by Becky Andrus | Mar 8, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Sunday, March 7, 2021
Inside the OAA Top 22 and Top 20.
Written Sunday March 7th at 6:00 PM
Here are the top 22 and top 20 for basketball throughout the OAA. I look at how teams are playing right now as we speak and the rankings tell themselves from my point of view. Here they are.
Boys Top 22.
- Ferndale (8-1) – Jack Kennedy has really surprised some folks.
- Adams (9-3) – Jaret Thomas has done a heck of a coaching job with the Highlanders.
- Clarkston (9-3) – Keegan Waslik is back with a vengeance.
- North Farmington (6-2) – Raiders no longer control their own destiny in the Red.
- Lake Orion (9-2) – Dragons are clicking on all cylinders.
- Bloomfield Hills (7-4) – Blackhawks control their own destiny in the White.
- Troy (4-2) – Something doesn’t seem right with the Colts.
- Stoney Creek (7-3) – Trevor Smith is really carrying the Cougars on his back.
- Troy Athens (7-3) – Jordan Sebaugh is the key for the Red Hawks.
- Groves (4-5) – Falcons are more than capable of pulling off an upset.
- Pontiac (6-0) – Phoenix are rising but would like to see them play some non league teams.
- Berkley (4-6) – It wasn’t a great week for the Bears.
- West Bloomfield (3-7) – Lakers have been very streaky lately.
- Farmington (3-8) – Falcons have been very inconsistent.
- Oak Park (3-6) – Knights have been a mystery team right now.
- Rochester (6-5) – Falcons no longer control their own destiny in the Gold right now.
- Oxford (4-7) – Wildcats are as good as Mason Mulholland takes them.
- Seaholm (3-7) – Maples are as good as Johnny Cross takes them.
- Southfield Arts and Tech (2-7) – Warriors are very suspect right now.
- Avondale (4-6) – Yellow Jackets haven’t been the same since the loss to Seaholm.
- Royal Oak (1-8) – Ravens picked up a monster win over Ferndale University this past week.
- Ferndale University (0-8) – Rising Eagles are still getting used to life in the OAA.
Girls Top 20.
- West Bloomfield (8-1) – Lakers looking strong on all cylinders
- Clarkston (9-2) – Wolves have been scoring in bunches lately.
- Stoney Creek (9-1) – Cougars rolling right now.
- Troy (7-4) – Colts holding strong in the White.
- Groves (7-5) – Falcons are going to be a dangerous team come postseason time.
- Royal Oak (6-4) – Ravens are starting to put things together.
- Oxford (7-3) – Myranda Wynnabego has been a difference maker for the Wildcats.
- Farmington (8-3) – Autumn Bartlett has been the glue for the Falcons.
- Adams (6-3) – Highlanders are still a really odd team to figure out.
- Lake Orion (6-6) – Dragons haven’t been the same team since losing to Oxford.
- Rochester (3-4) – Falcons are back on the court which is a good sign.
- Berkley (6-4) – Ashley Loon has been the key to the Bears success.
- Troy Athens (4-6) – Gillian Ciak has been playing well for the Red Hawks lately.
- North Farmington (2-7) – Heaven Rogers has played well for the Raiders in this stretch.
- Southfield Arts and Tech (1-8) – Warriors got their first win for new coach Shaquila Coltrane.
- Seaholm (2-8) – Maples struggling a little bit.
- Oak Park (2-2) – Knights have done well against Ferndale University but others not so much.
- Ferndale University (2-4) – It’s still going to take some time for the Rising Eagles to get used to the OAA.
- Bloomfield Hills (0-8) – Blackhawks really struggling right now.
- Avondale (0-7) – Yellow Jackets really struggling right now.
by Becky Andrus | Mar 8, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Sunday, March 7, 2021
Weekly Thoughts.
Written Sunday March 7th at 9:00 PM
Boys
Red
North Farmington might have lost all chances to win the Red with their home loss to Clarkston on Thursday night. The Raiders could still be a force in the Red and eventually in the postseason. North Farmington needs Basheer Jihad and Deon Hayes to play better. They have an opportunity ahead of them when they head to Ferndale this week. Coach Todd Negoshian needs to find a way to get some more scoring like they were earlier in the season.
