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: 2/13/20

February 13, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The MHSAA Team Wrestling Tournament kicked off Wednesday night, and a number of teams got things rolling quickly with their first championships in a decade or longer.

1. Wrestling: Muskegon Orchard View won its first Team District championship since 1996 by defeating Traverse City West and Central in Division 1 – Muskegon Chronicle

2. Wrestling: Wyoming Godwin Heights defeated Hudsonville Unity Christian in Division 3 to claim its first District title in this sport since 2003 – FOX 17

3. Wrestling: Livonia Churchill won its Division 1 District, downing Stevenson 35-33 in the final after Stevenson ended Franklin’s 14-year District title run in the opening match – Observer & Eccentric

4. Wrestling: Division 4 No. 5 Hart downed No. 7 LeRoy Pine River on the way to a District title – Cadillac News

5. Bowling: The Division 4 No. 1 Grass Lake boys downed Division 3 top-ranked Jonesville 21-9 –Jackson Citizen Patriot

6. Girls Basketball: Undefeated Detroit Edison handed Farmington Hills Mercy just its second loss, 59-41 – Detroit News

7. Boys Basketball: Carlos Johnson posted his second-straight triple double, this time to lead Benton Harbor past Coloma – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

8. Wrestling: Dexter downed Ann Arbor Pioneer and Skyline in Division 1 to earn its first District title since 2007 – Chelsea Sun Times News

9. Girls Basketball: Athens downed Camden-Frontier 50-38 in a matchup of Division 4 contenders – Hillsdale Daily News

10. Wrestling: Remus Chippewa Hills won its 16th straight District title with match victories over Big Rapids and Farwell in Division 3 – Big Rapids News

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: Connor Arnold became the first player in Coleman boys hoops history to go over 1,000 career points with 28 against Blanchard Montabella – Midland Daily News

Hockey: From Tuesday, Division 2 No. 5 Marquette handed Division 3 top-ranked Calumet only its second loss, 4-0 – Marquette Mining Journal