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: 10/9/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 9, 2023

1. CROSS COUNTRY The Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 2 Ann Arbor Pioneer, LPD2 No. 1 Grand Rapids Christian, LPD3 No. 1 Jackson Lumen Christi and LPD4 No. 3 Johannesburg-Lewiston girls and LPD1 No. 1 Brighton, LPD2 No. 7 Pinckney, LPD3 No. 1 Traverse City St. Francis and LPD4 No. 1 Hillsdale Academy boys won championships at the prestigious Portage Invitational – WWMT | Livingston Daily Press & Argus | Athletic.net

2. CROSS COUNTRY Oxford became the first school to sweep Oakland County championships since 1977; Oxford’s girls are No. 11 in LPD1, and its boys are No. 8 – Oakland Press

3. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD2 No. 4 Goodrich girls and No. 14 Frankenmuth boys claimed Greater Flint Championships titles – Flint Journal | Athletic.net

4. VOLLEYBALL Addison defeated Adrian in three sets to win the Hanover-Horton Invitational, and earned a win over Division 4 No. 8 Battle Creek St. Philip during pool play – Jackson Citizen Patriot

5. CROSS COUNTRY Reed City swept championships at the LeRoy Pine River Cecil R. Burch Invitational; Reed City’s boys are No. 5 in LPD3 – Big Rapids Pioneer | Athletic.net

6. CROSS COUNTRY Midland Dow swept championships at the Saginaw Heritage Invitational – Midland Daily News | Athletic.net

7. VOLLEYBALL Muskegon Oakridge avenged a pool play loss to Grandville Calvin Christian to clinch the Kent City Invitational championship – Local Sports Journal

8. VOLLEYBALL Boyne City went 9-1 on the day to win the Mancelona Invitational – Petoskey News-Review

9. CROSS COUNTRY The Clinton and Hudson girls and Clinton boys were among champions at the Hudson Invitational – Athletic.net

10. VOLLEYBALL Muskegon Catholic Central won the Big Rapids Crossroads Cougars vs. Cancer Tournament – Local Sports Journal