1. Michigan First to Push Rewind Button
Controversial finishes at the end of championship basketball games over the last two years in at least three states has prompted the National Federation of State High School Associations to allow instant replays for last-second shots that decide title contests. It looks like Michigan will be the first to implement the new rule. See story. Hey, if you can get it right, then by all means.
Clarkston reached Michigan's state semifinals last season.
Photo by Domenic Centofanti
2. Cancer-ridden Coach Hired in Georgia
A high school basketball coach battling cancer accepted an assistant’s job at Greater Atlanta Christian last week. The strange part of this story is that Joe Marelle, 58, was let go of his head coaching position at Mt. Pisgah Christian last month even though he led the team to a state championship in 2006. “I was shocked and very hurt by the decision,” Marelle told the Atlanta Constitution. Marelle is in remission for leukemia, lymphoma and bladder cancer. He’s teamed with former Duluth standout Brian McCann, of the Atlanta Braves, to be spokesmen for the leukemia research. Marelle has 293 varsity wins in 29 seasons.
3. Same Path, Different NBA Destination
A pair of Washington State prep stars Aaron Brooks (Franklin, Seattle) and Adam Morrison (Mead, Spokane) have reached the promised land but enjoying vastly different levels of success as laid out in this insightful column by Seattle Times staffer Jerry Brewer.
4. Running for Halle
The McCallum (Texas) track and field team ran for more than a District 26-4A championship on Saturday. They ran for team- and schoolmate Halle Brent, a 15-year-old sophomore who died on May 12 due to a brain stem tumor. Pins and T-shirts with the words “We Run 4 Halle B” were worn by team members. Halle, the district’s Newcomer of the Year in volleyball, was diagnosed with the tumor just three months earlier. “She inspired me a lot,” teammate Rochelle Ellis told the Austin Statesmen. “She was amazing.” The Make-A-Wish Foundation allowed her to make a trip to New York City and meet talk show host Tyra Banks. It’s been a rough spell for McCallum, which on Jan. 30 lost longtime football coach and athletic director Pat Honneycutt to a heart attack.
5. If At First You Don't Succeed, Swim, Swim Again
Las Lomas (Walnut Creek, Calif.) junior swimmer Kasey Carlson thought she had broken the national 100-yard breaststroke record the week before. Turns out the touchpads weren't working, the record was taken away, so she went out and went even faster during the North Coast Section trials, going a record 58.75 seconds. See MaxPreps senior writer Dave Krider's weekend roundup along with other great items from throughout the country.
National High 5 is a regular feature highlighting the top high school sports news and features on the Net. Let us know if there are some interesting reads that we’ve missed. E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
