Linked Up: 11/8/11

December 16, 2011

My online travels over the last 10 days have taken me to just about every media entity in Michigan as we've been tracking down football, volleyball and soccer results. Below are some of the intriguing stories I happened upon that you might want to check out as well.

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

State meet an experience to savor  (Livingston County Daily Press & Argus)

Reporter Katie Noble ran at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals for Kinde North Huron in 2001. She explains how her perspective has changed during the 10 years since -- something any former high school athlete can appreciate.

Lincoln football: More than just football (AnnArbor.com)

Although Ypsilanti Lincoln's first playoff run ever ended after just one game, it gave those fans plenty to celebrate -- and AnnArbor.com's Jeff Sainlar put together a great multimedia look at how the team made history after going 0-9 in 2010.

Twin sisters key players for both Dow and Midland volleyball teams (Midland Daily News)

We hear a lot of stories of teams having two or three siblings, a set of twins or an occasional crew of triplets. But Saturday's District final at Saginaw Heritage included two teams from the same city both receiving major contributions sets of twins. Dan Chalk explained how similarities among those pairs benefited their respective teams in similar ways.

Marshall Thomas' coaching tree produces state titles on way to Saginaw County Hall of Fame induction (Saginaw News)

Thomas coached five sports and served as athletic director during his tenure at Saginaw High. But he's best known for leading a boys basketball power that has produced two more coaches who have gone on to win MHSAA titles. A fantastic legacy left by one of the friendliest people I've met in high school athletics, and Geoff Mott tells us about it.

Deckerville Eagles will move to 8-man football (Port Huron Times-Herald)

The Port Huron area looks to continue to be a center for 8-player football with another solid program set to make the switch. But it's not always an easy decision, and Jim Whymer tells us why and how Deckerville decided it was time.

Today in the MHSAA: 3/6/19

March 6, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The final four hockey contenders in Division 2 earned the opportunity with Quarterfinal wins Tuesday, while Boys Basketball Regional Semifinals saw the elimination of four teams that entered the evening unbeaten this winter.

1. Hockey: No. 2 Trenton edged No. 3 Livonia Stevenson 3-2 in a Division 2 Quarterfinal to earn a return to USA Hockey Arena – Southgate News-Herald

2. Boys Basketball: Emoni Bates drilled a 3-pointer during the closing seconds to carry Ypsilanti Lincoln past Ann Arbor Skyline 58-55 in a Division 1 Regional Semifinal – Ann Arbor News

3. Boys Basketball: DeWitt handed the first and only loss this season to Mattawan in a 51-38 Division 1 win – Lansing State Journal

4. Boys Basketball: Benton Harbor got past previously-undefeated Otsego 63-59 in Division 2 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

5. Hockey: No. 4 Birmingham Brother Rice held off Port Huron Northern 6-5 to also advance in Division 2 – Oakland Press

6. Hockey: No. 9 Marquette earned a spot in the Division 2 Semifinals with a 4-1 win over Petoskey – MI Sports Now

7. Hockey: Top-ranked Hartland got past No. 12 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Eastern 6-0 to move on in Division 2 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

8. Boys Basketball: East Kentwood avenged an early-season loss with a 68-62 win over Muskegon in Division 1 – FOX 17

9. Boys Basketball: Alma had another of the night’s stunners, handing Bridgeport its first loss 64-56, in Division 2 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

10. Boys Basketball: Pellston handed Brimley its first and only loss of the season, 75-60 in Division 4 – Petoskey News-Review

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: Dylan Jergens scored 27 points to set the MHSAA single-season record of 971, but his Marcellus Howardsville Christian team fell to Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 68-56 in Division 4 – Kalamazoo Gazette

Boys Basketball: Pittsford upended Athens 48-42 in Division 4 to set a program record for wins in improving to 21-2 – Hillsdale Daily News