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: 1/10/20

January 10, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A race between Finals championship contenders in the pool topped a Thursday schedule that also saw notable league action in girls and boys basketball.

1. Boys Swimming & Diving: No. 2 Holland Christian defeated No. 5 Spring Lake 113-72 in a matchup of top teams in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – Grand Haven Tribune 

2. Girls Basketball: West Bloomfield took a major step forward in the Oakland Activities Association Red with a 73-47 win over Clarkston – State Champs Sports Network

3. Boys Basketball: Connor Arnold’s game-winner during the final seconds pushed Coleman past Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 61-60 in an overtime upset – Midland Daily News

4. Boys Basketball: Cadillac moved into first alone in the Big North Conference with a 46-37 win over Petoskey – Up North Live

5. Girls Basketball: Cheyenne McEvans had a triple-double in Southfield Arts & Technology’s 81-39 win over Bloomfield Hills – Oakland Press

6. Boys Basketball: Gabe Kruger scored 40 points to lead Harbor Light Christian past Alba 64-40 – Petoskey News-Review 

7. Girls Basketball: Ravenna earned its first win over Muskegon Oakridge since 2007, 39-25 – Muskegon Chronicle

8. Girls Basketball: Hart moved to 8-1 with a 30-23 win over Whitehall – Local Sports Journal 

9. Girls Basketball: Ishpeming Westwood moved to 6-1 with a 59-45 win over Calumet – The Upbeat 

10. Hockey: Traverse City West came back during the third quarter to force a 2-2 tie with Grand Rapids Christian – Traverse City Record-Eagle