Today in the MHSAA: 2/23/17

February 23, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The girls basketball and boys hockey regular seasons are drawing to a close this week, but not before a few stunners on the way to the playoffs.

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

Ishpeming Westwood held off a double-digit comeback by Norway to hand the Knights their first loss – Iron Mountain Daily News

Boys Basketball

Ithaca claimed a third straight Tri-Valley Conference West title with a 69-31 win over Pinconning – Saginaw News

Class C Flint Hamady handed Class B Frankenmuth only its second loss, 71-66 – Flint Journal

Pickford earned a share of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference title with a 64-53 win over Rudyard – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Riverview Gabriel Richard edged Royal Oak Shrine 48-46 to advance to the Detroit Catholic League C-D Final – Oakland Press

McBain clinched the Highland Conference championship with a 61-45 win over second-place Manton – Cadillac News

Hockey

Davison edged Division 3 No. 9 Saginaw Heritage 2-1 in the Cardinals’ regular-season finale – Flint Journal

Division 2 top-ranked Birmingham Brother Rice edged Division 1 No. 3 Brighton 4-3 in the Bulldogs’ final game of the regular season – Livingston County Daily Press & Argus

From High School to Olympic Swimming

July 11, 2012

Fans of U.S. Swimming already have plenty of reasons to cheer for Missy Franklin later this month at the Summer Olympics -- she's only 17, but qualified to compete in a U.S. women's all-time best seven events.

But fans of high school sports and what they provide athletes at all levels of ability can also support her for how she's chosen to compete when she's not racing against the best in the world.

Franklin, who lives in Colorado, has continued to swim for her high school team despite the financial rewards she could've earned by taking the elite swimmer's usual path of going pro.

A ton has been written about Franklin lately, for obvious reasons. Below is a link to a New York Times story from February that focused on her continued dedication to her high school team.

Before the Olympic Trials, There’s This Big High School Meet (New York Times)