Postseason Watch-Week Nine.
Written Saturday September 30th at 7:00 PM
Updated Saturday October 14th at 1:30 AM
The postseason is a week away so here are some scenarios surrounding some teams in the OAA that have a chance to make the postseason, some are locks, others are on the bubble and others need to win out.
Thanks to GoosePoop on Twitter/X for giving me some analytics on each team’s chances to make the postseason so here they are.
LOCKS:
Lake Orion (8-0): The Dragons are looking really good when it comes to the postseason. Lake Orion has had strong wins over Harper Woods, West Bloomfield, Oxford, Adams, and Clarkston. They still have state power undefeated Saline coming up on the road which should be a good barometer to see where both teams are at going into the postseason. The Dragons are safely in the postseason field in Division One.
Clarkston (4-4): The Wolves are looking really good when it comes to the postseason and they keep getting better every week. They have played a really tough schedule and have beaten some really good teams as well. Despite losing to Northville, Southfield Arts and Tech, Lake Orion, and Harper Woods (all of whom are strong teams). They hold quality wins over Adams and West Bloomfield. Clarkston finishes the regular season playing Co Macomb Area Conference Red champion Utica Eisenhower. If you’re a Wolves fan, you won’t have to worry about not making the postseason but finishing strong is another concern. Clarkston is safely in the postseason field in Division One.
West Bloomfield (6-2): The Lakers had a big win over Southfield Arts and Tech to add to strong wins over Chippewa Valley, Adams, and Oxford. The Lakers only setbacks were to Clarkston and Lake Orion, both of whom field very strong programs. The Lakers finish the regular season against Oak Park. West Bloomfield is safely in the postseason field in Division One.
Southfield Arts and Tech (7-1): The Warriors early season wins have already got them into the postseason. Southfield Arts and Tech after dealing with their remaining White opponents took a setback against Red power West Bloomfield. Despite that, the Warriors hold strong wins over Detroit Cass Tech and Clarkston. The Warriors are safely in the postseason field for Division One.
Seaholm (7-1): The Maples have been rolling with confidence heading into the postseason. Seaholm has had some big wins under their belt as well with their only setback against Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit. The Maples will play arch rival Groves who have given them a lot of problems in the past, mostly because Groves has played in the much tougher White. Despite having to figure out their problems with Groves, the Maples are safely in the postseason field for Division Two.
Groves (6-2): The Falcons have played some very strong opponents (West Bloomfield and Southfield Arts and Tech) and picked up some big wins including a big league win over Harper Woods and a big non league win over North Farmington. Groves has arch rival Seaholm, whom they could possibly meet twice in the postseason in which the Falcons have gotten the better of the Maples primarily because of playing in the tougher White. Groves is safely in the postseason field for Division Two.
Harper Woods (5-3): For a team who is in Division Four, the Pioneers have played a really tough schedule playing against a ton of Division One (Stoney Creek, Lake Orion, Southfield Arts and Tech, Clarkston) and Division Two teams (Groves). Harper Woods finishes the year at Roseville. The Pioneers are safely in the postseason field for Division Four because of their strength of schedule and could be a state championship contender come postseason time.
Avondale (7-1): The Yellow Jackets have been rolling as of late, winning the Gold Championship in the process. Avondale has also been tested with quality wins over Division Three Brandon and Division Two Oak Park but had a setback against Division Two power Seaholm. Avondale has rival Warren Fitzgerald looming on their schedule. They are safely in the postseason field for Division Three and they could make a ton of noise.
Adams (5-3): The Highlanders are a very interesting team to watch because they are a wildcard. Their chances of getting in the postseason are still very strong, probably the strongest of the bubble teams. Adams has Sterling Heights Stevenson looming, two Division One teams, both teams they are capable of beating. The Highlanders based off their strength of schedule is safely in the postseason field for Division One.
North Farmington (4-4): The Raiders, despite the setback to Oxford and playing a very daunting schedule especially early with Division Two powers Groves, Caledonia, and Seaholm have held their own and was able to get strong wins over Division One’s Troy and Troy Athens along with Division Two, Oak Park, and Division Three Pontiac. The Raiders are safely in the postseason field for Division Two.
Troy (5-3): The Colts, despite setbacks with division two powers Seaholm, Oak Park, and North Farmington has been much more successful against Division One opponents, particularly Detroit Mumford, Macomb L’Anse Creuse and arch rival Troy Athens. The Colts also have wins over Royal Oak and Berkley as well. They have another big game looming with Fraser but win or lose, the Colts for another year is safely in the postseason in Division One. Will they win a playoff game, that is another question we will find out.
NEED TO WIN OUT:
Oxford (3-5): The Wildcats are in a win now mode if they want to make the postseason. They have University-Detroit Jesuit at Wildcat Stadium. Despite playing a very tough schedule with the likes of Utica Eisenhower, Clarkston, Adams, arch rival Lake Orion, and West Bloomfield, Oxford has three wins (Division Two, Oak Park and North Farmington along with Division One, Stoney Creek.) If Oxford wins, given their strength of schedule, they will be in the postseason for Division One.
Oak Park (3-5): The Knights have faced a very difficult postseason, despite getting strong quality wins over Division One Troy and Troy Athens, the Knights have had tough losses to Division One Oxford along with Division Two University of Detroit-Jesuit, Seaholm, and North Farmington. The Knights will have a tough test looming with Division One power West Bloomfield visiting Knight Valley. Should Oak Park win, they will be in the postseason but if they don’t, then they will have to wait and see to be in the postseason.