Articles
One-minute comeback and 2 point conversion gives Staley Falcons (MO) Missouri Class 5 State Championship
In a storybook final 57 seconds at the University of Missouri, the Staley Falcon (MO) football team was down by seven points to Pattonville HS, marched the ball 72 yards down the field, scored a touchdown, and capped a state championship with a two-point conversion with only nine seconds left on the clock.
Check out the unbelievable last 72 seconds of play, on staleyactivities.com, captured by St. Louis sports reporter John Hough.
High expectations for girls basketball at Port Huron Northern (MI)
“It’s always exciting to get going again,” says Coach Mark Dickinson. “We have tried to create a group of 10 players that can play. We feel we have a solid, core group of 10 so when we substitute, our pace doesn’t drop off.”
“We’re developing a program instead of a team. Our coaches have done a great job. We like to roll out two lines like hockey and keep coming with two or three new people every few minutes. For us it’s always been defense first and we want to wear teams down.”
Read more about PHN’s preparations for the season here.
The Huskies kick off their 2017-18 campaign tomorrow vs. Marysville.
Defending the Crown: Clairemont (CA) Girls Water Polo
Entering into the 2017-18 season as the defending CIF Division 1 champions for the first time in school history, the Clairemont Chieftans have a target on their back that every team in San Diego is aiming for.
Read more about Clairemont’s returning stars, experienced players, on-the-rise athletes, and preparation for the season here.
VNN at the MHSAA Football State Championship
This past weekend, our team at VNN headed to Detroit for the MHSAA Football State Championship weekend. Held at Ford Field, matchups pitted traditional Michigan powerhouses like Muskegon and Farmington Hills Harrison, local rivals West Bloomfield and Clarkston, set the stage for Grand Rapids Catholic Central‘s back-to-back run, and was home to an almost unheard of state title five-peat for Grand Rapids’ West Catholic. Here’s a few of our favorite snaps.
Want highlights from all the action? Our friends at State Champs Network have you covered.
LaVille (IN) Girls Basketball upsets #5 Oregon-Davis
Behind Shelfie Zeiger’s career-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, the LaVille Lancers (IN) upset Class 1A #5-ranked Oregon-Davis in double-overtime.
Trailing 50-48 in the fourth period, Zeiger took a pass, drove from mid-court to the basket to tie game in the final second, sending the game to overtime.
With the victory, LaVille (3-1) snaps a 11-game losing streak to Oregon-Davis and is the school’s first win against Bobcats since 1998.
Beavercreek (OH) Boys Soccer wins Ohio State Championship with Golden Goal in Overtime
In a state final matchup between VNN schools, Beavercreek and Medina (OH) battled to a 0-0 draw, taking the teams to overtime. With 13:51 to go, Ryan Bernt captured the title for the Beavers with an assist from Dominic Calabrese.
Check out photos and video from the game here.
Week 13: Michigan's Top 5 Plays – Presented by SISU Mouthguards
Through the Fall Season, we’re partnering with our friends at SISU Mouthguards to present Michigan’s High School Top 5 Plays of the Week.
SISU Mouthguards – More protection. Less mouthguard. Learn more: sisuguard.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rMsWMkHXHE&feature=youtu.be
Presented by:
Port Huron Northern (MI) Senior Hallie Roman heads to State Diving Championship for the third year in a row.
Competing against 42 of the top divers from 27 schools, Port Huron Northern senior diver Hallie Roman placed as the Division 1 Regional Runner-Up, which books her spot in the MHSAA Division 1 State Finals for the third year in a row.
3 TD miracle comeback at Maple Grove (MN)
The Maple Grove Crimson (MN) trailed 27-10 with 4 minutes, 30 seconds left in the Minnesota state football quarterfinals. After the ensuing kickoff, Maple Grove drove 70 yards and scored on a 30-yard pass completion from quarterback Curtis Haugen to Joe Raymon with 59 seconds left. And the rest? well, just watch the video.
Maple Grove Miracle Comeback in last minute – Courtesy of CCX Sports
Vote for the Southeast's Toughest Place to Play
Ever been rattled at an away game because you couldn’t hear the play over the crowd noise? What about changing your approach to a meet because the course is absolutely treacherous? What if you call that place home?
