Today in the MHSAA: 3/8/17

March 8, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The Division 2 ice hockey field was cut to four and the girls basketball field to 16 during a Tuesday full of big-time performances and a few upsets as well.

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. 

Girls Basketball

Walled Lake Western earned its first Regional win in 34 season, downing Novi 48-42 in a Class A Regional Semifinal – Oakland Press

Kierra Fletcher had 35 points and 13 rebounds in reigning Class A champion Warren Cousino’s 56-44 victory over 20-win Utica Ford – MLive-Detroit

With a heavy heart, Asjia Blanton had 19 points off the bench to lead Midland Dow to a 59-36 win over Marquette – Saginaw News

East Kentwood survived a 28-point night from Muskegon Mona Shores standout Jordan Walker to win 57-43 in their Class A matchup – Grand Rapids Press

Farmington Hills Mercy dealt Hartland only its second – and final – loss this season, 47-42 in a Class A Regional Semifinal – Observer & Eccentric

Blissfield handed 20-win Michigan Center a 48-38 Regional Semifinal loss in Class C – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Kalkaska scored during the final 10 seconds to upend Houghton 58-57 in a matchup of 20+ win teams in Class C – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Bronson contained high-scoring Niles Brandywine 32-22 in Class C – Coldwater Daily Reporter

Pickford ended Hillman’s 21-game winning streak with a 51-45 win in Class D – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Frankfort upset Gaylord St. Mary 47-44 in Class D – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Hockey

Unranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Eastern advanced to the Division 2 Semifinals for the second straight season with a 3-2 win over unranked Muskegon Mona Shores – Grand Rapids Press

Unranked Saline upset No. 5 Livonia Churchill in double overtime 5-4 to advance – Saline Post

Top-ranked Birmingham Brother Rice eliminated reigning Division 2 champion Romeo, 4-0 – Macomb Daily

No. 2 Hartland shut out No. 4 Livonia Stevenson 3-0 to also move on – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

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