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: 5/4/26

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 4, 2026

1. SOFTBALL Division 3 top-ranked Ravenna shut out Division 1 honorable mention Muskegon Reeths-Puffer to clinch the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association title – Muskegon Chronicle

2. BASEBALL Muskegon Mona Shores downed 2025 champion Fruitport in extra innings to clinch the GMAA championship – Local Sports Journal

3. TRACK & FIELD The Muskegon Mona Shores girls and boys teams swept GMAA titles, the boys winning their first since 2013 and the girls their third straight – Local Sports Journal Girls | Boys

4. SOFTBALL Division 2 No. 3 Carleton Airport and Division 1 top-ranked Saline split, Saline winning the first game in extra innings and Airport the second with a shutout – Monroe News

5. BOYS GOLF Warren De La Salle Collegiate – No. 10 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – carded a 304 to finish a stroke ahead of Grosse Pointe South at the McIntyre Invitational – Macomb Daily

6. GIRLS TENNIS Sturgis won the Portland Invitational defeating the Raiders, Williamston and Ludington – Sturgis Journal

7. TRACK & FIELD LeRoy Pine River’s girls and boys swept their All Sports Day Invitational meets – Cadillac News  

8. BASEBALL Remus Chippewa Hills swept Gladwin as coach Ben Wright earned his 400th coaching victory – Big Rapids Pioneer

9. SOFTBALL Division 4 No. 5 Beal City edged Sanford Meridian 3-2 to clinch the title at Meridian’s tournament – Midland Daily News

10. SOFTBALL Alpena downed Garden City in the final to claim its Wildcats Tournament championship – Alpena News