Linked Up: 12/19/11
December 19, 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: 1/28/26
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 28, 2026
1. BOYS BASKETBALL Denham Butler’s last-minute 3-pointer pushed Dearborn Divine Child past Jackson Lumen Christi 55-53 as Divine Child clinched the outright Catholic High School League AA title – Jackson Citizen Patriot
2. GIRLS BASKETBALL Goodrich’s Kayla Hairston went over 1,000 career points during a win over Flushing, and Flint Powers Catholic’s Kendyl Smith made the MHSAA records with 21 free throws in a win over Detroit Edison – Flint Journal
3. BOYS BASKETBALL Goodrich’s Jensen LePla also went over 1,000 career points during a 50-46 victory over Flushing – Flint Journal
4. BOYS BASKETBALL Lansing Waverly got past Holt 86-84 in double overtime in a game that also saw the Rams’ Brandon Mercer break the school’s career 3-pointers record – Lansing State Journal
5. GIRLS BASKETBALL Lilly Williams broke Howell’s single-season blocks record during a 49-24 win over Plymouth – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Negaunee defeated Gladstone 30-19 in a matchup of arguably the two best girls basketball teams in the Upper Peninsula – My UP Now
7. BOYS BASKETBALL Marquette delivered Ishpeming Westwood its only loss this winter, 59-35 – Upper Michigan’s Source
8. BOYS BASKETBALL Grosse Ile handed Riverview its first Huron League defeat, 72-54 – Southgate News-Herald
9. ICE HOCKEY Craig Borges scored three goals in Huron Valley’s win over Fenton – Oakland Press
10. BOYS BASKETBALL Traverse City Christian remains undefeated after a notable 71-65 win over Harbor Springs Harbor Light Christian – MI Sports Now