Meet the finalists for the Southeast’s Toughest Place to Play – and vote for who you think should earn the banner below:
Timber Creek Football Stadium – Orlando, FL – Home of the Wolves – timbercreekathletics.com
Enter Timber Creek and you’ll have to deal with an immaculate grass field that looks like turf, the Purple People student section, Top 5-ranked band, and a varsity football team home record of 51-24 since 2004. There’s no down years for the Wolves.
https://youtu.be/YRHjWRewjDs
Brewtech High School Gym – Montgomery, AL – Home of the Rams – brewtechathletics.com
Home to last year’s Gatorade Alabama Basketball player of the year, Bianca Jackson (who signed with college powerhouse South Carolina), perennial girls basketball state title competitors, and the 2015 Alabama Area 5A Girls Volleyball Champions, the close-quarters at Brewtech makes the Montgomery, AL student section even more thunderous.
Raider Valley Stadium – Marietta, GA – Home of the Walton Raiders – waltonathletics.com
Raider Valley Stadium, home of the Walton Raiders houses one of the largest and most lively student sections in Georgia. For opposing visitors, the word ‘loud’ is an understatement for the noise from the Raider faithful.
The Cougar Dome – North Potomac, MD – Home of the Quince Orchard Cougars – qocougars.com
The Red Army, one of the most imposing home crowds in Maryland, was hard to deal before the 2015 renovations to the stadium. But now, by closing in gaps in-between the seats to create more accessible areas, the fans figured out that they can now pack in tighter, make even more noise, and echo their stomps off the bleachers. It doesn’t help visitors that the Cougars football team have made the Maryland state playoffs every year since 2006, and making the regional finals every year since 2013.
Raging Bull Stadium – Harrisburg, NC – Home of the Hickory Ridge Bulls – hrhsbulls.com
The entry for Raging Bull Stadium told us that the reason playing Hickory Ridge at home was so tough is because the entire town of Harrisburg is behind the Bulls, every season, in and out. With a population of 15,000 strong packing in – it’s tough to get out of there with a win.
Klein Memorial Stadium – Spring, TX – Home of the Klein Collins Tigers – kleincollinstigers.com
Just when you think everything’s going right at Klein Memorial for your visiting team, or maybe you’re getting ready to turn everything around in the 4th quarter that went wrong, you hear it. The student section’s end of the 3rd quarter chanting, that erupts in a barrage of streamers and chalk, covering the bleachers, getting the crowd hyped up, back in the game, and reversing any momentum you thought you had or needed. So much for that comeback.
Cosby Gym – Midlothian, VA – Home of the Cosby Titans – cosbytitansathletics.com
Completing a comeback to win Virgina’s Boys Volleyball championship a few days ago, the Cosby Titans are tough enough to beat without the fans at their home gym, who drown out visiting teams.
So, where’s the Toughest Place to Play in the Southeast?
Jasper (AL) Volleyball plays one for the ages on the state's biggest stage
In front of a raucous crowd at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, the Jasper Vikings were narrowly defeated in the 6A State Championship Game by Pelham.
The Vikings, down 2-0 in the 3rd set of the best of five match, fought back, electrifying the crowd and taking the match to a winner-take-all fifth set, with both teams battling to championship point. At the end, Pelham took the match, but Jasper’s 56-5 record, Area 11 Championship, and the school’s first North Super Regional Championship is surely a sign of things to come for the Vikings. Read the full run-down on jaspervikingssports.com here.
