by orionontv | Nov 21, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Wednesday November 20th at 10:18 PM
The OAA could have two potential new members as early as next school year.
The Waterford school district (Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott) have applied to rejoin the league.
The vote or the site visit hasn’t been confirmed yet.
MIPrepZone and Brandon Folsom confirmed the articles but neither school is in the OAA yet. In Folsom’s article, Tom Flynn, former Groves Athletic Director mentions that there is a committee of principals and athletic directors that do site visitations and typically the school applying will have to do a presentation of their programs and what they bring and it will be up to the committee of principals to allow entry into the OAA.
“We are grateful for the competition we have been privileged to experience as a member district of the LVC (Lakes Valley Conference) for the past eight years. Many factors went into our decision to apply for membership of the OAA such as competitive alignment with like districts, game proximity, and academic and student leadership advantages. These opportunities will best serve our Waterford School district athletes, coaches, and families now and in the future” said Waterford Schools communications director Sarah Davis to MIPrepZone.
Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott were original members of the league when it formed in 1994 but they left the league for the Kensington Valley Conference in 2008. The KVC became the Kensington Lakes Activities Association but the league saw a mass exit and the Waterford schools joined the Walled Lake schools (Walled Lake Northern, Walled Lake Central, Walled Lake Western), the Huron Valley schools (Lakeland and Milford), and the South Lyon schools (South Lyon and South Lyon East) to form the Lakes Valley Conference in 2016-2017.
The OAA has 23 schools and uses a competitive balance system (Red,White, Blue, Gold) when it comes to divisions with the best playing against the best and the teams that are struggling play against other struggling teams. The league realigns with teams who win the division gets a chance to go up while those who finishes in last goes down a division.
It will be very interesting to see how Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott fit into the league if they are approved. It will be very interesting to see what happens.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
Folsom story
https://www.hometownlife.com/story/sports/2024/11/19/leaving-the-lvc-waterford-mott-kettering-apply-to-rejoin-oaa/76424849007/
by orionontv | Nov 21, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Wednesday November 20th at 7:05 PM
Here are the pickers and the picks for week thirteen.
SANDY DUNES: Sammy Taormina, host of OAA Now, blogger and host of Between Taorminas, and Last Three Brain Cells on Orion Neighborhood Television.
TIM: Tim English, writer, and blogger-Lake Orion 1996 Alumni.
COTTER: Sean Cotter, Walled Lake Western video coordinator, and North Farmington boys basketball scouter.
KEITH: Keith Dunlap, writer works as a free lance writer for the MHSAA.
SCOTT: Scott Burnstein, writer for MIPrepZone and State Champs.
SANDY DUNES: 115-42
TIM: 119-38
COTTER: 125-32
KEITH: 121-36
SCOTT: 122-35
WEATHER FORECAST: Mostly Cloudy 45 degrees.
We’ll get Tim and Scott’s pick when we can.
Frankemuth vs Grand Rapids Catholic Central @ Mount Pleasant: This is a really interesting matchup of two teams that are red hot right now. Grand Rapids Catholic Central had to survive 21-14 over Kalamazoo Hackett Prep last week. Frankenmuth had no issue winning 35-0 over Gladwin last week. This should be really interesting to watch.
SANDY DUNES: FRANKENMUTH 35, GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL 31.
TIM:
COTTER: FRANKENMUTH 42, GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL 14
KEITH: GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL 31, FRANKENMUTH 28.
SCOTT:
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs Flat Rock @ Westland John Glenn: This is a really interesting matchup between Flat Rock and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. The Irish have been tested and had an impressive 45-19 win over Armada in the regional semifinals last week. Flat Rock was really impressive in a 41-0 win over Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard last week. This should be a really interesting matchup in Westland.
SANDY DUNES: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 42, FLAT ROCK 14.
TIM:
COTTER: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 49, FLAT ROCK 14.
KEITH: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 28, FLAT ROCK 24.
SCOTT:
Goodrich vs HARPER WOODS @ Stoney Creek: This is a rematch of a 35-24 Pioneers win in Livonia in the Division Four State Semifinals last season. Goodrich started off strong but Harper Woods bounced back and took over behind an opportunistic defense. The ground attack has fueled the Martians all season long. This should be a really interesting matchup between two teams that know each other quite well.
SANDY DUNES: HARPER WOODS 35, GOODRICH 21.
TIM:
COTTER: HARPER WOODS 38, GOODRICH 28.
KEITH: HARPER WOODS 28, GOODRICH 20.
SCOTT:
Niles vs Grand Rapids South Christian @ Three Rivers: The Sailors looking to get back to the Division Four State Championship game. Their path hasn’t been that easy especially in the last two weeks. Grand Rapids South Christian had to beat Whitehall 28-21 in the regional finals and Hudsonville Unity Christian 35-28 in the district finals. The Vikings hadn’t really been tested until last week when they had to survive Portland 37-34 in the regional final. This should be a really interesting State semifinal in Three Rivers.
