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: 1/12/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 12, 2022

1. GIRLS BASKETBALL Howell downed Hartland 37-31, ending the Eagles’ 33-game regular-season winning streak – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. BOYS BASKETBALL Orchard Lake St. Mary’s emerged from a matchup of unbeaten teams with a 66-64 double-overtime win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate – Oakland Press

3. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Ann Arbor Pioneer defeated Skyline 102-81 in a matchup of neighbors and top teams statewide – We Love Ann Arbor

4. BOYS BASKETBALL Vandercook Lake came back late to remain undefeated and hand Napoleon its first loss, 61-54 – Jackson Citizen Patriot

5. BOYS BASKETBALL Battle Creek Pennfield won a matchup of Interstate 8 Athletic Conference undefeated teams, 48-44 over Marshall – Battle Creek Enquirer

6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Hart started fast and held on for a 37-36 win over Montague – Local Sports Journal

7. GIRLS BASKETBALL East Lansing handed Holt its first defeat, 72-54 – Lansing State Journal

8. GIRLS BASKETBALL Flint Beecher got past rival Hamady 48-46 on a last-second basket – Mid-Michigan Now

9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Holland West Ottawa moved to 8-0 with a 37-32 win over Grand Haven – Holland Sentinel

10. BOYS BASKETBALL Gaylord earned its first win since February 2020, 64-61 over Ogemaw Heights – Petoskey News-Review

Also of note …

BASEBALL Blissfield coach Larry Tuttle, the MHSAA’s all-time wins leader in the sport, announced his retirement – Monroe News

GIRLS BASKETBALL Bloomfield Hills Marian coach Mary Cicerone, closing in on 700 career wins, will retire after this season – MLive-Detroit