Today in the MHSAA: 3/13/19

March 13, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The final 16 contenders for MHSAA boys basketball championships this season were decided Tuesday, and we’ve linked up coverage from all 16 Quarterfinals.

Division 1: Howell stunned Saginaw 57-56 to make the Semifinals for the first time since 1927 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Division 1: Okemos moved on to the Semifinals for the first time since 2006 with a 50-45 win over East Kentwood – Lansing State Journal

Division 1: Detroit U-D Jesuit put up a dominating 91-54 win over Roseville to advance – Detroit News

Division 1: Ypsilanti Lincoln continued its longest run with its first Quarterfinal win, 56-52 over Detroit Martin Luther King – Ann Arbor News

Division 2: Ludington continued a run that saw the Orioles begin the postseason under .500, downing Alma 65-32 – MI Sports Now

Division 2: Undefeated Harper Woods Chandler Park edged New Haven and Mr. Basketball Romeo Weems 53-51 – State Champs!

Division 2: Hudsonville Unity Christian avenged an earlier loss with a 71-45 win over Grand Rapids South Christian in their Quarterfinal – WOOD TV

Division 2: River Rouge is headed back to the Semifinals for the second straight year after a 60-43 win over Haslett – Southgate News-Herald

Division 3: Undefeated Iron Mountain will make a trip to East Lansing thanks to a 61-56 win over Sanford Meridian – The Upbeat

Division 3: Erie Mason earned its first trip to the Semifinals with a 55-48 win over Hanover-Horton – Monroe News

Division 3: Pewamo-Westphalia kept its unbeaten season alive with a 70-50 win over Cassopolis – Lansing State Journal

Division 3: Detroit Edison won a matchup of the last two Class C champions, downing Flint Beecher 76-69 – MLive-Detroit

Division 4: Frankfort will return to the Semifinals for the first time since 2014 thanks to a 53-51 overtime win over Big Rapids Crossroads – WPBN

Division 4: Dollar Bay is headed to the Semifinals for the second straight season after defeating Pellston 67-64 – The Upbeat

Division 4: Southfield Christian will return to the Breslin Center thanks to a 74-44 win over Burton Genesee Christian – Oakland Press

Division 4: Wyoming Tri-unity Christian also will return to East Lansing after a 62-31 win over Bellevue – FOX 17

Did You See That? (April 29-May 5)

May 7, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The resignation of one of Michigan's winningest boys basketball coaches made arguably the biggest headlines during a week that also saw sad news about two more coaches who will be remembered fondly in their respective communities. 

But before we get to those, here's also a look at the story of another coach making his way back from a challenging situation: 

Good Read of the Week

DeWitt welcomed back by his teams: Last Monday's Holland Calvary vs. Holland Freedom Christian baseball doubleheader at Fifth Third Ballpark was more than just a chance to play some big games on a bigger-than-usual stage. The teams also welcomed coach Lanny DeWitt, who coaches basketball at Calvary and baseball and Freedom Christian and is recovering from a stroke suffered March 20. (Holland Sentinel)

Boys Basketball/Volleyball

Keener leaves for Arizona: Detroit Country Day boys basketball coach Kurt Keener – whose 678 victories are second in MHSAA history only to legendary River Rouge coach Lofton Greene – announced he was leaving Country Day after 35 years Friday to move to Arizona, where he will coach a high school team in Scottsdale. Keener led Country Day this winter to its ninth MHSAA boys hoops title. (Oakland Press)

Mona Shores hires veteran leaders: Muskegon Mona Shores announced Wednesday that it hired former Muskegon Community College athletic director and men’s basketball coach Gene Gifford to take over its boys hoops program, and former Fruitport coach Dan Potts to take over the volleyball program. Potts led Fruitport to the 2005 MHSAA Class B championship. (Muskegon Chronicle)

Girls Basketball

Detroit mourns Knott: The Detroit Public School League and its basketball community are mourning the death of recently-retired Detroit Cody girls hoops coach Charles Knott, who was reportedly shot and killed Tuesday. Knott – hired at Cody in 1988 – was a graduate of Detroit Southeastern and also coached softball during his tenure.  (Detroit News)

Softball

D2 powers split: Division 2 No. 4 Coloma and honorable mention Portland split a doubleheader Wednesday. Portland won the first 1-0 before Coloma handed the Raiders their first loss this season, 2-1. (Ionia Sentinel-Standard)

Stevenson surges: Sterling Heights Stevenson moved up to No. 1 in Division 1 this week in part because of a split Saturday against previously top-ranked and now No. 5-Mattawan. (Kalamazoo Gazette)

Boys Golf

Lansing Catholic dominates: The Cougars, keyed by senior Jacob Johnson and junior Brent Marshall, won Friday’s Capital Area Activities Conference Open by nine strokes over East Lansing. The event matches the teams from all four divisions of the CAAC, which currently includes four top 10-ranked teams including Division 2 No. 1 Haslett and Lansing Catholic – which is No. 1 in Division 3.  (Lansing State Journal)

Lakeview cards record: Battle Creek Lakeview shot a 290 during the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Association Championships last week at Island Hills Golf Club in Centreville, breaking the previous team record of 295 shot in 2010. Lakeview is ranked No. 5 in Division 1. (Battle Creek Enquirer)

Girls Track and Field

Bark River-Harris reigns in Central U.P.: The Broncos – who finished ninth at last season’s MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 3 Final – clinched their second Central Upper Peninsula Conference title in three seasons Tuesday by edging Rapid River by nine points and Eben Junction Superior Central by 43. Superior Central was runner-up at that MHSAA Division 3 Final last spring.  (Escanaba Daily Press)

Boys Track and Field

Algonac tops at Muskrat Classic: Algonac not only won the Division 2 portion of its annual invitational, but scored 100 points to top all of the Division 1 schools as well. (Port Huron Times-Herald)

Baseball

Hessbrook throws third no-hitter: Ithaca’s Logan Hessbrook threw not only his third no-hitter of the season Thursday, but his second straight as the Yellowjackets downed St. Charles 15-0 and then 4-0 in a doubleheader. He had seven strikeouts in seven innings. (Saginaw News)

DCC gains big split: Unranked Detroit Catholic Central earned a 9-8 win over No. 3 Birmingham Brother Rice on Thursday before falling 4-1 in the second game. (Mlive Detroit)

Football

Williams heads to Ypsilanti: Lamanzer Williams – who played at the University of Minnesota and also has served as football coach at Kalamazoo Central and Inkster – has resigned as Holland High football coach after one season to become athletic director at the new Ypsilanti Community High School. (AnnArbor.com)

Grand Rapids mourns Julian: Former Grand Rapids West Catholic and Grand Rapids Community College football coach Fred Julian died Saturday after a battle against prostate cancer. The Detroit Pershing grad taught and coached at West Catholic for 16 seasons and also played professionally for the old American Football League’s New York Titans. (Grand Rapids Press)

Wrestling

Boyer nears end at Pennfield: Larry Boyer, who led Battle Creek Pennfield's wrestling team to a 1992 MHSAA title, will retire from the school after this spring and 36 years including the last 13 as athletic director. He also has coached football and track and field. (Battle Creek Enquirer)