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: 4/22/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 22, 2022

1. SOFTBALL Division 2 No. 5 Essexville Garber earned a titanic sweep of Division 4 top-ranked Unionville-Sebewaing, handing the Patriots their first loss in more than a year – Bay City Times

2. BASEBALL Unranked Freeland came back twice to sweep Division 2 No. 5 Frankenmuth – Saginaw News

3. BOYS LACROSSE East Grand Rapids came back from an early deficit to get past Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 13-5; they entered the week ranked Nos. 4 and 5 in Division 2, respectively – FOX 17

4. BASEBALL Division 4 No. 19 Kalamazoo Christian got past No. 4 Hackett Catholic Prep 8-7 in eight innings – WWMT

5. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 7 Brownstown Woodhaven handed Division 2 honorable mention Trenton its first defeat, 5-4 – Southgate News-Herald

6. TRACK & FIELD Katie Carothers’ 1,600 win highlighted Brighton’s sweep of Howell – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

7. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 13 Petoskey ran its shutout streak to four with a 1-0 win over Division 3 No. 14 Elk Rapids – Petoskey News-Review

8. GIRLS SOCCER All-stater Hannah Kastamo returned from injury with both goals in Division 1 No. 5 Hartland’s 2-0 win over Canton – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

9. BASEBALL Central Montcalm edged Belding 9-8 in 11 innings on a walk-off bunt – Greenville Daily News

10. BASEBALL Division 2 top-ranked New Boston Huron improved to 7-1 with a sweep of Dearborn Divine Child – Southgate News-Herald

Also of note …

GIRLS BASKETBALL Imlay City coach Heather Lauwers resigned after six seasons, having led the Spartans to three straight league and District titles – Port Huron Times-Herald

BOYS BASKETBALL Steve Windemuller retired as Holland West Ottawa coach after 36 years total guiding high school teams, first at Holland High and then West Ottawa for the last nine – Holland Sentinel

GIRLS BASKETBALL Detroit Country Day has hired former standout Amber Deane as its next coach – Oakland Press