The Michigan High School Athletic Association has announced the five finalists for their fourth annual “Battle of the Fans”. The competition recognizes the top student cheering section from among member schools and culminates in a video presentation including all five finalists during this season’s Girls and Boys Basketball Finals at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.
This year’s finalists are Buchanan, Dowagiac, Beaverton, St. Johns and Yale. Buchanan won Battle of the Fans in 2013. The MHSAA reports that all three past champions plus 11 first-time applicants were among those that submitted to be part of the contest. In total, there were 21 applicants for BOTF IV which is the second most in the four-year history of the event.
Battle of the Fans IV will reward the cheering section that best creates the positive and festive atmosphere made possible when students show enthusiasm, togetherness and sportsmanship while rooting for their team. The finalists will be visited by MHSAA staff and Student Advisory Council members for home boys’ basketball games during the second half of this regular season. Coverage and video from those visits and the announcement of the winner will be published on the MHSAA Second Half website (http://secondhalf.mhsaa.com).
The finalists were chosen by the Student Advisory Council, and the winner will be selected by another Advisory Council vote based in part on activity on the MHSAA’s social media sites. All social media postings regarding Battle of the Fans IV should include the hashtag #BOTF. The MHSAA will post throughout the finalists tour on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites and Snapchat feed.
Finalists will be visited for the following home basketball games:
Jan. 16: Gladwin at Beaverton
Jan. 23: Almont at Yale
Jan. 30: Brandywine at Buchanan
Feb. 6: Haslett at St. Johns
Feb. 13: Edwardsburg at Dowagiac
