Today in the MHSAA: 1/18/17

January 18, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A strong argument can be made that Tuesday night was the basketball season’s most eventful so far, with an abundance of pivotal matchups in both girls and boys and a buzzer beater thrown in.  

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

Saginaw Heritage took the first of two regular-season meetings against Midland Dow, 50-47, in a matchup of two of the top teams statewide in Class A as well – Saginaw News

Hartland, 9-1 this season, handed Howell its first loss in stunning fashion, 48-28 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Undefeated Houghton avenged last season’s sweep by rival Calumet with a 56-40 win – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Farmington Hills Mercy finished a regular-season sweep of Detroit Catholic League Central rival Bloomfield Hills Marian, 33-30, in another matchup of top Class A teams – Oakland Press

Boys Basketball

Detroit East English made its claim as Detroit’s best and one of the Class A elite with a 71-57 win over Detroit Martin Luther King – MLive-Detroit

T.J. VanKoevering’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Hudsonville Unity Christian a 48-45 win over Holland Christian, and his coach Scott Soodsma his 500th victory on the bench – Grand Rapids Press

West Bloomfield came back from a halftime deficit to down Bloomfield Hills 62-43 in an Oakland Activities Association Red opener – Oakland Press

Hillsdale emerged a big winner in a matchup of unbeaten Lenawee County Athletic Association teams, handing Dundee its first defeat, 74-54 – Hillsdale Daily News

Undefeated Buckley handed Frankfort its first Northwest Conference loss in 28 games, and first loss overall this season, 50-38 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

From High School to Olympic Swimming

July 11, 2012

Fans of U.S. Swimming already have plenty of reasons to cheer for Missy Franklin later this month at the Summer Olympics -- she's only 17, but qualified to compete in a U.S. women's all-time best seven events.

But fans of high school sports and what they provide athletes at all levels of ability can also support her for how she's chosen to compete when she's not racing against the best in the world.

Franklin, who lives in Colorado, has continued to swim for her high school team despite the financial rewards she could've earned by taking the elite swimmer's usual path of going pro.

A ton has been written about Franklin lately, for obvious reasons. Below is a link to a New York Times story from February that focused on her continued dedication to her high school team.

Before the Olympic Trials, There’s This Big High School Meet (New York Times)