Today in the MHSAA: 9/2/15

September 2, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Tuesday was one of the busiest and most noteworthy days so far during the early stages of this fall season, with plenty of key rivalry games and top performances making headlines.

Girls Golf

East Kentwood’s Mackenzie Keenoy has won every event she’s played this season and shot a 35 in the reigning Lower Peninsula Division 1 champion’s eight-stroke win over Hudsonville – Grand Rapids Press

Midland Dow’s Stephanie Carras carded a 2-under 70 to lead her team to its Frank Altimore Invitational championship Monday – Midland Daily News

Boys Soccer

Division 4 Jackson Christian tied annual Division 3 power Jackson Lumen Christi 1-1, ending a recent losing streak to the Titans – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Reigning Division 1 runner-up Rochester Adams and Warren DeLaSalle are regulars in the Division 1 coaches poll, which debuts next week, and Adams earned a nice bump with a 1-0 win – Macomb Daily

Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett fell to Birmingham Roeper in last season’s Division 4 Regional Final, but avenged by downing the reigning MHSAA champion 4-3 – Student & Athlete

Boys Tennis

Kalamazoo Christian won a matchup of rivals that both finished among the top 10 in LP Division 4 last season; Christian, which tied for eighth, downed Hackett (tied for fifth) 5-3 – Kalamazoo Gazette

Volleyball

Bay City John Glenn won the Bay County Championship tournament in dominating fashion, sweeping All Saints, Central and Pinconning after a loss to Western, and then coming back to beat the Warriors in the final – Bay City Times

Marysville is unranked in the coaches state poll this week, but that won’t last long; the Vikings are 11-0-2 after winning the Warren Cousino Invitational on Tuesday – Port Huron Times-Herald

Good Read

Rockford is dealing with the unfortunate loss for the season of injured all-stater Mitchell Herried, but what the Rams lost on the field they’ve gained with another coach on the sideline – Grand Rapids Press 

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.