Why be an Official? (Grand Rapids Press)

January 25, 2012

The Grand Rapids Press' Jane Bos tells the story of some of the most valuable, yet often-criticized people who help make our games go -- the officials enforcing the rules. 

Consider this interesting point: On a Tuesday or Friday, the O-K Conference must come up with 150 officials to work its basketball games. And it, like most if not all leagues, always is looking for more.

She also explains how another former Press sportswriter, Howie Beardsley, got into the reffing game.

Check it out:

"Why West Michigan high school referees say you should consider wearing stripes"

Today in the MHSAA: 2/24/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 24, 2025

1. WRESTLING Detroit Catholic Central, Lowell, Dundee and Hudson continued championship streaks at the Team Finals – MHSAA.com

2. COMPETITIVE CHEER Top-ranked Allen Park finished first and No. 2 Gibraltar Carlson second at the Division 2 Regional at Fenton – Southgate News-Herald

3. COMPETITIVE CHEER No. 2 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek was the Division 1 Regional champion at Troy Athens, followed by No. 1 Rochester High and No. 4 Adams, respectively – Oakland Press

4. BOYS BASKETBALL Fruitport clinched its first league title in program history, downing Belding 75-43 in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver – Grand Haven Tribune

5. BOWLING Utica United swept girls and boys Regional titles in Division 1; the Utica United girls are ranked No. 1 – Macomb Daily

6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Stevensville Lakeshore downed St. Joseph 45-37 to claim the outright Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West title – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

7. BOYS BASKETBALL Novi downed Wayne Memorial 66-64 to claim the overall Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship – Hometown Life

8. BOWLING The Dearborn Divine Child girls repeated as Division 2 Regional champions – Dearborn Press & Guide

9. BOYS BASKETBALL Flint Kearsley edged Goodrich 75-73 to win the overall Flint Metro League championship – WJRT

10. BOYS BASKETBALL Ithaca downed Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central 53-40 to claim the Tri-Valley Conference Blue title – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Also of note …

BOYS BASKETBALL St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran secured the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference title with a 70-49 win over Eau Claire – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

GIRLS BASKETBALL Clawson claimed a share of the Macomb Area Conference Silver title with a 40-26 win over Madison Heights Lamphere – Oakland Press