Ferndale has played good basketball but a huge game looms on Monday when they head to Orchard Lake St. Marys to play the top ranked Eaglets. Orchard Lake St. Marys has looked vulnerable despite winning over Birmingham Brother Rice and Warren De LaSalle. Another storyline is that Jason Drake played for the Eaglets last season. He transferred to Ferndale during Christmas. The Eagles besides the Eaglets have Troy and North Farmington this week. It’s going to be an interesting week to say the least for Coach Juan Rickman and his team.
Clarkston looks to be back to being Clarkston as Keegan Waslik returned to the lineup after an ankle injury that was thought to be season ending. Waslik opens up players like Nathan Steinman to do well to go along with Mike DePillo and Luke Scherler. He means so much to the Wolves lineup and if he gets hurt again then Clarkston could be in some trouble.
West Bloomfield has really struggled lately which is very concerning heading into the final two weeks of the season. The Lakers need to get some wins under their belt heading into the postseason. The district won’t be easy especially with a red hot Bloomfield Hills, Pontiac, and Orchard Lake St. Marys in there.
Oak Park is still a mystery team. They blew out Detroit Cody on Saturday but lost to Farmington and North Farmington this past week. The Knights need to find that consistency going forward if they want to make some noise. Bwanda Miller has played really well for Coach Durrand Sheppard along with the Henderson brothers but they need an interior person to step up.
Farmington played better against Ferndale even though they lost that game. The Falcons are more than capable of scoring points. Farmington will need to keep scoring in bunches despite beating Oak Park. If Coach Terrance Porter’s team can find that scoring then they could surprise some folks.
White
Troy has been very inconsistent despite being tied for the White however they are coming off losses to Bloomfield Hills and Stoney Creek despite beating Groves. The Colts need more from Jake Emerzian. I know they have played a tough schedule since coming off COVID protocol but Jake Emerizian needs to step his game up and help Brody Parker and Ethan Emerzian. If Coach Gary Fralick can get his big three along with D’Anthony Hamilton going then they will be a tough team to beat.
Stoney Creek had a huge hit with Alex Reiter in COVID protocol which has resulted in Trevor Smith doing more for the Cougars. Reiter is Coach Steve Norgrove’s defensive stopper but they had losses to Adams and Bloomfield Hills this past week. Stoney Creek will be fine but they need someone besides Smith to step up until Reiter returns.
Groves has been an odd team to figure out. They do have some players that have emerged. The Falcons have leaned on Daniel Lee but the play of Nick Lutz and Aaron Dubose has contributed for Coach Benny White. Groves has been a hit or miss team which makes them a dangerous team come postseason time.
Bloomfield Hills has had a really good week with wins over Stoney Creek, Troy, and Romeo. Noah Adamcyzk and Mason Canfield have been very good for Coach Phil Kurajian in the past week. The Blackhawks are in a very good spot right now in the White. Bloomfield Hills is peaking at the right time.
I think Jaret Thomas should be coach of the year in the White for what he has done with Adams in two years since taking over the program. They have a pipeline of proven talent for the now and in the future. The Highlanders had a good week by beating Stoney Creek, Groves, and Farmington. Adams has Justice Mims, Ben Churmside, Brady Prieskorn, Jon Urusy, among others and they have been playing really well. Adams is in a good spot.
Southfield Arts and Tech is a hard team to figure out. What helps the Warriors is their athleticism and they have Jaylen Mack and Caleb Banks. They lost a tough one to Clarkston and have lost five straight since beating Waterford Mott. That’s not a good sign for Coach Darreyle Buchanan and his team going forward. This team concerns me a bit.
Blue
Troy Athens has won three straight games since losing to Lake Orion. Michael Justice has played really well but the key players are Jacob Thornton and Jordan Sebaugh. If the Red Hawks can get consistent play from Sebaugh and Thornton then Coach Dave Scott’s team will be better in the long run especially heading into the postseason where they have a favorable district at home despite a huge challenge from Sterling Heights Stevenson.
Berkley had two tough losses to Lake Orion and Stoney Creek this week. The Bears are an interesting team going forward. Coach Joe Sermo is going to need players like Joey McNamara, Logan Thomas, and Jon Sherif to step up and help Arshad Walker. If they can find this then they could be a very dangerous team come postseason time.
Oxford is in an interesting spot. Mason Mulholland has led the Wildcats night in and night out but Coach Steve Laidlaw needs someone else to step up, could it be Trent Brown, Palmer Speck, etc. Oxford has really struggled to find that second scorer even though there are numerous others that can do that as well. It hasn’t been easy for the Wildcats.
