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: 12/20/17

December 20, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

Today's Top 10 

1. Boys Basketball: Grand Haven broke a 10-game losing streak to Muskegon going back to 2012, drilling 10 3-pointers in a 59-51 win – Grand Haven Tribune

2. Girls Basketball: Led by senior Maddie Barrie, Midland broke a seven-game losing streak to rival Dow in handing the Chargers their first loss this season 49-37 – Midland Daily News

3. Boys Basketball: Undefeated McBain went ahead to stay with 2.3 seconds to play in handing reigning Class D runner-up Buckley a 41-40 defeat – Cadillac News

4. Boys Basketball: Reigning champion Flint Beecher got past rival Hamady 49-48 in a matchup of likely two of the state's best again in Class C – Flint Journal

5. Hockey: Some of the state’s best hockey is played at the northern tip of the Upper Peninsula, and No. 7 Houghton won a matchup of two of the best programs in Division 3, 3-2 over No. 3 Calumet – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

6. Boys Basketball: Standout Brandon Johns poured in 51 points as East Lansing downed Lansing Sexton 114-82 – Lansing State Journal

7. Girls Basketball: Dana Schmanske drilled a 3-pointer during the final minute to push Brighton past Northville 37-35 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

8. Girls Basketball: Ella McKinney’s basket with 34 seconds to play lifted Haslett past Fowlerville 51-49 – Lansing State Journal

9. Boys Basketball: Midland Dow came back from 11 down in the fourth quarter to get past Midland 58-52 in overtime – Midland Daily News

10. Boys Basketball: A last-second 3-pointer sent Gibraltar Carlson and Trenton to overtime, and Carlson prevailed after two extra periods 86-79 – Monroe Evening News