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: 10/4/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 4, 2023

1. GIRLS GOLF Midland won the Saginaw Valley League Tournament on a tie-breaker, but Grand Blanc earned the overall conference championship – Midland Daily News

2. BOYS SOCCER Chesaning finished a Mid-Michigan Activities Conference title run with a 7-1 win over Otisville-LakeVille – Mid-Michigan Now

3. VOLLEYBALL Zeeland East clinched a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green title with a five-set win over Division 1 honorable mention Muskegon Mona Shores – FOX17

4. VOLLEYBALL Shelby clinched a share of the West Michigan Conference Rivers title with a sweep of North Muskegon – Local Sports Journal

5. BOYS TENNIS Ludington – No. 4 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – earned a share of the West Michigan Conference championship with a shutout of Whitehall – Ludington Daily News

6. BOYS SOCCER Division 1 No. 6 Oxford earned the Oakland Activities Association Red title despite a loss to No. 9 Troy Athens, with top-ranked Berkley also falling to Rochester Adams – Oakland Press

7. BOYS SOCCER Parma Western defeated Coldwater 2-1 to make those two co-champions of the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference – Coldwater Daily Reporter

8. BOYS SOCCER Brighton defeated Division 1 No. 2 Northville for the second time, this time 1-0 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

9. VOLLEYBALL Reed City moved into a first-place tie with Division 3 honorable mention Morley Stanwood in the Central State Activities Association with a four-set win – MI Sports Now

10. BOYS SOCCER Holt advanced to the Capital Area Activities Conference Gold Cup final with a 2-1 win over Division 2 No. 10 Mason – Lansing State Journal