Birmingham Brother Rice and coach Al Fracassa go for their eighth state championship today at 1 p.m. at Ford Field. Rice (11-2) takes on Muskegon (12-1) in the Division 2 championship game. It’s one of four title games today, and four more follow Saturday, including the Division 1 championship game between Detroit Catholic Central and … Continue Reading →
High School Sports
Insights, notes and updates from Detroit News high school sports writers
Change in playoff format overdue
Enough with many of our many going to Ohio to play football games because of scheduling difficulties. Expand the playoffs to 512 teams, eliminate the six-victory shadow that is casted over every football coach and allow more teams and communities into the playoffs. Executing the change would be rather simple. The ninth week would now … Continue Reading →
A Brush with Fame
There are so many stories to tell after talking to coaches during their preseason practices and here’s a good one. Jim Carlisle is the new head coach at Center Line after coaching at a number of places including Birmingham Seaholm and Romulus Summit Academy, to name a few. Carlisle was a good player back in … Continue Reading →
Treading water
Brother Rice coach Al Fracassa said he couldn’t remember Thursday’s first day of practice with pads where it rained so much. George Porritt of Orchard Lake said they used two footballs that day and by the end of practice each weighed 10 pounds, The rain didn’t let up in Clarkston on Friday morning either (no rain in … Continue Reading →
Don't move, reach base
A rule change in girls softball will make it easier for a batter to reach base safely. The change, made by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball Rules Committee, states that a batter will no longer have to make a move to avoid being hit by a pitch to reach first … Continue Reading →
Scholarship opportunities for high school golfers
Treetops Resort in Gaylord will host a Michigan Combine Aug. 11 at Treetops North. This combine offers high school players a chance to show off their skills to college coaches, many of whom are expected to be in attendance. The cost of the combine is $100. What you receive is testing, exposure, dinner and most important, … Continue Reading →
Running back on the move
De’shun Brown, a running back on varsity at Birmingham Brother Rice the past two seasons, has transferred but he won’t be going to Southfield-Lathrup as many have specualted. Brown, who will be a senior this school year, has transferred to St. Clair Shores South Lake according to South Lake’s new coach Chan Brock. Brock said … Continue Reading →
Just for Openers
By now you’ve heard about the terrific lineup for the Prep Kickoff Classic scheduled for the first weekend of the football season at Wayne State University. In addition there are other top openers slated including Midland at Canton abd Lowell at Rockford on Aug. 23. For the eighth time in the last nine season Rochester … Continue Reading →
James Young likes being a Colt
Speculation throughout this past basketball season had Troy forward and the state’s top senior-to-be James Young going to a prep school out east or transferring to some other school for his senior year. Well, it looks like Young is staying put. Troy coach Gary Fralick said Young participated in 16 of Troy’s 20 team camp games … Continue Reading →
New Basketball Overdue
Basketball coaches in the Detroit area complained about the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s decision to use the Rawlings basketball for the state tournament. Coaches said the ball was too slippery and their players had difficulty adjusting. Well, their complaints were heard and a “new” Rawlings ball will be used for state tournament play. In … Continue Reading →