Lake Orion got three huge wins including two of them over rivals Oxford and Lapeer and they control their own destiny in the Blue. The Dragons have been getting contributions from Andrew Bryant, Malachi Grandberry, Nick Fisher, Mark Smith, and Will McClear. Brennan Jones and Xander Blackney have really been playing better. Lake Orion has been playing loose which is a good sign not only for the team but Coach Joel Schroeder as well heading into the postseason.
Seaholm has struggled recently losing two straight games. The Maples have gotten contributions from Johnny Cross but they need to score more points. It’s been a challenging year for Coach Mike DeGetter but they are getting healther and they have Troy Athens and Oxford coming to Birmingham in the next two weeks. The Maples could play spoiler in the Blue.
Gold
Pontiac stands on top of the division after their huge win over Rochester on Saturday. The Phoenix have managed to improve each week which resulted in wins. Dionate Harris has played really well for Pontiac and Coach Dameon O’Neill. I would like to see Pontiac test themselves against non league competition because they would not see Gold competition in their district especially with Orchard Lake St. Marys, West Bloomfield, and Bloomfield Hills in there. It would prove to be a measuring stick for the Phoenix.
Rochester took a tough loss to Pontiac on Saturday afternoon at home and no longer control their own destiny. The Falcons have been getting contributions from Matt Stone and Mark Williams for Coach Vance Kirkwood. Rochester needs to hope Pontiac loses at least a game to get back in the league race.
Avondale has not been the same team since losing to Seaholm a few weeks ago. They fell to Rochester, Pontiac, and Warren Cousino. There are some serious concerns for Coach Pat Clancy’s team. The Yellow Jackets haven’t figured things out yet which is a concern heading into the postseason. Avondale is trending down right now.
Royal Oak has been competitive but they haven’t been able to put together wins. The Ravens picked up their first win of the season by beating Ferndale University on Thursday night. The schedule gets tough with games against Royal Oak Shrine, Berkley, Troy Athens, and Holly on the slate. It won’t be an easy ride for Coach Aaron Smith and company.
Ferndale University has been very competitive but they have struggled in their first year in the OAA. The Rising Eagles will be fine. They are scoring at a high rate but they are allowing more as well. Ferndale University should be fine as they settle into the OAA.
Girls
Red
West Bloomfield has been playing on a high level which resulted in an impressive blowout win over Clarkston on Wednesday night. Coach Bert Mosley got more good news as Myonna Hooper was just cleared to play and adds to an already very dangerous Lakers team come in the postseason. West Bloomfield and Birmingham Marian are on a collision course in the postseason.
Clarkston has played really good basketball despite the blowout losses to West Bloomfield including what happened on Wednesday night. The Wolves scored 58 points which normally wins you games. Clarkston has gotten contributions every night from different players. Coach John Weyer has done a very good job with this team. The Wolves are heading in the right direction.
Royal Oak has turned the corner a bit and they have seemed to found a Robin in Kira Vance. Vance has been filling the score sheet lately and has played well alongside Sarah Soroghan. The Ravens have won three of four which is a good sign heading into the postseason and if Soroghan doesn’t have to carry the load even though she is more than capable of putting a team on her shoulders than that would make the team that more dangerous heading into the postseason.
Groves has me very concerned despite losing three of their last four games. The foundation is there for the Falcons and Coach AntJuan Simpkins. The tough non league schedule can be very taxing on a young team. Groves is fine though but they are in a rut right now.
Southfield Arts and Tech won their first game of the season on Friday night but there are still some concerns defensively going forward. The Warriors have allowed over 70 points in five of the last six games. Getting their first win was a start but it’s the start of a long process.
White
Troy has been moving along but they have been putting the ball in the basket. Lauren Gumma has really taken off especially from three point land including in which the Colts made 14 threes against Troy Athens on Friday night. Kendal Zeiter hasn’t really needed to be “Super Girl” even though she is capable of taking over games also Charlotte Sobotka and Alyssa Matuza has also been productive as well. Coach Julius Porter if things are on track should be a team to watch moving forward and they control their own destiny in the White.
