Linked Up: 12/19/11

December 19, 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: 5/21/24

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 21, 2024

1. SOFTBALL Morenci earned coach Kay Johnson her 1,000th career victory, 8-5 over East Jackson – Adrian Daily Telegram

2. SOFTBALL Division 1 honorable mention Midland Dow swept Flint Powers Catholic to claim the Saginaw Valley League title on a record-setting day – Midland Daily News

3. GIRLS SOCCER Division 3 No. 11 Essexville Garber claimed its fifth-straight league title with a draw against No. 14 Freeland in the Tri-Valley Conference Red – Bay City Times

4. SOFTBALL Division 2 honorable mention Milan and Division 1 No. 5 Saline finished off championship runs in their respective divisions of the Southeastern Conference – Ann Arbor News

5. TRACK & FIELD The McBain girls – No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – and Manton boys won Highland Conference championships – Cadillac News | Athletic.net

6. BASEBALL Division 3 No. 14 Grass Lake finished its run to a fourth-straight Cascades Conference championship with a pair of wins over Brooklyn Columbia Central – Jackson Citizen Patriot

7. GIRLS TENNIS Grosse Ile swept Riverview to finish an undefeated Huron League dual season – Southgate News-Herald

8. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 15 Otsego advanced in its Division 2 District with a shootout win over Middleville Thornapple Kellogg – FOX 17

9. BOYS LACROSSE Oxford broke a tie after the third quarter to defeat Holly/Ortonville Brandon 12-8 in Division 1 Regional play – WJRT

10. BOYS LACROSSE New Baltimore Anchor Bay downed Macomb L’Anse Creuse North 13-6 in a Division 1 Regional Semifinal – Macomb Daily