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: 3/12/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 12, 2025

Boys Basketball Quarterfinals

DIVISION 1

East Lansing 72, Ann Arbor Huron 49 The Trojans avenged last season’s Quarterfinal loss to the River Rats – Lansing State Journal

Flint Carman-Ainsworth 54, Byron Center 51 Fred Thomas IV sank the game-winner at the buzzer for Carman-Ainsworth – WNEM

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 73, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North 42 The reigning champion Eaglets will play for a repeat opportunity – MLIVE-Detroit

Wayne Memorial 70, Detroit Martin Luther King 44 Wayne followed Carlos Medlock Jr. in continuing its run – Detroit Free Press

DIVISION 2

Grand Rapids Catholic Central 59, Marshall 43 The Cougars will return to Breslin for the fourth time over the last seven seasons – Grand Rapids Press

Kingsford 48, Freeland 46 The Flivvers held off the Falcons’ comeback attempt to earn a trip to East Lansing -- MyUPNow

Romulus Summit Academy North 68, Lansing Sexton 41 Summit will return to the Breslin Center for the second time in three seasons – WILX

Warren Lincoln 49, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 30 The reigning Division 2 champion earned a return trip to Finals weekend – Macomb Daily

DIVISION 3

Riverview Gabriel Richard 62, Jackson Lumen Christi 30 Gabriel Richard finished a three-game sweep of the league-rival Titans – Southgate News-Herald

Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac 74, Flint New Standard Academy 44 ATAP earned its first trip to the Semifinals to go with last week’s first Regional title – Oakland Press

Ishpeming Westwood 48, McBain 40 The Patriots extended their trip downstate into Finals weekend by holding off the Ramblers – Upper Michigan’s Source

Pewamo-Westphalia 50, Schoolcraft 45 The Pirates came back from a halftime deficit to advance – WLNS

DIVISION 4

Allen Park Inter-City Baptist 63, Kingston 50 Inter-City will make a repeat trip to Breslin after winning this Quarterfinal rematch from a year ago – Southgate News-Herald

Crystal Falls Forest Park 45, Pickford 43 Forest Park scored the game-winning points during the final minute to pull past Pickford – Upper Michigan’s Source

Fowler 65, Bellaire 27 The Eagles earned their first Semifinals trip since 2002 – Lansing State Journal

Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 56, Adrian Lenawee Christian 43 The reigning champ Defenders will continue to pursue a repeat – WOOD TV