MHSAA Regional Championship: Flint New Standard 64, Harbor Beach 56
Pirates Throw Everything at Flint New Standard But Too Much to Overcome in Regional Title Game
March 06, 2025 /// MHSAA Tournament - Region 24 Championship /// Millington, Michigan
Everything was falling into place. Seven minutes remained in the fourth quarter and Harbor Beach had just tied up the game, 44-44. They had trailed earlier in the half by 10 points. Flint New Standard’s leaders were in foul trouble and all momentum was on the Pirate sideline. But just as fast as it all fell in place, Flint New Standard responded to retake a double-digit lead and never looked back, with Flint Elite defeating the Pirates 64-56 in the regional championship on Thursday, March 06 in Millington, Michigan.
The Harbor Beach Pirates entered the regional title game for just the third time in school history, dating back to as early as 1965 and as most recent as 2010, but never had the Pirates been able to grab that elusive trophy. They started out the game focused and did everything they had to do early to change that history. There were three ties and two lead changes in the first quarter alone in a back-and-forth game that featured multiple runs for both teams. At the end of the first quarter, Harbor Beach trailed by three points, 13-10 to New Standard. As the half started to wind down, the Warriors went on a 6-0 run in 49 seconds to lead by three and then later another 5-0 run in a minute’s time to lead by five points before a critical steal just before the buzzer led to a Benson Harper basket for Harbor Beach as time expired to cut the deficit to three points. Halftime: Flint New Standard 33, Harbor Beach 30.
New Standard began the third quarter on a 7-0 run in the first two minutes to extend their lead out to 10 points before Harbor Beach would claw their way back into the game with hot shooting and turning up the defensive pressure, putting together a 6-0 run halfway through the third to make it a four-point game, 42-38, still in favor of Flint Elite. With a 1:05 remaining in the third quarter, Skiler Kruse would be fouled and the Warriors were quickly called for a technical foul, allowing the Pirates to sink four straight free throws and cut the deficit to just two points to enter the fourth quarter, 44-42.
Less than a minute into the final quarter, Harper made two more free throws to tie the game at 44, but those were the last and only points for Harper in the game as New Standard quickly changed to a zone defense, clogging up shooting opportunities inside the arc and stalling Harbor Beach’s offense. The next Pirate points wouldn’t happen until 2:22 in the fourth with Skiler Kruse being fouled on a made basket. Unfortunately for the orange and black, in those four minutes, New Standard would go on a 12-0 run to blow open the game, including back-to-back three-pointers and an open basket inside on three straight possessions. The Warriors would do the remainder of their damage from the free-throw line with Harbor Beach fouling in the last minute to stop the clock. The lead would swell to 14 points with 31 seconds left, before Harbor Beach put together three shots for their final seven points.
The 64-56 victory for Flint New Standard marked their first regional championship in school history and now advances to play the Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac, who defeated Royal Oak Shrine by 10 points and enter the quarterfinals with a 19-1 record. Pontiac Arts & Technology has only lost to Hamtramck this season and have wins over teams like Ecorse and River Rouge. The quarterfinal game takes place on Tuesday, March 11 in Port Huron, MI.
Harbor Beach finishes their season tied for the best record in school history at 23-2, matching 2010’s record - the last team to make it to the regional title game, as well. The Pirates claimed the 2025 Big Thumb Conference’s Black Division championship, were the MHSAA District 95 Champions and return much of their roster next year.
Editor’s Note: This concludes our 2024-2025 sports coverage. Thank you to everyone who has allowed us to be a part of your evenings since the late days of summer, including listeners from 39 states and 34 countries. It’s been our privilege to present these games and help set a stage worthy of our local student athletes. We will return in the fall with the start of the 2025 football season!
-Clark