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: 3/3/16

March 3, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

It’s impossible for a sports fan to not love this time of year. Why? See some of our most exciting headlines from Wednesday’s action.

Girls Basketball

Saugatuck’s Maddie Stewart scored off her own intentional free-throw miss with 1.9 seconds left in the first overtime, and her team came through again in the second to edge Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian 43-42 in Class C – Holland Sentinel

Fruitport Calvary Christian junior Allyson Richards crossed 1,500 career points in her team’s Class D win over Walker Academy of Environmental Sciences – Grand Haven Tribune

Flint Powers Catholic won an annual Class B battle of area powers, downing Goodrich 62-49 – Flint Journal

Saginaw Swan Valley won its first District game in a decade, upsetting Birch Run 54-47 – Saginaw News

Freshman Maizie Taylor scored the game-winner with fewer than 10 seconds to play to lead Midland Dow past rival Midland 49-48 in Class A – Saginaw News

Class A favorite Southfield-Lathrup put up one of its most impressive wins this season, 60-40 over Detroit Renaissance – Oakland Press

Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart is arguably the favorite in Class D and proved why again with a 54-34 victory over 19-win Big Rapids Crossroads Academy – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

In another upset that shook Class A, Lansing Waverly downed DeWitt 48-43 – Lansing State Journal

Another upset in Class A was only slight, as Ann Arbor Huron handed Dexter only its second loss, 40-27 – Ann Arbor News

Ice Hockey

Chelsea needed an overtime goal after giving up a pair of scores in the third period to get past Jackson Lumen Christi and advance in a Division 3 Regional – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Gibraltar Carlson scored with 17.7 seconds left to get past Temperance Bedford 3-2; Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central got six goals from Jake Willets, who went over 50 for the season in a win over New Boston Huron – Monroe Evening News