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: 12/20/17
December 20, 2017
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: Grand Haven broke a 10-game losing streak to Muskegon going back to 2012, drilling 10 3-pointers in a 59-51 win – Grand Haven Tribune
2. Girls Basketball: Led by senior Maddie Barrie, Midland broke a seven-game losing streak to rival Dow in handing the Chargers their first loss this season 49-37 – Midland Daily News
3. Boys Basketball: Undefeated McBain went ahead to stay with 2.3 seconds to play in handing reigning Class D runner-up Buckley a 41-40 defeat – Cadillac News
4. Boys Basketball: Reigning champion Flint Beecher got past rival Hamady 49-48 in a matchup of likely two of the state's best again in Class C – Flint Journal
5. Hockey: Some of the state’s best hockey is played at the northern tip of the Upper Peninsula, and No. 7 Houghton won a matchup of two of the best programs in Division 3, 3-2 over No. 3 Calumet – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
6. Boys Basketball: Standout Brandon Johns poured in 51 points as East Lansing downed Lansing Sexton 114-82 – Lansing State Journal
7. Girls Basketball: Dana Schmanske drilled a 3-pointer during the final minute to push Brighton past Northville 37-35 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
8. Girls Basketball: Ella McKinney’s basket with 34 seconds to play lifted Haslett past Fowlerville 51-49 – Lansing State Journal
9. Boys Basketball: Midland Dow came back from 11 down in the fourth quarter to get past Midland 58-52 in overtime – Midland Daily News
10. Boys Basketball: A last-second 3-pointer sent Gibraltar Carlson and Trenton to overtime, and Carlson prevailed after two extra periods 86-79 – Monroe Evening News