Linden's Joey Spencer announces his next opponent in Flint as 9-0 Texan with 7 KO's

BY GARY ANDERSON

CCN Staff Writer

LINDEN (CCN) — Pro boxer Joey Spencer of Linden has announced that he knows who his opponent will be on December 12th at Flint's Dort Financial Center in Flint. Spencer, who is 18-1 and coming off his victory by KO in his first hometown fight last summer at Linden High School's football field, is making his second Genesee County bout in Flint as part of the "Big Time Boxing USA" card promoted by Brooklyn-based Salita Productions.

 All the fights from the Dort on Dec. 12 will be featured live to a worldwide audience on the DAZN streaming network. The opponent wasn't listed in our story below last week. That's because the opponent was not yet determined.

But Spencer took to social media yesterday with a Facebook post to reveal it's going to be Miguel Angel Hernandez of Dallas, Texas. He's 9-0 with 7 knockouts.  It will be a 10-round bout.

 Spencer had this to say about Hernandez. "Hernández is a tough, undefeated fighter and I’m looking forward to taking on this challenge in front of my Michigan fans."

Tickets can be purchased in person at Dort Financial Center's box office or online at Tix.com or SpencerPromotions.com.

Also on the fight card at the Dort on December 12th will be Flint's Ardreal Holmes who is 16 and oh after a KO in his last fight also promoted by Salita Productions in mid-September at the Dort. Grand Blank High School grad Leon "Lethal" Lawson was also on the last card and he will be back to fight again for this second hometown appearance.

 Lawson, a grandson of Flint's legendary Bumper Lawson who was close friends with famous heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, went to 16 and one with 9 KOs by winning on the Flint card in September by Salita Promotions. Lawson, also a cousin to Flint's pro boxing brothers Anthony and Andre Durell, dropped Luis Alberto Veron of Argentina with a right hook at the 37-second mark of the 4th round earlier this fall. 

Dec. 12 will mark Lawson's second fight of 2024 after fighting only once in 2023 following his first loss in a mid-2022 decision to Nathaniel Gallimore of Jamaica. Lawson's opponent has also not yet been named.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is pro boxer Joey Spencer of Linden.

(CCN) — Grand Blanc's season ended in the prep football state playoffs on Friday night (Nov. 15, 2024) while Frankenmuth and Goodrich won  to reach the state semifinals. Millington copied their feat by winning on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 16, 2024).

Frankenmuth, Goodrich and Millington all rolled on their home turf in the Regional championships while Grand Blanc lost 21-14 at Rochester Adams in a battle of 9-2 teams in Division 1.

Frankenmuth, ranked No. 2 in the last regular season poll in Division 5 by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association, went to 12-0 on the season by beating Gladwin 35-0. It's the fourth straight Final Four appearance for Coach Phil Martin's Eagles who twice reached the state finals at Ford Field in Detroit during that span.

The Eagles get another shot to win it all if they can get by Grand Rapids Catholic Central on Saturday (Nov. 23, 2024). Kick-off from Memorial Stadium in Mount Pleasant will be 1 pm.

Grand Rapids Catholic Central is 8-4 and was ranked no. 7 in the final regular season poll. The Cougars won their Regional title by beating Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep 21-14.

Goodrich whipped Haslett 42-13 to reach the Final Four for the third straight season in Division 4. The Martians made it to the state finals for the first time in school history in 2022. Goodrich, now 11-1 on the year with an 11-game winning streak since losing its opener 22-0 at Frankenmuth, goes this week to Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills.

Kick-off for veteran Coach Tom Alward's Martians on Saturday is 1 pm against Harper Woods which went to 9-3 by winning its Regional crown 48-3 over Macomb Lutheran North.

Goodrich and Harper Woods were ranked 4-5 in the last regular season ratings.

No. 5 Millington easily disposed of unranked Pewamo-Westphalia 28-0 in Millington in a great Saturday atmosphere that began with a community tailgate party.

The Cardinals stayed perfect, going to 11-0 on the season to win the Division 7 Regional title and punch their ticket to the state semifinals. They play Saturday (Nov. 23, 2024) at 1 pm in Lansing against North Muskegon. The game will be at Quaker Stadium inside the Eastern Athletic Complex.

North Muskegon was ranked right behind Goodrich in the last regular season poll, so it's a battle of the 5-6 teams in the state.

North Muskegon is 11-1 on the season after shocking No. 2 ranked Menominee 23-0 to win its Regional championship. Keeping the spirits of Millington's fans extra high is the fact that North Muskegon's only loss was to the same team that Coach Jason German's Cardinals steamrolled over on Saturday —Pewamo-Westphalia.

It was an 8-7 loss but way back on opening night.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

FLINT (CCN) — Trey McKenney of Flint will continue his basketball career at the  University of Michigan. ESPN first reported it on Saturday (Nov. 10, 2024) because McKenney is one of its top 25 college prospects in the USA for the Class of 2025.

McKenney helped Orchard Lake St. Mary to the state championship a year ago, and is considered the front runner for this year's Mr. Basketball award in Michigan.

His father, John McKenney, took to social media and posted on Facebook: "Just feels so surreal.. Just so proud of the person he is."

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson posted a video on Facebook to congratulate McKenney, saying, "I just might make you an honorary deputy."

