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

Today in the MHSAA: 2/9/21

February 9, 2021

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Monday told the story of the high school sports scene this winter, as basketball and hockey made headlines with their opening nights but were topped by ski teams claiming Regional championships as their season moves toward its conclusion.

1. Skiing: The Petoskey girls and Great North Alpine boys swept both events to win their Division 2 Regional championships – MI Sports Now

2. Skiing: The East Grand Rapids girls and Cadillac boys also secured Division 2 Regional titles – Cadillac News

3. Girls Basketball: Bree Salenbien scored 19 fourth-quarter points to lead Adrian Lenawee Christian past Blissfield 59-54 – Adrian Daily Telegram

4. Boys Basketball: Sandusky opened its season with a buzzer beater as Matt Carlson’s game-winner gave his team a 47-45 win over Cass City – Huron Daily Tribune

5. Hockey: Ryley Sikkenga scored five goals as East Grand Rapids opened with a big win over Grand Rapids Christian – FOX 17

6. Boys Basketball: Rochester Hills Stoney Creek edged West Bloomfield 59-58 in a league crossover – Oakland Press

7. Girls Basketball: Oscoda won a matchup of North Star League contenders, 52-41 over Posen – WBKB

8. Boys Basketball: West Iron County edged Negaunee 47-44 after trailing by four entering the fourth quarter – Iron Mountain Daily News

9. Hockey: Romeo opened with a 5-3 win over Grosse Pointe North that included two goals over a 24-second span – Macomb Daily

10. Boys Basketball: Macomb L’Anse Creuse North held off a comeback attempt by Marine City Cardinal Mooney, emerging with a 53-50 win – Macomb Daily

Also of note …

Boys Swimming & Diving: From Saturday, Holland West Ottawa outraced Saline 116-70 in a matchup of annual Lower Peninsula Division 1 powers – Holland Sentinel