Today in the MHSAA: 1/10/17

January 10, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The northern Lower Peninsula’s best got running with the first major ski competitions of this season Monday, and we also take a look back at some key competitive cheer events from Saturday in addition to the usual basketball results – plus a news item on a baseball coach retirement.

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. 

Girls Basketball

Ishpeming Westwood finished on a 12-0 run to down Bark River-Harris by eight, 58-50 – Marquette Mining Journal

Boys Basketball

Iron Mountain improved to 6-1 in handing Bark River-Harris its first loss, 75-56 – Iron Mountain Daily News

Oxford moved to 6-0 with a 64-58 win over Pontiac Notre Dame Prep after breaking away over the final three minutes – Oakland Press

Pittsford handed Bellevue its first loss this season, 59-49 – Hillsdale Daily News

Competitive Cheer

From Saturday, Brighton won its Brighton’s Best Invitational, besting six-time reigning Division 2 champion Gibraltar Carlson – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Also from Saturday, Portland won its Winterfest by four points over Owosso and 13 over Division 4 power Pewamo-Westphalia – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Skiing

Petoskey, winners of six straight Division 2 boys championships, was impressive winning both slalom and giant slalom and the overall title at the Harbor-Petoskey Invitational – Petoskey News-Review

Traverse City West edged Harbor Springs by four points to win the Harbor-Petoskey Invitational girls event – Petoskey News-Review

Baseball

Coleman baseball coach Dave Mammel has stepped down after 23 seasons; he's also in his 16th year as athletic director – Midland Daily News

Today in the MHSAA: 10/24/17

October 24, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

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

Today's Top 10

1. Volleyball: Division 1 No. 5 Farmington Hills Mercy returned to the Detroit Catholic League A-B championship match after finishing runner-up a year ago, and this time left victorious with a four-set win over No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian – Oakland Press

2. Volleyball: Class C honorable mention Wixom St. Catherine improved to 32-2-2 with a Detroit Catholic League C-D championship win over Allen Park Cabrini – Southgate News Herald

3. Officials: With their father Tony Joostberns, Stefanie (Joostberns) Jones and sister Amy Joostberns help make up a notable and inspiring football officiating crew in the Lansing area. They are two of 14 women registered to officiate that sport (out of more than 2,300 football officials total) this season – Lansing State Journal

4. Football: Flat Rock is in the playoffs for the first time since 1990 and without one of its best in Sameer Tayeb, a two-way starter on the field now contributing instead from the sidelines – Monroe Evening News

5. Volleyball: Class B No. 7 Kingsley went undefeated at a strong Traverse City Central ABCD quad with wins over the Trojans, Class C honorable mention Traverse City St. Francis and Class D No. 2 Leland – Traverse City Record-Eagle

6. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 14 Grand Haven and Division 4 No. 3 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian made it through tough Districts to earn Regional opportunities this week – Grand Haven Tribune

7. Volleyball: Class D No. 5 Onaway split against larger opponents Monday, falling to Sault Ste. Marie but winning close over Cheboygan – Alpena News

8. Volleyball: Berrien Springs improved to .500 on the season with first and second-set comebacks against St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

9. Volleyball: L’Anse came back from losing the first set to win the next three and down Baraga – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

10. Volleyball: Alpena ran off wins over the final two sets to win in four over Ogemaw Heights – Alpena News

Also of note …

Cross Country: From Saturday, Marshall’s boys and Parma Western’s girls won Interstate 8 Athletic Conference championships; Coldwater’s Shuaib Aljabaly won his second straight individual title – Coldwater Daily Reporter