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: 1/31/18
January 31, 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. Boys Basketball: Reigning Class A champion Clarkston handed Hazel Park its first loss of the season, 70-39, in the first of two league matchups this season between the expected statewide contenders – Detroit News
2. Girls Basketball: East Lansing downed Williamston 63-43 in a matchup of highly-ranked teams that were both undefeated entering the night – Lansing State Journal
3. Girls Basketball: Charlevoix’s 58-42 win over Traverse City Central saw Charlevoix’s Elise Stuck score a school-record 43 points and Central’s Margot Woughter go over 1,000 for her career – Traverse City Record-Eagle
4. Hockey: Teddy Randell returned from an injury to score twice for Division 3 top-ranked Hancock in a 3-1 win over No. 3 Calumet – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
5. Hockey: Division 2 No. 4 Hartland’s goal with 4:33 to play pushed it past Division 1 No. 3 Brighton 2-1 in a matchup of Kensington Lakes Activities Association powers – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
6. Boys Basketball: Marine City Cardinal Mooney downed Detroit Cristo Rey 74-66 to claim its first league title since 2009 – Port Huron Times Herald
7. Girls Basketball: Muskegon held off Grand Haven 39-37 in a matchup of top Class A teams from the west side of the state – Local Sports Journal
8. Girls Basketball: Haley Griffin scored 15 points in a 46-30 win over Grand Rapids Wellspring to set Holland Black River’s career scoring record – Holland Sentinel
9. Girls Basketball: St. Johns’ Maddie Maloney went over 1,000 career points in her team’s 52-38 win over Grand Ledge – Lansing State Journal
10. Girls Basketball: Eighth-place Roscommon upset Jack Pine Conference leader Gladwin 54-50 – Midland Daily News