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: 11/8/17

November 8, 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: Class D No. 8 Rogers City and No. 2 Leland traded sets before Rogers City emerged with a five-game win in their Regional Semifinal – Alpena News

2. Volleyball: Top-ranked Pontiac Notre Dame Prep will meet No. 2 North Branch in a Regional Final thanks to Tuesday wins, the Irish’s over No. 7 Marysville and North Branch’s over Detroit Country Day – Oakland Press

3. Volleyball: Class D honorable mention Muskegon Catholic Central downed No. 4 Fife Lake Forest Area in five sets in their Regional Semifinal – Local Sports Journal

4. Volleyball: Beaverton, coming off first league and District titles, will play for a first Regional title as well after a five-set win over honorable mention Ravenna in Class C – Midland Daily News

5. Volleyball: Fruitport won a matchup of Class B honorable mentions in four sets over Grand Rapids Catholic Central – Grand Haven Tribune

6. Volleyball: Class A No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian and No. 8 Clarkston will meet for a Regional title after winning their Regional Semifinals, Marian over honorable mention Rochester Hills Stoney Creek and Clarkston over Troy – Oakland Press

7. Volleyball: Unranked South Lyon swept honorable mention Ann Arbor Huron to move on in Class A – Observer & Eccentric

8. Volleyball: Alma advanced to its first Regional Final since 2007 by coming back to beat Gladwin in four sets in Class B – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

9. Volleyball: Honorable mention Cadillac swept Sault Ste. Marie, a champion of two leagues this fall, to advance in Class B – Cadillac News

10. Volleyball: Whitmore Lake earned the opportunity to play for a first Regional title with a 3-1 win over Jackson Lumen Christi in Class C – Jackson Citizen-Patriot