Author: Andy Hawley | Page 12

Spring Arbor Women’s Soccer to host Asbury in National Championship Opening Round

November 17, 2017

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University women's soccer team claimed the No. 2 overall seed and is set to host Asbury University on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. in the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round. The Cougars are making their ninth appearance all-time, and eighth in a row, in the opening round after capturing their eighth straight Crossroads League Tournament championship. Asbury will be making its third national tournament appearance, qualifying by winning the River States Conference Tournament title. The 15 winners of the National Championship Opening Round matches – as well as tournament host University of Mobile (Ala.) – will advance to the national championship final site at the Orange Beach Sportsplex in Orange Beach, Alabama. The 16-team, single-elimination tournament will take place on Nov. 27 - Dec. 2, with the championship match set for Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. ET.

Lumen ready for trip to Watervliet

November 9, 2017

By Mike Moore Photo by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports Staff Writer The obvious first concern is the travel, a high school team stuck on a bus for hours while simultaneously trying to prepare for what will be the biggest game of the season. Good luck, right? Lumen Christi football coach Herb Brogan downplayed that concern Wednesday night while speaking of his team’s pending trip to Watervliet in a Division 6 regional final Saturday afternoon. “It has to be a business trip,” Brogan said simply. “I think these guys are used to it. We started the year in Grand Rapids and in Hastings. We’ve gone to Traverse City before. Really, we just have to stay focused and do what we do.” The trip is roughly 100 miles, and Brogan estimates his guys will spend about two hours on the bus. His main focus, however, centers on slowing the Panthers’ offense. And good luck with that. Watervliet (11-0) has scored 572 points this year, a whopping 52 points per contest. The Panthers lowest output of the season was…

Lumen Christi Michigan Center district final

Lumen’s title defense must survive home threat from Michigan Center

November 3, 2017

By Mike Moore Photo by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports Staff Writer Jackson — As the weeks go longer, the teams get tougher. That’s a simple truth the Lumen Christi football team is all-to-familiar with over the past 12 months or so, and one that is about to be front and center again Friday night. After a bye week to close out the regular season, coach Herb Brogan vowed his guys wouldn’t take anyone lightly entering the playoffs. His guys didn’t, and rolled past Quincy 48-15 in a Division 6 opener. Now, the reward is a one-loss Michigan Center team looking to win its first district title in program history. “They are going to be ready to play, we know that,” Brogan said of the Cardinals, who are 9-1 and haven’t lost since the first week of September. “(Coach) Troy (Allen) does a great job. They’ve won a lot of football games and are going to be fired up to come in here and play.” Brogan said his guys have to do what’s gotten them to this point, and beyond, in the…

After first playoff win, Columbia football seeking revenge against Blissfield

November 2, 2017

By Mike Moore Staff Writer Brooklyn — Last weekend was about history, a step taken that had never been taken before. This weekend is about more of the same — and a little revenge. The Columbia Central football team had made the state playoffs five times before last Friday’s Division 6 pre-district contest against Ecorse. And all five times the Golden Eagles were at home watching in the district final round. Not this time. “It was a good game, and a good win,” coach Josh Kubiak said of a 24-0 victory, the first postseason win in program history. “Our defense had been struggling, but we got an Ecorse team with some great athletes that couldn’t get organized. We played a great game.” The reward is a chance at the first district title in program history Friday night at home against Blissfield, a conference foe and very familiar opponent. “I think all the pressure is on them,” Kubiak said of Blissfield, which comes in at 6-4 and beat Columbia 25-14 in Week 5. “We don’t mind playing a team again. They know us. We know them. There’s no surprises. There’s no scrambling to get…

Three Cougars earn Crossroads League Player of the Week honors

October 31, 2017

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Three Spring Arbor University student-athletes earned Crossroads League Player of the Week recognition for their performances last week, the league office announced Monday. Paul Marandet – Men’s Basketball The Crossroads League has named Spring Arbor University sophomore Paul Marandet the Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Marandet averaged 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game last week to lead Spring Arbor to three wins, including one over No. 1 Cornerstone University. In the game against Cornerstone, Marandet scored a team-high 20 points with six assists and six boards while also coming up with three steals. He also had his first career double-double against Aquinas College a day earlier with 17 points and a career-high 10 assists. The sophomore from Warsaw, Indiana currently leads the NAIA in assists with 23. Spring Arbor (3-0) will host the University of Michigan-Dearborn (2-1) on Wednesday, Nov. 1 starting at 7:30 p.m. Janum Sailor – Men’s Soccer Spring Arbor University junior Janum Sailor has been named the Crossroads League Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after recording one goal and two assists in wins over Bethel College and Marian University last…

