Archive - Mar 8, 2012

By MICKEY ALVARADO

Ronnie Bechtol placed fourth at 135-pounds to lead Tecumseh High Schools varsity wrestlers at the Palace of Auburn Hills in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Division 2 individual state finals, March 2-3.

Tecumseh sent eight representatives to the Palace and three placed in the top eight to earn all-state honors.

“The level of competition was tougher than ever as Division 2 has evolved into the powerhouse division in Michigan wrestling,” said Tecumseh coach Tony Greathouse. “Other than Ronnie and Chase [Lewis], all of our guys were wrestling for the first time in the Palace, and I think the atmosphere and nerves may have got to them a little, however, all of our guys went out and battled to the very end, which is the most important thing.”

Bechtol won his opening 135-pound match by pin but lost by way of fall in the quarterfinals against Nick Baker of Dewitt. The Tecumseh senior then won three straight matches before losing 3-2 against Baker in the third place bout. Bechtol finished his final season at Tecumseh with a record of 46-12.

Tecumseh senior Chase Lewis placed fifth at 112-pounds to become a four-time All-state placer. He won his first two matches before losing by pin in the semifinal to Zac Hall, the eventual champion, of St. Johns. Lewis followed with a loss in the consolation semifinals but finished his day with a 4-3 win by decision to place fifth overall. Lewis finished his senior season with a record of 37-9.

“It was great to see Ronnie and Chase finish strong,” said Greathouse. “They are both extremely talented individuals that will be tough to replace next year.”

Britton Deerfield’s varsity girls basketball team defeated Summerfield 68-65 in overtime to pick up the 2012 Class C District title at Whiteford on Friday, March 2.

“This was an awesome game,” said BD coach Craig Tanis. “Never was one team up by more than five. It was back and forth the whole game and the overtime. It was a shame anyone had to lose.”

The Patriots went into the third quarter down 25-23 but went into the fourth quarter with a one point, 43-42 lead. The teams finished the final quarter tied 57-57.

BD outscored Summerfield 11-8 in overtime to seal the district crown.
“I am extremely proud of my girls and their resiliency,” said Tanis. “I am also extremely proud of our fans, especially our student fans. They were rocking the gym so loud that the players couldn’t hear adjustments from their coaches on the court. It was the best atmosphere I have ever been associated with for a high school basketball game.”

Cambria Handy and Kayli Bangerter led BD to the win with 22 points each. Handy also added 12 rebounds and three steals while Bangerter chipped in three assists and six rebounds.

BD advanced to the final with a 55-48 victory over Monroe Saint Mary’s Catholic Central on Wednesday, Feb. 29.
Handy scored 23 points in the game to lead the Patriots and also added 11 rebounds and three steals.

The Patriots were scheuled to face Riverview Gabriel Richard in the Regional tournament at Summerfield on Tuesday, March 6. Results from the contest will be in next week’s Herald.

By MICKEY ALVARADO

Dundee’s varsity boys basketball season came to an abrupt halt with Tecumseh’s Indians controlling the Vikings for a 43-37 victory in the opening round of Class B District 37 action on Monday, March 5, at Tecumseh High School.

“We’re playing harder, tougher,” said Tecumseh coach Marc Comstock “We still have some tough times with ball handling and pressure, but we’re getting better. Our defense has been good all year.”

A stiff Tecumseh defense went right to work in the first eight minutes of play. The Vikings (18-3 overall) were limited to only two points from the free throw line in the opening quarter while Tecumseh’s Kyle Bryan and Casey Hunt hit the net for six points.

Dundee tied the game 6-all in the second quarter before Tecumseh’s Ben Kasper tagged the net with a three pointer to again take a lead. Dundee’s William Harnica banged the board for a two-point put-back that had the Vikings up 10-9 but only moments later Tecumseh’s Jacob Britt laid a ball in the hoop that put the Indians up for good. Kasper hit nothing but net on a three point shot and rimmed in another with 1:20 left in the period for a 17-10 Tecumseh lead. His third consecutive three-point shot gave the Indians a 10-point, 20-10 advantage by the end of the first half.

“Our inside guys did a good job of finishing the second half,” said Comstock. “Ben [Kasper] can really stretch the defense when he makes them and it’s easier to go inside when someone has to guard him.”

The Indians controlled the court in the third quarter and went into the final quarter with a 30-18 lead with starting point guard Max Patterson dishing out the ball.

“I thought Max [Patterson] did a great job of handling the ball and not turning it over,” said Comstock.

The Vikings pecked away at the Indians’ lead from the free throw line in the final quarter but just didn’t have enough time to overtake the Indians.

Our beloved mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on February 27.

Jeanette Joyce Peters was born on October 19, 1926 to Ernest and Anna Peters in Adrian. She married C.R. “Bill” LaFerriere on May 4, 1926. They proudly raised four active boys in Tipton. Jean became a widow in 1979 when Bill was suddenly taken by a heart attack. Seven years later she moved to Tacoma, Washington where she has lived since. Jean’s greatest joys were raising her four boys and watching her grandkids grow.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother “Pete.” She is survived by four sons and their families. Tom (Barb) of Port Orchard, Wash; granddaughters Megan and Molly (Jeff Morgan). Marc of Miami, Fla; granddaughters Danielle and Mallory. Bob (Donna) of Tacoma, Wash; grandchildren Savannah and Connor. Glen (Janine) of Toledo, Oh; grandchildren Christopher, Lauren, and Rachel.
Her family will gather in July to lay Jean to rest next to her husband in Tipton Cemetery.

A graveside service is planned.

Elwin L. Murphy, age 99 of Naples Fla., passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012.

He was born in Tecumseh Mich., May 22, 1912 to Tom and Hettie (O’Hara) Murphy.

He is survived by his wife of 76 years, Genevieve, son, Ronald and his wife Linda of Naples, Fla., neices and nephews and many friends.

He was a veteran of WWII and a member of American Legion 315.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Wenton.

His wishes were cremation and there was no service.

Britton Deerfield’s varsity boys basketball team closed its season with a 62-51 loss in Class C District action against Whiteford on Monday, March 5, at Ottawa Lake.

The first half was a tight battle with the Patriots coming from behind to finish the second quarter down by just two points at 28-26.

BD (9-11) tightened the score even more in the third quarter, outscoring the Bobcats 13-12 to go into the final quarter needing just one point to knot the game.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, Whiteford dominated the court in the final quarter and outscored BD 22-13 to seal the win.

Jordan Osbun scored 16 points and added seven rebounds to lead the Patriots while Devin Gruber added 14 points and seven boards. Landon Handy finished with 13 points and five rebounds.

BD defeated Whitmore Lake 55-50 in its final regular season game on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

The Patriots held a one-point lead after the opening quarter but finished the half tied 25-25. Whitmore Lake took a 39-35 lead into the final quarter but was outscored 20-11 to finish the game.

Handy led BD’s offense with 15 points. He also added six rebounds while Josh Reau hit the net for 12 points and three boards. Gruber tagged a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds: Osbun, nine points and six rebounds; and Nate Hoffman, Eric Burnor and Tyler Gibson each scored two points.