Today in the MHSAA: 8/25/2015

August 25, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A soccer coach celebrated his 1,000th game and a community mourned the passing of a longtime football program leader.

Those and a feature on a member of our Student Advisory Council are among today’s notable headlines and links to coverage below.

Football

Newaygo is mourning the passing of longtime coach Mark Puff, who guided the varsity to 128 wins and seven league titles over 22 seasons before retiring in 2000 – Muskegon Chronicle

Girls Golf

Jackson Lumen Christi went from two returning members last season to 17 golfers total this fall and won its first tournament since 2013 by edging Parma Western by six strokes at Hanover-Horton’s invitational – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Boys Soccer

Fraser coach Thaier Mukhtar coached his 1,000th high school soccer game Monday (boys and girls games combined), guiding his team to a 5-0 win over Romeo. He formerly coached the Warren DeLaSalle boys and leads both teams at Fraser – Macomb Daily

Saginaw Heritage has posted three shutouts during a 4-0 start after finishing 9-10-1 last season; Monday’s was a 4-0 win over Flushing – Saginaw News

Alma’s Brevan Bender is coming off a season during which he set a school record with 30 goals, and Monday he netted five in an 8-0 win over Birch Run – Saginaw News

Volleyball

Left over from Saturday: St. Louis has long been one of the dominant programs in Class C statewide and against all classes in the mid-Michigan area; Ithaca beat the Sharks for the first time since 1993 when they faced off at the Alma Invitational – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Good Read

Muskegon senior Jared Pittman played in last season’s MHSAA Division 3 Football Final, and after his team was defeated handed the trophy to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s as a member of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council. He’ll be a significant contributor to his team and the Council this fall – Detroit Free Press

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