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: 12/6/18

December 6, 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.

Wrestling season opened Wednesday evening, and a matchup of two of the state’s best tops the following list of major events – followed by a number of key early-season hockey meetings.

1. Wrestling: Top-ranked and reigning Division 1 champion Detroit Catholic Central opened the season with a 54-22 win over No. 5 Hartland – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. Hockey: Bryce Kallen scored five goals to lead Division 1 No. 3 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s past Division 3 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 7-4 – Oakland Press

3. Hockey: Division 1 No. 8 Farmington moved to 7-1 with a 6-2 win over Division 2 No. 13 Canton – Observer & Eccentric

4. Hockey: Division 2 No. 6 Saline overcame two deficits to tie Division 3 No. 11 Livonia Churchill 2-2 – Saline Post

5. Boys Basketball: Joseph Moeggenberg’s 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in overtime gave Gaylord St. Mary a 53-52 win over Mancelona – Petoskey News-Review

6. Wrestling: Division 1 No. 10 Hudsonville opened its season with a sweep of Allendale (41-33) and Cedar Springs (39-30) – FOX 17

7. Boys Basketball: Kyle Mikolajczak scored 42 points to lead Manistee Catholic Central past Big Rapids Crossroads 66-56 – Manistee News Advocate

8. Wrestling: Division 4 No. 3 Clinton opened the season with a pair of wins, over Ida and Napoleon – Adrian Daily Telegram

9. Hockey: Traverse City Central earned its first victory this season, edging Cadillac 7-6 – WPBN

10. Hockey: Division 3 No. 13 Midland Dow moved past rival Midland 6-1 – Midland Daily News

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: From Tuesday, Iron Mountain’s Marcus Johnson went over 1,000 career points in his team’s win over Manistique – Iron Mountain Daily News