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: 12/9/15
December 9, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Falling school records and a perfect bowling game highlight today's headlines covering a variety of sports across the state.
Girls Basketball
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart senior center Averi Gamble scored a school-record 40 points, breaking the previous mark of 34 set in 1980, in the Irish’s 67-23 win over Beal City – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Despite 25 points by South Lyon East’s Peyton Jones, Saline hung on for a 47-42 win after leading by only one point with 20 seconds to play – Ann Arbor News
Boys Basketball
Spencer Littleson scored 42 points in arguably the night’s most exciting opener, sinking 18 of 20 free-throw attempts as Rochester Adams outlasted Auburn Hills Avondale 77-69 in overtime – Oakland Press
East Jordan’s Jordan Weber broke his school’s career scoring record of 1,170 points, set in 1986, by upping his total to 1,193 with 24 in a 66-20 win over Mancelona – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Midland trailed Bay City Western by 19 with 11 minutes to play, but knocked down five 3-pointers to climb back for a 53-43 win – Midland Daily News
Battle Creek Central won its first game under new coach Durant Crum in dramatic fashion, on a putback with five seconds to play to beat Jackson 59-58 – Battle Creek Enquirer
Boys Bowling
Wayland senior Cameron Heintzelman rolled his first 300 in a match Monday against Zeeland East, topping his previous high of 289 – Grand Rapids Press
Girls Swimming & Diving
Girls and boys swimming and diving seasons are both in the winter in the Upper Peninsula, and Kingsford’s Peyton Johnson broker her own school record in the 200 individual medley to highlight performances in the Flivvers’ meet with Marquette – Iron Mountain Daily News