SANDY DUNES: NILES 38, GRAND RAPIDS SOUTH CHRISTIAN 35.
TIM:
COTTER: GRAND RAPIDS SOUTH CHRISTIAN 49, NILES 14.
KEITH: GRAND RAPIDS SOUTH CHRISTIAN 17, NILES 14.
SCOTT:
Byron Center vs East Lansing @ Greenville: This is a really interesting matchup between the Bulldogs and the Trojans. Byron Center has been battle tested which included a 30-23 in the district final win over Muskegon Mona Shores. East Lansing had to survive Dexter 50-49 in the district final. These are two teams that are battle tested. This should be a really interesting matchup.
SANDY DUNES: BYRON CENTER 35, EAST LANSING 21.
TIM:
COTTER: BYRON CENTER 38, EAST LANSING 31.
KEITH: BYRON CENTER 27, EAST LANSING 17.
SCOTT:
Orchard Lake St. Marys vs GROVES @ West Bloomfield: There are a ton of storylines heading into this game. The Falcons had to survive 21-19 over Warren DeLaSalle last week in the regional final. They will head to the Swamp to play another Catholic League foe in Orchard Lake St. Marys. The Eaglets have played North Farmington and Farmington in the district rounds and had a 27-3 win over Carlson in the regional finals. Another storyline is Nick Merlo is on staff at Orchard Lake St. Marys as their offensive coordinator. This should be a fun matchup in the Swamp.
SANDY DUNES: GROVES 35, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS 31.
TIM:
COTTER: ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS 21, GROVES 14.
KEITH: GROVES 31, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS 30.
SCOTT:
Detroit Cass Tech vs Novi Detroit Catholic Central @ Troy Athens: This is a really interesting matchup of two teams that have faced each other in the State Finals in the past. Novi Detroit Catholic Central has seen teams that are very similar to Detroit Cass Tech, perfect example, Belleville. The Shamrocks beat the Tigers and ended Bryce Underwood’s high school career with a 35-21 win last week in Novi. The Technicians who have similar traits to the Tigers had to survive 21-14 over Macomb Dakota last week. This should be a really interesting matchup.
SANDY DUNES: NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL 42, DETROIT CASS TECH 14.
TIM:
COTTER: NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL 42, DETROIT CASS TECH 21.
KEITH: DETROIT CASS TECH 25, NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL 24.
SCOTT:
Hudsonville vs ADAMS @ Okemos: The Highlanders get to head west for their State Semifinals matchup but to Ingham County to play Hudsonville. Adams is coming off a tough 21-14 win over Grand Blanc last week and had an impressive 41-0 win over Clarkston two weeks ago. The Eagles were really impressive coming into Livingston County and stunning top seeded Howell 35-6 last week. Hudsonville also had a 19-16 district final win over Grandville. It should be a really interesting matchup to say the least.
SANDY DUNES: ADAMS 28, HUDSONVILLE 20.
TIM:
COTTER: ADAMS 28, HUDSONVILLE 21.
KEITH: HUDSONVILLE 24, ADAMS 14.
SCOTT:
My podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQMC3Vnscwg&t=2596s
by orionontv | Nov 20, 2024 | Local News
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR
CHRIS BARNETT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Orion
Township
248-391-0304 ext. 2009
ORION TOWNSHIP CONFIRMS NO FATALTIES AND OFFERS RESOURCES
FOLLOWING EXPLOSION AT KEATINGTON NEW TOWN ASSOCIATION
Orion Township, MI (November 20 2024) – Orion Township Fire Department and
Oakland County Sherrif Department can confirm that there are still no fatalities following
yesterday’s tragic explosion at Keatington New Town Association. However, numerous
residents were affected and displaced from their homes after last night’s event. The
Township advises all affected residents to use the following resources to seek aid or
information, or to help those impacted:
FOR THOSE DISPLACED OR IN NEED
Any victims in need of immediate support, please call the American Red Cross at 1-800-
RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). You can also call the Township at 248-391-0304 at ext.
2009.
DONATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
Any cash donations can be sent through Love INC of North Oakland County by phone
at 248-693-4357 or online at https://loveincofnoc.org/.
All clothing and food locations can be dropped off at Woodside Bible Church, located in
Canterbury Village at 2500 Joslyn Road. Residents in need of food can also make use
of Woodside’s Village Food Pantry, also located in Canterbury Village at (2325 Joslyn
Court); their phone number is 248-391-1900.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Orion Township will host a press conference at 4PM today to provide additional
information. All are invited to attend in person or virtually at Township Hall: 2323 Joslyn
Rd, Lake Orion, MI 48360.
If you’re out and about shopping over the next few weeks, consider donating to the annual Stuff a Truck holiday toy collections. The drive, now in its sixth year, is hosted by Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and will take place at several locations throughout the Lower Peninsula.
Tree planting, education about the benefits of trees and other tree-centric efforts are on tap in nine Michigan communities thanks to Community Forestry Grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Those communities will share $127,093 in grant funding.