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: 8/21/17
August 21, 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. Officials: A year after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, MHSAA official Steve Johnson has beaten it and returned to the field to work a football scrimmage last week – ABC12
2. Volleyball: Reigning Class A champion Novi cleared a loaded Lakeshore Classic field undefeated, downing host Grand Haven in the championship match – Grand Haven Tribune
3. Volleyball: Kalamazoo Central opened with a championship at the Carrie Adams Memorial Invitational at Battle Creek St. Philip, downing among others Battle Creek Harper Creek, Portland St. Patrick, Coldwater and then Buchanan (which had advanced by beating Leland) in the championship match – Kalamazoo Gazette
4. Volleyball: After failing to do so last season for the first time in at least five, Calumet won the Kingsford Invitational now under new coach Matt Laho – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
5. Boys Soccer: Tecumseh came back from a halftime deficit to down Adrian Lenawee Christian and win the Bronson Mansfield Cougar Cup championship – Adrian Daily Telegram
6. Boys Soccer: For the 14th time in 16 season, Niles won the VandenBerg Invitational, downing Cassopolis 3-0 in the championship game – Niles Daily Star
7. Volleyball: Saginaw Swan Valley went 5-0-1 to win the Carrollton Invitational, downing Saginaw Heritage, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker and Saginaw Valley Lutheran in bracket play – Saginaw News
8. Volleyball: Two-time reigning Class C champion Bronson opened quickly as well with five wins to claim its invitational, downing North Adams-Jerome 3-0 in the championship match – Sturgis Journal
9. Volleyball: Adrian Madison went 5-0 to win the Addison Invitational, sweeping all five opponents – Adrian Daily Telegram
10. Cross Country: Lake City swept the Northern Michigan Christian Invitational races in McBain, the girls finishing first by three points and the boys by 11 – Cadillac News
Also of note ...
Girls Golf: From last week, Brighton downed Saline by two strokes to win the Traverse City Central Ben Lober Invitational; reigning Lower Peninsula Division 2 champ Midland Dow finished fourth – Midland Daily News