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: 2/23/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 23, 2022

1. GIRLS BASKETBALL Division 1 No. 4 Midland Dow ran its league title streak to four with a 56-45 win over Flint Carman-Ainsworth in a matchup of leaders in the Saginaw Valley League – Midland Daily News

2. GIRLS BASKETBALL Bloomingdale clinched a share of the Southwest 10 Conference title with a 30-29 win over Hartford – Kalamazoo Gazette

3. GIRLS BASKETBALL Division 3 No. 17 Reese edged Cass City 45-43 to secure the outright Greater Thumb Conference West championship – Bay City Times

4. BOYS BASKETBALL Division 1 No. 15 Rockford edged Holland West Ottawa 53-51 to clinch a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title thanks also to Grandville’s win over No. 8 Grand Haven – FOX 17

5. GIRLS BASKETBALL Division 2 No. 6 Chelsea finished an outright title run in the Southeastern Conference White with a 69-48 win over second-place Tecumseh – Adrian Daily Telegram

6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Division 1 No. 6 Parma Western defeated Marshall 63-33 to finish an Interstate 8 Athletic Conference outright title run – Jackson Citizen Patriot

7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Jaci Tubergen broke Division 1 No. 2 Hudsonville’s career scoring record during her team’s 60-36 win over Jenison – FOX 17

8. BOYS BASKETBALL Luke Walker’s overtime game-winner sent Clarkston Everest Collegiate past Division 4 No. 18 Marine City Cardinal Mooney in the Detroit Catholic League Cardinal semifinals – Oakland Press

9. HOCKEY Pinckney advanced in its Division 3 Regional with a shutout of Dexter – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

10. GIRLS BASKETBALL Division 3 No. 2 St. Ignace improved to 17-2 and handed Division 4 No. 12 Mackinaw City just its second loss, 65-38– Petoskey News-Review