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

Stripes Worn Well (Muskegon Chronicle)

March 1, 2012

Tim Flahive has battled diabetes for all but a few years of his life. But he's also filled half of those years with high school sports as a longtime official based in the Muskegon area.

The Muskegon Chronicle's Mark Opfermann tells the story of Flahive's final basketball game last week -- and makes us appreciate even more the significant role our officials fill to no fanfare.

A powerful excerpt:

He left the court with no fanfare, took off his whistle and shed a few tears.

But Flahive's story isn’t just about sports and an official leaving the hobby he loves. It’s about courage, getting back up and pressing on.

So, I guess it’s a lot like sports after all. But it’s a whole lot more about life.

That’s because when Flahive took the court last week, he did it with half of his left foot missing.

Click to read on.