Today in the MHSAA: 12/17/15

December 17, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Three of the strongest rivalries in Michigan high school ice hockey played out Wednesday night, while girls basketball and wrestling also saw results with statewide implications.

Girls Basketball

Bay City John Glenn prevailed in a matchup of unbeatens with a 52-48 win over Saginaw Nouvel – Bay City Times

Warren Cousino junior Kierra Fletcher scored 40 points as her team edged Rochester Adams 61-58 at The Palace of Auburn Hills – Macomb Daily

Essexville Garber finished 2-19 a year ago, but earned its fourth win of this season with a 58-46 victory over Bridgeport – Saginaw News

Ice Hockey

Calumet held on for a 5-3 win over Houghton in a matchup of two of most exciting offensive teams in the Upper Peninsula – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Midland Dow earned a 5-4 win over rival Midland after outshooting the Chemics 40-16 – Midland Daily News

In another cross-town rivalry game, Traverse City Central shut out Traverse City West 3-0 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Wrestling

Division 3 top-ranked Dundee earned an impressive 35-27 win over Division 1 contender Brighton – Livingston Daily

Leroy Pine River coach Tim Jones earned his 500th victory as his team won a pair of matches – Cadillac News

Today in the MHSAA: 2/8/16

February 8, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The weekend provided previews of MHSAA championship contenders in gymnastics, cheer and hockey, and also basketball with a matchup of two girls teams that could come away from this winter with titles and the reigning Class D boys champ shining again.

Girl Basketball

A last-second 3-pointer by Lauryn Carroll gave Ypsilanti Arbor Prep a 50-47 win over previously-undefeated Bay City John Glenn, considered arguably the top team in the state regardless of class – Bay City Times

Detroit Country Day edged Southfield-Lathrup 56-52 in a matchup of contenders in Class B and A, respectively – Oakland Press

Mona Shores locked down the usually-potent offense of rival Muskegon in defeating the Big Reds 55-34 – Muskegon Chronicle

Boys Basketball

Reigning Class D champion Powers North Central remained undefeated by handing a first loss to Crystal Falls Forest Park, 68-54 – Escanaba Daily Press

Southfield Christian just edged Belleville 70-69 for its 12th straight win – MLive-Detroit

Competitive Cheer

Reigning Division 1 champion Rochester finished ahead of a strong field to clinch the Oakland Activities Association Red championship – Oakland Press

Gymnastics

Rockford/Sparta, the reigning MHSAA champion, showed it’s the team to beat again this winter by claiming the championship at the prestigious Canton Invitational. Howell finished second and Farmington third – Canton Athletics

Hockey

The Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League Showcase pitted many of the state’s top teams with some of the key results a 3-0 win by Division 2 No. 3 Livonia Stevenson over Division 3 No. 1 Grand Rapids Catholic Central and 4-3 by unranked Houghton over Division 1 No. 3 Detroit U-D Jesuit – MIHL

Swimming & Diving

Warren DeLaSalle’s boys won their fourth straight Macomb County Invitational, finishing more than 300 points ahead of the field – Macomb Daily

Wrestling

Springport won its seventh straight Big 8 Conference championship, setting a league record in dominating its competition this time – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Allegan won its 12th straight Wolverine Conference title, finishing far ahead of the field and with three individual champions – Kalamazoo Gazette

Niles finished its championship run in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

Good Read

Former opponents no doubt remember facing Marshall basketball standout Kari Searles on the court; many who supported her as a player supported her again Friday with a donation toward her care as she fights lung cancer – Battle Creek Enquirer