Today in the MHSAA: 10/29/18

October 29, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

Lower Peninsula cross country teams ran for their chance to compete at this weekend’s Finals at Michigan International Speedway – with at least a pair of first-time Regional champs in the sport – and the final boys soccer Regional titles were awarded over the weekend as well. (We didn’t find coverage, but in addition to three shown below, Hudsonville Unity Christian and Burton Genesee Christian also moved on to this week’s soccer Semifinals.)

1. Cross Country: The Division 3 No. 15 Bloomingdale girls and No. 10 Berrien Springs boys won their first Regional cross country titles – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

2. Cross Country: The No. 3 Brighton boys won their first Regional title since 1993, and the No. 10 (tied) Pinckney girls dominated in Division 1 races – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. Cross Country: Petoskey’s girls (No. 3) won their first Regional title since 2003, while the Fremont boys (also No. 3) also claimed a title in Division 2 – Petoskey News-Review

4. Boys soccer: Warren DeLaSalle held on for a 2-1 overtime win over Utica Eisenhower in a Division 1 Regional Final – Macomb Daily

5. Cross Country: Ann Arbor Pioneer’s girls (No. 3) and boys (No. 2) teams swept Division 1 Regional championships with Saline (No. 7 both teams) finishing second in both races – We Love Ann Arbor

6. Cross Country: The No. 3 Grandville Calvin Christian girls won their seventh straight Division 3 Regional title – Grand Rapids Press

7. Boys Soccer: No. 9 Ludington repeated as a Regional champion, downing Muskegon Orchard View 5-1 in Division 3 – Ludington Daily News

8. Boys Soccer: Top-ranked Grosse Ile moved on to this week’s Semifinals with a big Division 3 Regional Final win over Brooklyn Columbia Central – Southgate News-Herald

9. Cross Country: The top-ranked Northville girls won their seventh straight Division 1 Regional title, and the top-ranked Plymouth boys also repeated – Observer & Eccentric Girls | Boys

10. Cross Country: In Division 4, the No. 8 Ubly girls extended their Regional title streak to five, while the No. 7 Unionville-Sebewaing boys won for the first time since 2010 – Huron Daily Tribune Girls | Boys

Today in the MHSAA: 12/20/18

December 20, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

Teams are getting in their final competitions before at least a brief holiday break, and we’re taking one too after today’s list – “Today” will return Jan. 7, although Second Half will continue publishing stories from all over the state during the final week of December and first of January.  

1. Boys Basketball: Gaylord St. Mary broke a 31-game, 14-year losing streak to Bellaire with a 29-26 win – Gaylord Herald Times

2. Boys Basketball: Camden-Frontier improved to 7-0 by handing a first loss to Reading, 57-46 – Hillsdale Daily News

3. Hockey: Evan MacDonald had a hat trick as Division 1 No. 5 Brighton downed reigning Division 3 runner-up Livonia Churchill 4-1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

4. Boys Basketball: Mancelona gave Pellston its first loss of this season, 67-65 – Petoskey News-Review

5. Girls Basketball: Waterford Our Lady made a late run to get past Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 61-56 – Oakland Press

6. Wrestling: Grand Haven came back from a 24-0 deficit to defeat Caledonia 39-33 – Grand Haven Tribune

7. Gymnastics: Escanaba remained undefeated to start the season with wins over Marquette and Negaunee – Escanaba Daily Press

8. Boys Basketball: Portland St. Patrick closed on a 22-5 run to beat Fowler 52-42 – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

9. Hockey: Brendan Pellerito had 34 saves as Mattawan shut out Portage Northern 4-0 – JoeInsider.com

10. Wrestling: Division 4 top-ranked Hudson earned a pair of league wins over Blissfield and Onsted – Adrian Daily Telegram

Also of note …

Hockey: The status of high school hockey is on the rise with talent evaluators at the game’s next levels – Observer & Eccentric

Tennis: Longtime coach Paul Bandrowski retired after leading Traverse City St. Francis’ girls and boys teams to a number of strong MHSAA Finals finishes – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Girls Basketball: From Tuesday, Eaton Rapids came back to stun Jackson Northwest 44-41, but the Mounties’ Sydney Shafer went over 1,000 career points – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Boys Swimming & Diving: From Tuesday, Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 2 Ann Arbor Skyline edged LPD2 top-ranked Dexter 95-90 – We Love Ann Arbor