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: 3/13/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 13, 2025

1. GIRLS BASKETBALL Tecumseh defeated Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 50-39 to avenge a Division 2 Quarterfinal loss from last season – Ann Arbor News

2. GIRLS BASKETBALL Sanford Meridian celebrated its first Regional title in girls basketball with a 37-26 win over Roscommon in Division 3 – Midland Daily News

3. GIRLS BASKETBALL Utica Ford defeated Warren Cousino 48-24 in Division 1 to claim its first Regional title since 1985 – Macomb Daily

4. GIRLS BASKETBALL Jackson Lumen Christi defeated New Lothrop 39-34 in Division 3 to clinch its first Regional title since 1988 – Jackson Citizen Patriot

5. GIRLS BASKETBALL Baylor Lauinger’s game-winner sent Goodrich past Haslett 58-56 in Division 2 – Flint Journal

6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Fowler handed Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart its only loss of the season, 57-36 in a Division 4 Regional Final – Lansing State Journal

7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Genesee Christian claimed its second Regional title with a 45-40 win over Kingston, last season’s Division 4 runner-up – WJRT

8. GIRLS BASKETBALL Wayne Memorial advanced in Division 1 with a 51-47 win over Detroit Renaissance – Detroit News

9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Grand Haven held off Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern for a 50-47 win in Division 1, claiming its first Regional title in 12 years – Grand Haven Tribune

10. GIRLS BASKETBALL Frankfort repeated as a Regional champion with a 48-30 win over Gaylord St. Mary in Division 4 – Up North Live

Also of note …

GIRLS BASKETBALL Elisha Dykstra reached 1,000 career points in Grand Rapids West Catholic’s 46-24 Division 2 Regional Final win over Spring Lake – Grand Rapids Press