Today in the MHSAA: 2/17/17

February 17, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

At least eight girls basketball league championships were decided in some way Thursday night, and we’ve linked up to media coverage for all of them, plus another on the boys hoops side and an impressive skiing accomplishment.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state. 

Girls Basketball

Grass Lake won its first Cascades Conference championship in more than a decade, clinching with a 59-55 win over Manchester – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Comstock clinched a share of its first league title in 24 years with a 50-28 win over Bridgman – Kalamazoo Gazette

Frankenmuth clinched a share of an 11th straight Tri-Valley Conference East title with a 61-33 win over Otisville-LakeVille – Saginaw News

Reese downed Bad Axe 54-21 to earn a ninth straight Greater Thumb Conference West title – Saginaw News

Sandusky won the GTC East championship with a 47-30 victory over Harbor Beach – Huron Daily Tribune

In their second matchup this month, Marquette avenged an earlier loss by handing Houghton its first defeat this season – Marquette Mining Journal

Traverse City Central clinched a share of the Big North Conference title with a 39-32 win over Alpena – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Centreville downed Bronson 42-30 to win the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Blue title – Sturgis Journal

Bloomfield Hills secured an outright Oakland Activities Association White title after earning the first share a week ago – Oakland Press

Boys Basketball

Owendale-Gagetown secured a share of the Inner State Athletic Conference title with a 49-45 win over Burton Faith – Huron Daily Tribune

Skiing

For the first time in Brighton history, both the girls and boys teams won Regional championships – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Good Read/Watch

Grand Rapids-based WZZM featured Beaverton boys basketball coach Roy Johnston as part of its "Our Michigan Life" series after the Beavers' leader broke the MHSAA career coaching wins record in the sport – WZZM

Today in the MHSAA: 12/10/15

December 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday was the first day of winter in full swing with significant matchups coming in six sports as four got into the heart of their first week of the season. Be sure to check out as well a story on MHSAA officials recruiting efforts.

Girls Basketball

Traverse City St. Francis won an early battle between two of the north’s top small-school teams, downing Frankfort (featured today on Second Half) 76-72 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

A pair of Concord players filled the stat sheet in a 62-56 win over Michigan Center; senior Lindsey Lehmen led with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals, and sophomore Camryn Ward grabbed 19 rebounds – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Boys Basketball

From Tuesday, Sanford Meridian freshman Lucas Lueder will be among first-year players to watch, if his 18 points in a 65-61 win over Saginaw Nouvel are an indication – Midland Daily News

Boys Bowling

Vandercook Lake could be in line for an exciting season or four after watching freshmen Korey Reichard (278) and Conner Lackey (267) lead the way in a 29-1 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Ice Hockey

Division 3 No. 10 Farmington’s two first-period goals were enough as the Falcons scored a key early-season win over Division 2 No. 4 Berkley – Oakland Press

After finishing regulation tied, Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central needed only 14 seconds of overtime to get past Cadillac 4-3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Boys Swimming & Diving

Chelsea coach Dave Jolly was the mid-Michigan link to Wednesday’s Waverly Relays, the annual event for Lansing-area teams to kick off the season; his Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 3-ranked team broke Okemos’ five-year hold on the meet championship – Lansing State Journal

Wrestling

No. 3 Davison earned one of the most significant early wins so far this season, 45-27 over No. 4 Brighton, which beat Davison in the Division 1 Semifinals last season – Livingston Daily

Saginaw Swan Valley, No. 8 in Division 3, just escaped Essexville Garber for a 32-30 win – Saginaw News

Good Read

After more than five decades as an official, Dick Kalahar is watching from the stands this season. He is among a growing number of retiring officials the MHSAA is charged with replacing over the next few years, and this piece looks at some of the challenges and opportunities, in part through Kalahar’s eyes – Jackson Citizen-Patriot