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: 9/8/25
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 8, 2025
1. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING South Lyon East – an honorable mention in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – was the team champion and Hartland’s Claire Gostlin set two meet records at the Kenzie Klassic – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. CROSS COUNTRY Northville and Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard swept girls and boys races, and the Leslie girls and Jonesville boys also were victorious at the Bath Bret Clements Invitational – Owosso Argus-Press | Athletic.net
3. BOYS SOCCER Fruitport handed Division 2 No. 5 Allendale its first defeat, 4-3 – Grand Haven Tribune
4. CROSS COUNTRY Edwardsburg swept championships at the Fennville Open – Niles Daily Star
5. BOYS SOCCER Goodrich defeated Marysville, Davison and Richmond to win its Martian Classic – Flint Journal
6. CROSS COUNTRY The Negaunee girls and Gladstone boys won at the Bay College Invitational – Escanaba Daily Press
7. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Monroe finished first in five events to claim the Southeastern Michigan Independent Swimming League Relays title – Monroe News
8. CROSS COUNTRY Frankenmuth swept girls and boys championships at the Northwood Invitational, joined among first-place teams by the Bay City Western girls and Flint Powers Catholic boys – Saginaw News | Athletic.net
9. CROSS COUNTRY The Harbor Springs and Bellaire girls and Charlevoix and East Jordan boys were winners at the Charlevoix Mud Run – Petoskey News-Review | Athletic.net
10. CROSS COUNTRY The Reed City girls and Howard City Tri County boys won Ferris State Invitational titles – Cadillac News
Also of note …
FOOTBALL Legendary Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice coach Al Fracassa died at age 92 – Detroit News