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: 9/10/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 10, 2021

1. BOYS SOCCER Division 4 No. 4 Royal Oak Shrine Catholic got past No. 10 Madison Heights Bishop Foley 2-1 with a last-minute game-winner – Oakland Press

2. BOYS SOCCER Hartland came back from two goals down to tie Division 1 top-ranked Northville 2-2 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. VOLLEYBALL After splitting the first two sets, Grand Blanc won the next two to hand Saginaw Heritage its first defeat – Flint Journal

4. VOLLEYBALL Flushing downed Fenton in four sets in a match that should eventually figure into the league title race – Mid-Michigan Now

5. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 9 Ludington gave up its first goal of the season, but remained undefeated with a 5-1 win over Muskegon Western Michigan Christian – Ludington Daily News

6. BOYS TENNIS Midland Dow downed rival Midland 7-1 – Midland Daily News

7. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 10 McBain opened league play with sweeps of Houghton Lake and Beal City – Cadillac News

8. BOYS SOCCER Charlevoix defeated Grayling 2-0 in the annual “Noah’s Ark” game – Petoskey News-Review

9. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING The Traverse City Tritons co-op earned the individual first places in all but one event in a win over Gaylord – Traverse City Record-Eagle

10. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 4 Calumet earned a sweep of Iron Mountain in league play – Iron Mountain Daily News

Also of note …

MHSAA Longtime and now-retired assistant director Nate Hampton always has refused to take credit for the work he’s done in athletics over a half century – but the many he impacted are more than glad to step in and tell the story – Detroit Free Press