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: 4/27/26

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 27, 2026

1. TRACK & FIELD The Romeo girls and Division 2 No. 5 Freeland boys won team titles at the Barnyard Invitational, with Ludington freshman Eliza Schwass and Grand Haven junior Luca Hammond winning the diamond elite 1,600 titles – Athletic.net

2. GIRLS TENNIS Battle Creek Harper Creek won its first All-City championship in this sport – Battle Creek Enquirer

3. TRACK & FIELD Kinglsey swept championships at the Mason County Central Carferry Invitational, combining to set three meet records; the girls are ranked No. 6 in Division 3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

4. GIRLS SOCCER Division 1 No. 7 Northville got past No. 5 Troy 2-1 – Oakland Press

5. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Marian held off Division 1 No. 11 Hartland 3-2 – Oakland Press

6. SOFTBALL Midland Dow swept Division 3 honorable mention Coloma as Marley Hughes became the Chargers’ career home run record holder – Midland Daily News

7. GIRLS SOCCER Division 3 No. 7 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian defeated Grandville Calvin Christian and Division 4 No. 6 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian at WMC’s Alia Zuidema Memorial Showcase – Local Sports Journal

8. GIRLS SOCCER Division 1 No. 15 Macomb L’Anse Creuse North downed Division 3 No. 11 Almont – Macomb Daily

9. SOFTBALL Lake Linden-Hubbell improved to 14-0 with wins over Gogebic and Rudyard at the Copper County Invitational – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

10. SOFTBALL Romeo swept Division 2 honorable mention Richmond, winning the opener 4-3 in eight innings – Macomb Daily