Today in the MHSAA: 1/20/16
January 20, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Buzzer beaters and milestone basketball victories made headlines all over Michigan today, and check out as well a moving video that tells of the importance of our national anthem.
Girls Basketball
Reigning Class C champion Calumet added another accomplishment to the long list with its first win over Houghton since 1999, 44-31 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Three Rivers’ sophomore Arionne Fowlkes went baseline to baseline for a last-second layup to give her team a 43-41 win over Niles – Niles Daily Star
Class A favorite Saginaw Heritage remained undefeated with a 53-38 win over rival Midland Dow, also ranked in Class A – Saginaw News
One-loss St. Ignace handed Newberry its first defeat of the season, 64-57 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
Cedar Springs also knocked a team from the unbeaten ranks, with Sam Taylor’s 3-pointer in the closing seconds ending Kent City’s perfect run, 50-47 – Grand Rapids Press
Muskegon edged East Kentwood 50-47 after trailing by 10 and on the strength of 26 points and 22 rebounds by senior Mardrekia Cook – Muskegon Chronicle
Boys Basketball
Despite being outscored 30-22 in the fourth quarter, Southfield Christian held on for an 82-79 win over Southfield – MLive-Detroit
Merrill earned its first win since 2013 by downing Coleman 49-36 – Midland Daily News
One-loss Alma handed previously-undefeated Ithaca its first, 56-53, as Dylan Carl hit 3-pointers to send the game to overtime and then win it – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Muskegon Oakridge’s Brady Luttrull drilled a 3-pointer during the final seconds to push his team past Scottville Mason County Central 67-66 – Muskegon Chronicle
Cassopolis followed a strong third quarter by Deoin Gatson to hand Niles Brandywine its first loss, 61-47 – Niles Daily Leader
One-loss Clarkston also handed out a first loss Tuesday, to Rochester Adams, in a matchup of top Class A teams – Oakland Press
Caleb Brown’s only basket for Northport was the game winner during the final seconds of a 51-49 victory over Central Lake – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Nate Dugener’s sixth 3-pointer of the game gave Muskegon Western Michigan Christian a 52-49 win over Holland Christian – Grand Haven Tribune
Boys Swimming & Diving
In a matchup of top teams on the west side of the Lower Peninsula, Division 1 No. 6 Zeeland got past Division 2 honorable mention Holland 104-73 – Holland Sentinel
Worth Watching
We ran across and were moved by Virginia Tech’s honoring of veterans at the start of this men’s basketball season. Check out this meaningful presentation and how it relates to providing proper respect during The Star-Spangled Banner.
Today in the MHSAA: 10/1/18
September 30, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
1. Cross Country: Otsego senior Alex Comerford became the state’s first runner to break 15 minutes this season with a 26-second win at his team’s invitational – Athletic.net
2. Girls Cross Country: Rockford senior Ericka VanderLende ran the state’s fastest time on the girls side this season, 16:55.9, in winning at the Allendale Invitational – Athletic.net
3. Girls Swimming & Diving: Lower Peninsula Division 2 No. 4 Birmingham Groves won the most high-profile dual of its quad, over No. 6 Midland Dow, but the Chargers did earn victories over honorable mentions Grosse Pointe North and Fenton – Midland Daily News
4. Volleyball: Division 3 No. 2 Bronson defeated Division 2 honorable mentions Niles and then Edwardsburg to finish its run at its annual invitational – Sturgis Journal
5. Cross Country: The Plymouth boys (LPD1 No. 3) and Northville girls (LPD1 No. 1) won championships at the Coaching Legends Invitational at Huron Meadows Metropark – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
6. Cross Country: Dearborn Divine Child and Salem’s girls and boys teams swept championships at the Marauder Invitational at Lake Erie Metropark; Divine Child and Salem’s girls both are ranked No. 2, in Division 2 and 1 respectively, while the Divine Child boys are No. 13 in LPD2 and Salem’s are No. 9 in LPD1 – Southgate News-Herald
7. Cross Country: Lansing Catholic’s boys (LPD2 No. 7), DeWitt’s girls (LPD2 No. 5), and both Ithaca teams (girls are LPD3 No. 14) won championships at the DeWitt Invitational – Athletic.net
8. Cross Country: The Petoskey (LPD2 No. 3) and Grandville Calvin Christian (LPD3 No. 4) girls and Pewamo-Westphalia (LPD3 No. 3) and Farmington boys won championships at the Shepherd Invitational – Athletic.net
9. Boys Tennis: Andrew Swirczek repeated as individual Greater Muskegon Athletic Association champion for Muskegon Mona Shores, but Whitehall edged the Sailors by three points for the team title – Local Sports Journal
10. Girls Swimming & Diving: LPD2 honorable mention Battle Creek Lakeview returned to the top of the local ranking with a win at the All-City meet – Battle Creek Enquirer