EAST LANSING — Grass Lake will play in Friday’s Division 3 MHSAA Girls basketball finals. This is after Hemlock withdrew Wednesday’s semifinal game at Breslin Centre in East Lansing. It resulted in a forfeit.
Kent City (21-0) will play Grass Lake (19-1), who beat Calumet (59-53) in a semifinal in the D3 championship match at Breslin, Friday, 3 p.m.
Geoff Kimmerly, spokesperson for the Michigan High School Athletic Association, made a short statement about the canceled Hemlock game (14-8), and Grass Lake.
Kimmerly stated that “Hemlock this morning UMBC Women’s Basketball had opted out of the remaining tournament.” “Grass Lake will move on to Friday’s Final. We don’t confirm the reasons for opting out. You will need to contact the school for further information.
Hemlock was a team of 14-8 players and made its first appearance in the state semifinals since 2011.
The Tri-Valley Conference’s Huskies won Monday night’s quarterfinal win over Madison Heights Bishop Foley 53-46.
Hemlock principal Keith Green, an athletic director, stated that the positive test was done at yesterday’s practice session. He also conducted a second positive test. We instructed the girl to take a MHSAA Girls Basketball test. The PCR test is actually performed by a medical professional and not us. This right there was an opinion at 6:30 am this morning. It was a positive too, so it negated her and other players in games. The girls were placed in a 14-day quarantine.
Due to a rise in COVID-19 variants in Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services tightened guidelines for MHSAA athletes in spring and winter sports.
Green stated that the Hemlock girls volleyball team had to withdraw from district competition after a positive test.
Green stated that athletes have had no issues with Green other than close contact with others. It was individuals and not a team.
Green stated that his MHSAA Girls Basketball Team was “devastated” by losing
He said, “We are all upset.” “Our entire community supported the team. A small community has the advantage of allowing one person to do well and everyone else to do well. This is a great thing.
After advancing with a win Monday against Brooklyn Columbia Central, Grass Lake was a strong favorite to reach the semifinal.
The Warriors defeated Ypsilanti Arbor Prep and split during regular season with Detroit power Edison (65-50 loss and Renaissance (69-62) wins.
