Today in the MHSAA: 10/24/16

October 24, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

This weekend wasn’t all about football, as Upper Peninsula cross country teams ran to a total of six championships and a number of soccer teams finished District title runs.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Cross County

The No. 2-ranked Sault Ste. Marie girls won their first MHSAA Finals championship, taking first in Upper Peninsula Division 1, while top-ranked Ishpeming repeated in Division 2 and No. 2 Cedarville moved to the top in Division 3 – Second Half

All three reigning champions repeated in the boys Upper Peninsula Finals, with No. 1 Negaunee, No. 1 Ishpeming and No. 2 Chassell claiming titles – Second Half

The Saginaw Heritage girls extended to nine their winning streak in the annual Saginaw County Meet, and the boys team won as well – Saginaw News

The Romeo, St. Clair and Marysville girls won Macomb Area Conference meet championships – Macomb Daily

The St. Clair Shores Lakeview, Macomb Dakota, and St. Clair boys were among other winners at the MAC meet – Macomb Daily

Birmingham Brother Rice (No. 4 LPD1) ended Detroit Catholic Central’s nine-year hold of the Detroit Catholic League I/II championship, while Madison Heights Bishop Foley’s boys and Dearborn Divine Child (No. 4 LPD2) and Wixom St. Catherine’s girls also won titles – Oakland Press

Blissfield’s girls (No. 8 LPD3) and Erie-Mason’s boys (No. 9) won Lenawee County Athletic Association championships – Adrian Daily Telegram

Corunna’s Noah Jacobs ran a 15:05.36 to win the Shiawassee Invitational – Owosso Argus-Press

Boys Soccer

No. 10 Tawas won its reportedly 17th District title in 21 seasons with a 4-1 victory over West Branch Ogemaw Heights in Division 3 – Bay City Times

No. 9 Grand Rapids Covenant Christian just got past No. 8 Grandville Calvin Christian 1-0 to win a Division 4 title – Grand Rapids Press

Hartland won its first District championship since 1998, downing Walled Lake Central 2-0 in Division 1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Buckley downed McBain Northern Michigan Christian 2-0 to win its first District title in 13 years, in Division 4 – Cadillac News

No. 10 Lansing Christian downed No. 7 Hillsdale Academy 3-1, also in Division 4 – Hillsdale Daily News

Volleyball

Class A honorable mention Niles won its seventh invitational of this season, downing Hartford, Paw Paw, Edwardsburg, Stevensville Lakeshore and host St. Joseph in the final – Niles Daily Star

Class C No. 2 Bronson downed Class D No. 2 Mendon in four sets to claim their Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph division championship – Sturgis Journal

Today in the MHSAA: 1/20/16

January 20, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Buzzer beaters and milestone basketball victories made headlines all over Michigan today, and check out as well a moving video that tells of the importance of our national anthem.

Girls Basketball

Reigning Class C champion Calumet added another accomplishment to the long list with its first win over Houghton since 1999, 44-31 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Three Rivers’ sophomore Arionne Fowlkes went baseline to baseline for a last-second layup to give her team a 43-41 win over Niles – Niles Daily Star

Class A favorite Saginaw Heritage remained undefeated with a 53-38 win over rival Midland Dow, also ranked in Class A – Saginaw News

One-loss St. Ignace handed Newberry its first defeat of the season, 64-57 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Cedar Springs also knocked a team from the unbeaten ranks, with Sam Taylor’s 3-pointer in the closing seconds ending Kent City’s perfect run, 50-47 – Grand Rapids Press

Muskegon edged East Kentwood 50-47 after trailing by 10 and on the strength of 26 points and 22 rebounds by senior Mardrekia Cook – Muskegon Chronicle

Boys Basketball

Despite being outscored 30-22 in the fourth quarter, Southfield Christian held on for an 82-79 win over Southfield – MLive-Detroit

Merrill earned its first win since 2013 by downing Coleman 49-36 – Midland Daily News

One-loss Alma handed previously-undefeated Ithaca its first, 56-53, as Dylan Carl hit 3-pointers to send the game to overtime and then win it – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Muskegon Oakridge’s Brady Luttrull drilled a 3-pointer during the final seconds to push his team past Scottville Mason County Central 67-66 – Muskegon Chronicle

Cassopolis followed a strong third quarter by Deoin Gatson to hand Niles Brandywine its first loss, 61-47 – Niles Daily Leader

One-loss Clarkston also handed out a first loss Tuesday, to Rochester Adams, in a matchup of top Class A teams – Oakland Press

Caleb Brown’s only basket for Northport was the game winner during the final seconds of a 51-49 victory over Central Lake – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Nate Dugener’s sixth 3-pointer of the game gave Muskegon Western Michigan Christian a 52-49 win over Holland Christian – Grand Haven Tribune

Boys Swimming & Diving

In a matchup of top teams on the west side of the Lower Peninsula, Division 1 No. 6 Zeeland got past Division 2 honorable mention Holland 104-73 – Holland Sentinel

Worth Watching

We ran across and were moved by Virginia Tech’s honoring of veterans at the start of this men’s basketball season. Check out this meaningful presentation and how it relates to providing proper respect during The Star-Spangled Banner.