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: 12/18/17
December 18, 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. Hockey: Division 1 No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central came out on top in a matchup of arguably the best teams in Michigan, downing top-ranked Brighton 3-0 in the MIHL-KLAA Challenge – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. Hockey: Division 3 No. 7 Houghton added a big win over a larger downstate opponent, 4-1 over Division 1 No. 7 Utica Eisenhower – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
3. Hockey: Division 2 No. 5 Birmingham Brother Rice continued its hot streak against Hartland, downing the No. 2-ranked Eagles 4-1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. Boys Basketball: Clutch 3-point shooting by a pair of sophomores helped Saginaw get past rival Arthur Hill 69-61 – Saginaw News
5. Cheer: Hudson rose to the top of a strong field of Division 4 teams at the Onsted Invitational – Adrian Daily Telegram
6. Wrestling: Division 1 No. 5 Westland John Glenn won the Wayne County Championships by 24.5 points ahead of runner-up Brownstown Woodhaven – Southgate News Herald
7. Wrestling: Division 1 No. 7 Oxford claimed a second straight Oakland County championship, ahead of runner-up Clarkston – Oakland Press
8. Wrestling: Niles made a major statement at the Henry Wilk Classic at Mishawaka Penn in Indiana, defeating the host for what was believed to be the first time in half a century – South Bend Tribune
9. Wrestling: Division 2 top-ranked Lowell nearly doubled up the field at the Kent County Championships, with Byron Center second – Grand Rapids Press
10. Wrestling: Essexville Garber won its second straight Bay County championship by downing Pinconning in the final match – Bay City Times
Also of note …
Boys Basketball: Detroit Henry Ford Academy’s Trevion Williams put up an incredible stat line Friday, with 22 points, 36 rebounds, six assists and six steals in a win over Detroit University Prep Science & Math – Detroit Free Press
Boys Swimming & Diving: From Tuesday, Midland Dow (No. 10 in Lower Peninsula Division 2) won its Dan Pangborn Invitational ahead of No. 4 Grosse Pointe South and top-ranked Dexter in a meet using a format that emphasized depth – Midland Daily News