Today in the MHSAA: 12/8/16

December 8, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wrestling season started Wednesday with matches all over the state, including the first of the 50th season for a highly-respected coach.

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.

Boys Basketball

Oak Park freshman Malik Carr had 18 points and 16 rebounds off the bench in a 78-61 win over St. Clair Shores South Lake – Detroit News

From Tuesday, Munising’s Alec Blank sank two free throws with a second remaining to give his team a 59-57 win over Gwinn – Marquette Mining Journal

Girls Basketball

Bath downed Pewamo-Westphalia 48-36 in a key early-season Central Michigan Athletic Conference matchup – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

From Tuesday, Scottville Mason County Central earned an impressive 42-41 win over Fruitport Calvary Christian – Ludington Daily News

Also from Tuesday, Taylor Gauthier drilled two free throws with 20 seconds left to give Escanaba a 38-37 win over Negaunee – Escanaba Daily Press

Hockey

Mount Pleasant downed Midland for the first time in program history, 3-2 with three goals in the third period – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

With only nine skaters and one goalie available, Marysville got past Bloomfield Hills 3-0 – Clinton Township Voice

From Tuesday, Houghton scored five third-period goals to down Kingsford 9-3 – Iron Mountain Daily News

Boys Swimming & Diving

Okemos won the Waverly Relays, breaking a 15-year-old meet record in the 400-yard individual medley relay – Lansing State Journal

Wrestling

Whitehall, 26-2 last season, opened this winter with a 41-22 victory over Grand Haven – Muskegon Chronicle

Marysville kept the Blue Water Belt with wins over Algonac and Port Huron – Port Huron Times Herald

Midland celebrated its 50th season of wrestling with wins over Bay City Central and Saginaw Heritage – Midland Daily News

Good Reads

Battle Creek Harper Creek kicked off the season with a quad, but the story was the start of the 50th season for coach Dave Studer – Battle Creek Enquirer

The Macomb County basketball community is mourning the death of Tannisha Stevens, who scored more than 2,000 points starring for Mount Clemens from 1988-91 – Macomb Daily

Today in the MHSAA: 1/20/16

January 20, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Buzzer beaters and milestone basketball victories made headlines all over Michigan today, and check out as well a moving video that tells of the importance of our national anthem.

Girls Basketball

Reigning Class C champion Calumet added another accomplishment to the long list with its first win over Houghton since 1999, 44-31 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Three Rivers’ sophomore Arionne Fowlkes went baseline to baseline for a last-second layup to give her team a 43-41 win over Niles – Niles Daily Star

Class A favorite Saginaw Heritage remained undefeated with a 53-38 win over rival Midland Dow, also ranked in Class A – Saginaw News

One-loss St. Ignace handed Newberry its first defeat of the season, 64-57 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Cedar Springs also knocked a team from the unbeaten ranks, with Sam Taylor’s 3-pointer in the closing seconds ending Kent City’s perfect run, 50-47 – Grand Rapids Press

Muskegon edged East Kentwood 50-47 after trailing by 10 and on the strength of 26 points and 22 rebounds by senior Mardrekia Cook – Muskegon Chronicle

Boys Basketball

Despite being outscored 30-22 in the fourth quarter, Southfield Christian held on for an 82-79 win over Southfield – MLive-Detroit

Merrill earned its first win since 2013 by downing Coleman 49-36 – Midland Daily News

One-loss Alma handed previously-undefeated Ithaca its first, 56-53, as Dylan Carl hit 3-pointers to send the game to overtime and then win it – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Muskegon Oakridge’s Brady Luttrull drilled a 3-pointer during the final seconds to push his team past Scottville Mason County Central 67-66 – Muskegon Chronicle

Cassopolis followed a strong third quarter by Deoin Gatson to hand Niles Brandywine its first loss, 61-47 – Niles Daily Leader

One-loss Clarkston also handed out a first loss Tuesday, to Rochester Adams, in a matchup of top Class A teams – Oakland Press

Caleb Brown’s only basket for Northport was the game winner during the final seconds of a 51-49 victory over Central Lake – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Nate Dugener’s sixth 3-pointer of the game gave Muskegon Western Michigan Christian a 52-49 win over Holland Christian – Grand Haven Tribune

Boys Swimming & Diving

In a matchup of top teams on the west side of the Lower Peninsula, Division 1 No. 6 Zeeland got past Division 2 honorable mention Holland 104-73 – Holland Sentinel

Worth Watching

We ran across and were moved by Virginia Tech’s honoring of veterans at the start of this men’s basketball season. Check out this meaningful presentation and how it relates to providing proper respect during The Star-Spangled Banner.