

Biggest of all was senior Ashlyn Moorhead and sophomore Addi Zajac. Moorehead popped in 4-of-6 from behind the 3-point arc and finished with 14 points while her sophomore teammate fueled the comeback with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Tecumseh now moves on to play for the Division 2 championship at 6:15 pm Saturday at Breslin.

Tecumseh won it all in 1974 and was Class B state runner-up in 1975.

One concern, however, is a final-minute injury to  

Tecumseh junior star Maddy VanBlack who went down with an apparent leg injury.

“Super special for our girls, but that last play of the game is just so hard,” Zajac said. “She’s worked so hard to get back to us after missing almost two years of seasons, and that’s why these girls are all in tears. I feel so terrible for her, and we’re hoping she’s OK.”

 Clare Conzelmann's 3-pointer gave Frankenmuth its biggest lead at 10 points.

The Eagles were in search of a return trip to the Final after finishing runner-up in 2023, but suffered through a five-minute scoring drought during the final quarter and shot a dismal 8-of-27 during the second half.

“One day short of what our goal was,” Frankenmuth coach Joe Jacobs said. “The first half went in our favor, but then they made shots in the second half and the game got away from us. But it doesn’t take away from what these girls accomplished, and we have three seniors that have been here two times, so it was a special opportunity for them.”

Conzelmann led the Eagles with 15 points and three blocked shots. Macy Donovan and Isabelle Bernthal finished with nine and eight points, respectively.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

EAST LANSING (CCN) — Genesee Christian's girls were on the biggest stage in school history Thursday night against their toughest opponent ever in the storied annals of its program.

The tiny Division 4 school on Belsay Road in Burton sent its first team ever to the Breslin Center in East Lansing for the Final Four with a sparkling 24-1 record, and got within a dozen points closer than the average margin of victory so far in March Madness for a tough, tough Fowler club.

 Fowler has had deep tournament runs in recent years, but this season’s journey to the state finals included winning six games by an average of a whopping 37.5 points per contest.

The Lady Eagles beat Genesee Christian by 25. The final count was 57-32.

Fowler, now 26-2, advances to Saturday’s 10 a.m. championship against Ewen-Trout Creek which downed Concord 34-24 in the other semifinal match-up Thursday at the Breslin.

It's the first trip to a state championship game for Ewen-Trout Creek in 40 years since playing in the Class D title game when losing a 43-41 thriller to Potterville.

The Panthers won it all in 1973 when besting North Muskegon 57-48 to win the Class D crown.

Fowler is no stranger to state titles, however, with three of them in the last five years.

“It’s pretty special,” Fowler Coach Nathan George said. “But given the kids I coach, I’m not surprised how focused they are each and every game. While I’m sometimes impressed by the point differential for some of our games, it’s because of the hard work they put in and their willingness to go above and beyond expectations." 

Genesee Christian hung tough in the opening quarter and it was tied 11-11 heading into quarter number two.

Then came a Fowler blitz.

The Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Soldiers 14-2 in the second quarter to take a commanding 25-13 halftime lead, and never looked back. 

The lead swelled to 20 points during the third quarter and it reached 41-24 going into the fourth quarter.

Fowler shot 48.8 percent (20-of-41) from the field including 6-of-16 accuracy from behind the 3-point arc. Senior Brooke Weber scored 14 points, senior Elizabeth Hufnagel scored 13, senior Katie Spicer added 12 points and 7 rebounds and junior Paige Thelen contributed 11 points and 7 rebounds.

Fowler's smothering defense forced Genesee Christian into coughing up 15 turnovers.

Fowler star Hufnagel said, “I think it took us a couple of possessions to just calm down and play our game. When we came out in the second quarter, we knew what we had to do to get a lead going into the half. We were able to settle down. We were able to drive and kick and get to the rim.”

Senior Haven Chapman led Genesee Christian with 18 points in the final game of her historic career. She set her school's all-time scoring record.

Reagan Gardner added 10 points Thursday.

“Amazing, amazing run for this group of girls,” Genesee Christian Coach Jake Boike said. “This has been a special group that we have had our eyes on for a long time. We knew the season was going to go well. We didn’t know how well. We had some hurdles to get over. I’m really proud of the effort they gave today.” 

 PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is action Thursday night in East Lansing as Fowler’s defense collapses to help as Genesee Christian’s Haven Chapman (2) drives during Thursday’s Semifinal at Breslin Center.

BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

 (CCN) — Here are the latest highlights from the local prep sports scene during week #1 of the spring season in lacrosse and track for both boys and girls as well as girls' soccer and boys' tennis:

 LAKE FENTON'S BOYS' LACROSSE TEAM beat arch rival Fenton 7-1 on Friday (March 23, 2025) while Flint Powers Catholic lost 14-10 in lacrosse to Lansing Catholic Central. Swartz Creek beat Flushing 17-5 in a Metro League Stripes Division opener. 

GOODRICH beat Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 1-0 in girls' soccer Tuesday, Holly nipped Almont 2-1,  Millington got by Otisville LakeVille 3-2, Clarkston Everest Collegiate lost a 4-3 decision to Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard and Linden lost 4-0 to Lapeer.

In Thursday play, Clarkston Everest Collegiate won 3-1 over Madison Heights Bishop Foley, Goodrich battled to a 1-1 tie with Lapeer, Flint Kearsley lost a 6-3 decision at home to Bay City Central, Swartz Creek was blanked 6-0 at Novi and OtisVille LakeVille lost at home by an identical 6-0 score to Burton St. Thomas Moore Academy.

In girls' soccer openers last Friday, Fenton battled to a 1-1 tie with visiting Lapeer while Flint Kearsley and Genesee Christian opted not to play because of bad weather, Flushing beat Laingsburg 3-1 and Davison lost 2-1 at Rochester Adams.

IN BOYS' LACROSSE ACTION Tuesday, Davison beat St. John's 7-2 and Flint Powers Catholic beat Fenton 14-6 and Grand Blanc lost 9-5 to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.

In Thursday boys' lacrosse action, all three local teams in action were losers at home. Davison lost 7-4 to Bay City John Glenn, Swartz Creek dropped a 5-3 decision to Lapeer and Fenton lost 10-7 to Belleville.

IN GIRLS' LACROSSE on Tuesday, Fenton bested Davison 10-6, Flushing nipped Lake Fenton 9-8 and Swartz Creek topped Flint Powers 17-11 

Swartz Creek went to 2-0 when the Lady Dragons were big winners Thursday in non-league play by bombing Lapeer 11-2 at the Creek.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

PLYMOUTH (CCN) — Flint Powers Catholic's hockey club won its second state championship in three years Saturday morning (March 8, 2025)  after coming up empty 46 times in a row at tournament time.

Coach Travis Perry watched his Chargers win i again at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth where Team USA trains as Ethan Haley became an unlikely hero 1:53 into overtime after scoring only three times previously all season. His dramatic game winner lifted the Chargers to a 3-2 triumph over Livonia Stevenson. 

Powers also needed to win in dramatic fashion in the quarterfinals when forced into overtime by Marquette before winning 5-4 on senior star Ayden Cook's fourth goal of the night in overtime.

Cook's game winner propelled Powers into the state semifinals where Perry's boys took care of business by beating Grandville 4-3 to reach the finals for the seventh time in the school's illustrious hockey history.

Saturday was the fourth appearance in a state championship game in Plymouth by Powers since the tournament was moved there in 2003. The Chargers had reached the finals three times prior to that since the state's Final Four games began 50 years ago in Flint at the old IMA Sports Arena, now Dort Financial Center.

Powers Catholic has now reached the Final Four 22 times under Coach Perry and his legendary predecessors — Dave Durkin and Court Benson. The Chargers have won a regional championship 35 times and this year's Saginaw Valley League title was their 34th league championship.

Perry led the 2024-25 Chargers to a 25-4 record to move his all-time mark to 386-117-20. The Valley title this season was the 13th league title under Perry's leadership. He's taken nine of his teams to the Final Four and this year was his fourth visit to the state championship game. He also has 12 regional championships to cement his name for a spot in both the Greater Flint Sports hall of Fame as well as the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame, alongside Durkin and Benson. 

The wild 2025 celebration after Haley's dramatic goal brought back memories of the winner two years ago when Mason Czarnecki scored on a breakaway with 4.6 seconds left in the third period for a 3-2 victory over East Grand Rapids.

Perry said: “It’s a lot different this time around. The first time, it’d been 50 years of frustration, anger. I’d been coaching 17 years, and we lost a couple down here. That was really a monkey off our back. This one really solidifies our program. The biggest thing I told the guys is probably five years ago we came down here looking to compete, not just hoping to compete.”

