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: 1/25/17

January 25, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A record-setting free-throw run came to an end Tuesday with one of the longest streaks in both Michigan and national high school history, while a northern ski power continued a winning streak as well in the Big North Conference.

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. 

Boys Basketball

Foster Loyer’s record-setting free throw run ended at 119 straight in Clarkston’s 59-39 win over North Farmington; he bested the previous MHSAA record by 17 – Detroit News

Burton Atherton rode Victor McEwen’s 41 points to a 77-64 win over neighbor Burton Bendle – Flint Journal

East Lansing, the leader in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue, downed CAAC Red first-place St. Johns 62-51 – Lansing State Journal

Holland West Ottawa improved to 9-1 with a 63-41 win over Grandville that gave coach Steve Windemuller his 300th win on the bench – Holland Sentinel

Morley Stanwood’s Nic Huntey went over 1,000 career points in a 65-56 win over Newaygo – Big Rapids News

Girls Basketball

The Ottawa-Kent Conference Black has become one of the most competitive leagues in the state this season, with Muskegon, Reeths-Puffer and Mona Shores all tied for first after the Big Reds’ 51-48 win Tuesday – Muskegon Chronicle

Marysville handed Marine City its first loss this season, 40-35 in Macomb Area Conference Gold play – Clinton Township Voice

Hockey

Division 1 No. 2 Brighton got three goals and two assists from Jake Crespi in an 8-0 win over No. 10 Howell – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Skiing

Petoskey’s boys continued their string of success against the Big North Conference, while Petoskey’s girls beat both Traverse City Central and West in a race for the first time in multiple seasons – Petoskey News-Review