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: 11/28/16

November 28, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

As football claimed most of the spotlight over Thanksgiving weekend, high school hockey celebrated a number of holiday tournaments – and we’ve included a few previews with girls basketball season tipping off this evening as well.

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.

Hockey

Reigning Division 3 champion Hancock is rebounding from an 0-2 start to this winter, most recently downing Calumet 5-1 at the Copper Island Classic – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Big Rapids won its holiday tournament with a 3-2 overtime win over Traverse City Bay Reps – Big Rapids News

Port Huron Northern scored three goals over the final three minutes to beat New Baltimore Anchor Bay 6-4 and win the Larry Manz Holiday Tournament title – Clinton Township Voice

Allen Park also won its holiday weekend tournament, downing Brownstown Woodhaven 8-1 in the final – Southgate News Herald

Midland Dow will celebrate 40 years of high school hockey with an expected 10 players from its 1976-77 team returning for Wednesday’s game – Midland Daily News

Girls Basketball

Flushing will welcome back standout Breanna Perry after she missed nearly all of her junior season with a knee injury – Flint Journal

Muskegon Mona Shores will look to contend for an MHSAA title led by a backcourt that includes Student Advisory Council member Jordan Walker and standout sophomore Alyza Winston – Muskegon Chronicle

Kingsford could be a team to watch from the Upper Peninsula with five returning starters after going 13-9 a year ago – Iron Mountain Daily News