Today in the MHSAA: 9/14/16

September 14, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The soccer pitch was the place to look for many of the best matchups across the state Wednesday, but also make sure to scroll to the bottom of this report for a story on the fight of one of Michigan’s best-known volleyball coaches.

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.

Cross Country

The Saline boys earned a nice advantage in what should be a strong Southeastern Conference Red this fall by dominating the first league race – Saline Post

Manton’s girls and boys teams swept the first Marion Steeplechase Invitational, which combined 2-mile, 5K and 1-mile races with hay bales, logs and other obstacles placed along the way – Cadillac News

Boys Soccer

Division 1 No. 6 Brighton remained undefeated on the season with a 2-1 win over rival Hartland, handing the Eagles their first loss – Livingston Daily

Division 1 No. 19 Grand Haven won Bucs Pride Night 2-1 over Grandville on a goal with under 11 minutes to play – Grand Haven Tribune

Division 2 No. 5 Auburn Hills Avondale potted the only goal during the second half to edge North Farmington – Oakland Press

Boys Tennis

Lower Peninsula Division 4 No. 6 Lansing Catholic won a key Capital Area Activities Conference White match over unranked rival Portland, 5-3 – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Volleyball

Calumet avenged an earlier-season loss to Hancock in a matchup of top small-school programs in the Upper Peninsula – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Good Read

Cancer awareness will bring three communities together Sept. 20 as cousins Hannah Barton (South Lyon) and Kaylee Peterson (Novi) will face off with their teams in a Teal Attack event, the latest in a series of fundraiser games originated by Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central coach Karen O’Brien, one of the state’s best-known in the sport and also the girls’ aunt; she is fighting ovarian cancer for the second time – Observer & Eccentric

Today in the MHSAA: 1/30/18

January 30, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

Today's Top 10 

1. Girls Basketball: Monica Williams’ steal and layup during the final minute gave Detroit Mumford a 52-50 win over Cass Tech and a second straight Detroit Public School League West Division 1 championship – Detroit News

2. Skiing: Petoskey’s boys and Traverse City West’s girls won the second Big North Conference race this season – Petoskey News-Review

3. Girls Basketball: Flat Rock came back from a seven-point halftime deficit to upset Carleton Airport 57-53 – Monroe Evening News

4. Girls Basketball: Jenelle Carpenter’s lone basket with 2.2 seconds to play gave Lincoln Alcona a 43-42 win over Posen – Alpena News

5. Girls Basketball: Ski Valley Conference leader Gaylord St. Mary downed Highland Conference second-place Lake City 60-35 – Gaylord Herald Times

6. Boys Basketball: Iron Mountain improved to 11-0 with a 56-46 win over Negaunee – Marquette Mining Journal

7. Boys Basketball: Escanaba came back from a halftime deficit to down Sault Ste. Marie 60-48 and improve to 10-1 – Escanaba Daily Press

8. Health & Safety: Greenville’s Jeff “Doc” Day, said to be one of the first fulltime, school-sponsored trainers in the state, retired after 41 years caring for the school’s athletes – Greenville Daily News

9. Football: Previously successful Holt, Dansville and Eaton Rapids coach Mike Smith will take over at Lansing Everett, where he’s also serving as athletic director – Lansing State Journal

10. Multi-Sport Participation: The MHSAA and school administrators are working to combat specialization and promote multi-sport participation; this report explains some of that effort – State Champs Sports Network

Also of note …

Football: Looking for a Michigan player to follow during the Super Bowl? Check out former Detroit Crockett star Brandon Graham, who plays defensive end and serves as a captain for the Eagles but during high school played offense, defense, kicked and punted (note: Crockett did not win an MHSAA football title, as reported) – Sports Talk Philly