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: 5/17/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 17, 2023

1. BASEBALL Division 3 No. 12 Parchment swept Division 4 No. 16 Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep to clinch a three-peat in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley – WWMT

2. SOFTBALL Division 2 honorable mention Big Rapids swept Lakeview to finish a repeat title run in the Central State Activities Association – Big Rapids Pioneer

3. TRACK & FIELD The Clinton Township Chippewa Valley boys and Macomb Dakota girls won Macomb Area Conference Red championship meet titles – Macomb Daily

4. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 11 Sterling Heights Stevenson downed Romeo 8-2 to clinch the MAC Red title – Macomb Daily

5. BASEBALL Unranked Hartland avenged a 2022 Quarterfinal loss with a 4-3 win over Division 1 No. 2 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

6. SOFTBALL Division 3 honorable mention Clinton maintained its one-game lead in the Lenawee County Athletic Association with a sweep of Hudson – Adrian Daily Telegram

7. BASEBALL Gladwin maintained a half-game lead in the Jack Pine Conference after a split with second-place Shepherd – MI Sports Now

8. SOFTBALL Unranked Milan also held onto its lead in the Huron league with a 5-4 win over Division 2 honorable mention New Boston Huron – Monroe News

9. SOFTBALL Gladwin bounced back to stay atop the JPC after Shepherd dealt the Flying Gs their first league defeat – MI Sports Now

10. BASEBALL Division 2 No. 7 Ada Forest Hills Eastern won the first game, but unranked Mattawan won the second of a doubleheader split – FOX 17