Perry had only three players on his roster this season who were around for the first state title two years ago. Current seniors Andrew Parmentier, Brody Neelands and Andrew Burny were sophomores in 2023 on a squad that featured 11 seniors and eight juniors.

Forwards Parmentier and Neelands and defenseman Burny are among eight seniors on Perry's 2025 state champs.

The others seniors are goaltender Aidan Gustafson, defensemen Aiden Olah and Blake Dawson and forwards Mitchell Lenger and Landon Miller.

Coach Perry has plenty of talent to build around for next year with three freshman, three sophomores and eight juniors.

The freshmen include defenseman Cooper Massimino and forwards Chase Stevens and Owen Perry.

The sophomores are defenseman Haley, forward Jaden Davis and defenseman Whitman Park.

The juniors are goalie Hunter Clark, defenseman Andon Harwood and forwards Cook, Parker Bendall, Jordan Davis, Logan Nanney, Jack Johnson and Gavin Vorwerk.

Sophomore Haley became the hero after his own season nearly ended in late January when suffering a broken ankle. He said, “I thought I was going to miss more time than I did. The doctor cleared me sooner, so it was very exciting to get back playing with everyone and going to practice every day... My role is definitely an energy guy, I would say.”

He had scored twice in the first three games of the season but only once more after rejoining the lineup late in the regular season. His blast from the right point Saturday was one of the biggest goals in school history to give his Chargers the Division 2 state championship after winning it all in Division 3 two years ago on an equally dramatic goal in the closing seconds by Czarnecki in 2023.

Haley’s shot from the blue line wasn’t a particularly hard shot, but Powers put traffic in front of the net to make it difficult for Stevenson’s goalie to see the puck.

“Before that, Coach said to get pucks on net, get pucks out of our zone, which we did,” Haley said. “I saw a guy on Cooky (Ayden Cook). He slid it down and passed it to me. I just shot it. I thank Parker (Bendall) for screening the goalie. He couldn’t see it.”

Cook had produced the game tying goal to force overtime when bagging the equalizer for Powers with 6:45 remaining in regulation.

It was the 40th goal of the season for Cook who was second team all-state last winter.

Stevenson had taken a 2-1 lead with 12:53 remaining in the second period on a goal by  Riley Rorabacher. Colin Stroble had tied it at 1-1 for Stevenson after Johnson put Powers first with an early goal.

The Livonia squad caught fire late in the season and rallied from a 9-9-2 record to win its last five games of the regular season before winning four in a row in the state tournament.

Stevenson Coach David Mitchell's club lost four straight before the closing run allowing a whopping 19 goals during the four-game losing streak. He said afterward, “I told them they put Stevenson hockey, I don’t want to say on the map, because we’ve never really been off it. But they got us back to the point we try to achieve to get to. I think they did that not only as players on the ice, but as a community. People like Mr. (Arnold) Muscat (Stevenson’s athletic director) and the Stevenson community not only made this an enjoyable ride, but made this a memorable one. It made it easier for us to get inspired to play for a bigger cause.”

 The Spartans made it to the state finals three times in a four-year span after winning it all in their 2013 Division 2 state championship season. They've won eight state titles in school history and  Saturday's state runner-up finish was their fifth.

 Powers senior star Burny said, “It feels like a dream. We came here and made history twice. I wouldn’t have rather done it with any other group of guys.”

Burny's 22 goals were third most on the team behind junior star Cook's 40 goals and freshman sniper Owen Perry's 25 goals. 

Parmentier, honorable mention all-state last season as a junior, scored 12 times in a 48-point season this winter for Powers.

After going down 4-1 in the quarterfinals against Marquette early in the third period, Cook's short-handed goal got Powers within 4-2 and sparked the rally. He also scored the game-tying goal to send it into overtime where he eventually won it.

 The only losses for Powers this season were to Sault Ste. Marie in overtime and to the top three ranked teams in Division 1 — Detroit Catholic Central, Hartland and Howell.

Junior goalie Clark surrendered a stingy 2.2 goals per game while Powers scored at a prolific clip of nearly six goals per game as the state's No. 1 ranked team in Division 2 going into post-season play. Coach Perry's Chargers beat No. 6 ranked Byron Center 4-1 in the regional finals before beating No. 7 Marquette in OT and nipping No. x Grandville 4-3 in the semis.

