Today in the MHSAA: 12/10/15

December 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday was the first day of winter in full swing with significant matchups coming in six sports as four got into the heart of their first week of the season. Be sure to check out as well a story on MHSAA officials recruiting efforts.

Girls Basketball

Traverse City St. Francis won an early battle between two of the north’s top small-school teams, downing Frankfort (featured today on Second Half) 76-72 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

A pair of Concord players filled the stat sheet in a 62-56 win over Michigan Center; senior Lindsey Lehmen led with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals, and sophomore Camryn Ward grabbed 19 rebounds – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Boys Basketball

From Tuesday, Sanford Meridian freshman Lucas Lueder will be among first-year players to watch, if his 18 points in a 65-61 win over Saginaw Nouvel are an indication – Midland Daily News

Boys Bowling

Vandercook Lake could be in line for an exciting season or four after watching freshmen Korey Reichard (278) and Conner Lackey (267) lead the way in a 29-1 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Ice Hockey

Division 3 No. 10 Farmington’s two first-period goals were enough as the Falcons scored a key early-season win over Division 2 No. 4 Berkley – Oakland Press

After finishing regulation tied, Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central needed only 14 seconds of overtime to get past Cadillac 4-3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Boys Swimming & Diving

Chelsea coach Dave Jolly was the mid-Michigan link to Wednesday’s Waverly Relays, the annual event for Lansing-area teams to kick off the season; his Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 3-ranked team broke Okemos’ five-year hold on the meet championship – Lansing State Journal

Wrestling

No. 3 Davison earned one of the most significant early wins so far this season, 45-27 over No. 4 Brighton, which beat Davison in the Division 1 Semifinals last season – Livingston Daily

Saginaw Swan Valley, No. 8 in Division 3, just escaped Essexville Garber for a 32-30 win – Saginaw News

Good Read

After more than five decades as an official, Dick Kalahar is watching from the stands this season. He is among a growing number of retiring officials the MHSAA is charged with replacing over the next few years, and this piece looks at some of the challenges and opportunities, in part through Kalahar’s eyes – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Today in the MHSAA: 2/21/19

February 21, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A championship capper to an incredible turnaround season and a bowling title sweep topped a highlight-filled Wednesday across the state.

1. Boys Basketball: Carleton Airport downed Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 69-59 to claim a share of the Huron League title, its first since 2001 and after going 2-19 overall last season – Monroe News

2. Bowling: Muskegon Oakridge’s girls and boys teams both claimed outright league championships at the Coastal Conference finale – Local Sports Journal

3. Boys Basketball: Harbor Beach, with an assist from Marlette, closed out the Greater Thumb Conference East championship with a win over Capac – Huron Daily Tribune

4. Boys Basketball: Petoskey got past Alpena 64-52 to clinch a share of the Big North Conference championship – Petoskey News-Review

5. Boys Basketball: Muskegon Heights downed Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 71-46 to clinch the Lakes 8 Conference title – Local Sports Journal

6. Competitive Cheer: Muskegon Mona Shores won its 10th straight Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship – Muskegon Chronicle

7. Girls Basketball: Dearborn Divine Child avenged two losses this season by taking the third meeting with Farmington Hills Mercy 54-43 in the Detroit Catholic League A-B semifinals – State Champs!

8. Bowling: The Division 2 No. 4 Coldwater boys finished with a share of the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference title after falling to Jackson Northwest – Coldwater Daily Reporter

9. Girls Basketball: Natalie Dunn became the third Holland West Ottawa player to go over 1,000 career points with 20 in a win over Grandville – Holland Sentinel

10. Boys Basketball: Romeo Weems led New Haven to a 74-58 win over Detroit Edison with a quadruple-double – 34 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals and 10 blocks – Detroit News

Also of note …

Basketball: From Tuesday, Otsego’s Mattison Rayman and Climax-Scotts’ Cole Eshuis both eclipsed 1,000 career points in wins – Kalamazoo Gazette