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: 10/28/20

October 28, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A pair of high-powered contests among Detroit Catholic League rivals in multiple sports topped a Tuesday of Soccer Regional Semifinals, volleyball conference title deciders and big-time swimming & diving matchups.

1. Volleyball: No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Marian handed top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy its first loss, winning the Detroit Catholic League Bishop championship – Oakland Press

2. Boys Soccer: Top-ranked (MPR) Detroit Catholic Central edged No. 6 Warren De La Salle Collegiate 3-2 in overtime in a Division 1 Regional Semifinal – Oakland Press

3. Boys Soccer: No. 8 (MPR) East Grand Rapids downed No. 4 Petoskey 4-2 in a Division 2 Regional Semifinal – Petoskey News-Review

4. Boys Soccer: No. 14 (MPR) Leland won a shootout to end the season for reigning Division 4 champion Muskegon Western Michigan Christian – Up North Live

5. Girls Swimming & Diving: Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 5 Hamilton defeated No. 4 Holland Christian, LPD1 No. 9 Zeeland defeated LPD3 No. 8 Spring Lake and LPD2 honorable mention Holland downed LPD3 honorable mention Grand Rapids Catholic Central – Holland Sentinel

6. Boys Soccer: Williamston won a shootout 3-1 to down No. 8 (MPR) Frankenmuth 4-3 in Division 3 – Saginaw News

7. Volleyball: Division 2 No. 7 Hamilton defeated honorable mention Grand Rapids West Catholic to secure the Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue title – Holland Sentinel

8. Volleyball: Saugatuck swept Lawton to finish a third-straight perfect run through the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore – Holland Sentinel

9. Boys Soccer: No. 5 (MPR) Riverview moved on in Division 2 with a shootout win over (No. 15) Chelsea – Southgate News-Herald

10. Boys Soccer: No. 4 (MPR) Bad Axe got past Roscommon 3-2 in overtime to advance in Division 4 – Huron Daily Tribune

Also of note …

Volleyball: Division 3 honorable mention Beal City earned its third-straight Highland Conference championship with a sweep of McBain Northern Michigan Christian – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Volleyball: Muskegon Mona Shores swept Reeths-Puffer to clinch the O-K Green Tournament and overall title – Muskegon Chronicle