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: 1/25/18

January 25, 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. Wrestling: Dundee downed Hudson 43-15 in a matchup of the top-ranked teams in Divisions 3 and 4, respectively – Monroe Evening News  

2. Wrestling: New Haven downed Sterling Heights 39-24 to clinch a share of the Macomb Area Conference Silver championship – its first league title ever in wrestling – Macomb Daily 

3. Girls Basketball: Junior Taylor Long scored the 1,000th point of her career as Waldron downed Burr Oak – Hillsdale Daily News 

4. Wrestling: Division 3 No. 3 Remus Chippewa Hills finished a perfect run through the Central State Activities Association Gold with a win over Howard City Tri-County – Big Rapids News 

5. Cheer: Bay City Central and Division 4 No. 2 Sanford Meridian Early College won titles at Meridian’s 31st Mustang Cheer Corral – Midland Daily News 

6. Wrestling: Division 2 No. 5 Gaylord edged Division 3 No. 5 Birch Run 29-27 and defeated Frankenmuth 51-25 – Gaylord Herald Times

7. Hockey: Brenden Tulpa scored twice to lead Division 2 No. 3 Hartland past Division 1 No. 6 Northville 3-0 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus 

8. Hockey: Traverse City West downed rival Central 8-3 to move up in the Big North Conference and also secure the McCullough Cup for the first time since the 2009-10 season – Traverse City Record-Eagle

9. Boys Basketball: Bark River-Harris picked up a significant 58-53 win over Norway in the Skyline Central Conference – Escanaba Daily Press 

10. Girls Basketball: Negaunee remained undefeated with a big win over Escanaba – Marquette Mining Journal