Today in the MHSAA: 1/18/17
January 18, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A strong argument can be made that Tuesday night was the basketball season’s most eventful so far, with an abundance of pivotal matchups in both girls and boys and a buzzer beater thrown in.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Girls Basketball
Saginaw Heritage took the first of two regular-season meetings against Midland Dow, 50-47, in a matchup of two of the top teams statewide in Class A as well – Saginaw News
Hartland, 9-1 this season, handed Howell its first loss in stunning fashion, 48-28 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Undefeated Houghton avenged last season’s sweep by rival Calumet with a 56-40 win – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Farmington Hills Mercy finished a regular-season sweep of Detroit Catholic League Central rival Bloomfield Hills Marian, 33-30, in another matchup of top Class A teams – Oakland Press
Boys Basketball
Detroit East English made its claim as Detroit’s best and one of the Class A elite with a 71-57 win over Detroit Martin Luther King – MLive-Detroit
T.J. VanKoevering’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Hudsonville Unity Christian a 48-45 win over Holland Christian, and his coach Scott Soodsma his 500th victory on the bench – Grand Rapids Press
West Bloomfield came back from a halftime deficit to down Bloomfield Hills 62-43 in an Oakland Activities Association Red opener – Oakland Press
Hillsdale emerged a big winner in a matchup of unbeaten Lenawee County Athletic Association teams, handing Dundee its first defeat, 74-54 – Hillsdale Daily News
Undefeated Buckley handed Frankfort its first Northwest Conference loss in 28 games, and first loss overall this season, 50-38 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Holland West Ottawa Athletics Complex Recognized with National Award
December 12, 2023
Holland West Ottawa Public Schools’ new athletics complex, with architectural firm GMB, has been recognized as the top multi-field facility nationally by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities.
West Ottawa’s new stadium consists of two turf playing fields. The west field was designed deliberately without a surrounding track to bring the stands and field closer together with a central tunnel beneath the grandstands for the home team to enter onto the field. The same synthetic turf, light posts, and state-of-the-art audio/video systems are utilized on both fields for an equitable experience for all users.
Multiple ground-level entry points with access to the fields, barrier-free locker rooms and multiple seating options with elevator access also create accessibility for spectators, players, coaches, and support staff.
“This facility allows our students the opportunity to play in one of the premier complexes in the state of Michigan,” said Jeff Malloch, assistant superintendent of business services at West Ottawa Public Schools. “We have seen continued interest in lacrosse, football, and soccer, and this complex will be utilized by our community youth from elementary age to high school student-athletes.”
Adding elevated fan experiences, such as a concourse level between the upper and lower sections of the home stands, bigger bleachers, and updated concession stands and restrooms establish a venue for multiple sports and attract the entire community to utilize the facility.
“This is a one-of-a-kind facility for West Michigan, and it’s been wonderful to see student-athletes from across the state enjoy the complex’s unique amenities,” said Nate Bosch, a landscape architect with GMB. “The collaboration needed to make this project come to life was an inspiring process to be a part of, and we are so pleased to celebrate this accomplishment with West Ottawa.”
This is the first time a GMB project has been awarded a multi-field facility of the year honor by the ASBA. GMB also has received four Project of the Year honors in the outdoor tennis category and 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects over the past 12 years.
(Photos by M-Buck Studio.)