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
Did You See That? (May 6-12)
May 13, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
It matters not which school you support: All of us cheer on those who emerge from sad or challenging circumstances to return to the field of play. Those are stories with which we all identify, no matter where they take place or the athletes involved.
Grass Lake's Julia Covill and the Grayling golf team are among those we cheered on last week. Read on for why.
Good Read of the Week
One more race: A little more than a year ago, Julia Covill suffered a broken pelvis, shattered femur and a smattering of other injuries after losing control of her vehicle on a patch of black ice. The volleyball and track and field standout hadn’t participated in sports since – but returned to the track for one more race Tuesday to earn a final victory, even in crossing the finishing line of the 200-meter dash last. (Jackson Citizen-Patriot)
Boys Golf
Grayling returns to the course: Long drives and birdie putts were less significant details as Grayling returned to competition Wednesday for the first time since a car crash that rocked the northern Lower Peninsula, resulting in three deaths and five more hospitalizations. (Petoskey News)
TC West record falls: Cam Murray shot a 67 on Tuesday as Traverse City West won its Big North Conference event with a team score of 306. (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
Track and Field
Back on track: The Lake Linden-Hubbell boys and girls swept their home invitationals Friday in what was for many one of the first times those athletes had competed on a track this season thanks to lingering snow. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette)
Down to the finish: The Battle Creek Lakeview boys and girls teams swept their Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference championship meets Friday, with the Lakeview boys clinching in dramatic fashion by securing a one-point win with a 1.23-second victory in the final event of the day. (Kalamazoo Gazette)
Boys Lacrosse
Haslett/Williamston takes big step: The Vikings earned their first Capital Area Activities Conference tournament championship with a 13-3 win over Holt, the three-time reigning champ that had beaten Haslett/Williamston 14-3 on April 27. The win pushed H/W into the No. 10 spot in today’s Division 2 state computer ranking. (Lansing State Journal)
Novi hangs on: Novi survived to win the Kensington Lakes Activities Association tournament championship game 7-6 after a last-second Brighton shot crossed the line just after time expired. (MLive Detroit)
Girls Tennis
FHN No. 1 again: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern continued to own its league Saturday, although this time in a new division. The Huskies won the first-ever O-K Bronze tournament championship by four points over Ada Forest Hills Eastern. FHN has won nine straight league titles. (Grand Rapids Press)
Wrestling
Meet Mr. Wrestler: Fowlerville’s Adam Coon added to his impressive list of accomplishments – including becoming the 17th MHSAA wrestler to win four Finals championships – when he was named Mr. Wrestler by the Michigan Wrestling Association. (Livingston County Daily Press & Argus)
Upper Peninsula Hall of Fame
High school stars inducted: High school standouts brought back plenty of memories as this year’s class was inducted Sunday into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame. (Marquette Mining Journal)
Boys Basketball
Root resigns after 30+ seasons: Longtime Flint Ainsworth and then Carman-Ainsworth basketball coach Bob Root resigned last week, potentially finishing a career that began at Flint Northern in 1978. (Flint Journal)