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: 10/16/17
October 16, 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 Tennis: No. 2-ranked Novi followed up a one-point league tournament win over No. 4 Northville by finishing five points ahead of the Mustangs to win a sixth straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional title – Observer & Eccentric
2. Cross Country: Lansing Catholic swept championships at the Greater Lansing Invitational, which includes mid-Michigan schools from all classes for one race; the boys are tied for No. 2 in LPD2 and the girls are No. 3 – Lansing State Journal Girls | Boys
3. Cross Country: The LPD1 No. 3 Ann Arbor Pioneer girls and No. 4 Saline boys defeated loaded Ann Arbor River Rat Open fields, Pioneer two points ahead of LPD1 No. 2 Northville and Saline ahead of host Huron – Athletic.net
4. Cross Country: Macomb L’Anse Creuse North’s Karenna Duffey won her fourth Macomb County Invitational title; Romeo swept the team championships, and its boys are No. 3 in LPD1 – Macomb Daily
5. Cross Country: Essexville Garber’s boys ended Bay City Western’s 11-year winning streak at the Bay County Championship; Western’s girls, an honorable mention in LPD1, won a sixth straight title – Bay City Times
6. Volleyball: Escanaba gained a share of its first league title since 2003 by winning the Great Northern Conference tournament – Escanaba Daily Press
7. Volleyball: After falling to Muskegon Mona Shores in the 2016 final, Class B honorable mention Fruitport swept the Sailors in the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament championship match; the final two sets were won by only two points apiece – Muskegon Chronicle
8. Cross Country: Muskegon Reeths-Puffer’s girls and Fruitport’s boys won GMAA city championships, Fruitport led by a meet record setter – Muskegon Chronicle
9. Cross Country: The Harbor Springs boys and LPD3 No. 6 Traverse City St. Francis girls won Lake Michigan Conference championships – Petoskey News-Review
10. Volleyball: Centreville went undefeated on the day and upset Class C honorable mention Mendon in the final to win the Southwest 10 Conference tournament title – Sturgis Journal
Also of note:
Volleyball: Class C No. 9 Adrian Madison survived a close championship match with Onsted to repeat as Lenawee County champion – Adrian Daily Telegram
Boys Tennis: From Thursday, LPD1 No. 10 Hudsonville advanced to its first MHSAA Finals since 1994 and carries a 26-0-2 record this fall – Grand Rapids Press
Boys Tennis: From Thursday, top-ranked Okemos and East Lansing took the top two spots at the LPD2 Regional at East Lansing, but third-place Pinckney also qualified for the Finals for the first time – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Boys Tennis: From Thursday and Friday, LPD2 No. 3 Birmingham Seaholm edged No. 2 Birmingham Groves by three points to win their Regional – Oakland Press
Volleyball: Battle Creek Lakeview swept Harper Creek to win the All-City Tournament for the second straight season – Battle Creek Enquirer
Cross Country: The Adrian boys and Tecumseh girls won Lenawee County championships – Adrian Daily Telegram