McKenney had multiple college scholarship offers from top programs in America and new UM Coach Dusty May drew praise from many top hoops talent evaluators for landing such a top prospect for his program. ESPN lists McKenney as a  five-star recruit. He's No. 16 on ESPN's top 25 list.

Coach May, who took over UM's program when Juwan Howard was fired after last season, led Florida Atlantic to the NCAA Final Four in 2023. He won there at a nearly 65 percent clip (126–69) during six seasons to land the UM job.

 McKenney is the third commitment for May so far among ESPN's top 100 list but the first five star prospect UM has landed. The others are four-star recruits Winter Grady (a 6-foot-5 small forward from Lake Oswego, Oregon) and Oscar Goodman of Australia who is a 6-foot-7 small forward. McKenney is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard.

Only four other five-star recruits have signed at UM since Dion Harris in 2003. The others were  Glenn Robinson III in 2012, Moussa Diabate in 2021 and Caleb Houstan in 2021.

UM was among the final three choices McKenney had narrowed his list to before making his choice on Saturday. USC and Georgetown were his other top two choices.

Among the other top programs that offered scholarships were Michigan State, UCLA, Oregon, Ohio State,  Notre Dame and Creighton.

 "It's surreal because Michigan was my dream school growing up," McKenney told ESPN. "My grandparents went to Michigan. It's home. Their style of play really fits me. It's positionless, physical basketball with concepts. They will look to run and make reads at a fast pace like his teams did at FAU. My game is versatile on both ends and I believe I fit well into their plans. In time, I have the chance to be the face of the program. Coach May is a basketball guy. My faith leads me, and I try to think things out. I trust Coach May. He gives off positive vibes."

McKenney played last summer for "The Family" grassroots program on the Nike circuit and averaged 19.6 points per game while shooting better than 41 percent from 3-point range. He also won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup last summer when starting all six games and averaging 10.8 points per game and 2.2 assists.

ESPN's description of McKenney on its recruiting profile says as follows: "A big-bodied guard whose game should translate to May's system of open-side ball screens, dribble handoffs and high-low actions. He's a mismatch on the block against like-sized or smaller defenders due to his strength and touch, but he's effective on the perimeter due to his ability to get to the basket and knock down 3's."

McKenney, who boasts a massive 6-foot-9 wing span, led Orchad Lake St. Mary's Prep to a 63-17 record during his first three seasons of varsity ball. St. Mary's made it to the quarterfinals during his freshman year and reached the state semifinals during his sophomore year before winning it all las season when he averaged 22.6 points per game with 10.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists  

In the Division 1 finals last March, McKenney pumped in 32 points to lead St. Mary’s to a 63-52 victory over North Farmington for its first state championship since 2000 in Class A. Class A is the predecessor division for the state’s largest schools who now compete in Division 1 action.

McKenney made his announcement with 24/7 Sports YouTube Channel and wore a jersey of Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin.

The Detroit News quoted McKenney as saying Michigan was his "dream school" and that he watched UM games growing up with his father.

He added: “It was just relentless time with me, being able to figure out who I am as a person and also on the basketball floor. Him (Coach May) just actually spending time with me as a person meant a lot to me...  I’m going to bring a winning spirit. We’re going to win, definitely.”

Coach May issued a special announcement about McKenney, saying, "Trey embodies everything it means to be a Michigan Man. He comes from a family of strong faith and high character. He has been taught how to play the game the right way and values competition. His versatility as a big, strong guard is going to be a tremendous asset to our program." 

McKenney is the grandson of the late Woodrow Stanley of Flint who served as a City Councilman in Flint, Flint City Council President, Mayor of Flint, Genesee County Commissioner, Chairman of the county board and as a State Representative for six 6ears in the state legislature. 

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson (at left) in a Facebook video announcing that Trey McKenney (center) of Flint announced on Saturday that he will play next season for the Michigan Wolverines.

MT. MORRIS (CCN) — The dean of local high school athletic directors picked up a big honor. Jeff Kline has been named AD-of-the-Year by the Michigan High School Coaches Association (MHSCA).

The annual award is presented by the MHSCA in conjunction with the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA). For over 65 years, the interscholastic athletic administrators of Michigan have dedicated themselves to improving the quality of school athletic programs, the profession of athletic administration, and their personal administrative skills. The MIAA was established to guide those endeavors and is the professional organization for athletic administrators in our state. 

Kline was honored Saturday (Nov. 27, 2024) at the MHSCA State Awards Luncheon.

Kline, who has been AD at Mt. Morris since 2008, was named in 2022 by the Michigan High School Athletic Association to the MHSAA Representative Council. He was selected as the Region 9 Athletic Director of the Year in 2016.

The former U.S. Marine and star athlete at Mt. Morris , was interviewed in early 2023 by Nate Perry from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to discuss leadership principles learned in the Marine Corps that helped translate into a career in athletics. 

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Jeff Kline who was honored Saturday as AD-of-the-Year by Michigan's high school coaches.

(CCN) — Foutch's Strike Zone is hosting Lance Parrish for a book signing event on Nov. 23.

Parrish is a 1984 World Series hero for the Detroit Tigers who was the star catcher on the city's last championship team.

Parrish will appear with former Detroit News award-winning sports writer Tom Gage who wrote the book with him.

There are a limited number of books available so make sure you call and reserve a spot/book. The event will feature "personalized autographs" as well as time for questions and answers about the 1984 World Championship season season and his career.

The cos will be $35 and covers the price of an autographed copy of Parrish's book.

