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: 3/6/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 6, 2023

1. WRESTING A record four seniors finished their careers with fourth Individual Wrestling Finals championships at Ford Field, and we talked to all 70 champions across the five divisions – MHSAA.com

2. COMPETITIVE CHEER Croswell-Lexington won its first championship in this sport, Rochester High and Gibraltar Carlson ended rivals’ title runs and Hudson added a fourth-straight Finals victory over two days at Central Michigan University – MHSAA.com

3. BOWLING Eight teams and eight singles claimed championships over the weekend, including Sparta and Taylor Trillium Academy’s girls both for the first time Friday – MHSAA.com

4. GIRLS BASKETBALL Goodrich downed undefeated Lake Fenton 54-53 in a Division 2 District Final after having lost to the Blue Devils three times during the regular season – Flint Journal

5. HOCKEY Cameron Duffany scored all of No. 3 Brighton’s goals including the double-overtime winner in a Division 1 Quarterfinal victory over No. 5 Livonia Stevenson – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Negaunee edged Hancock 47-44 in double overtime to clinch a Division 3 District title – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Three Oaks River Valley clinched its first District title since 1998, downing St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran in Division 4 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

8. GIRLS BASKETBALL Farmington Hills Mercy handed North Farmington its lone loss in claiming a fifth-straight District title, in Division 1 – Oakland Press

9. GYMNASTICS Hartland won its second Regional title in four seasons, finishing ahead of runner-up Howell by just three-tenths of a point – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

10. HOCKEY No. 5 Saginaw Heritage downed No. 3 Alpena 4-1 in a Division 2 Quarterfinal – WBKB

Also of note …

GIRLS BASKETBALL Owosso defeated Durand 34-29 in Division 2 to win its first District championship since 2001 – Mid-Michigan Now