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: 1/6/16

January 6, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Tuesday’s return of a full basketball slate saw a handful of teams do just enough to remain undefeated – and a reigning champion fall for the first time since March 5, 2014.

Boys Basketball

Detroit Renaissance snapped reigning Class A champion Detroit Western International’s 31-game winning streak with a 48-39 victory in Detroit Public School League play – Detroit Free Press

East Lansing won a matchup of arguably the two best teams in the Lansing area, drilling 17 3-pointers to down Williamston 78-37 – Lansing State Journal

Hudsonville remained undefeated thanks to a last-second shot by Jared Blum that gave the Eagles their final 49-47 lead over Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills – Grand Rapids Press

Dowagiac remained undefeated despite 39 points from Niles’ Gavin Rasler, edging the Vikings 61-59 in overtime – Niles Daily Star

Girls Basketball

Saugatuck lost its last game before holiday break, but got back on the winning side thanks to go-ahead basket by Maddie Moore during the closing seconds of a 47-45 win over North Muskegon – Holland Sentinel

Maple City Glen Lake moved to 5-1 while handing Elk Rapids its first defeat of this season, 59-39 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

From Monday, Mackinaw City downed Brimley for the first time in at least seven seasons to move to 5-1 this winter – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Ice Hockey

Ethan Peitz scored a hat trick to bring Saline back from a first-period deficit for a 7-4 win over Ann Arbor Skyline – Ann Arbor News

Football

Monroe coach Eric Redmond has resigned after six seasons and a combined record of 138-69 over 20 years, with 14 more at Carleton Airport. Before returning to his alma mater, Redmond coached Airport to its first playoff berth and then 11 straight – Monroe Evening News