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: 2/26/16

February 26, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Thursday was a big night statewide for girls basketball and this morning nearly as significant with the announcement of this season's Miss Basketball finalists.

Girls Basketball

The Detroit Free Press and Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan introduced this season’s Miss Basketball finalists: Bay City John Glenn’s Cassidy Boensch, Muskegon’s Mardrekia Cook, Detroit Renaissance’s Siyeh Frazier, Benton Harbor’s Kysre Gondrezick and Goodrich’s Alexis Sevillian – Detroit Free Press

In an Operation Friendship matchup of Detroit Public School League and Catholic League champions, Detroit Martin Luther King downed Bloomfield Hills Marian 66-47 – Oakland Press

Bark River-Harris tied its best record ever with one of its best wins of the season, downing rival Crystal Falls Forest Park – Escanaba Daily Press

Croswell-Lexington clinched its fourth straight Blue Water Athletic Conference title with a 51-42 win over Imlay City – Port Huron Times Herald

From Tuesday, Calumet finished its first 20-0 regular season with a win over Lake Linden-Hubbell – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Ice Hockey

Gaylord’s Gage Andrews scored the game-winner 39 seconds into overtime to lead his team past rival Petoskey, 3-2 – Gaylord Herald Times