Parrish belted 33 home runs in 1984 with 98 RBI.

He played his first 10 seasons in Detroit during a 19-year career in the big leagues. His 1984 season was one of two 98 RBI campaigns with the Tigers along with a career-best 114 RBI in 1983. He hit 324 career home runs with 1,070 RBI.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Lance Parrish who is coming to Flint Township's Foutch's Strike Zone on Nov. 23 for a book signing.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

FLINT (CCN) — Flint's Ardreal Holmes and Linden's Joey Spencer will headline a boxing card at Flint's Dort Financial Center on Dec. 12.

Tickets are now on sale for the event that will also feature Grand Blanc High School grad Leon "Lethal" Lawson II, Detroit’s rising middleweight prospect Da’Velle “Hitman 2.0” Smith, veteran fighter Byron Rojas of Nicaragua and a Lexington, Kentucky unbeaten prospect in women's boxing — Samantha Worthington.

Tickets can be purchased in person at Dort Financial Center's box office or online at Tix.com or SpencerPromotions.com.

Doors open on fight night at 5:30 pm at the Dort.

The boxing card will be the latest edition of "Big Time Boxing USA" by Brooklyn-based Salita Promotions that has promoted fights that have been featured on national television via HBO, Showtime, ESPN and Sky Sports.

This fight card in Flint will be presented on the online pay web site known as DAZN which is a live streaming service.

Salita Promotions began in 2010 and exploded five year later for promoter Dmitry Salita after he signed Flint's two-time Gold Medal champion Claressa Shields at the the start of her pro career. Shields went on to become a world champion and is considered by many as the best woman boxer in history.

Salita was a world champion boxer with a 31-1-1 record and 17 knockouts, before becoming a promoter. He now manages many Michigan fighters and other top prospects across the USA.

Salita, 42, is a devout Orthodox Jew from Southfield who was inducted earlier this year into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. 

His  "Big Time Boxing USA" series is now considered by many boxing experts as the premier talent development series in professional boxing.

Salita said in a press release, “My team and I are proud to announce the strongest BIG TIME BOXING USA fight card to date. Since the series launched in February, we have been building and growing this series to become the premier talent developmental platform for young fighters and this fight card is the best of them all. We thank DAZN for providing the global platform for these fighters to shine and earn their shot at a world title. And we thank the fans of Flint for supporting their hometown heroes and the sport of boxing overall. We had a terrific show in September at the Dort Financial Center and this fight card is even more loaded with hard-hitting talent.” 

The co-main event in Flint on Dec. 12 features two top boxers in the sport in Holmes and Spencer.

Southpaw Holmes, known as Bossman, was on the last Flint card presented by Salita Promotions in mid-September. He defended his USBA Junior Middleweight title in his first hometown bout with a dominant 10-round decision over Cuban-morn Hugo Noriega of Miami (now 10-3, 5 KOs). Holmes, 30, is now 16-0 for his pro career with 6 KOs.

This time, Holmes returns to his hometown to defend his title once more against a more seasoned opponent — French contender Ahmed El Mousaoui who is 35-6-1 with 9 KOs. It will be the fourth straight fight in Michigan for Holmes who fought on national TV with ShoBox appearances in both 2022 and 2023 on Showtime.

Spencer wasn't on the September card at the Dort but he won his last fight Aug. 18 on the football field at Linden High School where he went to school. Spencer, 24, is 18-1 as a pro and has had several fights on national TV.

Younger brother Mickel Spencer, 20, went to 4-0 by knocking down Keaton Gatzmer three times en route to a TKO victory with 1:20 to go in the first round. It was his third knockout in four fights as a pro. It's unknown if the younger Spencer will be on the Dec. 12 boxing card in Flint after joining his brother as the co-main event performer last August in their hometown fights in Linden.

Big brother Joey Spencer won the National Boxing Association Intercontinental title by beating Janer Gonzalez with a 5th round knockout. It was the 11th time Spencer has knocked out an opponent as a pro. Gonzalez had a 21-6-1 coming into the fight.

The Linden fight marked only the second one for Joey Spencer since suffering his first defeat to highly regarded Jesus Ramos in March 2023.

Only his second professional fight in his home state of Michigan, Joey Spencer is scheduled in Flint on Dec. 12 for a 10-round fight. The opponent hasn't yet been identified.

Opponents have also not yet been announced for Lawson or Worthington. Rojas, 34, is also awaiting word on who is opponent will be. He's 28-4-3(11 KOs) and a former world title challenger.

Lawson, a grandson of Flint's legendary Bumper Lawson who was close friends with famous heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, went to 16-1 (9 KOs) by winning on the Flint card in September by Salita Promotions.

Lawson, also a cousin to Flint's pro boxing brothers Anthony and Andre Dirrell, dropped Luis Alberto Veron of Argentina with a right hook at the 37-second mark of the 4th round. Dec. 12 will mark Lawson's second fight of 2024 after fighting only once in 2023 following his first loss in a mid-2022 decision to Nathaniel Gallimore of Jamaica. Now 22-8-1, Gallimore has lost three in a row since beating Lawson.

Worthington is 9-0 and all but two of her fights have ended in knockouts. Shields has tabbed her as a "future star" in the women's game. Promoted by Flint’s Shields and her T-Rex Promotions, Worthington shares a bond with the "GWOAT" as former U.S. Olympic teammates in 2016. 

