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: 1/9/19

January 9, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Basketball returned from the holidays in full force Tuesday, highlighted by impressive victories on the girls side and historic accomplishments from a pair of boys teams.

1. Girls Basketball: Southfield Arts & Technology continued to build its case as a Division 1 contender with a 65-54 win over reigning Class B champ Detroit Country Day – Oakland Press

2. Girls Basketball: Iron River West Iron County handed Negaunee its first defeat, 53-42 – The Upbeat

3. Boys Basketball: Quincy downed Reading 55-46 to move to 9-0 as William Dunn scored 30 points in becoming the third player in school history to score 1,000 over a career – Coldwater Daily Reporter

4. Boys Basketball: Bay City Central downed Saginaw Arthur Hill 69-63, its first win over Arthur Hill since 1992 – Bay City Times

5. Girls Basketball: Elise Stuck scored 44 points as Charlevoix held off Gaylord 58-48 – Gaylord Herald Times

6. Hockey: Phillip Rios had 22 saves as Hancock shut out Division 2 No. 14 Kingsford 2-0 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

7. Boys Basketball: Hudsonville Unity Christian handed Holland Christian its first loss of this season, 63-42 – FOX 17

8. Boys Basketball: Detroit U-D Jesuit continued to rise in the Detroit Catholic League Central with a 69-62 win over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – Detroit News

9. Boys Basketball: Marshawn Kneeland scored at the buzzer to push Wyoming Godwin Heights past Hopkins 50-48 – FOX 17

10. Girls Basketball: Brea Pruitt made two free throws with seven seconds to play to carry Saginaw Arts & Sciences past Saginaw High 55-54 – Saginaw News