OAA/MAC Boys Basketball Showcase

Written Saturday October 12th at 8:00 PM

This will be updated with updated information.

This is the first ever OAA vs Macomb Area Conference Showcase that is taking place at Rochester High School on Saturday December 7th for Boys Basketball.

Here are the matchups and times.

LAKE ORION vs Macomb Dakota- 12 PM: These are two teams that could make some noise in their respective divisions. The Dragons are one of the favorites in the White have a ton of proven experience coming back for Coach Jose Andrades. The Cougars are one of the favorites in the MAC Red. They are also loaded with a ton of proven experience and are well coached under Coach Paul Tocco. These are also two teams that have had a ton of close games during the summer. Expect this game to be really interesting to watch.

STONEY CREEK vs Utica-1:30 PM: These are two teams that are coming into the season with a ton of questions. Utica was senior heavy last season after winning district crown last season. The Chieftains will look to continue their success for second year coach David Hinkle. Stoney Creek has a ton of questions this season for Coach Jeff Olind despite having proven players in Tyree Smith and Gideon Beers coming back. The Cougars are 9-35 in the last two years. This should be a really interesting game of two teams really trying to find their ways.

ROCHESTER vs Macomb L’Anse Creuse North-3 PM: This should be a really interesting matchup between the Falcons and the Crusaders. Rochester is 13-34 in the last two years which is not good for Coach Nick Evola but there is optimism. The Falcons return a ton of proven experience in Max Muhl and Jacob Tandy and they could make some noise in the Blue. The Crusaders have had a ton of success for Coach Kurt Wilson and they have a really tough schedule as well. This should be a really interesting matchup.

ADAMS vs Chippewa Valley-4:30 PM: The Highlanders lost their two top guards from last season but they have the LaGardge brothers coming back for Coach Isiah Novak. Adams is in the Red and will play the likes of proven powers in Clarkston, North Farmington, Groves, Ferndale, and West Bloomfield. Chippewa Valley lost a ton from last season after being 27-22 in the last two years. This should be a really interesting matchup.

Written Saturday October 12th at 9:35 AM

Updated Monday October 14th at 12:05 AM

The Gold was decided by Thursday night. Avondale took the crown with a 49-7 win over Berkley. The Yellow Jackets started 0-2 with losses to Cedar Springs and Seaholm but have bounced back nicely. Ferndale had a rough 49-14 loss to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep falling to 4-3 on the season. Royal Oak won 38-12 on their homecoming night over Pontiac. It’s been a challenging season for both teams. So when looking at the division it pretty much went as what I thought before the season.

The Blue is far from over but North Farmington is in a great spot. The Raiders beat Seaholm 24-23 in a crazy game. Seaholm doesn’t have a league game left but has to play West Bloomfield and Groves. North Farmington has Troy to play. The 32-23 loss the Colts took to Farmington puts them in a terrible spot most likely needing to win out. Troy Athens won 28-25 over Bloomfield Hills. Oak Park fell 26-12 to Lapeer. It will be very interesting to see how the Knights respond after this tough loss.

The Red went to Oxford after an impressive 38-14 win over Oxford in the Swamp. Clarkston had a chance to share the crown but Lake Orion denied them with a hard fought 20-13 win. Adams won a hard fought 21-13 win over Stoney Creek. The Red has been a battle all season with all but one game was won by the home team.

The White was decided with Groves win over Harper Woods. The Falcons have played well despite not being tested as of late. The Pioneers have played much better as of late. Rochester likely had their postseason dreams shattered after a 44-15 loss to Harper Woods. Southfield Arts and Tech has struggled all season. Stoney Creek has to win out after a really tough 21-13 loss to Adams. Overall the division went as what I thought it would be.

Playoff Points

Groves: 70.4- fourth in Division Two. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: The Falcons have been a lock for a while now. The big concerns is the lack of tests surrounding Groves despite having to play Seaholm week nine. Multiple home postseason games are in the cards for the Falcons at this time.

Seaholm: 66.7- fifth in Division Two. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: The Maples despite the 24-23 loss to North Farmington remain in the hunt for multiple home postseason games. The road for Seaholm gets tough with West Bloomfield and Groves but they are safely into the postseason with the schedule they have played.

Lake Orion: 64.2- ninth in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: After their 20-13 win over Clarkston it puts the Dragons in a great position for a postseason spot. Northville’s win over Hartland is huge at the moment for Lake Orion even though they sit at 5-2. If they can win out over Farmington and Saline then they will likely be hosting a postseason game.