MHSAA Division 6 District Finals

October 30, 2017

Region 1, District 1 Maple City Glen Lake at Traverse City St. Francis Saturday 1pm Region 1, District 2 Houghton Lake at Millington Friday 7pm Region 2, District 1 Kent City at Montague Friday 7pm Region 2, District 2 Laingsburg at Ithaca Friday 7pm Region 3, District 1 Delton Kellogg at Watervliet Friday 7pm Region 3, District 2 Michigan Center at Lumen Christi Friday 7pm - JTV Region 4, District 1 Blissfield at Columbia Central Friday 7pm - JTV Region 4, District 2 Detroit Central at Warren Michigan Collegiate Friday 7pm

Michigan Center Football Playoffs Jake Nichols

Michigan Center hosts Hillsdale in playoff opener

October 25, 2017

Michigan Center hosts Hillsdale on Friday in playoff opener What: Division 6 pre-district Where: Michigan Center High School When: 7:00p.m Friday Michigan Center Cardinals 8-1, 6-1 in the Cascades Schedule W Climax-Scotts 35-6 W Hanover-Horton 15-0 L Napoleon 17-14 W East Jackson 62-0 W Addison 36-24 W Manchester 21-14 W Vandercook Lake 51-0 W Grass Lake 41-14 W Reading 45-43 Offensive PPG: 35.5 Defensive PPG Allowed: 13.1 W/L in games decided by 7 points or less: 2-1 Hillsdale Hornets 5-4, 4-3 in LCAA Schedule W Jonesville 25-14 L Ionia 35-14 L Dundee 20-7 W Erie Mason 41-0 L Onsted 31-7 L Hudson 51-8 W Blissfield 28-20 W Ida 27-8 W Columbia Central 17-10 Offensive PPG: 19.3 Defensive PPG Allowed: 21 W/L in games decided by 7 points or less: 1-0

Lumen title defense begins with challenge of not looking past Quincy

October 25, 2017

By Mike Moore Photo Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports Staff Writer Jackson — Should he have to, Herb Brogan can reference the 2013 playoff opener, or go back to 2012 or 2010 or even as far back as 2006. The years are all different, but the outcome the same. In each of those seasons, Brogan and his Lumen Christi football team entered the postseason as favorites to go on a run. In each of those postseasons, the Titans were on the outside looking in after one week. “We know it can happen, because it’s happened to us before,” Brogan said of pre-district upsets. “In games like this, the focus has to be on what we do well and how we execute. If we do that, we should have a good chance to move on.” Lumen Christi rolled to another state title last year, and begins its title defense at home against Quincy Friday night in a Division 6 opener. The Titans went 7-1 in their eight-game schedule, and will host a Quincy team that went 5-4 and is in the playoffs for…

Western travels to Haslett for D3 pre-district

October 24, 2017

The Panthers bid for its first playoff win in program history begins with a trip to face 7-2 Haslett. The Vikings have only missed the playoffs five times since 1998, but have only one playoff win since a 2005 runner-up finish in Division 3. Western’s only other trip to the postseason came in 2015, a pre-district loss to I8 rival Coldwater. Haslett is 2-0 all-time vs. Western (2001, 2002) What: Division 3 pre-district Where: Haslett High School When: 7:00p.m Friday Haslett Vikings 7-2, 4-1 in the CAAC Red Schedule W Fowlerville 43-20 L Ortonville Brandon 20-14 W St. Johns 28-24 W Mason 24-3 W Charlotte 38-13 W Lansing Waverly 56-8 L Dewitt 28-0 W Williamston 20-14 W Petoskey 24-21 Offensive PPG: 27.4 Defensive PPG Allowed: 16.7 W/L in games decided by 7 points or less: 3-1 Western Panthers 6-3, 4-3 in the Interstate 8 Schedule W Lansing Eastern 62-12 W Battle Creek Pennfield 32-20 L Marshall 41-36 W Coldwater 28-21 W Hastings 26-14 L Battle Creek Harper Creek 33-28 L Lumen Christi 35-6 W Northwest 35-6 W Dexter 50-20 Offensive PPG: 34.5 Defensive PPG Allowed: 22.2 W/L in games decided by…

Football playoff field set, local teams ready for action

October 22, 2017

By Mike Moore Photo by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports Staff Writer When the football season begins, teams from across the state have hopes and dreams about a long run to Ford Field and a chance at a state title. When the regular season ends, well, reality has a strong way of showing up. But, for 256 teams, the hopes for one of those eight state titles, and 16 spots in Detroit, remains alive and well. Here’s a quick look at the teams in JTV’s coverage area and their first-round playoff pairings. Exact times and dates for games will be made available Monday or Tuesday, at the latest. Let the fun begin Lumen Christi rolled to another state title last year, and begins its title defense at home against Quincy this weekend in a Division 6 opener. The Titans went 7-1 in their eight-game schedule, and will host a Quincy team that went 5-4 and is in the playoffs for just the second time (2014) since 2005. Quincy’s last playoff appearance ended abruptly in a 53-16 loss to, well, Lumen. The Lumen-Quincy winner will take…

Andy Hawley