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: 2/21/19

February 21, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A championship capper to an incredible turnaround season and a bowling title sweep topped a highlight-filled Wednesday across the state.

1. Boys Basketball: Carleton Airport downed Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 69-59 to claim a share of the Huron League title, its first since 2001 and after going 2-19 overall last season – Monroe News

2. Bowling: Muskegon Oakridge’s girls and boys teams both claimed outright league championships at the Coastal Conference finale – Local Sports Journal

3. Boys Basketball: Harbor Beach, with an assist from Marlette, closed out the Greater Thumb Conference East championship with a win over Capac – Huron Daily Tribune

4. Boys Basketball: Petoskey got past Alpena 64-52 to clinch a share of the Big North Conference championship – Petoskey News-Review

5. Boys Basketball: Muskegon Heights downed Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 71-46 to clinch the Lakes 8 Conference title – Local Sports Journal

6. Competitive Cheer: Muskegon Mona Shores won its 10th straight Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship – Muskegon Chronicle

7. Girls Basketball: Dearborn Divine Child avenged two losses this season by taking the third meeting with Farmington Hills Mercy 54-43 in the Detroit Catholic League A-B semifinals – State Champs!

8. Bowling: The Division 2 No. 4 Coldwater boys finished with a share of the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference title after falling to Jackson Northwest – Coldwater Daily Reporter

9. Girls Basketball: Natalie Dunn became the third Holland West Ottawa player to go over 1,000 career points with 20 in a win over Grandville – Holland Sentinel

10. Boys Basketball: Romeo Weems led New Haven to a 74-58 win over Detroit Edison with a quadruple-double – 34 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals and 10 blocks – Detroit News

Also of note …

Basketball: From Tuesday, Otsego’s Mattison Rayman and Climax-Scotts’ Cole Eshuis both eclipsed 1,000 career points in wins – Kalamazoo Gazette