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: 12/10/15
December 10, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Wednesday was the first day of winter in full swing with significant matchups coming in six sports as four got into the heart of their first week of the season. Be sure to check out as well a story on MHSAA officials recruiting efforts.
Girls Basketball
Traverse City St. Francis won an early battle between two of the north’s top small-school teams, downing Frankfort (featured today on Second Half) 76-72 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
A pair of Concord players filled the stat sheet in a 62-56 win over Michigan Center; senior Lindsey Lehmen led with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals, and sophomore Camryn Ward grabbed 19 rebounds – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
Boys Basketball
From Tuesday, Sanford Meridian freshman Lucas Lueder will be among first-year players to watch, if his 18 points in a 65-61 win over Saginaw Nouvel are an indication – Midland Daily News
Boys Bowling
Vandercook Lake could be in line for an exciting season or four after watching freshmen Korey Reichard (278) and Conner Lackey (267) lead the way in a 29-1 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
Ice Hockey
Division 3 No. 10 Farmington’s two first-period goals were enough as the Falcons scored a key early-season win over Division 2 No. 4 Berkley – Oakland Press
After finishing regulation tied, Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central needed only 14 seconds of overtime to get past Cadillac 4-3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Boys Swimming & Diving
Chelsea coach Dave Jolly was the mid-Michigan link to Wednesday’s Waverly Relays, the annual event for Lansing-area teams to kick off the season; his Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 3-ranked team broke Okemos’ five-year hold on the meet championship – Lansing State Journal
Wrestling
No. 3 Davison earned one of the most significant early wins so far this season, 45-27 over No. 4 Brighton, which beat Davison in the Division 1 Semifinals last season – Livingston Daily
Saginaw Swan Valley, No. 8 in Division 3, just escaped Essexville Garber for a 32-30 win – Saginaw News
Good Read
After more than five decades as an official, Dick Kalahar is watching from the stands this season. He is among a growing number of retiring officials the MHSAA is charged with replacing over the next few years, and this piece looks at some of the challenges and opportunities, in part through Kalahar’s eyes – Jackson Citizen-Patriot