Stoney Creek has been rolling along which is a great sign for Coach Kellen James. The Cougars still control their destiny and they have Troy coming to Stoney Creek. Mia Carson and Milana Skoric has played really well for the Cougars. Stoney Creek also has a strong future as program strength is on the rise.
Adams has been a mystery team despite losing to North Farmington but they beat Farmington on the road behind their experience. I’m very concerned for the Highlanders despite the experience factor. If Coach Shay Lewis can get the less experience players on the same page then Adams could surprise some people
North Farmington has had a very tough week even though they beat Adams but lost to Stoney Creek and Walled Lake Northern. Heaven Rogers has played well for the Raiders but Coach Jeff Simpson needs more production from Sela Lefler. If Lefler and Rogers are on the same page and have double digit point totals then North Farmington will be in basketball games.
Bloomfield Hills has had a long year for first year coach Kristen Massey but Emila Johnson has played really well for the Blackhawks. Bloomfield Hills has had games where they looked good and games they looked bad. It will be interesting to see what happens with the Blackhawks going forward.
Blue
Avondale has been a disaster which has resulted in multiple blowout losses. It has been a very difficult ride for Coach Roy Christmon despite having Regian Lawrence and Savannah Schmidt. The Yellow Jackets are in a world of hurt right now.
Troy Athens had an interesting week but they are starting to score. Nitya Balsu has played well along with Ciara Shoales and Gillian Ciak for Coach Stacie Klumpp. The Red Hawks should be fine going forward. As long as they are scoring they are in good shape.
Rochester is back from COVID protocol and they battled Stoney Creek to the brink on Saturday afternoon. Megan Lorenzo had 16 points in that game but they need Jackie Hurst to also step up as well. It will be interesting to see what the Falcons do but right now Coach Bill Thurston has to be happy to be back on the court.
Berkley has been a very odd team to figure out even though they also control their own destiny in the Blue. The Bears have relied on three girls in Ry Sanom, Ashley Loon, and Ava Beard for Coach Kirk Carolan. Berkley has had some huge wins like Troy and Oxford but also some questionable losses. Will the real Bears please stand up???
Oxford has been red hot lately and controls their own destiny in the Blue. They have gotten confidence from Mackenzie Methner and Miranda Wymeniko. They did get some bad news with the season ending shoulder injury to Emma Morris. Wymeniko has really stepped up her game for Coach Rachel Bryer. The Wildcats are gaining a ton of confidence as a group especially with that district looming in Grand Blanc where they have to see Davison, Flint Kearsley, Grand Blanc, and Lapeer.
Lake Orion has lost two straight games which is a huge concern going forward but they still control their own destiny in the Blue. The Dragons need to find their confidence when they won four of five last week. Lake Orion if confident can be very dangerous going forward.
Gold
Farmington had been playing anyone no matter who the challenge is and that’s a good thing. I like what Coach Laura Guzman has done with the non league schedule. The play of Autumn Bartlett has been very good lately along with Kennedi Jones among others. The Falcons are doing the right things heading into the postseason.
Seaholm has lost five in a row which is not a good sign going forward. The Maples need to find a way to get back in the win column. Coach Chris Manchester’s team could be in some huge trouble going forward.
Ferndale University has struggled thus far. It’s going to take some time for them to make some noise in the OAA in their first year in the league.
Oak Park beat Ferndale University twice but they haven’t beaten anyone else which has hurt them. The Knights need to find that consistency against other teams besides Ferndale University especially with a tough district looming.
by Becky Andrus | Mar 1, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Saturday, February 27, 2021
Inside the OAA Top 22 and Top 20.
Written Saturday February 27th at 4:00 PM
Records will be updated throughout the weekend.
Boys Top 22.
- Ferndale (6-1) – Traevon Lewis and Jason Drake really carrying the Eagles right now.
- North Farmington (5-1) – Raiders will be fine there is no need to panic.
- Troy (3-1) – Colts finally out of COVID protocol and playing however they have to play five games in eight days.
- Stoney Creek (6-1) – Trevor Smith is really carrying the Cougars on his back.
- Adams (6-3) – Jared Thomas has done a heck of a coaching job with the Highlanders.
- Clarkston (6-3) – The Wolves will be tested now that Keegan Waslik could be out for a while.
- Lake Orion (6-2) – Dragons are breathing fire at the right time.
- Troy Athens (4-3) – Wasn’t a great week for the Red Hawks but they will bounce back.
