Today in the MHSAA: 1/4/16
January 4, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We’re back to start 2016, but many of Michigan’s high school teams took only short breaks during the holidays; below is a roundup of some of the most recent notable news coverage as we kick off the new calendar year.
Boys Basketball
Jauron Vicks scored five points in overtime and 24 total to lead Warren Woods-Tower to a 56-52 overtime win over Macomb L’Anse Creuse North in the Crusader Classic final – Macomb Daily
Niles Brandywine remained undefeated and dealt White Pigeon its first loss, 51-46 in the final of the Sturgis Basketball Classic – Sturgis Journal
Muskegon also remained undefeated while handing the first loss of the season to East Kentwood at the Muskegon Hall of Fame Classic (Muskegon suffered its first loss this weekend, to Chicago Whitney Young) – Muskegon Chronicle
Hudsonville beat Grand Rapids Christian 68-55 in the final of the Cornerstone Invitational to add to a start that included a win over reigning Class B champion Wyoming Godwin Heights – Grand Rapids Press
Girls Basketball
Kysre Gondrezick tied for 15th in MHSAA history with 51 points for Benton Harbor in the final of the Lou Harvey Classic despite her team’s eventual 68-63 loss to Michigan City Marquette – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
In arguably the most significant game of the Motor City Roundball Classic, both girls and boys, Saginaw Heritage downed Detroit Country day 39-29 – Oakland Press
Wrestling
Lowell finished first ahead of a field featuring many of Michigan’s elite at the Detroit Catholic Central Invitational; Brighton was second and Macomb Dakota finished third – Oakland Press
Battle Creek Lakeview won its eighth straight all-city championship, downing local rivals Battle Creek Central, Harper Creek and Pennfield – Battle Creek Enquirer
Tyler Deming became only the sixth four-time champion during the 52 years of the Freeland Wrestling Invitational in leading Caro to the team title as well – Saginaw News
Petoskey’s Scott Kibbe earned his 100th win in leading his team to the Bridge Brawl championship at Rudyard – Petoskey News
Football
Longtime Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart football coach Rick Roberts retired from that post after 23 seasons leading the Irish and 35 total at four schools; he finished with a record of 202-146-1 and also is the Sacred Heart athletic director – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Today in the MHSAA: 2/1/16
February 1, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Incredible numbers in girls basketball and boys swimming and a matchup of undefeated rivals led the weekend’s headlines across Michigan.
Girls Basketball
Southfield-Lathrup doubled up Southfield in the final regular-season matchup between the rivals – the schools are scheduled to merge next year – Oakland Press
Grand Rapids South Christian made 11 3-pointers to stay undefeated and hand the first loss this season to Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 70-50 – Grand Rapids Press
Benton Harbor’s Kysre Gondrezick continues to climb the MHSAA career scoring list and moved past St. Joseph’s Kim Knuth for seventh place with 39 against Niles to give her 2,460 points – St. Joseph Herald Palladium
Competitive Cheer
Portage Central, Plainwell, host Otsego and Delton Kellogg won division titles at the Bulldog Invitational with Plainwell putting up the top score overall – Kalamazoo Gazette
Boys Swimming & Diving
Midland Dow won its 14th Tri-Cities Swim Invitational title, and Nehemiah Mork broke multiple meet records including one set in 1982 – Saginaw News
Wrestling
Six of the 14 champions at the Lenawee County All-Star Tournament came from Hudson – Adrian Daily Telegram
Battle Creek Lakeview won the Bill Evans Memorial Invitational ahead of a field that included Division 4 No. 7 Bronson – Battle Creek Enquirer
Macomb teams dominated the Macomb-Oakland County Challenge, led by undefeated Richmond – Macomb Daily
Unranked Niles won its fourth straight Greater Berrien County Invitational ahead of a field that included Division 2 No. 10 Stevensville Lakeshore – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
Good Reads
Fans of all schools will be rooting for Howell coach Ken Richards, who remains the school’s freshman boys basketball coach after being given a 50-50 chance of surviving cancer this past football season – Livingston Daily
Mount Pleasant is mourning the death of longtime coach Jim Powell, who guided more than 4,000 athletes during a 60-year career – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun