Today in the MHSAA: 10/23/15

October 23, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Notable milestones made headlines Thursday – among them, Rockford’s boys cross country team extending an incredible championship streak and one of Michigan’s best volleyball coaches being celebrated for 1,000 victories.

Cross Country

The Milford girls and White Lake Lakeland boys, both ranked No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, won Kensington Lakes Activities Association Lakes championships; Milford’s girls finished ahead of No. 4 Brighton and No. 12 Waterford Mott – Oakland Press

The Rockford boys, No. 1 in LPD1, won their 21st straight league title, claiming the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red; Rockford’s 10th-ranked girls added their third straight league title – Grand Rapids Press

Boys Soccer

Unranked Okemos edged No. 11 Portage Central in a Division 1 semifinal 2-1 after jumping out to a two-goal lead – Kalamazoo Gazette

Division 2 No. 14 Petoskey advanced despite three Cadillac comebacks, finally winning a 5-4 semifinal – Petoskey News

Division 3 No. 4 Hudsonville Unity Christian repeated as a district champion with a 2-1 win over No. 18 Grand Rapids Catholic Central – Grand Rapids Press

Volleyball

Unionville-Sebewaing, an MHSAA semifinalist in 2014, won its fourth straight Greater Thumb Conference West title by avenging an earlier loss to Bad Axe with a five-set win – Huron Daily Tribune

Class D No. 6 North Adams-Jerome needed to reach 31-29 to win its first set against Pittsford before finishing a sweep – Hillsdale Daily News

Good Reads

Battle Creek Enquirer sports editor Bill Broderick says what a lot of former high school football players have felt in his message to seniors playing their final games this week and over the next few – Battle Creek Enquirer

Longtime Midland Dow, Pinconning and now Bronson volleyball coach Jean LaClair won her 1,000th match last week; her team is ranked No. 1 in Class C and she was the 2015 MHSAA Women in Sports Leadership Award winner – Sturgis Journal

Today in the MHSAA: 1/26/16

January 26, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Monday night was a busy one for girls basketball as multiple state-ranked teams fell in titanic nonleague matchups.

Girls Basketball

Morley Stanwood came back from seven down at halftime to upend Class C-ranked Carson City Crystal – Big Rapids News

Detroit Country Day moved to 11-1 against arguably the top team from the Detroit Public School League, outlasting Renaissance 56-50 – Detroit News

Harper Woods Chandler Park pressed Waterford Our Lady from opening tip to the final buzzer to down the Class D contender 63-44 – Oakland Press

Megan Saunders scored the winning points with half a minute to play as Jackson Lumen Christi escaped Hanover-Horton 43-41 – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Petoskey made 7 of 8 free throws during overtime to down Big North Conference co-leader Traverse City Central 49-41 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Boys Basketball

Millington and Shawn Pardee continued a parade of big numbers; he scored 48 points as the Cardinals beat Carrollton 99-85 in overtime – Saginaw News

Bowling

Grand Haven swept its girls and boys matches with Hudsonville, with the Bucs’ girls handing the Eagles their first loss – Grand Haven Tribune