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: 1/9/20

January 9, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A streak-ending upset on the ice and one of the winter’s first big events on the snow highlighted a Wednesday full of headliners indoors and out across Michigan.

1.  Hockey: Division 3 No. 6 Grosse Pointe South scored the first goal given up by Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central in more than 17 periods and went on to a 4-3 win – Observer & Eccentric 

2. Skiing: Harbor Springs’ girls and Petoskey’s boys paced strong fields in winning Petoskey-Harbor Invitational titles – Petoskey News-Review Girls | Boys 

3. Girls Basketball: Unbeaten Manton came back from an 11-point deficit to get past Maple City Glen Lake 58-54 – Cadillac News

4. Boys Basketball: Despite 30 points by Rapid River’s Tyler Sundling, Munising held on 54-50 to remain undefeated – Escanaba Daily Press

5. Girls Basketball: Niles trailed 9-0 early but came back to deliver Buchanan’s first loss, 48-40 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

6. Gymnastics: Coldwater outpaced Saline by more than four points and in the process also qualified for Regional competition – Coldwater Daily Reporter

7. Hockey: Steven Miller scored his final two goals of a hat trick over the final five minutes to help Division 2 No. 8 Howell to a 6-4 win over Canton – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

8. Hockey: Davison edged Flint Powers 3-2 in a matchup of top programs from the Flint area – WJRT 

9. Boys Basketball: Niles Brandywine handed Fennville its first loss, 61-49 – FOX 17 

10. Boys Basketball: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s rode a big second quarter to a 61-44 win over Ann Arbor Pioneer – We Love Ann Arbor