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: 12/6/19

December 6, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Girls basketball rolled toward its first weekend of the season Thursday with East Jordan among teams enjoying an early surge.

1. Girls Basketball: East Jordan added to a highlight-filled opening week with a 37-35 comeback win over Johannesburg-Lewiston – Petoskey News-Review

2. Girls Basketball: Farmington Hills Mercy earned its first win, 64-26 over Waterford Kettering – Oakland Press

3. Girls Basketball: Spring Lake bounced back from a season-opening loss with a 41-37 win over Fremont – Grand Haven Tribune

4. Girls Basketball: Fraser held on for a 39-33 win over St. Clair Shores Lakeshore – Macomb Daily

5. Girls Basketball: Alpena finished on a 14-2 run to get past Alcona 58-42 – Alpena News

6. Girls Basketball: Unionville-Sebewaing came up with a low-scoring first win, 28-24 over Saginaw Valley Lutheran – Huron Daily Tribune

7. Girls Basketball: Wixom St. Catherine edged South Lyon 26-23 – Oakland Press

8. Girls Basketball: Cadillac opened its season with a big win, 52-26 over Reed City – Up North Live

9. Girls Basketball: Bellaire earned its first win this winter also in a low-scoring contest, 24-18 over Boyne City – Traverse City Record-Eagle

10. Girls Basketball: Saginaw Nouvel bounced back from an opening-night loss to defeat Cass City – Saginaw News