Today in the MHSAA: 1/6/20

January 6, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The clashing of statewide wrestling powers and a nearly unbelievable performance on the ice highlighted a power-packed first weekend of 2020.

1. Wrestling: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central, No. 2 Davison, No. 3 Brighton and Division 2 top-ranked Lowell took the top four team places, respectively, at the 56th DCC Invitational – Oakland Press

2. Hockey: Division 2 No. 2 Livonia Stevenson downed Hartland 5-2, with Seth Lause scoring an incredible three short-handed goals – Observer & Eccentric

3. Boys Basketball: Flint Beecher downed Benton Harbor 76-62 in a matchup of teams expected to make runs at Finals championships in March – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

4. Hockey: Division 1 No. 5 Brighton handed the first loss of the season to the last team without one, 3-2 to Division 3 top-ranked Calumet – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

5. Hockey: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central earned a significant league win 6-0 over No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – Oakland Press

6. Girls Basketball: Kelsey Richards went over 30 points for the fifth straight game as Fruitport Calvary Christian earned a 50-46 statement win over Central Montcalm – Muskegon Chronicle

7. Wrestling: Division 4 top-ranked Clinton followed a pair of individual champions to the team title at the 45th Dave Elliott Memorial Tournament – Adrian Daily Telegram

8. Boys Basketball: In another matchup of championship hopefuls, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s downed Grand Blanc 69-66 – Flint Journal

9. Girls Basketball: Hart continued its surge with a 51-35 win over Calvary Christian the day after the latter’s big win noted above – Muskegon Chronicle

10. Hockey: Ann Arbor Pioneer improved to 8-2 with a 2-1 win over rival Skyline in the final of the Jilek Cup – We Love Ann Arbor

Also of note …

Football: The football community is mourning the death of Zeeland West assistant Gasper Giarmo, who coached more than 30 years combined at seven schools including a decade at Byron Center – Grand Rapids Press

Today in the MHSAA: 1/7/20

January 7, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

This week’s basketball schedules got rolling with a number of games statewide Monday, topped by what could be a league title-decider eventually in Oakland County.

1. Girls Basketball: West Bloomfield took a strong step in a competitive Oakland Activities Association Red with a 71-63 win over Southfield Arts & Technology – Oakland Press

2. Boys Basketball: Kody Hendricks’ buzzer-beating basket pushed Norway past Powers North Central 47-45 – Iron Mountain Daily News

3. Boys Basketball: Gaylord St. Mary got past East Jordan 64-55 in a matchup of top northern Lower Peninsula teams – Gaylord Herald Times

4. Boys Basketball: Sanford Meridian added to its recent winning streak against Midland Dow with a 51-35 victory – Midland Daily News

5. Girls Basketball: Leland’s Olivia Lowe just missed a triple-double in leading her team to a big win over Lake Leelanau St. Mary – Traverse City Record-Eagle

6. Girls Basketball: North Farmington got past Troy 47-40 despite 28 rebounds by Troy’s Athena Samson – Oakland Press

7. Boys Basketball: Mackinaw City downed Harbor Light Christian as both teams were led by 30-point scorers – Petoskey News-Review

8. Boys Basketball: Rapid River won what could be a telling small-school battle, 55-48 over Carney-Nadeau – Escanaba Daily Press

9. Boys Basketball: Cadillac improved to 4-0 by edging Big Rapids 48-42 – MI Sports Now

10. Girls Basketball: Three Rivers moved to 5-0 with a big win over Battle Creek Pennfield – Three Rivers News

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: From Friday, Nick Edington went over 1,000 career points with 19 for Pickford in its 55-54 win over Dearborn Advanced Tech – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News