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: 6/6/19

June 6, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The Girls and Boys Lacrosse Finals pairings are set after eight Semifinals on Thursday, with a number of close finishes and the ascension of a new contender in that sport, plus a few surprises from Regional Semifinals on the baseball diamond.

1. Boys Lacrosse: No. 3 Ada Forest Hills Eastern earned its first championship game berth in this sport with a 9-6 win over No. 2 East Grand Rapids – FOX 17

2. Girls Lacrosse: No. 4 Brighton earned a return to the Division 1 championship game with a 12-10 Semifinal win over No. 3 Hartland – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. Boys Lacrosse: No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central will play for another title after getting past No. 6 Lake Orion 14-13 in overtime – Oakland Press

4. Girls Lacrosse: No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Marian also won a close Semifinal, downing No. 4 Okemos 15-13 in Division 2 – Detroit News

5. Baseball: Grand Rapids Catholic Central scored on a walk-off single to edge No. 4 Holland Christian and Miami Marlins draft pick Chris Mokma in a Division 2 Regional Semifinal – FOX 17

6. Baseball: No. 14 Three Oaks River Valley upended No. 2 Muskegon Catholic Central 4-3 to move on in Division 4 – Muskegon Chronicle

7. Baseball: No. 17 Fowlerville moved on to a Division 2 Regional Final with a 2-1 win over No. 12 Tecumseh and Texas Rangers draft selection Cameron Wagoner – Lansing State Journal

8. Lacrosse: The Rockford and East Grand Rapids girls (Nos. 1 in Division 1 and 2, respectively) and Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice boys (Nos. 1 in Division 2 and Division 1) also won Semifinals – Grand Rapids Press

9. Baseball: A fifth-inning run pushed Boyne City past No. 14 Traverse City St. Francis 1-0 in a Division 3 Regional Semifinal – Petoskey News-Review

10. Baseball: Jake Riggs had 15 strikeouts and a grand slam to lead No. 6 Brethren past Fowler in Division 4 – Manistee News Advocate