Linked Up: 11/15/11
December 16, 2011
We're heading into the final two weeks of the MHSAA fall season, which means playoffs for a few more sports, first practices for many others, and some catch-up on good stories that have made their way into my e-mail or onto my desk. Here are five more I've run across this week.
And again, if you see something high school sports-related that you think others would find valuable, send me a link at [email protected].
Walled Lake Central's Zac Leimbach stands strong after father's death (Detroit Free Press)
Walled Lake Central quarterback Zac Leimbach led his team to the playoffs this fall (WLC lost last weekend). He also is the oldest of three sons and now the man of his house in the wake of the summer death of their father after a battle with cancer. Mick McCabe's passage about Leimbach's final conversation with his father really struck me -- incredible.
Being in the pool makes Zeeland swimmer Becky Taylor feel like equal (Holland Sentinel)
Taylor was born with spina bifida -- "a hole in her back" -- and paralysis from the hips down. But she can leave her wheelchair behind when she takes to the pool as a member of the Zeeland swim team. Dan D'Addona tells us this inspiring story that has made waves on the west side of the state this season.
Mercy's Maddy Doyle takes home Miss Volleyball award (Oakland Press)
Doyle was the spokesperson for her team to the media after tough losses ended their last two seasons. But she was able to stand in once more -- joyfully tearful this time -- in accepting the Miss Volleyball award for 2011. Matthew B. Mowery wraps up her great career.
East Grand Rapids' win over Holland was the Pioneers' 28th straight in postseason play. That's a story unto itself, of course. But another big one for West Michigan high school sports fans was the return of the Press' Jane Bos, who is back in the press box after nearly a year working through medical issues. This is her return column, and I'm sure a loyal reader base is thankful to have her back.
From a standout player, a different sort of care basket (Los Angeles Times)
This is a little old, but came back into the light this week with the start of college basketball season. It's a college story, but also a high school story, of a star hoops player who won $40,000 in scholarship money in a free-throw shooting contest -- and then gave it to the seven runners-up. You'll probably hear about Cal State-Northridge's Allan Guei at some point over the next few years. Here's why.
Today in the MHSAA: 2/22/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 22, 2023
1. BASKETBALL Cass City’s girls and boys teams both clinched shares of Greater Thumb Conference West titles, and Saylar Cuthrell went over 1,000 career points – Huron Daily Tribune
2. GIRLS BASKETBALL Undefeated North Farmington defeated Oxford 41-38 to clinch the outright Oakland Activities Association White title – Oakland Press
3. BOYS BASKETBALL Jackson edged Chelsea 83-81 to clinch a share of the Southeastern Conference White championship – Ann Arbor News
4. BOYS BASKETBALL Chesaning earned a share of the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference title with a 42-39 overtime win over Ovid-Elsie – Mid-Michigan Now
5. SKIING Traverse City West’s girls and boys teams both finished Big North Conference championship runs – Cadillac News
6. BOYS BASKETBALL Bridgeport claimed the outright Tri-Valley Conference 8 title with a 59-46 win over Essexville Garber – Saginaw News
7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Temperance Bedford earned a share of the Southeastern Conference Red title with a 59-29 win over Ypsilanti Lincoln – Monroe News
8. GIRLS BASKETBALL Saline in the SEC Red and Whitmore Lake in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference clinched league championships – Ann Arbor News
9. BOYS BASKETBALL Grand Blanc doubled up Midland to clinch the Saginaw Valley League championship – WJRT
10. GIRLS BASKETBALL Colon finished a title run in the Southern Central Athletic Association West with a 78-45 win over Battle Creek St. Philip – Sturgis Journal
Also of note …
BOYS BASKETBALL Mackinaw City clinched the outright Northern Lakes Conference title with a 51-42 win over Alanson – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
BOYS BASKETBALL Onsted clinched a share of the Lenawee County Athletic Association championship with a 56-36 win over Clinton – Adrian Daily Telegram
GIRLS BASKETBALL Lansing Catholic earned one of its best wins of a strong run, 65-38 over Ypsilanti Arbor Prep – Lansing State Journal
BOYS BASKETBALL Detroit U-D Jesuit edged Warren De La Salle Collegiate 54-48 to reach the Detroit Catholic League Bishop final – Detroit News
BOYS BASKETBALL Grand Rapids South Christian ended Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s 75-game league winning streak, 82-54 – Grand Rapids Press
GIRLS BASKETBALL Mary Copple went over 1,000 career points in Brighton’s 54-45 win over Belleville – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
GIRLS BASKETBALL Zeeland East’s Mirra Fenlon and Saugatuck’s Kennedy Gustafson broke school records in wins – Holland Sentinel
GIRLS BASKETBALL Olivia Hayes broke the Holland Black River single-season scoring record in her team’s big win over West Michigan Aviation Academy – Holland Sentinel
GIRLS BASKETBALL Maddie Geers went over 1,000 career points in Kent City’s 65-49 win over Morley Stanwood – Local Sports Journal