Today in the MHSAA: 5/26/16

May 26, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Track & field league meets, golf Districts and lacrosse Regionals – and the wild ending to the Saginaw Valley League baseball title race – led a highlight-filled night of statewide high school action as the holiday weekend approaches.

Baseball

The Saginaw Valley League title hung on the continuation of a tie game between Division 1 top-10 teams Mount Pleasant and Bay City Western; the game started back up in the seventh inning, and three innings later Western had its fifth straight league title – Bay City Times

Boys Golf

Three Clarkston players broke 80 as the Wolves shot a 315 to win their Division 1 District at Twin Pines in Oakland Hills – Oakland Press

All four scorers broke 80 as Jackson Lumen Christi shot its season low, 305, to dominate its Division 3 District at Calderone Golf Club – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Girls Lacrosse

Reigning champion East Grand Rapids handed Grand Rapids Christian only its second loss in advancing in their Division 2 Regional – Grand Rapids Press

Girls Soccer

Paw Paw remained undefeated at 16-0-1 with a 2-1 edging of Mattawan – Kalamazoo Gazette

Utica Eisenhower finished its regular season a perfect 18-0 with a 2-0 win over New Baltimore Anchor Bay – Macomb Daily

Track & Field

Four girls surpassed the former record in the 1,600 to highlight the most impressive performances at the 38th West Michigan Invitational – Muskegon Chronicle

Traverse City Central’s boys won their eighth straight Big North Conference championship, clearing rival West by 20 points – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Livonia Ladywood won its first league title since 1996, nearly doubling runner-up Wixom St. Catherine in the Detroit Catholic League C-D – Detroit News

Three-sport standout Clayborn Allen was among champions for Detroit Loyola, which won the boys Catholic League C-D title despite having only 11 on its team – Detroit News

Flint Carman-Ainsworth’s boys continued their dominant run with a fourth straight Saginaw Valley League title, winning by 55 points – Flint Journal

Today in the MHSAA: 1/20/16

January 20, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Buzzer beaters and milestone basketball victories made headlines all over Michigan today, and check out as well a moving video that tells of the importance of our national anthem.

Girls Basketball

Reigning Class C champion Calumet added another accomplishment to the long list with its first win over Houghton since 1999, 44-31 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Three Rivers’ sophomore Arionne Fowlkes went baseline to baseline for a last-second layup to give her team a 43-41 win over Niles – Niles Daily Star

Class A favorite Saginaw Heritage remained undefeated with a 53-38 win over rival Midland Dow, also ranked in Class A – Saginaw News

One-loss St. Ignace handed Newberry its first defeat of the season, 64-57 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Cedar Springs also knocked a team from the unbeaten ranks, with Sam Taylor’s 3-pointer in the closing seconds ending Kent City’s perfect run, 50-47 – Grand Rapids Press

Muskegon edged East Kentwood 50-47 after trailing by 10 and on the strength of 26 points and 22 rebounds by senior Mardrekia Cook – Muskegon Chronicle

Boys Basketball

Despite being outscored 30-22 in the fourth quarter, Southfield Christian held on for an 82-79 win over Southfield – MLive-Detroit

Merrill earned its first win since 2013 by downing Coleman 49-36 – Midland Daily News

One-loss Alma handed previously-undefeated Ithaca its first, 56-53, as Dylan Carl hit 3-pointers to send the game to overtime and then win it – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Muskegon Oakridge’s Brady Luttrull drilled a 3-pointer during the final seconds to push his team past Scottville Mason County Central 67-66 – Muskegon Chronicle

Cassopolis followed a strong third quarter by Deoin Gatson to hand Niles Brandywine its first loss, 61-47 – Niles Daily Leader

One-loss Clarkston also handed out a first loss Tuesday, to Rochester Adams, in a matchup of top Class A teams – Oakland Press

Caleb Brown’s only basket for Northport was the game winner during the final seconds of a 51-49 victory over Central Lake – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Nate Dugener’s sixth 3-pointer of the game gave Muskegon Western Michigan Christian a 52-49 win over Holland Christian – Grand Haven Tribune

Boys Swimming & Diving

In a matchup of top teams on the west side of the Lower Peninsula, Division 1 No. 6 Zeeland got past Division 2 honorable mention Holland 104-73 – Holland Sentinel

Worth Watching

We ran across and were moved by Virginia Tech’s honoring of veterans at the start of this men’s basketball season. Check out this meaningful presentation and how it relates to providing proper respect during The Star-Spangled Banner.