Inside the OAA
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Basketball Districts Released and Thoughts.
Written Sunday March 14th at 11:30 AM
Here are my thoughts on the brackets released earlier this morning.
Boys
Boys Basketball Districts article from September.
https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2020/09/boys-basketball-districts-are-out-2020.html
District 26 @ Detroit Renaissance
ROYAL OAK vs BERKLEY
ROYAL OAK/BERKLEY vs Detroit Renaissance
Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit vs Detroit Mumford
Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit/Detroit Mumford vs OAK PARK
THOUGHTS: I didn’t understand how Oak Park earned the bye while Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit has to play Detroit Mumford on that Tuesday but thanks to the Clarkston Basketball Twitter page for helping me understand this issue it was that they did not play eight games before the bracket came out which was why the Knights got the bye and not the Cubs. Royal Oak and Berkley is going to be very interesting with the winner playing the hosts from Detroit Renaissance which neither team matches up with. Until proven otherwise Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit should win this district over Detroit Renaissance.
District 25 @ Birmingham Brother Rice
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs GROVES
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH/GROVES vs Birmingham Brother Rice
SEAHOLM vs FARMINGTON
SEAHOLM/FARMINGTON vs NORTH FARMINGTON
THOUGHTS: This should be a competitive district at Birmingham Brother Rice. The Warriors are young, talented, well coached, and have home court. Birmingham Brother Rice better be careful of Groves whom is gaining a ton of confidence should they get by Southfield Arts and Tech. On the other side of the bracket North Farmington is overwhelming favored to get to the district finals. I don’t see either Seaholm or Farmington touching the Raiders. It’s going to come down to North Farmington vs either Birmingham Brother Rice or otherwise.
District 30 @ Troy Athens
Sterling Heights vs Chippewa Valley
Sterling Heights/Chippewa Valley vs TROY ATHENS
Utica Ford vs Sterling Heights Stevenson
THOUGHTS: Troy Athens is in a very difficult spot despite being the host in the district. If they can get by either Chippewa Valley or Sterling Heights in the district semifinals which looks very doable despite the Red Hawks falling to Chippewa Valley last season then they could be on a collision course with Sterling Heights Stevenson whom should be the favorite in this district. The Titans have a ton of options to go too and have had impressive wins over Macomb Dakota and other Macomb Area Conference Red division foes. Troy Athens and Margaret have a very dangerous path in this district.
District 29 @ Stoney Creek
Utica vs ROCHESTER
Utica/ROCHESTER vs STONEY CREEK
Utica Eisenhower vs TROY
THOUGHTS: Stoney Creek has went from almost favorites to pretty much the favorite in the district. Troy has really struggled lately however to their defense they have not had a lot of practice time due to being in COVID protocol but it’s not an excuse for their recent struggles, now could they find that magic in the postseason???, it’s very possible. Rochester and Utica is very interesting along with Utica Eisenhower and the Colts. I see this being a Stoney Creek/Troy district final because I don’t see anyone touching the two seeded teams.
District 6 @ Bloomfield Hills
WEST BLOOMFIELD vs AVONDALE
WEST BLOOMFIELD/AVONDALE vs Orchard Lake St Marys
PONTIAC vs Waterford Mott
PONTIAC/Waterford Mott vs BLOOMFIELD HILLS
THOUGHTS: I think could be more competitive than people think. Orchard Lake St. Marys is talented and loaded but West Bloomfield can match them athletically despite the rough season the Lakers are having. On the other side of the bracket Bloomfield Hills has home court and should get to the district final but Pontiac could be a challenge but not sold on their league only schedule. I think this is shaping up to be a Blackhawks/Eaglets district finals. Could an upset be in the making??? We’ll see.
District 5 @ Oxford
Waterford Kettering vs LAKE ORION
Waterford Kettering/LAKE ORION vs CLARKSTON
OXFORD vs Romeo
OXFORD/Romeo vs ADAMS
THOUGHTS: This should be a very competitive district. Clarkston is favored on paper but Adams and Lake Orion could very well give the Wolves problems in this district. Lake Orion if they can get by a very good Waterford Kettering team that features a very good and talented player in Bennie Krenshaw could be in line to face the Wolves in the district semifinal. The Dragons are a darkhorse although they are lettered A, they would had been the third seed if the MHSAA seeded everyone. On the other side of the bracket there is Adams. The Highlanders should be well motivated and hungry despite getting the bye. They will get either Romeo or Oxford. Neither team hasn’t had the brightest of seasons but they could make up for it come in the postseason. This should be a fun district at Oxford
District 58 @ Ferndale
Detroit Henry Ford vs FERNDALE UNIVERSITY
Hazel Park vs FERNDALE
THOUGHTS: This district should be no problems for Ferndale. The Eagles should pass this district with flying colors. They have home court, best team, and the best matchup. I don’t see anyone touching Ferndale in this district.
