Today in the MHSAA: 1/6/16
January 6, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Tuesday’s return of a full basketball slate saw a handful of teams do just enough to remain undefeated – and a reigning champion fall for the first time since March 5, 2014.
Boys Basketball
Detroit Renaissance snapped reigning Class A champion Detroit Western International’s 31-game winning streak with a 48-39 victory in Detroit Public School League play – Detroit Free Press
East Lansing won a matchup of arguably the two best teams in the Lansing area, drilling 17 3-pointers to down Williamston 78-37 – Lansing State Journal
Hudsonville remained undefeated thanks to a last-second shot by Jared Blum that gave the Eagles their final 49-47 lead over Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills – Grand Rapids Press
Dowagiac remained undefeated despite 39 points from Niles’ Gavin Rasler, edging the Vikings 61-59 in overtime – Niles Daily Star
Girls Basketball
Saugatuck lost its last game before holiday break, but got back on the winning side thanks to go-ahead basket by Maddie Moore during the closing seconds of a 47-45 win over North Muskegon – Holland Sentinel
Maple City Glen Lake moved to 5-1 while handing Elk Rapids its first defeat of this season, 59-39 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
From Monday, Mackinaw City downed Brimley for the first time in at least seven seasons to move to 5-1 this winter – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
Ice Hockey
Ethan Peitz scored a hat trick to bring Saline back from a first-period deficit for a 7-4 win over Ann Arbor Skyline – Ann Arbor News
Football
Monroe coach Eric Redmond has resigned after six seasons and a combined record of 138-69 over 20 years, with 14 more at Carleton Airport. Before returning to his alma mater, Redmond coached Airport to its first playoff berth and then 11 straight – Monroe Evening News
Today in the MHSAA: 2/8/16
February 8, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The weekend provided previews of MHSAA championship contenders in gymnastics, cheer and hockey, and also basketball with a matchup of two girls teams that could come away from this winter with titles and the reigning Class D boys champ shining again.
Girl Basketball
A last-second 3-pointer by Lauryn Carroll gave Ypsilanti Arbor Prep a 50-47 win over previously-undefeated Bay City John Glenn, considered arguably the top team in the state regardless of class – Bay City Times
Detroit Country Day edged Southfield-Lathrup 56-52 in a matchup of contenders in Class B and A, respectively – Oakland Press
Mona Shores locked down the usually-potent offense of rival Muskegon in defeating the Big Reds 55-34 – Muskegon Chronicle
Boys Basketball
Reigning Class D champion Powers North Central remained undefeated by handing a first loss to Crystal Falls Forest Park, 68-54 – Escanaba Daily Press
Southfield Christian just edged Belleville 70-69 for its 12th straight win – MLive-Detroit
Competitive Cheer
Reigning Division 1 champion Rochester finished ahead of a strong field to clinch the Oakland Activities Association Red championship – Oakland Press
Gymnastics
Rockford/Sparta, the reigning MHSAA champion, showed it’s the team to beat again this winter by claiming the championship at the prestigious Canton Invitational. Howell finished second and Farmington third – Canton Athletics
Hockey
The Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League Showcase pitted many of the state’s top teams with some of the key results a 3-0 win by Division 2 No. 3 Livonia Stevenson over Division 3 No. 1 Grand Rapids Catholic Central and 4-3 by unranked Houghton over Division 1 No. 3 Detroit U-D Jesuit – MIHL
Swimming & Diving
Warren DeLaSalle’s boys won their fourth straight Macomb County Invitational, finishing more than 300 points ahead of the field – Macomb Daily
Wrestling
Springport won its seventh straight Big 8 Conference championship, setting a league record in dominating its competition this time – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
Allegan won its 12th straight Wolverine Conference title, finishing far ahead of the field and with three individual champions – Kalamazoo Gazette
Niles finished its championship run in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
Good Read
Former opponents no doubt remember facing Marshall basketball standout Kari Searles on the court; many who supported her as a player supported her again Friday with a donation toward her care as she fights lung cancer – Battle Creek Enquirer