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: 12/5/17

December 5, 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: Many of the names are different, but Powers North Central got scoring from 10 players to increase its state record winning streak to 84 with a 71-50 win over Stephenson on opening night – Escanaba Daily Press

2. Boys Basketball: Despite 12 3-pointers by Painesdale-Jeffers, Bessemer hung on for a 71-63 overtime victory – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

3. Boys Basketball: Reading came back from 10 down in the third quarter to win the opener over Camden-Frontier 66-57 – Hillsdale Daily News

4. Boys Bowling: Saline trailed 10-0 after losing both Baker games, but came back to dominate the head-to-head portion and defeat Tecumseh 17-13 – Saline Post

5. Boys Basketball: Rapid River held off Carney-Nadeau’s second-half charge to hold on for a 56-53 win – Escanaba Daily Press

6. Boys Basketball: Bronson delivered first-year coach Damien Loveless his first win with the program, 67-44 over Battle Creek St. Philip – Coldwater Daily Reporter

7. Girls Basketball: Hesperia went on a 27-6 third-quarter run to come back from a 10-point halftime deficit and defeat Custer Mason County Eastern 56-52 – Local Sports Journal

8. Boys Basketball: Essexville Garber opened a 20-point lead by halftime to get past Pinconning 64-39 – Bay City Times

9. Boys Basketball: Zach Boyd and Armondo Beverly had double-doubles as Burr Oak opened with a 68-57 win over White Pigeon – Sturgis Journal

10. Hockey: Escanaba scored six goals during the second period to down Negaunee 13-6 – Marquette Mining Journal