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: 1/16/20

January 16, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A major matchup of two of the Upper Peninsula’s best in girls basketball and a streak-ending performance on the wrestling mat highlight Wednesday’s headliners from across the state.

1. Girls Basketball: St. Ignace handed Pickford its first loss this season, 70-48, in a rematch from last season’s District – MI Sports Now

2. Wrestling: Union City earned its first win over Springport since 2009, 42-33, to make a major move in the Big 8 Conference – Coldwater Daily Reporter

3. Wrestling: No. 3 Brighton earned a big win over No. 4 Hartland, although the Eagles were missing a number of starters because of illness – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

4. Girls Basketball: Lauren Laures became the second 1,000-point scorer in Pinconning history in leading her team to a 37-20 win over Gladwin – Bay City Times

5. Girls Basketball: Jayden Weber also went over 1,000 points for her career in leading East Jordan past Central Lake 63-46 – Petoskey News-Review

6. Girls Basketball: Manistee Catholic Central delivered Walkerville’s first loss this season, 46-40 – MI Sports Now

7. Boys Basketball: Traverse City St. Francis won a matchup of league leaders, 40-32 – Up North Live

8. Wrestling: Also in the Big 8, Reading edged Jonesville 42-39 in a matchup of league contenders – Hillsdale Daily News

9. Boys Basketball: Reese came back from an early 14-point deficit to get past Bad Axe 61-56 in overtime – Bay City Times

10. Hockey: White Lake Lakeland won a high-scoring matchup 6-5 over Milford – Oakland Press