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: 12/7/18
December 7, 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 basketball weekend got its start Thursday with a number of games across the state, but make sure to also check out a video look back at a memorable event from the last day of the MHSAA fall season.
1. Girls Basketball: Alpena came back from a 14-point halftime deficit to down Gaylord 48-45 – Alpena News
2. Girls Basketball: Bay City Western earned new coach Brian Merritt his first win, 45-41 over Midland – Bay City Times
3. Boys Basketball: Sanford Meridian improved to 4-0 with a 58-27 win over league rival Beaverton – Saginaw News
4. Girls Basketball: Mackinaw City earned its 10th straight win over rival Pellston, 59-29 – Petoskey News-Review
5. Boys Basketball: McBain won a matchup of annual northern contenders 67-48 over Boyne City – Cadillac News
6. Girls Basketball: North Muskegon outlasted Shelby 46-40 in overtime – Local Sports Journal
7. Girls Basketball: Muskegon Oakridge ran its league winning streak to 79 with a 44-24 victory over Montague – Muskegon Chronicle
8. Girls Basketball: Harbor Beach earned a solid victory over Unionville-Sebewaing, 37-23 – Huron Daily Tribune
9. Girls Basketball: Maple City Glen Lake opened its season with a 47-29 win over Elk Rapids – WPBN
10. Girls Basketball: Walled Lake Northern earned a 47-30 win over North Farmington – Oakland Press
Also of note …
Football: This season’s 11-Player Finals weekend at Ford Field for the first time included an exhibition played by four Special Olympics Unified flag football teams – and Special Olympics Michigan produced a wonderful recap celebrating the day.