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: 8/25/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

August 25, 2021

1. BOYS TENNIS Traverse City St. Francis – a semifinalist last season in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – downed reigning champion Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, plus Almont and Allen Park – Traverse City Record-Eagle

2. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 No. 2 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep remained undefeated with wins over Division 1 No. 6 Lake Orion, No. 9 Clarkston and Oxford – Oakland Press

3. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 honorable mention Essexville Garber downed Bay City Western to clinch the Bay County championship – Bay City Times

4. CROSS COUNTRY Freeland swept the Warrior Early Season Invitational titles at Remus Chippewa Hills – Big Rapids News Girls | Boys

5. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 No. 7 Grand Rapids Catholic Central swept Niles in the most notable match of the Hamilton quad; Niles additionally defeated Hamilton and Zeeland East – Niles Daily Star

6. BOYS SOCCER Brighton scored the lone goal in a 1-0 weather-shortened game over Hartland – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

7. BOYS SOCCER Five players scored in Muskegon Mona Shores’ 5-2 win over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central – Local Sports Journal

8. VOLLEYBALL Boyne City went 3-0 against East Jordan, Bellaire and Alpena – Petoskey News-Review

9. CROSS COUNTRY Grand Haven swept the Division 1 races, and the Manistee boys and Muskegon Catholic Central girls won Division 2 championships at the Eagle Invitational at Fruitport Calvary Christian – Ludington Daily News

10. VOLLEYBALL Swartz Creek downed Montrose in the season opener for both – Mid-Michigan Now