- Berkley (4-3) – Bears can be very streaky at times.
- West Bloomfield (3-5) – Don’t look now but the Lakers have won three straight.
- Oak Park (2-4) – Knights coming off huge win over Clarkston. Could this be the start of something???
- Bloomfield Hills (4-4) – Blackhawks are a mystery team right now.
- Groves (3-3) – The heartbreaks seem to continue for the Falcons.
- Pontiac (4-0) – Strength of schedule bothers me with the Phoenix.
- Rochester (4-5) – Falcons are a deep mystery right now.
- Oxford (3-5) – Wildcats are used to close and overtime games.
- Farmington (2-6) – Falcons having a really tough time right now.
- Seaholm (3-5) – If the Maples can get that secondary player to go along with Johnny Cross then look out.
- Southfield Arts and Tech (2-4) – I’m at loss of words to describe the Warriors.
- Avondale (4-3) – I really thought the Yellow Jackets turned the corner after upsetting Berkley then came Seaholm.
- Royal Oak (0-6) – I really don’t know what to say about the Ravens.
- Ferndale University (0-7) – Rising Eagles still giving up a ton of points which is concerning.
Girls Top 20.
- West Bloomfield (6-1) – Lakers besides the Detroit Edison game has played much better lately.
- Clarkston (7-1) – Wolves have multiple players and ways that can beat you that’s what makes Clarkston dangerous.
- Stoney Creek (6-1) – Cougars will be fine after a tough loss to Troy. They should have at least two more opportunities to see them.
- Troy (5-3) – Colts have control of the White for now but what happened against Berkley???
- Groves (6-4) – Falcons are going to be a dangerous team come postseason time.
- Lake Orion (5-4) – Dragons have won four of five, look out.
- Royal Oak (4-3) – Is Kira Vance becoming the new Robin for the Ravens???
- Oxford (5-2) – Myranda Wynnabego has really filled in nicely for the Wildcats.
- Berkley (4-3, 5-3) – Bears depth woes concerns me heading into the postseason.
- Farmington (6-2) – Ah what happened against Berkley???
- Adams (4-2) – Highlanders have been a really odd team to figure out.
- Rochester (3-3) – Falcons are in COVID protocol but they are a darkhorse in the postseason.
- Troy Athens (3-4, 4-4) – Skylar Emerson will be a big time player in the future.
- Seaholm (2-5) – Ah why are the Maples playing Adams, Clarkston, and Macomb Dakota???
- North Farmington (1-5) – Raiders have been playing tough just hasn’t gotten the results.
- Oak Park (1-2) – Knights are in a bit of a rough patch right now.
- Ferndale University (1-2) – It’s going to take some time for the Rising Eagles to get used to the OAA.
- Southfield Arts and Tech (0-5) – Warriors have allowed over 70 points four times, not good.
- Bloomfield Hills (0-6) – Blackhawks really struggling right now.
- Avondale (0-4, 0-6) – Reigan Lawrence has been the key for the Yellow Jackets.
by Becky Andrus | Mar 1, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Saturday, February 27, 2021
Basketball Thoughts After Three Weeks.
Written Saturday February 27th at 8:15 PM
Boys
Red
North Farmington has played really well lately. Deon Hayes has really stepped his game up which has produced results for Coach Todd Negoshian. The Raiders lost a tough one to Ferndale on Friday night at home but they still control their own destiny.
Ferndale has played really good basketball especially Jason Drake and Traveon Lewis. The Eagles now lead the Red after their win over North Farmington on Friday. Jack Kennedy has started to emerge for Coach Juan Rickman in the interior. Ferndale is rolling but dangers always loom.
Clarkston could be in some deep trouble after an ankle injury to Keegan Waslik against Ferndale. The Wolves have lost two straight games. Clarkston needs Isiyah Harris and Nathan Steinman to step up in Waslik’s replacement. Luke Scherler and Matt DePillo will also be counted on to do more as well. The problem for the Wolves has been dealing with athletic guards. This is something that Coach Tim Waslik needs to fix and quick.
West Bloomfield got three big wins this week and the play of Ryan Hurst has been paramount. He has had big games in this stretch. Hurst along with Mitchel Seay and Rishad Weaver have been playing good basketball for Coach Jeremy Dehna. The Lakers are a darkhorse to watch in the Red.