 Worthington currently holds impressive rankings of No. 2 with the IBF, No. 4 with the WBO, and No. 6 with both the WBC and WBA at 140 pounds. 

Detroit’s rising middleweight prospect Da’Velle “Hitman 2.0” Smith, praised as the city’s most promising talent since Tommy Hearns, enters the ring fresh off an impressive victory over Gilberto Pereira dos Santos in Puerto Rico. Now 10-0 with knockouts in all but two fights, Smith goes against William Townsel (8-1, 6 KOs) from Virginia Beach.

This matchup marks Smith's biggest challenge to date, coming off the same situation when he upset Nadim Salloum who was 12-0 coming into their bout in March's Big Time Boxing USA event.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

ANN ARBOR (CCN) — Flint's Amaya Smith had family and friends in the stands Thursday night (Nov. 14, 2024) for her college basketball debut.

She got into the game as the fifth player off the bench for Central Michigan's Chippewas at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor in a 99-62 loss to the Michigan Wolverines.

CMU lost last week in its opener at home — 65-62 to Coastal Carolina. Smith didn't get to play. 

She was 0-for-1 with two fouls in 3 minutes of playing time in Thursday's debut at UM.

Smith is a freshman guard at CMU.

She also got playing time in CMU's season-opening exhibition game at home earlier this month against Saginaw Valley State. 

She led Flint Powers Catholic to the state quarterfinals a year ago when the Lady Chargers were one of the top teams in the Saginaw Valley League. She was first team all-Valley along with sister Kendyl Smith after they transferred to Powers from Lake Fenton.

Amaya Smith led Lake Fenton to back-to-back titles in the Metro League before transferring away with her younger sister. Kendyl Smith, now a junior at Powers, has also committed to go to CMU to join her big sister after her senior year.

The Smith sisters are daughters of former college star Kevin Smith who is well known as the former long-time union president of the Flint Police Department. They got their competitive spirit by playing against boys in Flint's PAL program as youngsters when their dad ran the program.

Mom Amanda Smith posted on Facebook: "A dream come true for my #6!" She also posted a photo of her daughter Amaya's 19-point effort in a youth game as a 9-year-old on the same Crisler Center floor where she made Thursday's Division 1 college debut.

Her grandfather, Craig Smith of Davison, posted the photo above on his Facebook page as well as the photo on today's Front Page. He's especially proud as a graduate of CMU.

PHOTO CAPTION: CMU's Amaya Smith lets fly with a 3-pont bomb that missed Thursday at UM.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — Four schools from the Metro Flint regional area will go for Regional championships on Friday night (Nov. 15, 2024) in prep football's state playoffs.

Frankenmuth in Division 5 and Millington in Division 7 will put undefeated records on the line. Grand Blanc and Goodrich  were last week's other local winners.

 Linden, Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Corunna and Clarkston High saw their seasons come to an end last week after being among 8 opening week survivors among 18 state playoff qualifiers from the Metro Flint regional area.

Frankenmuth rolled 37-7 over a 9-1 Belding team that was averaging 465 points per game. Coach Phil Martin's Eagles continued to shine on defense where they've allowed under 10 points per contest this fall. Frankenmuth has reached the state finals twice during a four-year run which includes four straight Final Four appearances.

Frankenmuth, now 10-0 overall including a Tri-Valley Conference Red title, was ranked No. 2 in the Oct. 31 poll for Division 5 by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.

Next up for the Eagles will be unranked Gladwin which upset No. 9 Ogemaw Heights 28-19 last week. The game will be in Frankenmuth.

Gladwin (8-3) not only avenged last year’s District opener loss to Ogemaw Heights but also a 12-7 Week 3 loss earlier this season.

The top ranked team in Division 5, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, clobbered Corunna 56-7.

Corunna finished at 8-3 after last year's run to the Division 5 finals at Ford Field.

Millington, No. 5 in the last Division 7 rankings, went to 10-0 on the season Friday night by beating Cass City 34-7.

Millington gets another home game this week to face its toughest opponent yet — Pewamo-Westphalia. The Pirates (9-2) are unranked but repeated as District champions by beating No.4 ranked and previously unbeaten Ithica 17-14.

Coach Jason Germain's Millington club reached the state semifinals for the first time in school history last year before losing to eventual state champion Jackson Lumen Christi.

Lumen Christi isn't back to defend its Division 7 itle after opting to move up one division (where the perennial power is ranked No. 1 this fall in Division 6).

Goodrich had its first close test since opening night. The Martians won 27-21 over a Freeland team that was 9-1 with its only loss coming to Frankenmuth in the Tri-Valley West title game.

It was a 21-20 thriller for Freeland in its loss to Frankenmuth compared to 22-0 in Goodrich's game one loss to the Eagles.

Goodrich won its next 9 games n a row by putting more than 40 points on the board every time until Freeland came to Goodrich on Friday night.

Goodrich is at home again this week against Haslett. Kick-off is 7 pm Friday.

Grand Blanc spotted Oxford a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter but rallied to win 29-7.

Oxford, champions of the Oakland Activities Association Red Division, was coming off a dramatic second half comeback at Davison. The host Cardinals led 14-7 at halftime but Oxford advanced with two second half touchdowns.

The Saginaw Valley League's Blue Division champion Bobcats (9-2 and ranked No. 9 in Division 1) were led back against Oxford by quarterback Jake Morrow running for one TD and connecting with Matthew Evans on another. Nik Lemons ran for the other TD in the victory for Coach Kaleb Forr's club.

