Linked Up: 12/19/11

December 20, 2011

We've hit a bit of a slow spot with schools out for break and most contests reserved for holiday showcases and the like.

Here are some suggestions if you have some time for some reading between now and the start of 2012.

High school coaches try to bring basketball back to basics (Detroit News)

For most of the last decade, we've heard about the recessing of basketball fundamentals even among elite high school players. Enter Ben Kelso, Marshall Thomas and a number of other Michigan coaches who have pledged to end that trend. Tom Markowski tells us how the Metro Detroit Basketball Coaches Association aims to do so.

Lantzy retires after more than 4 decades as Ike grid coach (Macomb County Advisor & Source)

Utica-Eisenhower coach Bob Lantzy has been his school's only varsity football coach. He took four teams to MHSAA Finals and this fall became one of only nine state football coaches to win more than 900 games. He has retired after 41 seasons, and Kevin Lozon fills us in on the legacy.

Tabahn Afrik poised for greatness in pool for West Ottawa (Holland Sentinel)

The Holland area has its next big swimming star. Dan D'Addona introduces us to Tabahn Afrik, a freshman at Holland West Ottawa who qualified for the MHSAA Division 1 Finals in two events in his first meet this season.

High school basketball: History of class hoops is just that (South Bend Tribune)

"Hoosiers" made Indiana's former one-class basketball tournament known on a grander scale. But Indiana went to classes (similar to Michigan's) beginning in 1997-98. Al Lesar tells us how some in the state are attempting to revert to one class.

Today in the MHSAA: 3/4/24

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 4, 2024

1. WRESTLING The season ended at the Individual Finals with 70 champions awarded, including Detroit Catholic Central’s Darius Marines and Dundee’s Kade Kluce both claiming their fourth – MHSAA.com

2. COMPETITIVE CHEER Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Allen Park, Croswell-Lexington and Hudson finished the season as Finals champions – MHSAA.com

3. BOWLING Zeeland, Flint Kearsley, Madison Heights Bishop Foley and Traverse City Christian won team titles Friday, with Holt, Livonia Clarenceville, Hillsdale and Bad Axe celebrating singles winners at Saturday’s Finals – MHSAA.com

4. BOWLING Flint Kearsley and Frankenmuth swept team and singles championships over Finals weekend, with Grandville and Traverse City Christian also winning team titles and Utica Eisenhower and Hudson celebrating singles winners – MHSAA.com

5. HOCKEY Division 2 No. 6 White Lake Lakeland earned its first trip to the MHSAA Semifinals with a 4-3 double-overtime win over No. 9 Port Huron Northern – Oakland Press

6. GYMNASTICS Hartland won its Regional with the highest team score at any of the four – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

7. HOCKEY No. 2 Trenton downed No. 7 Detroit U-D Jesuit to move on to the Division 2 Semifinals – Southgate News-Herald

8. HOCKEY Saginaw Heritage downed Midland High 3-2 in overtime to advance in Division 2 – WNEM

9. BOYS BASKETBALL Menominee claimed a Division 3 District title with a 51-49 win over Iron Mountain – Eagle Herald

10. BOYS BASKETBALL Flint Beecher earned its Division 3 District title with a 55-53 win over Millington – Mid-Michigan Now