Today in the MHSAA: 12/5/16

December 5, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Girls basketball season cruised into its first weekend with some exciting previews of possible playoff matchups coming at the end of this winter, and the action was just as significant on the ice and at a swimming & diving meet celebrating its 70th year.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Girls Basketball

Bloomfield Hills Marian made an early statement with a 56-42 win over reigning Class A champion Warren Cousino – Macomb Daily

In a matchup of expected MHSAA title contenders, reigning Class C winner Ypsilanti Arbor Prep earned a significant 52-39 victory over Muskegon Mona Shores – Muskegon Chronicle

Midland Dow’s Ellie Taylor reached 1,000 career points in leading her team to a 41-37 win over Southfield Arts & Technology – Midland Daily News

Goodrich looks to be back in the Class B mix, and picked up a nice win over New Lothrop – Flint Journal

Dearborn Heights Robichaud also is expected to make some noise this winter, and picked up a 65-54 win over Ann Arbor Huron – Ann Arbor News

Okemos will be a team to watch in Class A over the next few seasons and earned a solid 35-34 win over Haslett – Lansing State Journal

Bowling

Adrian Madison freshman Isabell Young enjoyed a great start to her high school career, winning the Wildcat Blastoff Tournament – Adrian Daily Telegram

Hockey

Division 2 No. 3 Birmingham Brother Rice broke away for a 7-1 win over No. 5 Trenton – Oakland Press

Division 3 No. 5 Sault Ste. Marie remained undefeated with a stunning 8-1 win over Romeo, scoring the final eight goals – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Division 1 No. 10 Northville downed Traverse City West 4-1 on Saturday, while No. 3 Detroit Catholic Central and No. 7 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s tied 2-2 – Observer & Eccentric

Boys Swimming & Diving

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central edged reigning champion Ann Arbor Pioneer 356-334 to win the 70th Cereal Bowl Relays in Battle Creek – FHCRangers.com

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