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: 1/8/16

January 8, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A light schedule Thursday heading into the first full weekend of 2016 still included noteworthy contests, and read on for an important report on MHSAA sideline concussion testing efforts this school year. 

Girls Basketball

Two of the top teams in the Oakland Activities Association and arguably statewide – Southfield-Lathrup and Rochester Hills Stoney Creek – faced off Thursday, with Southfield-Lathrup handing Stoney Creek its first loss, 63-36 – Oakland Press 

Boys Basketball

Frankfort earned a key upper hand in the Northwest Conference with a 42-39 win over Maple City Glen Lake after Glen Lake came back from 10 down late – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Bridgeport’s T.J. Parham scored 37 as the Bearcats downed Millington 91-54 in a key Tri-Valley Conference East matchup – Saginaw News 

From Wednesday, DeTour ended Cedarville’s 10-season undefeated run in the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference with a 51-42 win – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Good Read

This is the first school year of the MHSAA’s sideline concussion testing pilot program, and The Associated Press explained well its value and goals – The Associated Press