Two teams seeking their first State Title met in the Division Three State Championship game. Detroit Old Redford was coming off a 43-41 buzzer-beater win over Riverview Gabriel Richard, and it took a 51-48 overtime victory for Niles Brandywine to beat McBain. Niles Brandywine would edge out Detroit Old Redford 56-48 to win the team’s first State Title.
Detroit Old Redford
Not Your Old, Old Redford
When we saw Old Redford earlier this season, we weren’t expecting to see them make it to the final game of the year at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University. Before the calendar flipped to 2024, they started the season 3-4, and all of their losses were by double digits. However, three of the four teams they lost to all made it to finals weekend. Once it turned to 2024, the Ravens of Old Redford went 12-3 in the regular season, and they found a new life. In the finals, they went to the half up by a point, but that would be the last time they would lead in the game. Even though they couldn’t reach the peak, it was an excellent season for the Ravens.
Niles Brandywine
Fine Wine
The Niles Brandywine Bobcats aged like fine wine in this game. It was the Palmer Brothers that helped get the Bobcats their first title in school history. However, It was Jaremiah Palmer whose play correlated with the way his team progressed. In the third quarter, Niles scored 20 points out of the half, and it was Jaremiah Palmer who scored seven and had a steal in the quarter. The rest of the team accounted for 13 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a block, and that is all they needed to win the state title.