Oxford: 63.2- 11th in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: It has been a special season for the Wildcats winning the Red for the first time in school history. Oxford is a lock for the postseason and they have two very interesting games looming with Oak Park and Macomb Dakota. The Wildcats if they can win both will be in prime position to hosting a postseason game.

Adams: 62.5- 12th in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: The Highlanders have gone through a ton of adversity with the injury to Ryland Watters but it’s possible that Watters could come back in the postseason. They have North Farmington and New Baltimore Anchor Bay looming. Adams is in a great spot to be in the postseason and could get a home postseason game if things go right.

North Farmington: 58.7- 14th in Division Two. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: The Raiders have worked their way back into the postseason after an 0-2 start with losses to Ferndale and Livonia Stevenson. The Raiders have won five straight which has them here. Home postseason looks possible and the postseason is a safe bet for North Farmington with Adams and Troy looming.

Avondale: 56.1- 14th in Division Three. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: It has been a rough go for the Yellow Jackets especially early but there is an opportunity for Avondale to improve on their postseason positioning. They are safe in the postseason and a home game looks very possible. The Yellow Jackets have Stoney Creek and Carleton Airport looming. Avondale is in a great spot right now.

Clarkston: 55.7- 18th in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: The Wolves despite the 20-13 loss to Lake Orion remain in great position to get into the postseason. Clarkston has Bloomfield Hills and Utica Eisenhower remaining and both at home. The Wolves are safe when it comes to the postseason especially with Utica Eisenhower in week nine. They could get a home game but that’s borderline at the moment but they are safe when it comes to the postseason.

Harper Woods: 55.2- eighth in Division Four. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Safe: The Pioneers schedule is really helping them when it comes to postseason positioning. Harper Woods has played a really tough schedule. The wins aren’t the greatest when it comes to bonus points but the wins matter for the Pioneers at the moment. They could be in line to host a few home postseason games.

Farmington: 55.2- 18th in Division Two. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Not Safe: The Falcons 32-23 win over Troy is huge at the moment for Farmington. The Falcons have a ton to play for especially with Lake Orion and Dearborn Heights Crestwood looming. Farmington has gone through a ton of adversity but the wins over Division One schools Bloomfield Hills, Troy, and Troy Athens has really helped at the moment. The Falcons have to win one of their next two games to be safely in the postseason field.

Ferndale: 48.2- 29th in Division Two. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Not Safe: The Eagles are in a strong spot to get into the postseason despite playing a tough schedule. The 20-12 win over North Farmington in week two is huge at the moment for Ferndale’s chances. They have Southfield Arts and Tech and Utica Ford II looming. The Eagles have to win one of their next two games to be safely in the postseason but big challenges await in Division Two.

West Bloomfield: 48- 27th in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Not Safe: I thought about where the Lakers were right now. The 49-41 win over Lake Orion is really helping them but Chippewa Valley has improved as well sitting at 3-4. West Bloomfield didn’t help themselves falling 38-14 to Oxford on Thursday night. The Lakers need to win one of two to be safe when it comes to the postseason against proven Division Two powers in Seaholm and Roseville but if they lose both of them they will be out. It will be very interesting to see where West Bloomfield is at heading into the postseason but if they lose both games it could be very close.

Stoney Creek 45.1- 32nd in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Not Safe: The Cougars postseason dreams took a hit falling 21-13 to Adams on Friday night. Stoney Creek will need to win at least one of the next two games to make the postseason but it would be much stronger if they won both games. They have Avondale and Ann Arbor Huron which are very interesting matchups. It will be really interesting to see where the Cougars are at especially with Jenison, Kalamazoo Central, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, and Chippewa Valley are on the outside looking in.

Troy: 40.7- 38th in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Not Safe: The Colts postseason dreams is in severe jeopardy. The 32-23 loss to Farmington severely damaged their postseason hopes. If Troy can beat North Farmington then there is a chance they could sneak into the postseason and that includes beating Troy Athens. If they lose one or both games they are out.

Rankings Explanation

Groves has kept the top spot most of the season despite not being tested. Did have thoughts of putting Oxford at the top spot but kept the Falcons there for that top reason. The Wildcats are second winning the Red crown. Lake Orion is at three after their emotional 20-13 win over Clarkston on Friday night. Moved Adams to four because of their 28-10 win over Clarkston. The Wolves moved down to five after the loss to Lake Orion but have played a tough schedule. North Farmington moves up to six after their emotional 24-23 win over Seaholm. Seaholm goes to seven after their tough loss to North Farmington. West Bloomfield goes to eight after their tough loss to Oxford, I thought about moving them down in the rankings but kept them at eight. Avondale and Harper Woods stay at nine and ten respectively. Farmington is at 11, Stoney Creek is 12, and Ferndale is 13 at the moment.