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: 2/3/20

February 4, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The rapidly-growing Michigan Wrestling Association Girls Championships headlined a weekend full of notable competition as many of the state’s best met, especially on the mat and basketball court.

1. Wrestling: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central was first and Clinton second at the MWA Girls Championships at Adrian College – WZZM & Adrian Daily Telegram

2. Boys Basketball: Benton Harbor downed Ypsilanti Lincoln 73-51 in one of the most highly-anticipated games of the regular season – FOX 17

3. Gymnastics: Farmington United edged Rockford by just more than a point to win the Canton Invitational – Coldwater Daily Reporter

4. Wrestling: Division 1 No. 3 Brighton downed Division 2 top-ranked Lowell 35-21 in a matchup of MHSAA title contenders – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

5. Competitive Cheer: Gibraltar Carlson won Division 2 and overall championships at the Grosse Ile Invitational – Southgate News-Herald

6. Wrestling: Division 2 No. 2 Gaylord won the 38-team Northern Michigan Championship – Gaylord Herald Times

7. Wrestling: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central won 11 weight classes to claim the team title at the Observerland Invitational – Observer & Eccentric

8. Bowling: Hillsdale swept girls and boys championships at the Adrian Madison Baker Bash – Hillsdale Daily News

9. Competitive Cheer: Sturgis scored a school-record 729.52 to win its invitational – Sturgis Journal

10. Boys Basketball: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s handed Hudsonville its first loss, 65-47 – FOX 17