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: 12/14/17

December 14, 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. Girls Basketball: Harper Woods Chandler Park won a major matchup, handing Flint Hamady its first loss 67-39 – Flint Journal

2. Girls Basketball: Alex Hunter went over 1,000 points for her career in leading Gaylord St. Mary past Central Lake 62-38 – Gaylord Herald Times

3. Hockey: Rivals Traverse City Central and West met and Central won 4-2, but together they brought awareness for cancer research with their “Hockey Fights Cancer Game” – Traverse City Record-Eagle

4. Wrestling: Grandville doubled up Grand Haven 44-22 in the Ottawa-Kent Conference – Grand Haven Tribune

5. Wrestling: White Pigeon swept Three Oaks River Valley (59-24) and Buchanan (48-30) – Sturgis Journal

6. Boys Basketball: Bad Axe bounced back from its first loss of the season Monday to get past Ubly 62-53 – Huron Daily Tribune

7. Girls Basketball: St. Ignace improved to 3-0 with a big win over Pickford – MI Sports Now

8. Girls Basketball: Six players scored at least six points as Sault Ste. Marie got past Alpena – Alpena News

9. Girls Tennis: Escanaba coach Dennis Lueneburg, who led his team to an MHSAA Finals title in 2011, has stepped down – Escanaba Daily Press

10. Football: In its latest “Legends” installment, State Champs! featured MHSAA winningest football coach John Herrington of Farmington Hills Harrison – State Champs!