Today in the MHSAA: 3/2/16

March 2, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Snowstorms didn’t stop all of the action Tuesday night, as a basketball team continued to make history and a hockey team enjoyed a comeback that should be talked about for years to come.

Boys Basketball

Grand Rapids Christian earned an impressive 82-62 win over reigning Class B champion Wyoming Godwin Heights – Grand Rapids Press

Johannesburg-Lewiston followed Logan Huff’s 32 points and 10 rebounds to come back from five down in the fourth quarter for a 66-62 win over Mio – Gaylord Herald Times

Hazel Park finished an outright championship with a 64-60 win over Birmingham Groves in the Oakland Activities Association Red; the title was Hazel Park’s first since 1996 – Oakland Press

Ice Hockey

Portage Central scored nine seconds into its Pre-Regional game against rival Portage Northern and continued on for a 4-2 win – Kalamazoo Gazette

After trailing by three goals with a period to play, Utica came back to beat Fraser 6-5 in a Division 2 Pre-Regional game – Macomb Daily

Good Read

It’s impossible not to root for North Muskegon’s Olivia Duncan, who will take the floor in a District Semifinal tonight and play a significant role despite also being on the waiting list for a kidney transplant – Muskegon Chronicle

Today in the MHSAA: 12/10/15

December 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday was the first day of winter in full swing with significant matchups coming in six sports as four got into the heart of their first week of the season. Be sure to check out as well a story on MHSAA officials recruiting efforts.

Girls Basketball

Traverse City St. Francis won an early battle between two of the north’s top small-school teams, downing Frankfort (featured today on Second Half) 76-72 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

A pair of Concord players filled the stat sheet in a 62-56 win over Michigan Center; senior Lindsey Lehmen led with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals, and sophomore Camryn Ward grabbed 19 rebounds – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Boys Basketball

From Tuesday, Sanford Meridian freshman Lucas Lueder will be among first-year players to watch, if his 18 points in a 65-61 win over Saginaw Nouvel are an indication – Midland Daily News

Boys Bowling

Vandercook Lake could be in line for an exciting season or four after watching freshmen Korey Reichard (278) and Conner Lackey (267) lead the way in a 29-1 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Ice Hockey

Division 3 No. 10 Farmington’s two first-period goals were enough as the Falcons scored a key early-season win over Division 2 No. 4 Berkley – Oakland Press

After finishing regulation tied, Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central needed only 14 seconds of overtime to get past Cadillac 4-3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Boys Swimming & Diving

Chelsea coach Dave Jolly was the mid-Michigan link to Wednesday’s Waverly Relays, the annual event for Lansing-area teams to kick off the season; his Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 3-ranked team broke Okemos’ five-year hold on the meet championship – Lansing State Journal

Wrestling

No. 3 Davison earned one of the most significant early wins so far this season, 45-27 over No. 4 Brighton, which beat Davison in the Division 1 Semifinals last season – Livingston Daily

Saginaw Swan Valley, No. 8 in Division 3, just escaped Essexville Garber for a 32-30 win – Saginaw News

Good Read

After more than five decades as an official, Dick Kalahar is watching from the stands this season. He is among a growing number of retiring officials the MHSAA is charged with replacing over the next few years, and this piece looks at some of the challenges and opportunities, in part through Kalahar’s eyes – Jackson Citizen-Patriot