Today in the MHSAA: 12/7/15

December 7, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The first week of girls basketball season and second full week of ice hockey season came to an end with key matchups between teams that should be among contenders over the next few months.

Girls Basketball

Bay City John Glenn turned a three-point halftime advantage into a 53-44 win over Southfield-Lathrup, a favorite in Class A this winter – Bay City Times

Haslett graduated most of the team that carried it to a Class B runner-up finish last season, but surged to 2-0 with a 64-27 win over Okemos – Lansing State Journal

Lansing Waverly got 37 points from a frontcourt featuring two players 6-foot or taller in a 50-27 win over East Lansing – Lansing State Journal

Freshman Kate McArthur made eight 3-pointers in her first varsity game to lead Warren Cousino past Sterling Heights 58-38 – Macomb Daily

Detroit Country Day trailed by as many as 16 during the second half against Midland Dow, but came back to win 68-64 – Oakland Press

Bark River-Harris made quick work of Upper Peninsula power Crystal Falls Forest Park, 51-25, in the former's season opener – Escanaba Daily Press

Ice Hockey

Painesdale-Jeffers improved to 5-1 on this young season with a 3-0 shutout of Kingsford – Iron Mountain Daily News

Rockford, ranked No. 8 in Division 1, scored the final four goals in a 5-1 win over No. 7 East Kentwood – Grand Rapids Press

Boys Swimming and Diving

Ann Arbor Pioneer won the annual Cereal Bowl Relays at Battle Creek Central, putting up 391 points to win the 69-year-old event – Battle Creek Enquirer

Good Read

Anyone who has watched the Flint Beecher boys basketball program return to elite under coach Mike Williams would have a hard time not rooting for the Bucs and their passionate leader  who, unbeknownst to most, also has battled against complications caused by multiple sclerosis – Flint Journal

Today in the MHSAA: 1/21/16

January 21, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A pair of hockey games featuring top-ranked teams highlighted Wednesday’s statewide action, and read on as well for an inspirational story out of Fruitport.

Boys Basketball

Bear Lake handed Onekama its first loss to pull within a game of the West Michigan D lead – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Ice Hockey

Division 3 No. 1 Grand Rapids Catholic Central needed overtime, but escaped Muskegon Mona Shores with a 4-3 victory – Grand Rapids Press

Division 2 No. 2 Birmingham Brother Rice earned arguably the best of its 12 wins, 3-0 over Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central – Oakland Press

Wrestling

Saginaw Swan Valley fell in both of its matches Wednesday, but K.J. Suitor won his 200th individual match – Saginaw News

Good Read

Fruitport’s Karson Kriger played his first season of varsity football in the fall and was called up to the varsity baseball team as a pitcher last spring. He also can fire a bow – doing all of this with one hand after losing most of his left arm at birth – Local Sports Journal