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: 12/10/15
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