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: 1/8/16

January 8, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A light schedule Thursday heading into the first full weekend of 2016 still included noteworthy contests, and read on for an important report on MHSAA sideline concussion testing efforts this school year. 

Girls Basketball

Two of the top teams in the Oakland Activities Association and arguably statewide – Southfield-Lathrup and Rochester Hills Stoney Creek – faced off Thursday, with Southfield-Lathrup handing Stoney Creek its first loss, 63-36 – Oakland Press 

Boys Basketball

Frankfort earned a key upper hand in the Northwest Conference with a 42-39 win over Maple City Glen Lake after Glen Lake came back from 10 down late – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Bridgeport’s T.J. Parham scored 37 as the Bearcats downed Millington 91-54 in a key Tri-Valley Conference East matchup – Saginaw News 

From Wednesday, DeTour ended Cedarville’s 10-season undefeated run in the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference with a 51-42 win – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Good Read

This is the first school year of the MHSAA’s sideline concussion testing pilot program, and The Associated Press explained well its value and goals – The Associated Press