Linked Up: 10/28/11

October 28, 2011

Each week I'll post links to stories that interest me most during my travels in online sports land. I was going to wait for next week for this first installment, but these seemed worthy of telling you about now.

See something high school sports-related that you think others would find valuable? Send me a link.

Akron-Fairgrove and Owendale-Gagetown eager for long-awaited playoff games in first season of eight-man football bracket (Bay City Times)

These two teams provide multiple reasons why 8-player football has been such a strong addition -- most notably, it is providing our smallest schools with an opportunity to still play football despite fewer players, and succeed. The sport took off in this state in 2009, and this weekend mark the start of the first MHSAA 8-player Tournament. Akron-Fairgrove will play its first postseason game since 1992, while Owendale-Gagetown will play its first since 1979.

Olivet's Peters coaching his heart out (Battle Creek Enquirer)

I covered Olivet and coach Dean Peters for more than a decade, including during last season's first-ever Eagles run to the MHSAA football finals. One of the great people in high school coaching, he needed emergency double-bypass surgery earlier this month but is back in the coaching booth. Olivet faces Lansing Catholic in a Pre-District game.

Megan Hubbard a standout for Hanover-Horton cross country (Jackson Citizen-Patriot)

This is a neat story about a runner who is second-best on her team and has never won a race -- but also is likely the second-best to ever run at her school. Usually, we hear only about who finishes first.

Standley Lake football player Rhett Gutierrez overcomes eye disease (The Denver Post)
 
Almost always, links I post will be Michigan-related. But this story is just incredible. We've seen athletes with different degrees of vision impairment do incredible things in high school athletics. But this is the first time I've heard of someone overcoming that obstacle to play quarterback for his football team.

Today in the MHSAA: 3/22/17

March 22, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The final 16 teams contending for MHSAA boys basketball titles this weekend were determined at Quarterfinals all over the state Tuesday. Here are links to coverage from each game.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state. “Today” will return April 10.

Boys Basketball

Class A: In a game for which fans started lining up two hours before tip, Grand Rapids Christian got past Kalamazoo Central 66-46 – Grand Rapids Press

Class A: In another matchup of Class A powerhouses, it was all Clarkston this time with a 70-50 win over Saginaw – Oakland Press

Class A: West Bloomfield continued its impressive run with a dominating 80-43 win over Troy – Oakland Press

Class A: Romulus ended reigning champion Detroit U-D Jesuit’s repeat attempt with a 66-63 Quarterfinal win – Detroit News

Class B: Ludington will return to the Semifinals for the first time since 1971 after a 69-43 win over Lake Fenton – Ludington Daily News

Class B: New Haven pulled into the Semifinals for the first time with a 73-66 win over Detroit Osborn – Port Huron Times Herald

Class B: In a rematch of last season’s Quarterfinal, this time River Rouge emerged with a 54-51 win over Williamston – MLive-Detroit

Class B: After trailing early, Benton Harbor came back to edge Spring Lake 46-44 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

Class C: Jayden Perry’s buzzer-beating basket sent Manton to the Semifinals with a 51-49 win over Negaunee – Petoskey News Review

Class C: Grand Rapids Covenant Christian earned its first Semifinal berth since 1994 with a 49-40 win over Kalamazoo Christian – Grand Rapids Press

Class C: Reigning champion Flint Beecher will contend for another title after downing Beaverton 66-32 – Flint Journal

Class C: Following its girls team last week, Detroit Edison Public School Academy’s boys advanced to their first Semifinal, with a 61-44 win over Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central – MLive-Detroit

Class D: Southfield Christian will continue its return to Class D with a return to Breslin after a 64-42 win over Fowler – Oakland Press

Class D: Lansing Christian booked its return to the Semifinals with 65-47 win over Benton Harbor Dream Academy – Lansing State Journal

Class D: Two-time reigning champion Powers North Central will play for a third straight after downing Hillman 74-61 – Escanaba Daily Press

Class D: Undefeated Buckley will bring that perfect record to Breslin thanks to a 48-37 win over Wyoming Tri-unity Christian – Cadillac News