Stripes Worn Well (Muskegon Chronicle)

March 1, 2012

Tim Flahive has battled diabetes for all but a few years of his life. But he's also filled half of those years with high school sports as a longtime official based in the Muskegon area.

The Muskegon Chronicle's Mark Opfermann tells the story of Flahive's final basketball game last week -- and makes us appreciate even more the significant role our officials fill to no fanfare.

A powerful excerpt:

He left the court with no fanfare, took off his whistle and shed a few tears.

But Flahive's story isn’t just about sports and an official leaving the hobby he loves. It’s about courage, getting back up and pressing on.

So, I guess it’s a lot like sports after all. But it’s a whole lot more about life.

That’s because when Flahive took the court last week, he did it with half of his left foot missing.

Click to read on.

Today in the MHSAA: 3/3/16

March 3, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

It’s impossible for a sports fan to not love this time of year. Why? See some of our most exciting headlines from Wednesday’s action.

Girls Basketball

Saugatuck’s Maddie Stewart scored off her own intentional free-throw miss with 1.9 seconds left in the first overtime, and her team came through again in the second to edge Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian 43-42 in Class C – Holland Sentinel

Fruitport Calvary Christian junior Allyson Richards crossed 1,500 career points in her team’s Class D win over Walker Academy of Environmental Sciences – Grand Haven Tribune

Flint Powers Catholic won an annual Class B battle of area powers, downing Goodrich 62-49 – Flint Journal

Saginaw Swan Valley won its first District game in a decade, upsetting Birch Run 54-47 – Saginaw News

Freshman Maizie Taylor scored the game-winner with fewer than 10 seconds to play to lead Midland Dow past rival Midland 49-48 in Class A – Saginaw News

Class A favorite Southfield-Lathrup put up one of its most impressive wins this season, 60-40 over Detroit Renaissance – Oakland Press

Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart is arguably the favorite in Class D and proved why again with a 54-34 victory over 19-win Big Rapids Crossroads Academy – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

In another upset that shook Class A, Lansing Waverly downed DeWitt 48-43 – Lansing State Journal

Another upset in Class A was only slight, as Ann Arbor Huron handed Dexter only its second loss, 40-27 – Ann Arbor News

Ice Hockey

Chelsea needed an overtime goal after giving up a pair of scores in the third period to get past Jackson Lumen Christi and advance in a Division 3 Regional – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Gibraltar Carlson scored with 17.7 seconds left to get past Temperance Bedford 3-2; Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central got six goals from Jake Willets, who went over 50 for the season in a win over New Boston Huron – Monroe Evening News