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: 3/9/21
March 9, 2021
Title time continued on the basketball court Monday where at least three teams clinched conference championships to top our list of headliners.
1. Boys Basketball: Romulus Summit Academy handed Detroit Edison its first loss, 49-46, to clinch the Charter School Conference championship – Detroit News
2. Girls Basketball: Brooklyn Columbia Central clinched the Lenawee County Athletic Association title with a 33-30 win over Onsted – Jackson Citizen Patriot
3. Boys Basketball: Otsego claimed a fourth-straight Wolverine Conference title with a 61-36 win over Allegan – Kalamazoo Gazette
4. Boys Basketball: Ke’ontae Barnes became Muskegon Orchard View’s all-time leading scorer during an 86-42 win over Kent City – Local Sports Journal
5. Girls Basketball: Harper Woods Chandler Park won a matchup of title contenders, 79-78 – MLive-Detroit
6. Boys Basketball: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s downed Ferndale 81-40 as Will Smythe drained 12 3-pointers – Oakland Press
7. Hockey: Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central downed Division 1 No. 8 West for the second time in four days, this time 7-1 – Up North Live
8. Girls Basketball: Freeland downed Alma 38-25, but the Panthers’ Alyssa Leister went over 1,000 career points – Saginaw News
9. Girls Basketball: Sarah Marvin posted a triple-double to lead Byron past Linden 71-37 – Owosso Argus-Press
10. Boys Basketball: Reese downed Bad Axe 82-80 in overtime to maintain first place in the Greater Thumb Conference West – Huron Daily Tribune
Also of note …
Wrestling: Montabella’s Shaun Balhorn went over 500 career wins, becoming the 31st coach in his sport to do so – Greenville Daily News