Today in the MHSAA: 9/13/19

September 13, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Some major volleyball matchups highlighted Thursday’s statewide high school action, with a key soccer matchup and school diving record setter among others of most note.

1. Volleyball: Grand Haven won a matchup of state-ranked teams, the Division 1 No. 8 Buccaneers getting past Division 2 No. 2 Hamilton – FOX 17

2. Volleyball: Midland Dow swept reigning Saginaw Valley League North and Division 1 District champion Mount Pleasant, winning the final two sets both by just two points – Midland Daily News

3. Boys Soccer: Traverse City West handed Division 2 No. 12 Gaylord its first league loss and second overall of this season, 1-0 – Gaylord Herald Times

4. Volleyball: Whitehall earned an impressive win over Division 3 No. 4 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian – FOX 17

5. Girls Swimming & Diving: Dow freshman Emily Krzciok broke a 13-year-old school diving record in helping her Lower Peninsula Division 2 No. 6 Chargers past Bay City Central – Midland Daily News

6. Volleyball: Brownstown Woodhaven opened its new gym with a sweep of Southgate Anderson – Southgate News-Herald

7. Girls Golf: LPD1 No. 7 Ann Arbor Pioneer outshot Skyline and Saline to win a Southeastern Conference Red tri-match – We Love Ann Arbor

8. Boys Soccer: Division 4 No. 4 Royal Oak Shrine continued to advance in its division of the Detroit Catholic League with a 4-0 win over Madison Heights Bishop Foley – Oakland Press

9. Cross Country: The LPD4 No. 9 Pittsford girls and Tekonsha boys won Southern Central Athletic Association jamborees – Sturgis Journal

10. Volleyball: Bark River-Harris remained undefeated with a sweep of Powers North Central – Escanaba Daily Press

Also of note ...

Football: FOX Sports Detroit's "Earning the Letter" series has returned, kicking off with this feature on the 14-player Bay City All Saints football team. 

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.