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: 2/25/20

February 25, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The MHSAA Skiing Finals capped another winter season with four team championships awarded Monday – find Second Half coverage to the right – while Hockey Regionals also began and a pair of girls basketball results made big headlines.

1. Girls Basketball: West runner-up Brighton advanced to the Kensington Lakes Activities Association title game with a 49-38 win over East champion Wayne Memorial – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. Girls Basketball: Lake City moved to 19-1 by handing Bellaire its first loss of the season, 37-27 – Cadillac News

3. Hockey: Kalamazoo Eagles avenged a 4-3 overtime loss to Capital City with a 2-1 Division 1 Regional win – JoeInsider.com

4. Hockey: New Boston United and Southgate-Monroe split during the regular season, but NBU came out on top 8-3 in Division 1 Regional play – Southgate News-Herald

5. Hockey: The No. 9 Traverse Bay Reps opened Division 1 Regional play with a 6-2 win over Grand Rapids Christian – MI Sports Now

6. Girls Basketball: Hartland also advanced to the KLAA final with a 46-25 win over Dearborn – Detroit News

7. Boys Basketball: Fife Lake Forest Area upset Gaylord St. Mary 87-72 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

8. Girls Basketball: Pinconning downed Whittemore-Prescott 66-28 to move to 13-6, guaranteeing its winningest season since 2002 – Bay City Times

9. Boys Basketball: Pickford improved to 15-2 with a 55-46 win over Engadine – MI Sports Now

10. Boys Basketball: Gladstone picked up a 79-61 win over Ishpeming Westwood – Escanaba Daily Press

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: From Friday, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart downed Blanchard Montabella 62-40 to clinch the Mid-State Activities Conference championship – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Girls Basketball: From Thursday, Niles Brandywine got past rival Buchanan 73-38 to lock up the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Red title – Niles Daily Star