Girls
Girls Basketball District article from September.
https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2020/09/girls-basketball-districts-are-out-2020.html
District 27 @ Detroit Renaissance
Warren Fitzgerald vs Detroit Renaissance
OAK PARK vs Detroit Mumford
OAK PARK/Detroit Mumford vs Warren Mott
THOUGHTS: Could Oak Park get to the district finals??? It certainly looks possible with how the draw looks. I haven’t been really impressed with either Detroit Mumford or Warren Mott this season. The Marauders have the bye with the two seed which means Coach Peggy Evans-Carr’s team will have to play the Mustangs on Monday. I think the Knights have played very well throughout the season. Do I think they will win this district??? likely not especially when the host school is loaded, experienced, talented, well coached, and have home court to boot as well. If Oak Park can get to the district final then that would be a success.
District 26 @ Royal Oak
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs GROVES
ROYAL OAK vs SEAHOLM
ROYAL OAK/SEAHOLM vs BERKLEY
THOUGHTS: This district could be very interesting when looking at the teams that are in this district. The good news for this district was that Birmingham Marian whom was supposed to be in this district went north and is with West Bloomfield in another district. The early favorite has to be Groves with what they have done this season along with playing a very tough non league schedule but Berkley and Royal Oak could have strong says. The Ravens lost twice to Southfield Arts and Tech last season but beat the Warriors in the district semifinals. Royal Oak has home court will have to go through Berkley pending should they get by Seaholm. The Bears should be motivated despite not being very deep and getting a bye to the district semifinals. On the other side of the bracket the Falcons are no strangers with Southfield Arts and Tech. Also assistant coach Jereica Hughes knows the Warriors players since she was an assistant last season and played for Coach Michelle Marshall at Southfield-Lathrup. Groves beat Southfield Arts and Tech twice in the regular season but the last game went double overtime. It is never easy beating a team three times in a season. I think this is likely going to be a Falcons/Ravens district final with the slightest of edges favoring Groves but just barely.
District 25 @ Novi
Novi vs Farmington Hills Mercy
NORTH FARMINGTON vs Livonia Stevenson
NORTH FARMINGTON/Livonia Stevenson vs FARMINGTON
THOUGHTS: This district looks to be Farmington Hills Mercy’s to lose but I think they could run into some problems. I don’t see Novi challenging the Marlins despite having home court for their first round matchup. North Farmington if they can find some scoring could give opponents fits with their pressure trap defense but Livonia Stevenson is a very tough program and could give the Raiders some fits in the opening round game. Whomever wins that game will play Farmington in the district semifinals. The Falcons have played a difficult non league schedule to get them ready for the postseason. I see this district being a Farmington Hills Mercy/Farmington district final but end of the day I see Farmington Hills Mercy winning this district.
District 29 @ Rochester
Utica Eisenhower vs STONEY CREEK
TROY ATHENS vs ROCHESTER
TROY ATHENS/ROCHESTER vs TROY
THOUGHTS: Stoney Creek has been rolling on all cylinders as of late which is a good sign going forward. The Cougars should be motivated after losing to Utica Eisenhower in the district semifinals at home last season. Rochester and Troy Athens should be a very interesting game. The winner will play Troy in the district semifinals. The Colts have been struggling as of late which is not a good sign. The postseason failures in the last two years have to be in the mind of the Troy ladies. Stoney Creek is the early favorites but don’t give up on Troy especially if the Colts can find their first half of the season magic.
District 4 @ Grand Blanc
OXFORD vs Grand Blanc
Lapeer vs Flint Kearsley
Lapeer/Flint Kearsley vs Davison
THOUGHTS: Wow, Oxford has a very tough matchup on the horizon going north into Genesee County. The Wildcats get to play Grand Blanc at their home court in the district semifinals. The Bobcats are loaded with talented players and Oxford doesn’t matchup with them at all. On the other side of the bracket Davison has a great chance to get to the district finals. It’s going to be a challenge to say the least for the Wildcats.
District 6 @Waterford Mott
Waterford Mott vs WEST BLOOMFIELD
BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs AVONDALE
BLOOMFIELD HILLS/AVONDALE vs Birmingham Marian
THOUGHTS: This has the makings of a great district final between West Bloomfield and Birmingham Marian whom are two of the top teams in the State. This district in general is not very strong when looking at these teams. I don’t see Bloomfield Hills, Avondale, or Waterford Mott making any serious case to the top two seeds in this district. The Lakers and Mustangs is set to be a classic in the making.
District 5 @ Romeo
Waterford Kettering vs CLARKSTON
ADAMS vs Romeo
ADAMS/Romeo vs LAKE ORION
THOUGHTS: If I’m Adams BEWARE. Romeo has played well at home this year and they are coming off COVID quarantine. Lake Orion has had injuries to their top two players but their young core has stepped up which is a good sign. The Dragons will certainly be a team to watch as they earned the two seed and the bye. Clarkston is the heavy favorite in this district because of their experience. I don’t know if I see anyone touching the Wolves right now.
District 58 @ Host Sites
Warren Lincoln at Hazel Park
Warren Regina at FERNDALE UNIVERSITY
THOUGHTS: Warren Lincoln has to be the favorite in this district of host sites. Ferndale University if they can get by Warren Regina whom is very experienced might add could get a district finals matchup with Warren Lincoln. Although the Abes are favored in this district watch for the Eagles. They are gaining confidence with their time in the OAA.
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