This Week in the MHSAA
Volleyball:
1. A weather delay pushed this Regional Final to Friday, and No. 7 Rudyard rose to a challenge coming back from dropping the first set to down Pellston in four in Class D – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
2. Also pushed to Friday, honorable mention Munising came back after losing the first two sets to defeat Carney-Nadeau in five in Class D – Escanaba Daily Press
3. Novi’s Erin O’Leary was named this season’s Miss Volleyball Award winner on the eve of her team’s Class A Quarterfinal against honorable mention Temperance Bedford; Novi is the reigning champ and ranked No. 2 – Observer & Eccentric
4. Class C top-ranked Bronson is plenty familiar with tonight’s Quarterfinal opponent, No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central – Sturgis Journal
5. Class B No. 4 Niles is hoping to add to its first District and Regional titles with a first Quarterfinal win, over No. 3 Lake Odessa Lakewood – Niles Daily Star
6. Class A No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian downed top-ranked Rockford in the Regional, a big step as the Eagles pursue their first MHSAA championship in the sport with No. 4 DeWitt up next – FOX17
7. Honorable mention Cadillac is set to continue an impressive tournament run tonight that started with an upset of No. 5 Kingsley in the District – Cadillac News
8. Facing Cadillac tonight is honorable mention Fruitport, which has some history with the Vikings from its Class B championship runs – Grand Haven Tribune
9. Class C No. 8 Calumet has a new outlook as it aims to return to Kellogg Arena, and will take on Houghton Lake tonight to earn that opportunity – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
10. No. 8 Rogers City is seeking to reach the Class D Semifinals for the second year in a row, and second time ever, with Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart up next – Alpena News
11. Meanwhile, No. 10 Sacred Heart will be playing in its fifth straight Quarterfinal and looking to break through to the weekend for the first time in this run – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
12. After a long-distance pep talk and a first Regional title, Class A honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay will take on No. 6 Farmington Hills Mercy seeking to make the final weekend of the season for the first time as well – Macomb Daily
13. Honorable mention Midland is hoping to follow a strong senior class to the Class A Semifinals for the first time in two decades – NBC25
14. Reigning champion and top-ranked Bronson will return to the Class C Semifinals after downing No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in four sets in the Quarterfinal – Coldwater Daily Reporter
15. Class B No. 3 Lake Odessa Lakewood went to five sets with No. 4 Niles before emerging with a 15-13 win in the decider and another trip to the Semifinals – Ionia Sentinel-Standard
16. Class A No. 4 DeWitt swept No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian to earn a trip to the Semifinals and matchup with reigning champion Novi – MLive-Lansing
17. Class C No. 10 Wixom St. Catherine earned its first Semifinal berth with a sweep of No. 6 Unionville-Sebewaing – Oakland Press
18. Class D No. 8 Rogers City knocked off yet another ranked opponent, this time No. 10 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart to earn a Quarterfinal win in five sets – Alpena News
19. Honorable mention Munising earned its first Semifinal trip with a four-set win over No. 7 Rudyard in Class D – Marquette Mining Journal
20. Fruitport won the first two sets close and held on to get past Cadillac in four in a matchup of Class B honorable mentions – Grand Haven Tribune
21. After splitting the first two sets, No. 6 Farmington Hills Mercy won the next two to down honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay in four in Class A – Oakland Press
22. Class A No. 2 and reigning champion Novi earned a fourth straight trip to the Semifinals with a sweep of honorable mention Temperance Bedford – Observer & Eccentric
23. No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian swept honorable mention Midland to make it back to the Class A Semifinals for the first time since 2013 – Oakland Press
24. Class D No. 8 Rogers City is looking to add another win over a ranked opponent today, this time taking on reigning champion Plymouth Christian Academy in a Semifinal – Alpena News
25. In a separate TV report, Rogers City said the added pressure makes the team even better – MISportsNow
26. A special senior class will take two-time defending Class A champion Novi into the Semifinals for the fourth straight season – Detroit News
Girls Golf:
Traverse City West’s Anika Dy was named Miss Golf for the second time by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Cross Country:
Coldwater’s Shuaib Aljabaly and Lansing Catholic’s Olivia Theis were named Mr. Cross Country and Miss Cross County, respectively, by the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association – Coldwater Daily Reporter
Hockey:
1. The first games of the season can be played today, and Petoskey is among teams anticipating a return to the ice – Petoskey News-Review
2. As part of its hockey preview, the Livingston Daily Press & Argus highlighted Mr. Hockey candidates Josh Albring of Hartland and Adam Conquest of Brighton – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. Allen Park Cabrini enjoyed a productive opener, downing Flat Rock/Airport 6-2 – Southgate News Herald
Girls Swimming & Diving:
1. Honorable mention Spring Lake will send 10 athletes to the Lower Peninsula Division 3 Finals, including three divers – Grand Haven Tribune
2. Hamilton standout Paige Kuhn is banking on a strong finish in the final meet of her high school career – Holland Sentinel
3. Gaylord sophomore Grace Wambier is a school record holder and hopes to add to her accomplishments at the Division 3 Finals – Gaylord Herald Times
4. No. 7 Brighton is aiming to claim the Division 1 team championship with arguably its strongest assemblage of experienced contenders under coach Jason Black – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Boys Soccer:
Longtime coach Thaier Mukhtar has resigned as Fraser’s boys coach with nearly 600 wins there and at Warren DeLaSalle – MLive-Detroit
Boys Basketball:
We’ve posted a few girls basketball previews, and this look at Holland West Ottawa is the first boys hoops story we’ve seen this fall; practice began Monday – FOX17