Today in the MHSAA: 1/18/19

January 18, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A basketball weekend filled with major showdowns got rolling Thursday, but our top performance comes from the pool where a pair of powerhouse neighbors faced off.

1. Boys Swimming & Diving: Ann Arbor Pioneer, No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, got past No. 2 Skyline 111-75; Skyline also is the reigning LPD1 champion – We Love Ann Arbor

2. Boys Basketball: Oxford won a matchup of unbeatens, 49-46 over Pontiac to move into first place alone in the Oakland Activities Conference Blue – Oakland Press

3. Girls Basketball: Kingsley moved into first place alone in the Northwest Conference with a 47-39 win over Maple City Glen Lake – Traverse City Record-Eagle

4. Boys Basketball: Pewamo-Westphalia remained undefeated with a 60-56 overtime win over Dansville – Lansing State Journal

5. Girls Basketball: Ottawa Lake Whiteford’s Baylee Baldwin went over 1,000 career points in a victory over Petersburg-Summerfield, and Carleton Airport’s Emily Swiercz tied her school’s record with 33 in a win over Riverview – Monroe News

6. Boys Basketball: First-place Clarkston downed Oak Park 66-52 in a matchup of OAA Red contenders – Oakland Press

7. Boys Swimming & Diving: LPD1 No. 6 Hudsonville held on for a 178-136 win over honorable mention Grand Haven – Grand Haven Tribune

8. Boys Basketball: First-place Madison Heights Madison finished a Macomb Area Conference Silver sweep of second-place Clinton Township Clintondale, 88-84 in overtime – Macomb Daily

9. Girls Basketball: First-place Detroit East English continued to surge in the Public School League East-Town with a 62-36 win over Pershing – Detroit News

10. Boys Basketball: Posen defeated Hillman for the first time since 2012, 68-51 – WBKB

Called to Coach (Bay City Times)

May 30, 2012

Even for the best, coaching wouldn't be referred to as "easy" -- and many would argue that it's grown tougher as time commitment, financial need and parental influence all have increased.

And yet, there are thousands who every year continue to lead our programs. The Bay City Times' Cory Butzin recently explained some of the reasons why in his three-part series, "Called to Coach." 

Below are links to all three parts:

Part 1: Teaching young athletes is a high school coach's biggest reward

Part 2: High school coaches put in the time

Part 3: Support on the home front is crucial for a high school coach