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: 3/15/16

March 15, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Boys basketball teams across the state moved into Regionals on Monday, while the state’s leading girls basketball scorer this season finished her career with Michigan’s most prestigious individual award.

Boys Basketball

Macomb Dakota scored with six seconds left in double overtime to get past Clarkston 68-66 in Class A – Macomb Dakota

Lansing Everett trailed by 12 heading into the fourth quarter against Kalamazoo Central, but scored 30 points in the final period to win in Class A, 56-49 – Kalamazoo Gazette

Also in Class A, Muskegon won a matchup of arguably the two best teams from the state’s west side, getting past Grand Rapids Christian 64-53 – Muskegon Chronicle

Williamston eliminated reigning Class B champion Wyoming Godwin Heights, 57-55 in overtime – Lansing State Journal

Ithaca set a single-season record with its 22nd win in a 79-60 Class C victory over Millington – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Girls Basketball

Benton Harbor’s Kysre Gondrezick made headlines all season with incredible scoring totals, and capped her high school career by winning the Miss Basketball Award – Detroit Free Press