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: 4/29/25
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 29, 2025
1. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 4 Richland Gull Lake went on the road to down Division 1 No. 6 Portage Central 1-0 – Kalamazoo Gazette
2. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 6 New Boston Huron shut out Division 3 No. 2 Grosse Ile 4-0 – Southgate News-Herald
3. BASEBALL New Baltimore Anchor Bay edged Division 1 No. 3 Grosse Pointe South 1-0 in extra innings – Macomb Daily
4. BASEBALL Okemos moved into first alone in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue with a sweep of Division 1 No. 13 Grand Ledge – Lansing State Journal
5. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 16 Midland and No. 2 Bay City Western split, Midland winning the opener in a matchup of aces – Midland Daily News
6. SOFTBALL Pinckney earned a split with Division 2 honorable mention Chelsea, winning the second game in eight innings – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
7. GIRLS SOCCER Division 1 No. 4 Rochester and No. 10 Troy Athens played to a 2-2 draw – Oakland Press
8. SOFTBALL Division 2 honorable mention Linden swept Fenton to move into first alone in the Flint Metro League Stripes – Flint Journal
9. GIRLS SOCCER Alahna Beckett scored all of Division 1 No. 11 Midland’s goals in a 3-0 win over Midland Dow that moved the Chemics into first alone in the Saginaw Valley League – Midland Daily News
10. BOYS GOLF Freshman Cruz Beckstrom carded a 31 to tie Muskegon Mona Shores’ school record and lead his team to a first place at the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green jamboree – Local Sports Journal
Also of note ...
BASKETBALL Lansing is mourning the death of longtime Everett coach Johnny Jones, who led the Vikings girls to two Class A titles and the boys to one championship – WILX