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: 12/16/15
December 16, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Basketball was the game, and late heroics the theme of many of the most exciting contests statewide Tuesday.
Girls Basketball
Napoleon allowed only one point in overtime to edge Manchester 41-37 in a battle of strong Class C teams from the Jackson area – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
Katelyn Wright’s 3-pointer with four seconds to play gave Muskegon Western Michigan Christian a 43-42 win over Wyoming Tri-unity Christian – Grand Haven Tribune
Howell upended expected Class A contender Waterford Kettering 51-37 in a telling cross-division matchup in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association – Livingston Daily
Mason 6-foot-3 senior Autumn Kissman had arguably the best game of her high school career with 31 points and 10 rebounds in the Bulldogs’ 56-39 win over Okemos – Lansing State Journal
Boys Basketball
South Haven saw a 17-point halftime lead dissolve against Three Rivers, but held on to win in overtime 76-75 – Kalamazoo Gazette
Macomb Dakota began avenging last season’s Regional Final loss to Clarkston with a 46-35 victory over the Wolves – Macomb Daily
Noah Ingram scored 14 of his team-high 19 points during the fourth quarter as Mount Pleasant got past Midland Dow 56-41 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Johannesburg-Lewiston’s Logan Huff scored his 1,000th career point in leading the Cardinals to a 67-27 win over Mancelona – Gaylord Herald Times
Marshall and Portland played to five overtimes before Marshall came away with a 98-95 victory – Ionia Sentinel-Standard
Traverse City Central’s Jackson Schrameyer put up 40 points to lead the Trojans past rival Traverse City West 75-64 and break a five-game losing streak to their rival – Traverse City Record-Eagle