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: 4/20/17

April 20, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A few track & field school records were broken across the middle of the Lower Peninsula over the last few days, but pay special attention to a pair of stories of courage in our “Good Reads” section at the bottom of this report.

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

From Monday, Portage Northern downed reigning Division 1 champion and top-ranked Warren DeLaSalle 12-2 – Kalamazoo Gazette

Track & Field

Midland Bullock Creek sophomore sprinter Samantha Chew broke a school record and tied another in her team’s double-dual sweep of Saginaw Swan Valley and Chesaning – Midland Daily News

From Tuesday, Shepherd’s girls swept Alma and Standish-Sterling as Amber Gall broke a school record held since 1980 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Good Reads

Noah Kole finished third in Gaylord St. Mary’s golf match Tuesday – two months after not being able to walk while fighting for his life – Gaylord Herald-Times

Ashley Danilowicz is a top hitter and outfielder for a Saginaw Swan Valley team considered one of the best in the state. And she’s playing this season motivated by the memories of her dad Jim, who died in November in a car crash – Saginaw News