Oak Park is still a mystery team. The Knights might have found someone to help Ashton Henderson in Burama Miller and Keon Henderson. They were huge against Clarkston on Friday night. Oak Park still needs to find that consistency if they want to make some noise in the Red.
It wasn’t a good week for Farmington which included blowout losses to North Farmington and West Bloomfield and a really tough loss to Ypsilanti Arbor Prep. Coach Terrance Porter has relies heavily on Prince Jackson and Robert Davis but they need more from other players to get this fixed. The Falcons are in deep trouble right now.
White
Troy is back from COVID protocol. The Colts have been playing great basketball until this pause. They needed to survive Adams in triple overtime and was spent on Sunday afternoon against Stoney Creek to their defense. The fourth quarter has been a problem in the last two games for Troy, this is something that Coach Gary Fralick needs to address with his senior heavy team tired or not. The Colts will be fine going forward but they are going to be playing a ton of basketball especially with the makeups they need.
Stoney Creek has played really good basketball as of late but some concerns do remain for Coach Steve Norgrove and his team. They have needed Trevor Smith to score at least 20 points a night which he is more than capable of getting. The Cougars have gotten contributions elsewhere especially from but if they can take the workload off of Smith then they will be fine going forward.
Groves has been an odd team to figure out. They have some talented players that have emerged onto the scene. The Falcons have leaned on Daniel Lee and his athletic ability but the play of Nick Lutz and Aaron Dubose has helped for Coach Benny White. Groves has lost a ton of close and heartbreaking games but this will make them better come postseason time.
Bloomfield Hills has had a ton of heroics and also had some heartbreak like what happened against Adams on Wednesday night. The Blackhawks have gotten other talented players involved which has shifted the attention and focus from Mason Canfield. Derrick Lee and Noah Adamcyzk have been huge for Coach Phil Kurajian. Also Ben Canty has taken advantage of his opportunity given to him and has contributed. Canty had nine points against Southfield Arts and Tech in a five point win for Bloomfield Hills. The Blackhawks are just more than just Canfield and that’s a good sign going forward for this program.
I think Jaret Thomas should be coach of the year in the White for what he has done with Adams in two years since taking over the program. They have a pipeline of talent for the now and in the future. The Highlanders had a real good week despite falling in triple overtime to Troy. Adams came back from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime. The Highlanders never quit and never gave up and that’s a credit to the players and especially Thomas. Adams is in a good spot right now.
Southfield Arts and Tech is a really hard team to figure out. What helps the Warriors is their athleticism and they have Jaylen Mack and Caleb Banks. They beat Waterford Mott but lost to Bloomfield Hills and Stoney Creek this week. That’s not a good sign for Coach Darreyle Buchanan and his team going forward. This team concerns me a bit.
Blue
Troy Athens had a really rough week losing to Groves and Lake Orion along with surviving Berkley. The Red Hawks need Jacob Thornton to be that robin. He has not been consistent which isn’t a good sign for Coach Dave Scott. Michael Justice has played well but he can do so much. They need either Thornton or Jordan Sebaugh to step up. Troy Athens is trending down right now.
Berkley has been playing good basketball despite their record. The Bears have relied on Arshad Walker, Logan Thomas, Eli Steinbach, and Joey McNamara. It wasn’t a great week for Coach Joe Sermo and his team with a head starching loss to Avondale and a heartbreaker to Troy Athens. Berkley regrouped and beat Oxford in overtime on Friday night on the road. The Bears are trending in the right direction.
Oxford is in a very interesting spot. Mason Mulholland has led the Wildcats in scoring but Coach Steve Laidlaw needs someone else to step up which Palmer Spect, Mitchell Vivano, and Alec Brown have done in games but not on a consistent level. Oxford could still be in the mix in the Blue but they have struggled to find that second scorer even though there are numerous others that can do that as well.
Lake Orion got three huge wins over Walled Lake Western, Seaholm, and Troy Athens. The Dragons X factor has been Brennan Jones. If Jones can be consistent and they find other scorers besides Alden Ritt Lake Orion could be very dangerous in March. The Dragons are far from a finished product but if you’re Coach Joel Schroeder you have a team that is trending in the right direction.
It was strangely a good week for Seaholm going 2-1 with wins over Avondale and Royal Oak. Johnny Cross has been the catalyst but Charlie Bokos and Tyler Eick have stepped their games up for Coach Mike Degeeter. The Maples should be fine now that they are finally starting to get healthy a little bit.