Next up for Grand Blanc will be Rochester Adams which was beaten 18-17 by Oxford en route to its OAA Red title. 

Friday's kick-off will be 7 o'clock at Rochester Adams.

Rochester Adams advanced by beating Clarkston big on Friday night — rolling up a 41-0 romp to move to 9-2 overall on the season.

Clarkston finished with a 7-4 record.

Linden finished 5-6 overall by losing 45-14 at Mason after its 42-14 upset a week earlier at Fenton to avenge a 27-24 regular season loss when the two arch rivals were playing for first place in the Metro League's Stripes Division.

Clarkston Everest Collegiate lost 37-7 to Harbo Beach in Division 8 after disposing of Burton Bentley 52-0 in the opening round.

The Mountaineers, who have qualified for the tate playoffs nine straight years since starting their football program, finished 9-2. The only other loss was 17-14 in overtime to Macomb Lutheran North in the CHSL Prep Bowl after winning their division in the Catholic High School League this fall.

 Harbor Beach went to 11-0 overall by beating Clarkston Everest Collegiate after opening the sate playoffs by knocking off defending state campion Ubly 35-0.

Local Schedule & Results in Prep Sports Section

See Statewide Scores in My AM Advantage

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

 (CCN) — And then there were 8. That's the simple summary of what's next locally in the 2024 state playoffs for prep football.

Grand Blanc and Clarkston won Friday night (Nov. 1, 2024) and must win again this week to set up a neighborhood showdown in the Region 2 championship game in Division 1; Linden knocked off arch rival Fenton to advance in Division 3; Goodrich kept rolling in Division 4; Corunna and Frankenmuth prevailed in Division 5; Millington stayed perfect in Division 7; and Clarkston Everest Collegiate advanced in Division 8.

The season ended on Friday night for Davison and Chesaning who each had high hopes of sticking around on the 2024 state playoff scene.

It was also the end of line for Fenton, Lake Fenton, Flushing, Flint Hamady, Ortonville Brandon, Montrose, Burton Atherton and Burton Bentley.

Chesaning was 9-0 overall this fall and champion of the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference (MMAC) but lost a 36-29 heartbreaker to Lansing Catholic on its own turf.

Davison lost 21-14 at home to Oxford for its second loss in three weeks after a terrific start.

Coach Jake Weingardz led Davison's Cardinals to six straight victories after a season-opening loss to perennial Division 2 power Warren De La Salle in the Xenith Kick-off Classic at Wayne State University in Detroit. They dropped a 55-49 barnburner to Grand Blanc in the Saginaw Valley League's Blue Division championship game three weeks ago before beating Lapeer in the regular season finale to finish 7-2.

Flushing's season ended at Midland. The Raiders (7-2 going into the Division 2 battle there) dropped a 34-7 decision. They were making their first state playoff appearance since 2020 under new Coach Austin Cook.

Lake Fenton's season ended 51-14 at Freeland which will now go to Goodrich for the District 2 championship game in Region 3 of District 4. 

They have identical 9-1 overall records.

Goodrich, which made it back to the state's Final Four in 2023 after making the finals at Ford Field for the first time in school history in 2022, scored more than 40 points for the 9th straight game by thumping Ortonville Brandon 49-7.

Freeland lost the Tri-Valley Conference's Red Division title game 21-20 to Frankenmuth.

The Eagles blanked Goodrich 22-0 on opening night to get revenge for its only loss in 2023 when reaching the state semifinals. They went to 10-0 on the season by opening sate playoff action with a 62-6 romp over Howard City Tri-County.

Linden got revenge for a 24-21 loss at home to Fenton two weeks ago by winning 42-14 at Fenton Friday night. The Tigers took a 7-2 record into the tilt while Linden barely qualified with a 5-4 record. 

Coach Chad Williams will now take Linden's Eagles to Mason to play for the District 1 championship in Region 3 of Division 3. Mason has an impressive 8-2 record that included rolling to a 59-18 romp over Jackson in its state playoff opener. Mason was champion of the Red Division this fall in the Capital Area Activities Conference.

Frankenmuth's next opponent will be local rival Corunna which whipped Flint Hamady 35-8 to advance. Corunna is 8-2 this fall after a perfect 9-0 regular season campaign a year ago when rolling all the way to the Division 5 finals at Ford Field.

Frankenmuth has reached the state finals twice during a four-year run which includes four straight Final Four appearances.

Grand Blanc's Bobcats thumped Lapeer 42-21 to move to 8-2 on the year. Next up is Oxford which went to 7-3 overall by winning at Davison in its state playoff opener.

Clarkston's Wolves advanced by taking an impressive 34-16 decision at Lake Orion which had spoiled its bid for a share of the title in the OAA-Red earlier in the season.

Montrose and Burton Atherton lost big in their playoff openers in Division 7 while unbeaten Millington stayed perfect with a 42-14 pounding of Elkton-Pigeon-Bayport Laker.

Millington, which made it to the state semifinals a year ago for the first time in school history, will be at home again this week to host a 7-3 Cass City club in the District 2 championship game in Region 2 of Division 7.

Montrose's Rams were beaten 42-2 by  Pewamo-Westphalia while Atherton's season ended 49-7 at  Leslie. 

