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: 4/24/17

April 24, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

We’re deep into invitational season across all of our spring sports, and the weekend’s headliners include an impressive championship in softball and record feats in track & field.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Baseball

Pinconning unveiled a renovated stadium with a sweep of Shepherd including a no-hitter by Cam Floyd – Bay City Times

Jackson edged rival and Division 3 No. 3 Jackson Lumen Christi 2-1 thanks in part to the pitching and timely hitting of Xavier Hovinen – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Sand Creek downed Onsted and Springport to win Onsted’s Invitational – Adrian Daily Telegram

Remus Chippewa Hills remained undefeated this season with a win at its invitational – Big Rapids News

Division 3 No. 10 Bronson won the Potterville Invitational claiming two wins by a combined 23-1 score – Coldwater Daily Reporter

Onekama downed Maple City Glen Lake and Mesick to win the Glen Lake Invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Golf

Carney-Nadeau’s Hunter Eichhorn – who will play collegiately at Marquette University – led his team to the Niagara Invitational title with a two-over 74 to win the medalist honor by eight strokes – Escanaba Daily Press

Okemos finished 12 strokes ahead of the field to win Adrian Madison’s Ryder Cup-style tournament – Adrian Daily Telegram

Softball

Three Rivers won its invitational for the first time, downing Gobles and then Constantine – Sturgis Journal

Division 3 No. 6 Napoleon downed Division 1 honorable mention Saline 7-2 in the final to win the Hornets’ invitational – Saline Post

After falling to Bay City Central by a run in its opener, Alpena came back to win the Swartz Creek Invitational – Alpena News

Track & Field

Oak Park swept the championships at the annual Oxford Invitational, the girls ahead of Lake Orion and the boys ahead of Walled Lake Central – Oakland Press

The Petoskey girls and Charlevoix boys won team titles at a Harbor Springs Ram Scramble that saw a number of records fall – Petoskey News-Review