Today in the MHSAA: 2/8/16
February 8, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The weekend provided previews of MHSAA championship contenders in gymnastics, cheer and hockey, and also basketball with a matchup of two girls teams that could come away from this winter with titles and the reigning Class D boys champ shining again.
Girl Basketball
A last-second 3-pointer by Lauryn Carroll gave Ypsilanti Arbor Prep a 50-47 win over previously-undefeated Bay City John Glenn, considered arguably the top team in the state regardless of class – Bay City Times
Detroit Country Day edged Southfield-Lathrup 56-52 in a matchup of contenders in Class B and A, respectively – Oakland Press
Mona Shores locked down the usually-potent offense of rival Muskegon in defeating the Big Reds 55-34 – Muskegon Chronicle
Boys Basketball
Reigning Class D champion Powers North Central remained undefeated by handing a first loss to Crystal Falls Forest Park, 68-54 – Escanaba Daily Press
Southfield Christian just edged Belleville 70-69 for its 12th straight win – MLive-Detroit
Competitive Cheer
Reigning Division 1 champion Rochester finished ahead of a strong field to clinch the Oakland Activities Association Red championship – Oakland Press
Gymnastics
Rockford/Sparta, the reigning MHSAA champion, showed it’s the team to beat again this winter by claiming the championship at the prestigious Canton Invitational. Howell finished second and Farmington third – Canton Athletics
Hockey
The Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League Showcase pitted many of the state’s top teams with some of the key results a 3-0 win by Division 2 No. 3 Livonia Stevenson over Division 3 No. 1 Grand Rapids Catholic Central and 4-3 by unranked Houghton over Division 1 No. 3 Detroit U-D Jesuit – MIHL
Swimming & Diving
Warren DeLaSalle’s boys won their fourth straight Macomb County Invitational, finishing more than 300 points ahead of the field – Macomb Daily
Wrestling
Springport won its seventh straight Big 8 Conference championship, setting a league record in dominating its competition this time – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
Allegan won its 12th straight Wolverine Conference title, finishing far ahead of the field and with three individual champions – Kalamazoo Gazette
Niles finished its championship run in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
Good Read
Former opponents no doubt remember facing Marshall basketball standout Kari Searles on the court; many who supported her as a player supported her again Friday with a donation toward her care as she fights lung cancer – Battle Creek Enquirer
Today in the MHSAA: 1/12/16
January 12, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Today’s report includes our first skiing headline of this season – and make sure to check out as well a video involving the Plymouth football team and a fourth-grade student’s goal come true.
Boys Basketball
In a Monday matchup of unbeaten teams, Lake Linden-Hubbell got past Chassell 65-48 with a pair of players combining to score 52 of those points – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Bowling
From Sunday, Jackson’s girls won the Battle of the Baker tournament at M-66 Bowl in Battle Creek, beating Hartland 2-0 in the final match – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
From Saturday, Grand Haven’s teams swept the Fruitport Invitational after both qualified third to start the event but dominated the Baker games – Grand Haven Tribune
Skiing
The season got off to a late start, but there’s plenty of snow now and the Harbor Springs girls took advantage by winning the opening Grayling Invitational at Schuss Mountain – Petoskey News
Worth a Watch
We in Michigan can all use a little sunshine this time of year. This fall, Plymouth fifth-grader Connor “Sunshine” Sherman, with the help of the Plymouth High football program, put on the second Sunshine’s Skills and Drills Football Clinic for children with special needs. Here’s a look at how what started as a classroom project took off.