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: 1/10/24

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 10, 2024

1. BOYS BASKETBALL Orchard Lake St. Mary’s earned a key Catholic League Central win with statewide impact, 70-56 over Detroit Catholic Central – Oakland Press

2. GIRLS BASKETBALL Hartland earned a 50-39 win over Salem, a Division 1 semifinalist last season – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. GIRLS BASKETBALL Reigning Division 2 champion Lansing Catholic handed Portland its first defeat, 62-34 – Lansing State Journal

4. GIRLS BASKETBALL Rockford won a matchup of undefeated rivals, 55-36 over Grand Haven – Grand Rapids Press

5. GIRLS BASKETBALL West Bloomfield broke away late for a 60-37 win over Detroit Country Day – MLIVE-Detroit

6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Ashley Weller went over 1,000 career points as Jackson Northwest won a key Interstate 8 Athletic Conference matchup 43-35 over Coldwater – Jackson Citizen Patriot

7. BOYS BASKETBALL Flint Beecher edged rival Hamady, 62-58 – WJRT

8. GIRLS BASKETBALL White Lake Lakeland earned its first Lakes Valley Conference win ever over reigning champion South Lyon East, 36-31 – Oakland Press

9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Dexter made a strong statement with a 45-43 win over Saline – Ann Arbor News

10. BOYS BASKETBALL St. Ignace delivered Pickford’s first loss this season, 69-51 – MI Sports Now

Also of note ...

BOYS BASKETBALL All-time winningest Michigan boys basketball coach Roy Johnston announced he will retire after this season, his 50th total and 48th at Beaverton – Midland Daily News

SKIING Upper Peninsula teams began their season at the Marquette Invitational – Upper Michigan Source