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: 12/18/18

December 18, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

The final week before schools head into holiday break got started in record-setting fashion as a pair of the state’s top girls basketball teams combined to score 185 points during a marathon matchup.

1. Girls Basketball: Michigan Center avenged last season’s loss to Williamston as the team’s tied the MHSAA girls basketball record going five overtimes before the Cardinals emerged with a 95-90 victory – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

2. Boys Basketball: Kalamazoo Central extended its league winning streak to 43 with a 62-37 win over rival Battle Creek Central – WWMT

3. Boys Basketball: Chassell downed Dollar Bay 51-42, breaking a six-game losing streak against last season’s Class D semifinalist – The Upbeat

4. Girls Basketball: Iron Mountain sank a free throw during the final minute to get past Calumet 48-47 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

5. Girls Basketball: Jaden Berthume scored 26 points as Coleman downed Sanford Meridian – Midland Daily News

6. Boys Basketball: Clare improved to 5-1 by handing McBain its first loss, 53-52 – MI Sports Now

7. Boys Basketball: Adrian Lenawee Christian improved to 4-0 with a 50-33 win over Jonesville – Adrian Daily Telegram

8. Boys Basketball: Pittsford came back from an early deficit to get past Litchfield 68-47 – Hillsdale Daily News

9. Boys Basketball: Emcee Williams scored a career-high 28 points to lead Muskegon Reeths-Puffer past Grand Rapids West Catholic 61-48 – Muskegon Chronicle

10. Girls Basketball: Richland Gull Lake moved to 4-0 with a big win over league foe Kalamazoo Loy Norrix – JoeInsider.com