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: 1/9/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 9, 2023

1. GIRLS BASKETBALL Sandusky downed Unionville-Sebewaing 42-28 as Sandusky coach Al DeMott became the state’s all-time winningest in girls basketball with 798 victories – Port Huron Times Herald

2.  WRESTLING Division 3 top-ranked Dundee led the way with three champions and five runners-up at the prestigious Detroit Catholic Central Invitational – Michigan Grappler

3. HOCKEY Division 3 No. 1 Houghton defeated Division 1 No. 3 Brighton 6-0 and followed up with a 9-1 win over Novi – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

4. COMPETITIVE CHEER Allen Park was first in Division 2 and overall against top competition at its annual invitational – Southgate News-Herald

5. BOYS BASKETBALL Reigning Division 1 champion Warren De La Salle Collegiate edged Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 38-34 – Detroit News

6. WRESTLING Dundee also was first, Division 4 No. 2 New Lothrop second and No. 4 Bronson third at New Lothrop’s Hall of Fame Tournament – Coldwater Daily Reporter

7. BOWLING Onsted’s Sydney Nichols won her third Lenawee County individual championship and Tecumseh’s Owen Williams won his second – Adrian Daily Telegram

8. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Grand Rapids Northview – No. 7 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – was first and LPD3 No. 6 Spring Lake second at Spring Lake’s invitational – Ludington Daily News

9. WRESTLING Division 3 No. 4 Richmond downed No. 8 Yale 42-22 during the first weekend of Blue Water Area Conference competition – The Sports Report

10. WRESTLING Benzie Central won the 50th Escanaba Elks Tournament, finishing first with Division 4 No. 5 Iron Mountain second and Division 3 No. 10 Gladstone fourth – Benzie Record Patriot

Also of note …

GIRLS BASKETBALL Ithaca’s Delaney Seaman went over 1,000 career points in her team’s win over Carrollton – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

BOYS BASKETBALL R.J. Taylor went over 1,000 career points as Grand Blanc downed East Lansing 65-51 at its Charlie Carmody Classic – Flint Journal 

GIRLS BASKETBALL Bellaire downed Fife Lake Forest Area led by Jacey Sommers, who scored 27 points including the 1,000th of her career – Traverse City Record-Eagle