Today in the MHSAA: 12/3/15

December 3, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The start of every season is filled with high hopes, which then receive a boost when teams that had rough finishes the year before open with an impressive win – like a few did Wednesday night.

Girls Basketball

Macomb Dakota won five games only a season ago, but got off to a great start with a 54-45 win over Rochester Adams, which finished 16-7 in 2014-15 – Macomb Daily

Madison Heights Bishop Foley saw its third-quarter lead dissolve during the fourth, but held on to down Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest 46-39 in overtime – Oakland Press

Flint Kearsley won only one game last season but is halfway to equaling that total after earning a 44-39 victory over Flint Northwestern – Flint Journal

Ice Hockey

Midland came back from an early two-goal deficit to beat Bay Area 4-2 in the Chemics’ opener – Midland Daily News

From Tuesday, Escanaba edged rival Marquette 3-2 in an early-season meeting – Escanaba Daily Press

Also from Tuesday, Houghton crossed over to face rival Hancock and came home with a 6-2 victory – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Today in the MHSAA: 12/11/15

December 11, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A number of nail-biting girls basketball finishes topped Thursday’s statewide sports action, and we ran across some gymnastics, bowling and swimming and diving coverage as well.  

Girls Basketball

Cassopolis came back for a 37-29 win over New Buffalo with a big fourth quarter while playing with their thoughts on coach Nat Pittman, who reportedly suffered a heart attack Wednesday – Niles Daily Star

Shannon Bates nailed a 3-pointer with five seconds to play as Bay City All Saints edged Standish-Sterling 34-31 – Bay City Times

Sydney Stine’s free throw with 9.2 seconds to play gave Montague a 38-37 win over Hart – Muskegon Chronicle

Birch Run broke away from Millington 56-50 on 30 points and 13 rebounds by Savanah Gibson, who has averaged 25 points and 17 rebounds over her last two games – Saginaw News

Traverse City Central beat Traverse City West for the first time in nearly two calendar years, coming back from an early deficit with an 18-0 run en route to a 49-38 victory – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Niles Brandywine made 12 3-pointers to down rival Buchanan 67-47 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

Boys Basketball

Dexter scored only one point during the first quarter and trailed South Lyon by 14, but came back for a 56-52 win – Ann Arbor News

Bellevue scored with 21 seconds left in regulation to send its game with North Adams-Jerome to overtime, then emerged as the winner after three extra periods – Hillsdale Daily News

Bowling

Statewide power Battle Creek Pennfield won all-city titles with boys and girls victories over the teams from Battle Creek Lakeview – Battle Creek Enquirer

Gymnastics

In the first gymnastics headline we’ve seen this season (many teams begin competition in January), Tecumseh earned a victory over Adrian with the top two all-around finishers – Adrian Daily Telegram

Boys Swimming & Diving

Spring Lake defeated neighbor Grand Haven for only the second time ever, 96-90, and also beat Muskegon Mona Shores 149-34 – Grand Haven Tribune