Linked Up: 12/19/11

December 19, 2011

We've hit a bit of a slow spot with schools out for break and most contests reserved for holiday showcases and the like.

Here are some suggestions if you have some time for some reading between now and the start of 2012.

High school coaches try to bring basketball back to basics (Detroit News)

For most of the last decade, we've heard about the recessing of basketball fundamentals even among elite high school players. Enter Ben Kelso, Marshall Thomas and a number of other Michigan coaches who have pledged to end that trend. Tom Markowski tells us how the Metro Detroit Basketball Coaches Association aims to do so.

Lantzy retires after more than 4 decades as Ike grid coach (Macomb County Advisor & Source)

Utica-Eisenhower coach Bob Lantzy has been his school's only varsity football coach. He took four teams to MHSAA Finals and this fall became one of only nine state football coaches to win more than 900 games. He has retired after 41 seasons, and Kevin Lozon fills us in on the legacy.

Tabahn Afrik poised for greatness in pool for West Ottawa (Holland Sentinel)

The Holland area has its next big swimming star. Dan D'Addona introduces us to Tabahn Afrik, a freshman at Holland West Ottawa who qualified for the MHSAA Division 1 Finals in two events in his first meet this season.

High school basketball: History of class hoops is just that (South Bend Tribune)

"Hoosiers" made Indiana's former one-class basketball tournament known on a grander scale. But Indiana went to classes (similar to Michigan's) beginning in 1997-98. Al Lesar tells us how some in the state are attempting to revert to one class.

Today in the MHSAA: 3/19/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 19, 2025

Girls Basketball Quarterfinals

DIVISION 1

Rockford finished a three-game season sweep of Grand Haven 55-49 – Grand Rapids Press

Reigning champion West Bloomfield will return to East Lansing after a 57-35 win over Utica Ford – Oakland Press

Wayne Memorial broke away during the third quarter to get past Temperance Bedford 54-35 – Detroit Free Press

Belleville also will return to the Semifinals after a 59-54 win over DeWitt – Lansing State Journal

DIVISION 2

Grand Rapids West Catholic defeated league rival Grand Rapids South Christian 39-37 – Grand Rapids Press

Frankenmuth pulled away from Gladstone 56-36 – Saginaw News

Tecumseh earned its first Semifinal trip since 1976 with a 61-53 win over Goodrich – Adrian Daily Telegram

Reigning champion Detroit Edison is headed back to the Semifinals after a 59-48 win over Detroit Country Day – Oakland Press

DIVISION 3

Reigning champ Ypsilanti Arbor Prep continued its surge with a 31-28 win over Jackson Lumen Christi – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Calumet earned a return to Breslin Center with a 48-33 win over Sanford Meridian – My UP Now

Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest won a repeat Quarterfinal matchup 35-19 over Sandusky – Oakland Press

Last season’s runner-up Niles Brandywine is headed back to Breslin as well after a 43-25 win over Grandville Calvin Christian – South Bend Tribune

DIVISION 4

Haven Chapman became her team’s all-time leading scorer in sending Genesee Christian to its first Semifinal with a 31-22 win over Morenci – Flint Journal

Ewen-Trout Creek won a matchup of UP contenders 47-37 over St. Ignace – Upper Michigan Source

Fowler earned a fifth-straight trip to the Semifinals with a 64-21 victory over Frankfort – Lansing State Journal

Concord advanced to the Semifinals by doubling up Byron Center Zion Christian 54-26 – JTV