Today in the MHSAA: 1/20/17
January 20, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A matchup of two of the top wrestling teams in Michigan and some nail-biting finishes in girls basketball made Thursday night an exciting one, especially across the Lower Peninsula.
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
Sandusky remained undefeated and dealt Harbor Beach its first loss, 45-35, in a matchup of Greater Thumb East and statewide Class C powers – Huron Daily Tribune
Reigning Class A champion Warren Cousino won a matchup of contenders for this season’s title, 66-45 over Port Huron Northern – Macomb Daily
Comstock moved to 10-1 and broke a Niles Brandywine 83-game home winning streak going back to 2009 with a 46-38 win – Kalamazoo Gazette
Kourtney John’s basket with seven seconds to play gave Sanford Meridian a 39-38 win over Farwell – Saginaw News
Clarkston didn’t lead until the final minute, but came away with a key 50-47 victory over North Farmington – Oakland Press
Alpena also earned a big win with a buzzer beater, downing Tawas 45-43 – Alpena News
Boys Basketball
Napoleon equaled last season’s win total and extended its best start since 2010-11 with a 50-36 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen Patriot
Competitive Cheer
From Wednesday, Breckenridge scored a meet high 743.20 points to finish first of 18 teams at the Sanford Meridian Mustang Cheer Corral – Midland Daily News
Boys Swimming & Diving
Howell’s Caleb Balgaard upped his school diving record to 285.45 in the Highlanders’ win over Hartland – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Wrestling
Top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central got past No. 2 Davison 32-22 in a matchup of the best in Division 1 – Detroit Free Press
Alma clinched a share of its first league title since 1992 with a pair of wins over Shepherd and Bullock Creek – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Today in the MHSAA: 12/20/18
December 20, 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.
Teams are getting in their final competitions before at least a brief holiday break, and we’re taking one too after today’s list – “Today” will return Jan. 7, although Second Half will continue publishing stories from all over the state during the final week of December and first of January.
1. Boys Basketball: Gaylord St. Mary broke a 31-game, 14-year losing streak to Bellaire with a 29-26 win – Gaylord Herald Times
2. Boys Basketball: Camden-Frontier improved to 7-0 by handing a first loss to Reading, 57-46 – Hillsdale Daily News
3. Hockey: Evan MacDonald had a hat trick as Division 1 No. 5 Brighton downed reigning Division 3 runner-up Livonia Churchill 4-1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. Boys Basketball: Mancelona gave Pellston its first loss of this season, 67-65 – Petoskey News-Review
5. Girls Basketball: Waterford Our Lady made a late run to get past Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 61-56 – Oakland Press
6. Wrestling: Grand Haven came back from a 24-0 deficit to defeat Caledonia 39-33 – Grand Haven Tribune
7. Gymnastics: Escanaba remained undefeated to start the season with wins over Marquette and Negaunee – Escanaba Daily Press
8. Boys Basketball: Portland St. Patrick closed on a 22-5 run to beat Fowler 52-42 – Ionia Sentinel-Standard
9. Hockey: Brendan Pellerito had 34 saves as Mattawan shut out Portage Northern 4-0 – JoeInsider.com
10. Wrestling: Division 4 top-ranked Hudson earned a pair of league wins over Blissfield and Onsted – Adrian Daily Telegram
Also of note …
Hockey: The status of high school hockey is on the rise with talent evaluators at the game’s next levels – Observer & Eccentric
Tennis: Longtime coach Paul Bandrowski retired after leading Traverse City St. Francis’ girls and boys teams to a number of strong MHSAA Finals finishes – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Girls Basketball: From Tuesday, Eaton Rapids came back to stun Jackson Northwest 44-41, but the Mounties’ Sydney Shafer went over 1,000 career points – Jackson Citizen Patriot
Boys Swimming & Diving: From Tuesday, Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 2 Ann Arbor Skyline edged LPD2 top-ranked Dexter 95-90 – We Love Ann Arbor