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: 9/2/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 2, 2021

1. BOYS TENNIS Detroit Country Day downed Birmingham Seaholm 6-2; both made Lower Peninsula semifinals last season, Seaholm in Division 2 and Country Day in Division 3 – State Champs Sports Network

2. VOLLEYBALL Dowagiac’s five-set win over Plainwell was its first victory over the Trojans since at least 2006 – Niles Daily Star

3. VOLLEYBALL Kingsley improved to 9-3 with wins over Division 4 honorable mention Leland, Charlevoix and Manton – Traverse City Record-Eagle

4. BOYS SOCCER Ludington ran its season-opening shutout streak to five with a 5-0 win over Whitehall – Ludington Daily News

5. VOLLEYBALL Traverse City West came back after losing the first set to defeat rival Central – Up North Live

6. BOYS TENNIS Chelsea and Ann Arbor Skyline played to a 4-4 draw; both were ranked among the top 15 in their divisions last season, Skyline in Division 1 and Chelsea in Division 2 – Chelsea Sun Times News

7. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 No. 2 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep upped its record to 18-0 with wins over Oxford, Rochester and Holly – Oakland Press

8. BOYS SOCCER Fruitport earned its first win over Spring Lake since 2015, 4-2 – Grand Haven Tribune

9. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 3 Saginaw Valley Lutheran held off Midland Bullock Creek in a sweep – Midland Daily News

10. BOYS SOCCER Cadillac handed undefeated Big Rapids its third tie of the season – Big Rapids News

Also of note …

HEALTH & SAFETY Saline girls golf provided a great example of how sports teams are putting into play mental health training provided by West Michigan-based be nice. during MHSAA coaches meetings – WDIV