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: 3/1/18

March 1, 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.

Today's Top 10

1. Girls Basketball: Samantha Gehrls’ basket with six seconds to play pushed Caledonia past reigning Class A runner-up and undefeated East Kentwood, 46-45; the Falcons had beaten Caledonia by seven and 21 points earlier this season – FOX 17

2. Girls Basketball: Manchester ended Pittsford’s winning streak at 76 straight wins, two short of the MHSAA record, with a 46-45 win in Class C – Hillsdale Daily News

3. Girls Basketball: Big Rapids avenged two losses to league rival Central Montcalm by handing the Hornets their first and only loss of the season, 49-34 in Class B – Big Rapids News

4. Girls Basketball: Ishpeming Westwood avenged two regular-season losses by handing Negaunee its only defeat, 59-44 in Class C – Marquette Mining Journal

5. Girls Basketball: Rogers City broke Hillman’s 19-game winning streak with a 40-38 win in Class D after falling to the Tigers twice during the regular season – Alpena News

6. Girls Basketball: Maple City Glen Lake won its second straight Class C District title, downing Manton 55-48 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

7. Girls Basketball: Houghton downed L’Anse 46-31 in Class C to win a fourth straight District title – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

8. Girls Basketball: Bronson’s Kiana Mayer scored with 26 seconds to play to lead Bronson past Centreville, 33-32 in Class C, ending Centreville’s season at 20-2 – Coldwater Daily Reporter

9. Girls Basketball: Hartland eliminated Kensington Lakes Activities Association Gold champ Howell with a 40-37 win in Class A – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

10. Girls Basketball: Marshall moved to 11-10 with a 52-42 Class B upset of Comstock, which finished 19-2 – JoeInsider.com

Also of note …

Girls Basketball: Charlevoix sophomore Elise Stuck went over 1,000 career points in leading her team to a 61-25 win over East Jordan in Class C – Petoskey News-Review

Boys Basketball: Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Marcus Bingham, Jr., Detroit East English’s David DeJulius, East Lansing’s Brandon Johns, Clarkston’s Foster Loyer and Detroit Henry Ford Academy’s Trevion Williams were named candidates for this year’s Mr. Basketball Award – Detroit Free Press