It was only the second state playoff game in school history for Randy Young's Wolverines Atherton won its first Genesee Area Conference championship this fall in its return to 11-man football after five seasons of 8-man football.

Burton Bentley, making the state playoffs for the second season in a row, lost 52-0 in Division 8 at 

Clarkston Everest Collegiate.

The Mountaineers went to 9-1 in a strong rebound performance after losing 17-14 in overtime a week earlier to Macomb Lutheran North in the CHSL Prep Bowl after winning their division in the Catholic High School League this fall.

They play again at home this week against a Harbor Beach club that went to 10-0 overall by beating defending state campion Ubly 35-0 in its opener.

Local Schedule & Results in Prep Sports Section

See Statewide Scores in My AM Advantage

EUGENE, OREGON (CCN) — Flushing's Sara Rambus reached double figures in the first game of her sophomore season at the University of Oregon Monday night as the Lady Ducks whipped California Baptist  93-63 in a non-conference game in Eugene, Oregon.

Rembus was the second player off he bench for Oregon and she logged 14 1/2 minutes of playing time. She scored 10 points and grabbed 3 rebounds.

Oregon won in front of 4,141 fans at home.

Monday's season opener was one of 9 non-league contests before Oregon opens Big 10 Conference play on Dec. 7 against USC. Rambus and her Lady Ducks come to our state for Big 10 action on Jan. 30 in East Lansing to face Michigan State's Spartans and on Feb. 2 in Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines.

Rambis was an all-state selection as a junior at Flushing High when helping the Lady Raiders win the Metro League's Stripes Division championship. She transferred to IMG Academy in Florida for her senior season to get more exposure.

The 6-foot-3 Rambus was in ESPN's top 100 as the No. 66 overall in the nation in the Class of 2022. ESPN classified her as a four-star recruit and the 11th-ranked forward in the class. She was ESPN's  top-rated player in the state of Michigan.

Rambus got minutes in all 32 games last season as a freshman at Oregon. She made one start and averaged 3.2 points per game, 2.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists while shooting 41.4% from the floor and 61.8% from the free throw line. 

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Sarah Rambus of Flushing.

 BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

MOUNT PLEASANT (CCN) — Freshman Amaya Smith of Flint Powers Catholic made her Division 1 college debut Wednesday night.

The 5-foot-7 guard got 8 minutes of playing time 

during a season-opening exhibition game in Mount Pleasant on the campus of Central Michigan University.

She did not score but did not commit a turnover as she helped CMU defeat Saginaw Valley State University 71-64.

Smith was a first-team all-Saginaw Valley League selection for Powers Catholic last season after playing her first three prep seasons at Lake Fenton before transferring to Powers.

She led the Lady Chargers to the 2024 state quarterfinals after a so-so 15-8 campaign a year earlier before Smith and her younger sister transferred there. They led last year's squad to an impressive 23-3 record until losing a 50-45 heartbreaker in the state tournament to  Negaunee High. Negaunee lost in the state semifinals to eventual Division 2 state champion Detroit Edison.

Kristin Haynie, who took over CMU's program as head coach last season, signed Smith originally as a preferred walk-on, but was so impressed by her attitude and work ethic that she awarded her a full scholarship earlier this fall. Haynie has also been recruiting Smith's younger sister, Kendyl, who announced a few weeks ago that she plans to join Amayaat CMU. She's only a junior right now at Powers where she, too, was all-Valley first team last winter in addition to being an all-state selection.

 
Amaya Smith is among 11 newcomers to the 14-player roster for Coach Haynie.

Wednesday's exhibition game at McGuirk Arena will now be followed by the regular season season opener at home against Coastal Carolina on Monday (Nov. 4, 2024). CMU plays its second game on Nov. 14 in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines. Tip-off for that one at Crisler Arena is 7 pm. The Mid-America Conference opener comes after an 11-game stretch of non-league games. It will be Jan. 1 in Buffalo.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Amaya Smith who is a freshman guard on the Central Michigan University basketball team.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

EUGENE, OREGON (CCN) — Flushing's Sara Rambus helped the University of Oregon beat Warner Pacific of Portland in its women's basketball exhibition opener Friday night (Nov. 1, 2024) in Eugene, Oregon.

More than 4,000 fans watched the Lady Ducks roll to a 110-21 romp as all 14 players got into the scoring act. The Oregon squad had eight players making their college debuts on its 15-player roster.

Everybody on the roster scored at least 4 points.

 The Lady Ducks officially begin their 2024-25 season on Monday (Nov. 4, 2024) with a 4 pm tip-off against California Baptist. The game will be streaming on the Big 10 Network's B1G+. 

Monday's opener is one of 9 non-league contests before Oregon opens Big 10 Conference play on Dec. 7 against USC.

The Lady Ducks come to our state for Big 10 action on Jan. 30 in East Lansing to face Michigan State's Spartans and on Feb. 2 in Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines.

Rambis was an all-state selection as a junior at Flushing High when helping the Lady Raiders win the Metro League's Stripes Division championship. She transferred to IMG Academy in Florida for her senior season to get more exposure.

The 6-foot-3 Rambus was in ESPN's top 100 as the No. 66 overall in the nation in the Class of 2022. ESPN classified her as a four-star recruit and the 11th-ranked forward in the class. She was ESPN's  top-rated player in the state of Michigan.