Other notable victories by the 2024-25 Chargers included an 8-2 romp over Division 2's No. 10 White Lake Lakeland, 4-3 in OT over Clarkston which was ranked No. 4 in Division 1, 4-3 over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s which was No. 1 in Division 3, 4-3 over Houghton which was No. 2 in Division 3, 5-2 over East Grand Rapids which was No. 3 in Division 3, 2-1 over Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett which was No. 7 in Division 3 and 5-1 over Alpena which was No. 8 in Division 3.

Orchard Lake St. Mary won the Division 3 state championship on Saturday after beating East Grand Rapids 5-1 and Alpena 9-1 on the tournament trail. Coach Brian Kanlet's Eaglets blanked Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood in the finals to finish with a 23-5-1 record.

They faced a tough schedule in the North Division of the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League where finishing No. 2 ahead of fellow traditional high school hockey heavyweights Cranbrook Kingswood, Birmingham Brother Rice and Port Huron Northern.

The state's toughest league was won by Detroit Catholic Central which also won it all in Division 1 on Saturday.

Notable on the Metro Flint regional area scene was Detroit CC's toughest game of the season coming against Hartland. The Shamrocks nipped Hartland  2-1 in overtime in the regional finals. 

Coach Rick Gadwa's Hartland club shared the Kensington Lakes Activities Association title with Howell which faced Detroit CC in the finals. Hartland finished 22-4-1 on the season and was ranked No. 2 in the final regular season poll behind the title winning Shamrocks who beat Howell 4-1 on Saturday in the state championship game.

 PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is sophomore Ethan Haley's shot from the point hitting the top corner for the winning goal at 1:53 into overtime Saturday as Flint Powers Catholic celebrated its second hockey state title in high school hockey. Screening Livonia Stevenson's goalie in front of the net is Haley's teammate Parker Bendall. — MHSAA PHOTO BY JOHN CASTINE OF HOCKEY WEEKLY

BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

GRAND RAPIDS (CCN) — A fourpeat wasn't in the cards for Rockford's girls' gymnastic s team. Hartland used eight top five finishes at the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) finals to win its first state championship over defending state champ Rockford by a slim 148.57 to 146.525 margin.

A co-op team from Fenton, Linden and Lake Fenton finished fifth with 139.925 points.

Farmington United was third with 144.975 points while Northville finished fourth at 142.575 in the MHSAA Team Gymnastics Finals. 

Hartland had fourth-place finishes in each of the last two seasons although coming in just 2.5 points behind No. 1 Rockford in 2024 and just 4.1 points behind in 2023.

Rockford, Farmington United and Grand Ledge had won 14 state titles since 2008 until Hartland prevailed this season.

Hartland Coach Gavin Kress said "Our motto all year has been ring season. That's what the girls call it — ring season... We've definitely built up to this, and we killed (routines) today. We've beat team and individual records all year. I didn't want to predict this, but the girls did."

Hartland didn't score below 142 points in any of its significant meets this winter.

Led by junior Alexis Fundich and seven seniors, Hartland saved its showing for the state finals.

Fundich finished first on bars (9.6750), beam (9.75), floor (9.7) and all-around (38.425).

Senior Abby Griffen added four top five finishes for Hartland, including a first on vault (9.725). She was fourth in all-around (37.8).

"We've worked hard, so it's not too surprising to us," Fundich said. "We were a little frustrated after finishing fourth last year, but that motivated us. We worked hard and expected to do better than fourth."

Hartland senior Jayden Garcia added, "We got fourth, but we tried to push ourselves more and more. This year, we thought we could do better. We worked from the moment we got fourth last year. We were fired up at every event. Winning state was our main goal."

Rockford Coach Michelle Ankney, who has had six state titles since 2015, wasn't surprised by Hartland's solid showing. She said, "They have some amazing skills, hard skills. We're impressed with them, for sure." 

Coach Kress paid tribute to his team's senior leadership this season as a factor in winning it all, too . He said, "One hundred percent. They support every single person on the team and (helped) build up their confidence. That definitely contributed to our scoring."

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Hartland's Emma Beres competing in floor exercise during the Team Gymnastics Final at Kenowa Hills High School in Grand Rapids.