Linked Up: 12/19/11

December 20, 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: 11/5/19

November 5, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

District play began across the state Monday for many of more than 700 volleyball teams, and we gathered some of the most notable headlines from vast coverage on both peninsulas.

1. Volleyball: Honorable mention Lake Orion upset No. 6 Clarkston in four sets to open Division 1 District play – Oakland Press

2. Volleyball: Howell swept Lakes Valley Conference champion South Lyon East to kick off Division 1 District play – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. Volleyball: Midland Dow came back after losing the first set to win the next three against Bay City Western in Division 1 – Midland Daily News

4. Volleyball: Hillsdale Academy came back after losing the first set to win the next three against Pittsford, avenging District losses to the Wildcats the last two years in Division 4 – Hillsdale Daily News

5. Volleyball: Division 1 top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy opened the postseason with a sweep of Livonia Stevenson – Observer & Eccentric

6. Volleyball: No. 4 Hamilton began Division 2 District play with a sweep of Hudsonville Unity Christian – Holland Sentinel

7. Volleyball: No. 6 Kingsley opened Division 2 District play with a sweep of Boyne City – Up North Live

8. Volleyball: Honorable mention Carney-Nadeau opened Division 4 District play with a sweep of Powers North Central – Escanaba Daily Press

9. Volleyball: Johannesburg-Lewiston swept Harbor Springs to open its Division 3 District – Petoskey News-Review

10. Volleyball: Mt. Morris downed Division 2 honorable mention Corunna in five sets in a District opener – Owosso Argus-Press

Also of note …

Football: Oxford coach Bud Rowley retired with 264 wins over 43 seasons – State Champs Sports Network