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: 1/9/18

January 9, 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 Skiing: Reigning Division 2 champion Petoskey edged reigning Division 1 runner-up Traverse City Central to win its side of the Petoskey-Harbor Invitational – Petoskey News-Review

2. Girls Skiing: Harbor Springs dominated its side of the Petoskey-Harbor Invitational, out-distancing the field by more than 20 points – Petoskey News-Review

3. Girls Basketball: Detroit Osborn earned its first victory over Detroit Henry Ford in more than a decade, 31-28 – Detroit News

4. Boys Basketball: Central Lake drilled a last-second 3-pointer to edge Onaway 65-64 – Alpena News

5. Girls Basketball: Negaunee remained undefeated with a 59-45 win over Marquette – Marquette Mining Journal

6. Boys Basketball: Muskegon Heights Academy held off a late rally to edge North Muskegon 58-56 – Muskegon Chronicle

7. Girls Basketball: Grosse Ile made it six straight wins with a Huron League opening victory over rival Riverview – Southgate News Herald

8. Football: Romeo co-coach Jason Couch, who helped lead the team to the 2015 Division 1 title, announced he’s leaving the program to take over at Alma College – Macomb Daily

9. Football: Battle Creek Lakeview coach Matt Miller stepped down after 20 years with program, including as head coach since 2010, and 30 years total on the sideline – Battle Creek Enquirer

10. Basketball: Vestaburg’s Jim Hodges and Larry Koutz are two of the many unsung contributors who make our games happen; they have nearly 100 years of combined experience serving as the official scorekeeper and clock/scoreboard operator, respectively, at the school – Greenville Daily News