Today in the MHSAA: 2/19/16

February 19, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A couple of streaks are worth noting in today’s report – one for winning an incredible number of consecutive league games, and the other for success reaching more than a decade.

Girls Basketball

In a matchup of two of the best in the Upper Peninsula, Marquette held on to down Houghton 42-37 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Muskegon Oakridge won its 50th straight game in the West Michigan Conference for finish undefeated champion of the league for the third season in a row – Muskegon Chronicle

Newberry won a matchup of 16-1 teams, defeating St. Ignace 54-50 to win the Straits Area Conference in what also was its first win over the Saints since 1992 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Boys Basketball

Wyoming Potter’s House Christian celebrated a 30-point win over Kalamazoo Heritage Christian, but Heritage Christian’s Bryant Cross did score the 1,000th point of his career – Grand Rapids Press

Utica Ford earned arguably the night’s biggest upset statewide, handing a second loss this season to New Haven, 73-71 – Macomb Daily

Saginaw remains in first place in the Saginaw Valley League North, but Midland continued to enjoy its best league run in decades with a 58-51 win over the Trojans – Midland Daily News

Wrestling

From Thursday, Hartland won its 15th straight Regional title, dominating in Division 1 against Walled Lake Central and Warren Mott – Livingston Daily

Today in the MHSAA: 1/5/16

January 5, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Winter sports return in force with a full slate of events statewide tonight, but here are a few headlines of note as we get rolling – plus two great reads from the wrestling world.

Boys Basketball

Ishpeming in recent seasons has scheduled its first basketball games later than other teams to offset the football team’s four straight runs to the MHSAA Finals at Ford Field – but the Hematites were one of the first to play in 2016 and came away with a 74-72 win over Gladstone to move to 2-0 – Marquette Mining Journal

Girls Bowling

From Sunday, two-time reigning Division 2 champion Flint Kearsley got past 2015 Division 1 finalist Jackson to win the Lila Jean Furnish Classic in Owosso, which included a number of the state’s top teams – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Good Reads

When Clinton wrestler Nick Rolland was 3, his parents were told to say their good-byes after he was pulled from under a running lawn mower. But doctors were able to save his life, and then his leg, and this weekend he’ll wrestle for his 100th career win – Adrian Daily Telegram

Hastings wrestling coach Mike Goggins started out as an athlete for the Saxons, later coached at the middle school and now also is the high school athletic director – and owner of more than 400 varsity coaching wins after reaching that milestone during the Montrose Invitational on Dec. 29 – Grand Rapids Press