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: 5/14/19

May 14, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The Saugatuck track & field teams celebrated Monday like they have for most of this decade, and South Lyon’s girls soccer team celebrated like never before as more league championships were clinched and postseason play began in boys lacrosse.

1. Track & Field: The Saugatuck girls and boys teams both won their sixth straight Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore meet championships – Holland Sentinel

2. Girls Soccer: South Lyon clinched its first league title in this sport, downing Waterford Mott 1-0 in Lakes Valley Conference play – Oakland Press

3. Girls soccer: Division 2 top-ranked DeWitt downed Division 3 No. 14 Williamston 4-2 in a Capital Area Activities Conference Gold Cup quarterfinal – Lansing State Journal

4. Baseball: Division 3 No. 2 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian improved to 15-3 with a 12-0 win over Division 2 No. 10 Belding – FOX 17

5. Softball: Grace Lehto threw a no-hitter as Division 2 No. 3 Eaton Rapids opened Greater Lansing Hall of Fame Softball Classic play with a 6-0 win over DeWitt – Lansing State Journal

6. Boys Golf: Tecumseh shot a 336 to win the Lenawee County tournament title – Adrian Daily Telegram

7. Boys Golf: Clarkston, No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, shot a 300 to win the Chemical City Invitational in Midland – Midland Daily News

8. Boys Lacrosse: Traverse City United’s co-op team defeated Muskegon Southside’s 21-3 in a Division 1 Pre-Regional game – WPBN

9. Softball: Midland swept Division 4 top-ranked Coleman 7-6 and 8-3 – Midland Daily News

10. Baseball: Hemlock and Division 3 No. 19 Pinconning split, Hemlock’s win also the first Tri-Valley Conference West loss for first-place Pinconning since it joined the league in 2016-17 – Bay City Times

Also of note …

Athlete of the Year: Detroit Edison’s Rickea Jackson and Madison Heights Bishop Foley’s Kendel Taylor were named this year’s statewide Athlete of the Year Award winners by the Detroit Athletic Club – State Champs Sports Network

Girls Tennis: From Saturday, LPD3 No. 3 Allegan finished first and Sturgis second at the Wolverine Conference tournament – Sturgis Journal