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: 4/22/16
April 22, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A top Michigan high school football coach will say good-bye while another longtime winner in tennis has celebrated a milestone win.
Baseball
Adrian Madison and Britton Deerfield split an “unusual” doubleheader indeed with Britton Deerfield winning 5-4 and then Madison 22-1 in the second game – Adrian Daily Telegram
In another unexpected turn, Grand Rapids Union’s Sergio Diaz no-hit Zeeland East, but East won with two unearned runs – Holland Sentinel
Division 2 No. 4 DeWitt got a one-run win and a comeback tie at Division 4 No. 4 Beal City – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Division 1 No. 10 Grosse Pointe South came back from four down to edge Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 6-5 – Detroit News
Girls Soccer
Traverse City Central delivered Cadillac the latter's first loss this season, 2-1 in Big North Conference play – Cadillac News
Softball
A matchup of teams that recently made MHSAA Semifinals in different divisions ended in a split as Stevensville Lakeshore opened with a win over Portage Central, but Central won the second game – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
Dayna Fennell hit her seventh and eighth home runs to break the Gladwin single-season record in only the team’s eighth game this spring – Midland Daily News
Girls Tennis
From Wednesday, Ludington gave longtime coach Tom Kudwa his 200th career victory with a win over Fremont – Ludington Daily News
Track & Field
The Powers North Central boys and Ontonagon girls finished this week’s series of Superior Dome Classic meets with Division 3 championships at Northern Michigan University – Marquette Mining Journal
Football
Longtime and successful Allen Park football coach Tom Hoover has resigned after 20 seasons as head coach and 30 overall, with a 171-50 varsity record – Detroit Free Press
Good Read
The Battle Creek Enquirer caught up with this season’s MHSAA Norris Award winner, Linda Hoover, who is in her 36th year as an MHSAA registered official while also considered one of the elite softball umpires nationwide – Battle Creek Enquirer