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: 9/14/16

September 14, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The soccer pitch was the place to look for many of the best matchups across the state Wednesday, but also make sure to scroll to the bottom of this report for a story on the fight of one of Michigan’s best-known volleyball coaches.

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.

Cross Country

The Saline boys earned a nice advantage in what should be a strong Southeastern Conference Red this fall by dominating the first league race – Saline Post

Manton’s girls and boys teams swept the first Marion Steeplechase Invitational, which combined 2-mile, 5K and 1-mile races with hay bales, logs and other obstacles placed along the way – Cadillac News

Boys Soccer

Division 1 No. 6 Brighton remained undefeated on the season with a 2-1 win over rival Hartland, handing the Eagles their first loss – Livingston Daily

Division 1 No. 19 Grand Haven won Bucs Pride Night 2-1 over Grandville on a goal with under 11 minutes to play – Grand Haven Tribune

Division 2 No. 5 Auburn Hills Avondale potted the only goal during the second half to edge North Farmington – Oakland Press

Boys Tennis

Lower Peninsula Division 4 No. 6 Lansing Catholic won a key Capital Area Activities Conference White match over unranked rival Portland, 5-3 – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Volleyball

Calumet avenged an earlier-season loss to Hancock in a matchup of top small-school programs in the Upper Peninsula – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Good Read

Cancer awareness will bring three communities together Sept. 20 as cousins Hannah Barton (South Lyon) and Kaylee Peterson (Novi) will face off with their teams in a Teal Attack event, the latest in a series of fundraiser games originated by Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central coach Karen O’Brien, one of the state’s best-known in the sport and also the girls’ aunt; she is fighting ovarian cancer for the second time – Observer & Eccentric