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: 2/21/19

February 21, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A championship capper to an incredible turnaround season and a bowling title sweep topped a highlight-filled Wednesday across the state.

1. Boys Basketball: Carleton Airport downed Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 69-59 to claim a share of the Huron League title, its first since 2001 and after going 2-19 overall last season – Monroe News

2. Bowling: Muskegon Oakridge’s girls and boys teams both claimed outright league championships at the Coastal Conference finale – Local Sports Journal

3. Boys Basketball: Harbor Beach, with an assist from Marlette, closed out the Greater Thumb Conference East championship with a win over Capac – Huron Daily Tribune

4. Boys Basketball: Petoskey got past Alpena 64-52 to clinch a share of the Big North Conference championship – Petoskey News-Review

5. Boys Basketball: Muskegon Heights downed Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 71-46 to clinch the Lakes 8 Conference title – Local Sports Journal

6. Competitive Cheer: Muskegon Mona Shores won its 10th straight Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship – Muskegon Chronicle

7. Girls Basketball: Dearborn Divine Child avenged two losses this season by taking the third meeting with Farmington Hills Mercy 54-43 in the Detroit Catholic League A-B semifinals – State Champs!

8. Bowling: The Division 2 No. 4 Coldwater boys finished with a share of the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference title after falling to Jackson Northwest – Coldwater Daily Reporter

9. Girls Basketball: Natalie Dunn became the third Holland West Ottawa player to go over 1,000 career points with 20 in a win over Grandville – Holland Sentinel

10. Boys Basketball: Romeo Weems led New Haven to a 74-58 win over Detroit Edison with a quadruple-double – 34 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals and 10 blocks – Detroit News

Also of note …

Basketball: From Tuesday, Otsego’s Mattison Rayman and Climax-Scotts’ Cole Eshuis both eclipsed 1,000 career points in wins – Kalamazoo Gazette