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: 9/17/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 17, 2021

1. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 top-ranked Richland Gull Lake handed a first defeat this season to Division 1 No. 14 Portage Central, 4-1 – Kalamazoo Gazette

2. VOLLEYBALL Division 1 top-ranked Bloomfield Hills Marian swept No. 6 Farmington Hills Mercy in their first of what likely will be a few matchups this season – Oakland Press

3. BOYS SOCCER Jack Spencer broke the Elk Rapids shutout record with his 40th in goal as his Division 3 No. 8 Elks downed No. 13 Boyne City 2-0 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

4. GIRLS GOLF Gibraltar Carlson shot a 365 to win the Southgate Anderson Invitational by 11 strokes – Monroe News

5. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 6 Fruitport earned an important 1-1 draw with Division 3 No. 2 Holland Christian – Grand Haven Tribune

6. BOYS SOCCER Hartland earned its first win over Brighton since 2006, 2-1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

7. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Trenton – an honorable mention in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – opened its new natatorium with a 105-60 win over Dearborn Edsel Ford – Southgate News-Herald

8. VOLLEYBALL Beaverton came back after losing the first set to defeat Gladwin in five – Midland Daily News

9. VOLLEYBALL Fenton defeated reigning league champ Holly for the first time in three years, 3-0 – WJRT

10. BOYS SOCCER Division 3 No. 12 Frankenmuth won by shutout for the second day in a row, this time 3-0 over Freeland – Saginaw News

Also of note …

MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl has been named to the Board of Directors for the National Association of Sports Officials. He previously served from 2011-15 including as board char in 2015 – NFHS