Linked Up: 11/15/11
November 15, 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: 3/6/20
March 6, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The majority of Michigan’s high school boys basketball teams finished their regular seasons Thursday – and with a month’s worth of fireworks thanks to league title celebrations, big-time matchups and record scoring performances.
1. Boys Basketball: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s got past Detroit Cass Tech 70-65 in overtime in the annual Operation Friendship meeting of league champions – Detroit News
2. Boys Basketball: Negaunee earned shares of two league titles and handed Iron Mountain its only loss this season on a last-second basket, winning 52-51 – Marquette Mining Journal
3. Boys Basketball: Benton Harbor closed the regular season with an 82-72 win over Wyoming in a matchup of title contenders in Divisions 2 and 1 – Grand Rapids Press
4. Boys Basketball: Ypsilanti Lincoln enjoyed 48 points from Emoni Bates in getting past Grand Rapids Catholic Central 79-48 in a meeting of championship contenders in Divisions 1 and 2 – Ann Arbor News
5. Boys Basketball: Sanford Meridian clinched a fourth-consecutive Jack Pine Conference title with a 54-39 win over Farwell – Midland Daily News
6. Boys Basketball: Troy Athens got past Birmingham Seaholm 71-61 in overtime to claim the Oakland Activities Association Blue title outright – Oakland Press
7. Boys Basketball: Three Oaks River valley celebrated the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference White title with a 50-29 win over New Buffalo – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
8. Boys Basketball: Traverse City Central earned a shared Big North Conference title with Cadillac thanks to a 63-49 win over Alpena – Traverse City Record-Eagle
9. Boys Basketball: One-loss Carrollton handed Kingston its first, 63-59 – Saginaw News
10. Boys Basketball: Pellston downed Bellaire 57-39 to clinch a share of the Ski Valley Conference championship – Petoskey News-Review
Also of note …
Boys Basketball: Otsego won its third-straight overall Wolverine Conference title with an 81-55 win over Edwardsburg – WWMT
Boys Basketball: Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart locked up the outright Mid-State Activities Conference title with a 65-37 win over Ashley – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Boys Basketball: William Dunn became Quincy’s all-time leading career scorer in his team’s 67-57 win over Mendon – Coldwater Daily Reporter
Boys Basketball: Anders Rasmussen set Holland’s single-season 3-pointers record in a loss to Ada Forest Hills Eastern – Holland Sentinel
Boys Basketball: Cole Shiels and Jacob Delmotte both broke the Britton-Deerfield single-game scoring record in a win over Monroe Jefferson – Adrian Daily Telegram