Today in the MHSAA: 11/30/16

November 30, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Although a handful of teams kicked off girls basketball season Monday, the majority took the court for the first time Tuesday – and wasted little time delivering dramatic finishes and a look at some of what we can expect this winter.

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

Otsego, which won 20 games last season, opened with a nail-biting 33-31 victory over Portage Northern – Kalamazoo Gazette

Jordan Walker scored 33 points as Muskegon Mona Shores downed Grand Rapids Catholic Central 59-52 in a matchup of expected state contenders – Grand Rapids Press

Beecher came back in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but Flint Southwestern emerged with a 42-41 victory – Flint Journal

Reigning Class B runner-up Grand Rapids South Christian also started with a close win, 38-35 over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern – Grand Rapids Press

In another low-scoring opener, Bay City Central just edged Traverse City West 32-31 – Bay City Times

Frankenmuth came back from an 11-point deficit to edge Bullock Creek 40-38 – Saginaw News

Lansing Catholic trailed Perry by six points at halftime but came on to win by 28, 56-28 – Lansing State Journal

Charlevoix freshman Elise Stuck had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead her team to a 43-39 win over Petoskey – Petoskey News Review

Belding’s Hallee Breimayer put up 32 points in her team’s 57-52 win over reigning Greater Lansing Activities Conference champion Lake Odessa Lakewood – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Edwardsburg, coming off a District title last season, survived a 37-32 opener against Niles – South Bend Tribune

Southfield Arts & Technology won its first game since the merger of Southfield and Southfield-Lathrup this fall, 64-43 over Birmingham Groves – Oakland Press

Ice Hockey

Hancock continued another strong start with a 5-0 defeat of rival Houghton – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Softball

Gladstone coach Ashley Hughes, who led the Braves to the Division 3 championship in her first season in 2014 and the Semifinals this spring, has resigned amid sad circumstances – Escanaba Daily Press

Today in the MHSAA: 9/7/17

September 7, 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. Football: Farmington Hills Harrison will rename its stadium entrance for longtime leader John Herrington, who is closing in on the state’s coaching wins record for football – Observer & Eccentric

2. Soccer: The Battle Creek Enquirer looks at ways its local schools are working to decrease head injuries in soccer, where concussions aren’t nearly as publicized as in football – Battle Creek Enquirer

3. Volleyball: Rudyard continued to build its case as the No. 10 team in Class D with sweeps of Pickford and St. Ignace to improve to 6-1-2 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

4. Boys Soccer: Rochester remained undefeated at 4-0-3 with a key tie against Clarkston in Oakland Activities Association Red play – Oakland Press

5. Cross Country: The Shepherd boys and Cadillac girls won championships at the Bluejays’ 19-team invitational – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

6. Girls Golf: Freeland, No. 6 in Lower Peninsula Division 3, won its second Tri-Valley Conference jamboree with a season-best 176 – Midland Daily News

7. Girls Golf: Caledonia shot a 178 to win the third Ottawa-Kent Conference Red jamboree by two strokes over Hudsonville – Grand Haven Tribune

8. Boys Soccer: Manistee continued its undefeated start to this season with a 3-0 win over Shelby – Manistee News Advocate

9. Boys Soccer: New Boston Huron moved to 5-0 with a 4-2 win over Carleton Airport – Detroit News

10. Boys Soccer: Sturgis netted a 1-0 win over Marshall on a first-half goal – Sturgis Journal

Also of note …

Football: Traverse City Central and Traverse City West are playing this week their annual “Patriot Game,” which draws a sellout crowd to honor those who have served and continue to do so. The Record-Eagle is doing features every day this week; this is the first – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Football: Muskegon Mona Shores also will honor former and active-duty military and first responders with its second “Sailor Salute” taking place during a big-time matchup with Rockford – Muskegon Chronicle

Football: Ionia also will host a “Patriot Game” this weekend against Fowlerville, again to honor those who have and continue to serve – Ionia Sentinel-Standard