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: 10/15/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 15, 2025

1. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 4 Kingsley finished a repeat championship run in the Northern Shores Conference with a sweep of Elk Rapids and hasn’t lost a set in two years of league play – Traverse City Record-Eagle

2. CROSS COUNTRY The Traverse City West girls – No. 7 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – and Central boys clinched Big North Conference titles – Traverse City Record-Eagle

3. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD3 No. 4 Blissfield girls and Adrian boys claimed Lenawee County championships – Adrian Daily Telegram Girls | Boys

4. BOYS SOCCER Warren De La Salle Collegiate downed Grosse Pointe North 6-0 in Division 2 as Andrew Corder set a single-season scoring record – Macomb Daily

5. BOYS SOCCER No. 6 Okemos defeated Brighton 3-0 and Grand Ledge downed East Lansing 2-1 in Division 1 District Semifinals – WLNS

6. BOYS SOCCER Standish-Sterling will play for what would be a first District title after defeating Essexville Garber 5-2 in Division 3 – Bay City Times

7. BOYS SOCCER Ida earned its first win all-time over honorable mention Milan, 1-0 to advance in Division 3 – Monroe News

8. BOYS SOCCER Macomb Dakota scored the game’s lone goal with less than two minutes to play in a Division 1 District Semifinal against Macomb L’Anse Creuse North – Macomb Daily

9. BOYS SOCCER Lake Orion advanced in Division 1 with a 2-1 win over Oxford – Oakland Press

10. BOYS SOCCER Traverse City St. Francis came back from two goals down late to defeat Gaylord 3-2 in overtime in Division 2 – MI Sports Now