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: 9/29/25
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 29, 2025
1. CROSS COUNTRY The Traverse City West girls – No. 7 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – and LPD2 No. 2 Flint Powers Catholic boys were Elite race champions at the Shepherd BlueJay Invitational – Flint Journal | Athletic.net
2. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD2 No. 7 St. Joseph girls and LPD3 No. 11 Buchanan boys were champions at the Berrien County Meet – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
3. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 honorable mention Cass City claimed the silver bracket title at the D3/D4 Invitational – Huron Daily Tribune
4. BOYS SOCCER Division 1 No. 7 Holland West Ottawa shut out Division 2 No. 8 Holland High 2-0 – Holland Sentinel
5. VOLLEYBALL Essexville Garber finished 5-0 to win the Mt. Morris Invitational – Bay City Times
6. CROSS COUNTRY Rochester swept the girls and boys overall championships at the Hanson’s Invitational in Sterling Heights; Rochester’s girls are ranked No. 15 in LPD1 – Oakland Press
7. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Gibraltar Carlson pushed past reigning champion Allen Park to win the Downriver Classic – Southgate News-Herald
8. CROSS COUNTRY The Berkley girls and Temperance Bedford boys were victorious at the Gibraltar Carlson Invitational – Monroe News
9. BOYS TENNIS LPD3 No. 5 Grand Rapids South Christian was first and Ludington second in a Grand Rapids-area quad that also included Zeeland East and Grand Rapids Christian – Ludington Daily News
10. CROSS COUNTRY The Midland Bullock Creek girls and Yale boys won championships at the Wagener Park Invitational – Huron Daily Tribune | Athletic.net