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A new Downriver community group, Guys Like Us, is preparing for its next big event: a March Madness gathering at the Underground Event Venue in Flat Rock on Thursday, March 20, from 7 to 9 p.m.

This free, guys-only event promises a night of camaraderie, great food and drinks, and, of course, some healthy competition with a bracket challenge offering prizes. With space limited, organizers encourage attendees to RSVP in advance.

Founded in October 2023 by Greg Randall and Kyle Adkins, Guys Like Us has rapidly grown into a vibrant network of men from all walks of life who come together to connect, unwind, and support local businesses. The group started as a way to offer an alternative to the usual social outings like golf or bowling leagues and has since become a staple in the Downriver area, hosting monthly events that promote community and friendship.

“We wanted to create a space where guys could get together, form friendships, and have fun outside of the typical challenges life throws at us,” said Isaac Orozco, owner of Orozco Auto Detailing and a key group member. “It’s about connection, not just another night out.”

Since its inception, Guys Like Us has held a variety of unique events, from working on cars at Orozco’s detailing shop to a Mardi Gras Euchre tournament and a cigar and charcuterie night. With each gathering, participation has continued to grow as more people become aware of the group and its mission.

This month’s March Madness event is set to be one of the most interactive yet. Held at the Underground, 28771 Telegraph Rd, Flat Rock, attendees can fill out their own tournament brackets for a chance to win prizes, all while enjoying delicious food and drinks sponsored by local businesses. The event follows the group’s successful formula of keeping gatherings free, fun, and supportive of the Downriver business community.

“We want Guys Like Us to be something people look forward to each month,” said Greg Randall. “Our goal is to create a welcoming environment where guys can step away from their daily routines, support local businesses, and enjoy themselves. We keep it simple—no politics or religious affiliations, just a great time with great people.”

While the group is primarily for men, it does host occasional co-ed events, such as Halloween parties and potential bowling nights. However, the core of Guys Like Us remains dedicated to providing a space for men to gather, network, and support one another, similar to many Ladies’ Night Out events.

The goal is to highlight a different venue or business in the Downriver area with each activity.

“We’re born and raised in the Downriver community,” Randall said. “It’s important that we help support our local businesses and bring people together in a meaningful way.”

As the group continues to gain momentum, they plan to stick to their home base in Downriver, at least for the foreseeable future. Attendance is typically capped at 30-50 participants per event.

“We were thankful for all who attended our events in 2024,” said Randall. “We’re excited to keep the momentum going and explore even more Downriver businesses.”

To reserve your spot for March Madness, reach out through the group’s Facebook or Instagram pages.

MONROE – Huron League girls basketball teams have been knocking each other left and right.

“There is a lot of parity in our league,” said St. Mary Catholic Central coach John Durbin said.

Except at the top.

While every other team has been saddled with at least four losses, Durbin’s team remains undefeated after Monday’s 61-46 victory over New Boston Huron.

SMCC is 17-0 overall and has clinched the league title with a 12-0 record. The Kestrels own back-to-back league championships for the first time since 2010-11.

“It really has been a surprise to me,” Durbin said. “The chemistry is really good. They’re getting along. They are focused. The effort is there. It’s been fun.”

Brooke Mossburg took the lead role Monday, tying her career-high with 28 points. All but two of those points came in the middle two quarters.

Adela Illes added 16 points.

“A very good game by both teams,” Durbin said. “New Boston has been playing extremely well. I thought our girls played with good intensity and focus.”

Addison Beddow and Gabby Emelian led 13-5 Huron with 12 points each.

SMCC also won the junior varsity game 52-24 as Reese Foster scored 16 points.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Bedford 56, Lenawee Christian 25

ADRIAN – Bedford’s girls basketball team found balance in running its record to 15-1.

Sophomores Sienna May (17) and Anna Gray (14) each tallied a season-high for points and Victoria Gray, who reached 1,000 career points last week, rang up 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Nyah Mullins was credited with 6 assists.

Airport 56, Grosse Ile 24

CARLETON – Airport got points from nine different players in pushing its record to 12-6.

“We played unselfish team offense and that is good to see,” Airport coach Darrell Mossburg said. “When we create chaos were going to score, but it’s going to be on me and our staff to get this group to understand team defense is going to get them to another level.”

Olivia Gratz and Sophia Mator scored 11 points each for the Jets.

Flat Rock 46, Milan 32

FLAT ROCK – Flat Rock burst out of he gate with 23 points in the first quarter.

“We came out of the gate fast and scored quick through the first half,” Flat Rock coach Brian Kryk said. “After some defensive adjustments by Milan at halftime, we just couldn't get into a rhythm. Milan did a nice job forcing turnovers and made it difficult to get shots.”

Addison Kopp scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the opening period. Madleen Hussein added 12 points for the 10-7 Rams.

Milan (4-14) was led by Emily Bladen with 12 points.

Flat Rock’s junior varsity won 42-9 behind 13 points from Delilah Sucharski.

Sylvania Northview 59, Monroe 49

SYLVANIA, Ohio – Monroe put up a good battle against a state-ranked opponent.

“That was the most complete game we had all year,” Monroe coach Trent Moody said.

Sophia Bussell hit six 3-pointers and finished with 20 points while Zoe Leach added 10 points for Monroe (8-9).

Riverview 63, Jefferson 44

RIVERVIEW – Riverview dominated the third period 21-9 to pull away.

Garcie Jones led 8-10 Jefferson with 14 points.

Gibraltar Carlson 47, Wyandotte Roosevelt 33

GIBRALTAR – Gibraltar Carlson ran its record to 13-4 as sophomore Jose Farago racked up 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals.

Addison Wallace added 12 points and 8 rebounds.

