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: 1/15/16

January 15, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Thursday provided a substantial appetizer for another big weekend with key basketball games, noteworthy swimming and diving finishes and a milestone wrestling victory.

Boys Basketball

Clarkston earned a key Oakland Activities Association Red edge with a win over similarly state-ranked North Farmington, 60-47 – Oakland Press

Frankfort earned a similarly important win in Northwest Conference play, winning a matchup of Class D ranked teams 65-55 over Buckley – Traverse City Record-Eagle

For the second straight day, a basketball team made an incredible comeback; this time, it was East Jackson building off a 21-2 deficit at the end of the first quarter to beat Napoleon 42-39 – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Olivet junior Delbert Redfield made nine of 11 3-point tries and scored 33 points total to lead the Eagles to a 73-55 win over Lansing Christian – MLive Lansing

Girls Basketball

Warren Cousino handed Grosse Pointe North the latter’s first loss this season, 64-58, to move to 9-1 overall – Macomb Daily

Boys Swimming & Diving

Lower Peninsula Division 3 honorable mention Spring Lake downed No. 4 Hamilton, No. 5 Grand Rapids Christian and Division 2 honorable mention Holland in its best meet of a strong run so far – Grand Haven Tribune

Wrestling

Leslie defeated Olivet (and also lost to Lake Odessa Lakewood) on Thursday, giving Blackhawks coach Todd Stern his 400th career win since taking over as head coach in 1987 – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Good Reads

Battle of the Fans V kicks off tonight with our first visit to Yale, a finalist as well in 2015 – Port Huron Times-Herald

Grand Haven’s basketball teams will return to their former gym now part of Lakeshore Middle School – Pirates Pit – on Feb. 6 and for the first time since 2007 as the high school gym will be used for the league wrestling meet – Grand Haven Tribune

Vanderbilt’s boys basketball team has one win this season, but it was the first in nearly two years and a testament to the rebuilding of the program under first-year coach Darren Conn and assistant Amie Byelich – Petoskey News