She shot an amazing 49.5% from the field and averaged 16.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 1.7 steals and 1.4 assists per game en route to earning Associated Press Division I all-state first team accolades as a junior at Flushing High where she was a three-year starter before departing for Florida to complete her prep career.

Rambus got minutes in all 32 games last season as a freshman at Oregon. She made one start and averaged 3.2 points per game, 2.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists while shooting 41.4% from the floor and 61.8% from the free throw line. Her best game was against Nevada when she tallied 17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. She was 6-for-6 from the floor in 25 minutes off the bench against Nevada.

Her next best effort was against Arizona State when she scored 8 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.

Oregon Coach Kelly Graves said her sophomore star has a "great competitive spirit" and added: "She’s a versatile player who can play inside and out with great length, which is always a positive. She can be a defensive presence and is a good shot blocker. She’s an amazing teammate, always supporting her teammates and she has huge upside."

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Sarah Rambus of Flushing who began her sophomore season of women's basketball at the University of Oregon Friday night.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — Three unbeaten teams lead a strong contingent of 18prep football teams from The Daily Gazette coverage area to qualify for the 2024 state playoffs.

The pairings were announced Sunday on FanDuel Sports Network's Selection Sunday Show.

Frankenmuth and MiIllington were one victory shy of making it to Ford Field for last year's state finals event for all eight divisions.

Millington is back hoping for a Division 7 title and won't need to worry about defending champ Jackson Lumen Christi which opted to move up and play Division 6 where the Titans were ranked No. 1 in last week's poll by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.

Millington's 8-0 record includes winning the White Division championship in the Big Thumb Conference this fall under Coach Jason Germain's leadership.

Frankenmuth won eight in a row after losing its 2023 opener at the Big House in Ann Arbor to Goodrich before making it all the way to the Division 5 final four.

Coach Phil Martin's 2024 Eagles repeated as Tri-Valley Conference Red Division champion by beating Freeland 21-20 two weeks ago. They are ranked No. 2 in the state in Division 5 behind only Pontiac Notre Dame Prep with a perfect 9-0 record this season after opening with a 22-0 revenge blanking of Goodrich.

Goodrich also made it to the state semifinals a year ago in Division 4. The Martians had an 8-1 regular season record that saw its only loss come to eventual Division 5 state finalist Corunna which beat out the Martians for the Stars Division title in the Metro League.

Goodrich is 8-1 again, and has won big with more than 40 points every game since losing at Frankenmuth on opening night.

Veteran Coach Tom Alward's Martians were rated No. 4 in Division 4 last week.

Chesaning's 9-0 regular season campaign included winning the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference (MMAC) championship. The Indians were ranked No. 3 in Division 6 last week.

Other local qualifiers around the Metro Flint regional area included Grand Blanc, Davison and Clarkston in Division 1, Fenton, Linden and Flushing in Division 2, Goodrich, Ortonville Brandon and Lake Fenton in Division 4, Flint Hamady and Corunna in Division 5, Montrose in Division 7 and a trio of teams qualified in Division 8 — Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Burton Bentley and Burton Atherton.

All the local teams have Friday (Nov. 1, 2024) dates to open state playoff action with 7 pm kick-offs.

Frankenmuth (9-0) hosts Howard City Tri County in its Division 5 state playoff opener.  

Chesaning (9-0), ranked No. 6 last week in Division 6, opens sate playoff action on its home turf against  Lansing Catholic (6-3).

Millington (8-0) hosts Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (5-4) to start its Division 7 action. The Cardinals were ranked No. 3 in the state last week behind only Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central and Menominee.

Saginaw Valley League Blue Division champion Grand Blanc (7-2) was ranked No. 8 last week while neighboring rival Davison (also 7-2 overall) was No. 10.

Jake Weingardz has his Cardinals eyeing revenge against the Bobcats after losing 55-49 two weeks ago in a battle for the Valley's Blue title.

A rematch would come next week if Grand Blanc beats Lapeer this week and Davison knocks off first round opponent Oxford. Both local Valley schools will have home field advantage.

Oxford is 6-3 while Lapeer is 5-4.

Unranked Clarkston goes to Lake Orion. The Wolves are eyeing revenge, too, after Lake Orion beat them to cost Coach Kurt Richardson's troops a share of the OAA Red Division championship.

Clarkston has reached post-season play five seasons in a row and the Wolves have now made it 20 times in the last 22 years. They've made it 26 times in school history which is fourth-most among teams in the Metro Flint regional area.

Only Montrose, Millington and Frankenmuth have had more success. Montrose's 15th straight time reaching post-season play this fall gives the Rams 32 appearances all-time. This year marks its 21st year in a row to make the state playoffs for Millington and its total number of appearances is  now at 31. Frankenmuth's 14th straight trip to the state playoffs gives the Eagles 30 appearances.

Linden has made it 25 times in school history, Grand Blanc is making its 24th appearance with a current streak of nine years in a row, Fenton made it for the 23rd time, Goodrich's eighth straight year in post-season play is its 21st trip all time, Chesaning is in for the 17th time, Lake Fenton qualified for the 15th time, Ortonville Brandon's 10th straight year in the state playoffs gives the Blackhawks 14 total appearances in school history, Corunna has also now qualified 14 times, Davison's ninth trip in the last 10 years gives the Cardinals 13 total appearances, Flint Hamady is in for the 12th time and Clarkston Everest Collegiate made the state playoffs for the 11th consecutive season since its program began in 2009. 

Bentley and Atherton gave the City of Burton its first multiple qualifiers in the same season. Bentley made it for the second year in a row and for only the seventh time in school history. Atherton got in for only the second time in school history. Bendle, which missed out on making it this year, leads Burton's schools with 15 appearances all-time in the state playoffs.

Flushing (7-2) plays at Midland (8-1) which won the Valley's Red Division championship. The Raiders are led by rookie Coach Austin Cook who rebounded them from a 14-13 homecoming loss to Linden, to face Fenton at home with a chance to create a three-way tie for the Stripes Division title in the Metro League.

Fenton (7-2) beat Flushing for the Stripes Division title but lost the Metro League championship game to Goodrich.

Coach Jeff Setzke's TIgers open on the state playoff trail against arch rival Linden. It's a rematch of their 24-21 barnburner two weeks ago.

Coach Chad Williams has the Linden community exited to qualify for the playoffs for the third time in a row with high playoff points despite a 4-5 record. The Eagles have now made it four years out of the last five after a streak of making it 19 times in a 20-year period.

Fenton is also on a three-year streak in the state playoffs with its 16th appearance in the last 17 years.

Goodrich (8-1) hosts Ortonville Bandon (6-3)

 this week in Division 4 action while Lake Fenton (6-3) goes to Freeland (8-1).

Flint Hamady (5-4) goes to Corunna (7-2) in its Division 5 battle this week. Gary Lee's Hawks, going an independent team this fall, made it for the ninth time in the last 10 years. Corunna is looking to make it back to the state finals where the Cavaliers lost a year ago.

Montrose (6-3) hosts Pewamo-Westphalia (7-2) in a Division 7 opener.

Clarkston Everest Collegiate (8-1) hosts Burton Bentley (5-4) in Division 8 play. Coach Michael Pruchnicki's Mountaineers are coming off a 17-14 overtime loss in the CHSL Prep Bowl to Macomb Lutheran North after winning a division title in the 

Catholic High School League (CHSL) to get there.

 Burton Atherton (7-2) goes to Leslie (8-1) in its Division 8 opener. Coach Randy Young's Wolverines won their first Genesee Area Conference (GAC) championship in their return to 11-man football after five seasons in the 8-man game due to low numbers.

More in-depth stories on state playoff qualifiers are in our local editions of M-15 Connection, Tri-County News, West Valley Voice, County Line Press, Grand Blanc Press and The Burton Banner.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is a photo of Millington's football family watching the Selection Show Sunday at on Fanduel Sports Network

 BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

MOUNT PLEASANT (CCN) — Amaya Smith will make her college basketball debut tonight (Oct. 30, 2024) at 6:30 pm in Mount Pleasant on the campus of Central Michigan University.

The freshman from Flint Powers Catholic will be hoping to get into the action in a season-opening exhibition for the Division 1 Chippewas against Division 2 Saginaw Valley State University.

Smith was a first-team all-Saginaw Valley League selection for Powers Catholic last season.

She played her first three prep seasons at Lake Fenton before transferring to Powers.

She led the Lady Chargers to the 2024 state quarterfinals after a so-so 15-8 campaign a year earlier before Smith and her younger sister transferred there. They led last year's squad to an impressive 23-3 record until losing a 50-45 heartbreaker in the state tournament to  Negaunee High. Negaunee lost in the state semifinals to eventual Division 2 state champion Detroit Edison.

Kristin Haynie, who took over CMU's program last season, signed Smith originally as a preferred walk-on, but was so impressed by her attitude and work ethic that she awarded her a full scholarship earlier this fall.

Haynie has also been recruiting Smith's younger sister, Kendyl, who announced a few weeks ago that she plans to join Amaya there. She's only a junior right now at Powers where she, too, was all-Valley first team last winter in addition to being an all-state selection.

Amaya Smith is among 11 newcomers to the 14-player roster for Coach Haynie.

In media day interviews, Haynie said she likes what she's seen as her Chippewas prepare for their Oct. 30 exhibition game at McGuirk Arena and their season opener at home against Coastal Carolina on Monday (Nov. 4, 2024).

CMU plays its second game on Nov. 14 in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines. Tip-off for that one at Crisler Arena is 7 pm.

The Mid-America Conference opener comes after an 11-game stretch of non-league games. It will be Jan. 1 in Buffalo.

 "This team is special," said Haynie who previously served five years as an assistant for CMU after she played in the WNBA.

 "They started in the summer bonding with each other," Haynie added about her Lady Chippewas.

 "They went to Cedar Point together, for 4th of July they went to Houghton Lake. They did a lot of bonding and it was player led. That's really good to see. That's an ingredient of success, that chemistry, that camaraderie. For us to have it already is pretty special."

Haynie expects to implore a full court press style and said: "They're adaptable, they have a growth mindset, they're open to learning. The depth is really important with the pressing, and we look for that when we recruit. We watch how they play, if we like them, we talk to their coaches and ask if they're coachable, are they a team player, are they selfless. You can see that on the court. Character is huge for us. The No. 1 thing we look for is their character. Sometimes when you're on a team, you sub and there's a fall off; but I feel like there's a lot of starters on the bench who could start. Our goal is to tire a team out by the fourth quarter."

Amya Smith was praised throughout her high school career for her strong defensive style.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Amaya Smith who makes her Division 1 college basketball debut on Oct. 30 in Mount Pleasant.

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