Whiteford 65, Ann Arbor Central 8

OTTAWA LAKE – Every player scored as Whiteford improved to 10-6.

“I was very happy with how well the girls shared the ball tonight,” Whiteford coach Nick Brillhart said. “Defense was outstanding.”

Emily Rasor netted 9 points and Emily Hill, Briar Wing, Nina Bauman and Addeson Cousino all finished with 8.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Flat Rock 58, Gibraltar Carlson 52, OT

GIBRALTAR – Flat Rock’s Michael Giroux scored off a rebound at the buzzer in regulation to tie the game, then Cyrus Goins netted 6 points in overtime.

Graham Junge poured in 27 points, including 10-for-10 from the free-throw line to lead the 12-6 Rams. Giroux finished with 13 points and Goins had 11 points and 7 rebounds.

“Credit to some super defensive effort,” Flat Rock coach Rick Smith said. “We changed the tempo and it carried over to overtime where we held them to one basket, while we scored 10 points.

Austin Saavedra (15), Trent Ison (15) and Matthew MacBride (14) all scored in double figures for Gibraltar Carlson (8-10).

Summerfield 58, Taylor Trillium 45

PETERSBURG – Summerfield improved to 16-1.

“I was very happy with the boys’ effort on the glass, out rebounding them down the stretch,” Summerfield coach Phil Schiffler said. “We also handled their pressure very well.”

Tyler Dafoe led the Bulldogs with 17 points while Teddy Gault added 13 and Brody St. John 12. Jha Jha Hornbeak finished with 8 points and 7 assists.

Rochester Christian 58, State Line 50

ROCHESTER – Freshman Austin Nowak scored a career-high 22 points, but it was not enough for State Line Christian (11-11).

Preston Roque added 12 points and Jackson Baumker 11.

FLAT ROCK — One of the more prominent local high school competitive cheer meets, the Flat Rock Invitational made its annual pre-holiday return Friday night to Flat Rock Community High School.

The host Rams were accompanied by six other varsity teams, four of which were from the Downriver area. Among those were the defending Division 2 state champions from Allen Park, who posted the top overall score among the seven varsity programs by night’s end.

Elsewhere on Friday, reigning D3 state finalist Grosse Ile had a strong first showing of the new season, placing first among the trio of D3 programs on hand and the second-best score overall.

Allen Park overall finished with a final score of 780.50, well ahead of both River Rouge (583.34) and Adrian (539.20) on the D2 side of the ledger on Friday. Grosse Ile (758.26) finished runner-up overall only to Allen Park, beating out their Huron League rivals from Flat Rock (699.14) and Monroe Jefferson (638.18).

Taylor (579.78) was also in the mix on Friday as the only D1 program competing.

Allen Park went wire-to-wire for the overall top score on Friday, putting up a near 20-point uptick from their season debut in a CCCAM Invite at Milford High School a week ago on Dec 14 (762.32).

Where the Jags ultimately showed the most improvement was in the final performance of the meet. Their third-round score on Friday (317) was roughly a dozen points better than their Dec 14 competition (305.30). They also were free of penalties at Flat Rock after being docked eight such points out at Milford.

Look for Allen Park to only see the individual meet scores and subsequent average improve as the season progresses. No school had a higher three-round score a season ago than the now six-time state champion Jags.

Grosse Ile meanwhile made their first statement on the young campaign Friday evening. The Red Devils trailed Allen Park by less than four points after one round of competition (235.30 to 231.70) before seeing the Jags gradually distance themselves away for the top mark.

Nonetheless, it’s a big jump in overall performance from this very same meet a season ago for the islanders when they finished with a final score of 733.34. Expectations figure to be high once more for the scarlet and gray after reaching the D3 state finals for the second consecutive year and placing third overall a season ago.

The same could be said for the hosts from Flat Rock, who like Grosse Ile improved on their mark from this same cheer meet a season ago (686.64). Friday was the second meet of the season for the Rams, who like Allen Park competed in a CCCAM Invite out at Fenton last week.

Despite taking a step back from their third-round performance on Friday (266.30) compared to Dec 13 (300.30), the hosts improved by around 25 points in the first and second rounds combined and were mistake-free after being handed 12 penalty points in their first dress rehearsal of the season.

The respective first season showings from both Taylor and Rouge are what each program hopes is the jump-start of continued growth. That is especially true for the former, who has improved their season average score by at least 20 points from the season prior over the previous three seasons.

In fact, Taylor’s final three-round score from Friday would have been their third-highest total from a season ago. That came despite enduring penalty points in each round including 10 points in the first round alone.

Rouge unfortunately also struggled in the early stages of the meet, being docked 24 points through the first two rounds, but ended on a high note with a clean third round. The overall performance from Friday is a considerable improvement from the Panthers’ first meet a season ago when they turned in a final score of just below 500 points.

Elsewhere on Friday, four different junior-varsity programs competed alongside the varsity clubs. Replicating what their varsity team did, the JV team for Allen Park (643.18) posted the top score with Wyandotte Roosevelt (615.28), Southgate Anderson (595.64), and Flat Rock (583.30) rounding things out.

There was also a middle school edition of the Invite that preceded the varsity festivities on Friday, with first-place honors going to Gibraltar Shumate (492.90).

UP NEXT

Friday was the final meet of the calendar year for all of the local teams.

Allen Park will ring in the new year with their annual Allen Park Invitational meet on Jan 4. Both Flat Rock and Taylor are tabbed to be part of that field.

Flat Rock and Grosse Ile will then be back in action on Jan 8 for the first of three Huron League meets taking place at Monroe Jefferson.

As for Rouge, they won’t hit the mat again until Jan 11 for a meet out at Ypsilanti Lincoln.

Originally Published: December 21, 2024 at 12:00 AM EST