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: 4/22/19

April 22, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

From track to softball to soccer, big wins and big upsets dominated this weekend as we go back to Thursday night for today’s list of high achievers.

1. Track & Field: Zeeland East’s girls and boys teams are looking like contenders again after sweeping the Grand Rapids Elite Challenge titles – Holland Sentinel

2. Softball: Traverse City West split with Division 2 No. 5 Muskegon Oakridge, earning its win on a walk-off homer – Muskegon Chronicle

3. Softball: Division 4 honorable mention Three Oaks River Valley downed No. 6 Onaway 10-9 in 10 innings to clinch the Holton Invitational title – Alpena News

4. Girls Soccer: No. 11 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek should be moving up in Division 1 after a 2-0 win over No. 4 Troy – Oakland Press

5. Girls Soccer: Top-ranked Novi downed No. 6 Hartland 4-0 in a league matchup of top Division 1 teams statewide – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

6. Girls Tennis: Lower Peninsula Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central and No. 7 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central tied for the Twin Bay Quad title – Traverse City Record-Eagle

7. Boys Golf: LPD1 No. 8 Clarkston shot a 287 to win the Green/Black/Gold/Orange tournament 19 strokes ahead of runner-up and No. 5 Birmingham Brother Rice – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

8. Track & Field: Deckerville’s girls and boys swept their home invitational titles – Huron Daily Tribune

9. Track & Field: Midland’s girls edged Traverse City West and Traverse City Central’s boys edged Alpena to win Graves/Swayze Relays titles at Midland Community Stadium – Midland Daily News

10. Softball: Quincy downed Gobles and Niles Brandywine to win Brandywine’s invitational – Coldwater Daily Reporter

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: The Detroit Mumford community is mourning the death of former coach and athletic director Sam “Sonny” Taub – Detroit News