Today in the MHSAA: 3/14/16

March 14, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The MHSAA Gymnastics, Hockey and Boys Swimming and Diving seasons closed this weekend with seven team and multiple individual champions honored, and the boys basketball postseason finished its first week with a number of communities celebrating for the first time in a long time.

Boys Basketball

Battle Creek Central claimed its first District title since 2008, downing Kalamazoo Loy Norrix in a Class A Final – Battle Creek Enquirer

Lowell claimed its first District title since 1984 with a Class A win – Grand Rapids Press

Dylan Carl went over 1,000 points for his career as Alma downed Ovid-Elsie in a Class B Final – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Kingsford upset Great Northern Conference champion Menominee to claim a Class B title – Iron Mountain Daily News

In Class C, Hanover-Horton won its 15th straight District championship – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Ishpeming Westwood pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the week, downing rival Ishpeming in a Class C Final – Marquette Mining Journal

Niles Brandywine earned its first District title since 2001 with a Class C win – Niles Daily Star

Rock Mid-Peninsula claimed its first District title in two decades with a Class D victory – Escanaba Daily Press

Pickford also picked up a first District title in decades, beating Brimley to win for the first time since 1992 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Gymnastics

Despite losing senior standout Madi Myers to an injury midway through the meet, Rockford/Sparta repeated as MHSAA champion after finishing with a strong rotation on beam – Second Half

Grand Ledge’s Rachel Hogan followed three top-10 finishes to end her high school career as the Division 1 individual champion Saturday – Second Half

Ice Hockey

Detroit Catholic Central extended its Division 1 title streak to three under a third coach – Second Half

Romeo added a hockey championship to its fall football title, winning Division 2 for the first time – Second Half

Hancock won its first MHSAA title since 1999 finishing an impressive run with a Division 3 clincher over Grand Rapids Catholic Central – Second Half

Boys Swimming & Diving

Birmingham Brother Rice claimed its third straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship, outracing the field by 77 points – Second Half

Dexter built an early lead and won LP Division 2 for the second time in five seasons – Second Half

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood also won a third straight title, claiming LP Division 3 ahead of East Grand Rapids – Second Half

Today in the MHSAA: 3/7/17

March 7, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A trio of buzzer beaters lead off our collection of boys basketball District headlines from across the state after a Monday filled with close finishes and milestones.

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. 

Boys Basketball

Nolan Hornbacher’s basket with nine seconds to play gave Caro a 40-39 Class B win over North Branch; the Tigers have built their first winning season since 2002 – Saginaw News

Ross Bogart’s bucket during the final seconds gave Southgate Anderson a 48-46 Class A win over Riverview – Southgate News Herald

Coloma’s Zach Goodline hit 3-pointers to send his team’s Class B game against Buchanan into overtime and then help it win 56-55 in a second extra period – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

Otsego had 11 points at halftime of its Class B game against Plainwell, but Bill Woodhams scored 27 during the second half to lead the Bulldogs to a 54-40 win – Kalamazoo Gazette

Napoleon downed Concord 70-59 in a Class C matchup of 15-win teams entering the night – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s eliminated 2016 Class A runner-up North Farmington, 58-42 – Oakland Press

Konner Vedrode went over 1,000 career points as Alma downed Shepherd 52-45 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Danny Griffin went over 1,000 points as well as Evart downed White Cloud 69-48 – Big Rapids News

Good Read

Four travel hockey standouts came out for Hartland’s team this season, joining two more who made the switch a year ago, and the Eagles are 24-2-1 heading into a Division 2 Quarterfinal tonight. They talk about some of the best of becoming part of the high school team – Livingston Daily Press & Argus