Today in the MHSAA: Soccer Semifinals

June 13, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The MHSAA Girls Soccer Finals will be played Friday and Saturday at Michigan State University’s DeMartin Stadium. Below is a sampling of coverage of how all eight finalists advanced.

Division 1: Top-ranked and reigning champion Novi will play for a repeat after getting past Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central in a shootout – Observer & Eccentric 

Division 1: No. 5 Plymouth also advanced with a shootout after a late comeback to take No. 13 Troy to overtime – Observer & Eccentric 

Division 2: No. 6 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern will play in its fourth straight Final thanks to a shootout win over No. 9 Marshall – FOX 17

Division 2: No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Marian is headed to the championship game for the third straight season after a 3-1 win over No. 11 Flint Powers Catholic – Observer & Eccentric

Division 3: No. 7 Essexville Garber will play in the championship game for the first time thanks to a 1-0 win over No. 2 Warren Regina – Bay City Times

Division 3: No. 5 Grand Rapids South Christian will play for its first title since 2013 after a 2-0 win over No. 8 Boyne City – Grand Rapids Press

Division 4: No. 2 Royal Oak Shrine continued its dominating run with a 6-0 win over No. 9 Saginaw Nouvel – State Champs Sports Network 

Division 4: No. 3 Kalamazoo Christian upended top-ranked North Muskegon 1-0 – WWMT

Also of note …

Girls Soccer: Richland Gull Lake coach Jeff Corstange has stepped down after eight seasons, having led the team to three Division 2 championships – WWMT

Today in the MHSAA: 1/13/20

January 13, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A pair of basketball buzzer beaters, an overtime game-winning hockey goal and a first-time achievement in gymnastics were among weekend headliners, topped by a titanic matchup in cheer.

1. Competitive Cheer: Two-time reigning Division 2 Finals runner-up Allen Park outpaced Dearborn Divine Child (fourth in 2019) to win the Division 2 and overall championships at its home invitational – Southgate News-Herald

2. Hockey: Division 1 No. 8 Holland West Ottawa got past Division 3 No. 5 Grand Rapids Catholic Central 3-2 in overtime – FOX 17

3. Gymnastics: Escanaba defeated Marquette and Negaunee and broke 120 points for the fourth time to qualify for Regional competition for the first time – Escanaba Daily Press

4. Girls Bowling: Coldwater defeated Macomb Dakota in the final of the Battle of the Baker – Coldwater Daily Reporter

5. Girls Basketball: Saline won a matchup of unbeaten teams, 40-18 over Dexter – Saline Post

6. Boys Basketball: E.J. Bowman’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer carried Waterford Mott past Grand Blanc 60-57 – State Champs Sports Network

7. Hockey: Traverse Bay Reps beat Macomb Dakota and Davison during the North/South Showcase – Traverse City Record-Eagle

8. Boys Basketball: Centreville also was victorious on a last-second 3-pointer, as Dustin Schwenk sank the game-winning shot in a 68-67 overtime win over Marcellus – Sturgis Journal

9. Wrestling: Chelsea defeated Fowlerville, Riverview, Michigan Center, Allen Park and Melvindale to win its home invitational – Chelsea Sun Times News

10. Wrestling: Kingsley took a major step as a program with a championship at the Grayling Team Tournament – Traverse City Record-Eagle