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: 11/17/17

November 17, 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. Volleyball: No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian avenged a pair of losses to rival and No. 6 Farmington Hills Mercy by advancing in a Class A Semifinal on Thursday – Observer & Eccentric 

2. Volleyball: Class D No. 6 Fowler will play in its first MHSAA championship match in this sport after downing honorable mention Munising in a Semifinal – Lansing State Journal

3. Volleyball: Reigning Class A champion and current No. 2 Novi avenged one of its few losses this season with a Semifinal win over DeWitt – Oakland Press 

4. Volleyball: Reigning champion and top-ranked Plymouth Christian Academy got past No. 8 Rogers City in four sets in Class D – Observer & Eccentric

5. Girls Swimming & Diving: Port Huron’s area qualifiers are highlighted, led by St. Clair’s Molly Likins – Port Huron Times Herald

6. Girls Swimming & Diving: Adrian and Tecumseh both are sending seven athletes to MHSAA Finals as part of Lenawee County’s qualifiers – Adrian Daily Telegram 

7. Volleyball: A talented pair of middle blockers has Fruitport headed back to the Class B Semifinals – Grand Haven Tribune 

8. Hockey: Sean Clark has taken over as coach at Warren DeLaSalle, the reigning Division 3 champion – Macomb Daily

9. Hockey: Sault Ste. Marie is working to replace nine graduates from last season’s team that finished 19-8 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News 

10. Football: Riverview’s Tyler Dively surely is enjoying his team’s turnaround season, but he’s also playing with thoughts of his older brother Ron, battling leukemia, heavy on his mind – Southgate News Herald