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: 2/23/16

February 23, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A pair of unexpected basketball results, including one in a league tournament semifinal, topped headlines from Monday’s statewide action.

Boys Basketball

Livonia Churchill advanced to the to the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Kensington final by handing Northville its first loss this season, 51-48 – Detroit News

Bellaire locked up a fifth straight Ski Valley Conference title and 12th since 2000 with a 42-28 win over Indian River Inland Lakes – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Girls Basketball

Mattawan dealt only the second loss of this season to Stevensville Lakeshore, 49-44, after trailing by two heading into the final quarter – Kalamazoo Gazette

Fenton won a matchup of top Flint-area teams, handing Goodrich only its third loss, 52-43 – Flint Journal

Ice Hockey

Troy downed Ann Arbor Huron 7-3, but Huron goalie Ethan St. Pierre made an incredible 51 saves – Ann Arbor News

Good Read

Jason Petras was a hero of Farmington hockey’s run to the 2014 Division 3 title, and now a senior he remains inspired by the memory of his mom Kim, who died three years ago Feb. 4 – Oakland Press