Gold
Pontiac stands on top of the division for now. The Phoenix have managed to improve each week which resulted in wins and a undefeated record thus far. I would like to see Pontiac test themselves against very good non league competition. It would prove to be a measuring stick for the Phoenix.
Rochester has played much better despite falling to Waterford Kettering on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons have found an identity in Matt Stone and Mark Williams. I think Coach Vance Kirkwood’s team is heading in the right direction.
Avondale has been a very hard team to understand. They picked up two wins over Berkley and Royal Oak and have seemed to turn the corner but they lost at home to Seaholm on Friday night. The Yellow Jackets have been very inconsistent despite Jeremy Neal stepping up. He will need help for Coach Pat Clancy if they want to turn this program around.
Royal Oak has been competitive but they haven’t been able to put together wins. The Ravens are a team that I’m very concerned with going forward. They are making progress but just finding that identity is a huge concern for Coach Aaron Smith going forward.
Ferndale University has been competitive but they have struggled in their first year in the OAA. The Rising Eagles will be fine though. They are scoring at a high rate but they are allowing more as well which is a huge concern going forward. They should be fine though as they settle into the OAA.
Girls
Red
West Bloomfield has won six of their last seven games but they took their first loss to Detroit Edison on Tuesday night. The Lakers did receive a bit of bad news though finding out that Birmingham Marian is now in their district for the postseason but that’s for down the road for Coach Bert Mosley. The Red goes through Orchard Lake Road.
Clarkston despite that hiccup against West Bloomfield has played very good basketball. The Wolves have been getting contributions from everyone from Izzy Hadley and Kaitlyn Kaul along with the play of Olivia Toderan and Madison Skorupski. They have multiple ways and players to beat teams and they don’t need to rely on just one player night in an night out. Coach John Weyer has this program in a good spot.
Royal Oak has been around 500 as of late but they went above that mark this week. The Ravens picked up wins over Royal Oak Shrine and North Farmington but lost by 10 to Clarkston. Coach Brian Sopota has a nucleus with Sarah Soroghan but they might have found a Robin in Kira Vance and possibly Lexi Rosemburg along with Sarah Ammon. Royal Oak could spoil someone’s season as they get ready for the postseason.
Groves has really played better. They are improving each day despite the tough loss to Belleville on Saturday night. Coach AntJuan Simpkins in his first season in Beverly Hills has built a foundation based on youth and talent. If they can keep building the foundation then maybe a postseason run is possible for the Falcons. They have to trust the process if they want to be in the conversation in the Red.
Southfield Arts and Tech can’t stop anyone which is the reason why they are 0-6. The Warriors have allowed over 70 points in five of the last six games. They have been scoring but scoring can get you so much if you can’t defend the other team. Coach Shaquitta Coltrane needs to address the defense which has been a huge problem all season long. Southfield Arts and Tech needs to figure this out and quick.
White
Troy picked up a huge home victory against Stoney Creek on Thursday night. That victory gave them control in the White for now. Things were going very smoothly for the Colts until Saturday morning where the perfect storm hit and they got upset by Berkley. Troy’s mental mindset and sickie has me very concerned. They need to be balanced with Kendal Zeiter, Charlotte Sobotka, Alyssa Matuza, and Lauren Gumma to be successful. Even though it’s one game the concern is still there for the Colts and Coach Julius Porter. This team can not afford to go back to bad habits like what happened in the postseason games against Utica and if they do they are in trouble.
Stoney Creek has been playing great basketball despite the loss to Troy on Thursday night. I wouldn’t press the panic button on the Cougars at all. Stoney Creek has Troy coming to Rochester and a possible meeting in districts. Coach Kellen James and “Team Finebaum” will be fine.
Adams has been very inconsistent and it showed it’s ugly head early in the week. The Highlanders fell to Stoney Creek on Tuesday night but they got a victory on the road at Bloomfield Hills on Thursday night. Adams is a team that I have concerns with going forward. Got to wonder where the motivation is with Coach Shay Lewis’s team.
North Farmington has had a rough week losing to Troy and Royal Oak. I like the direction that Coach Jeff Simpson has his Raiders going despite the inexperience. Sela Lefler and Heaven Rogers have played well despite the results. North Farmington has three very challenging games looming so this should test his team if not then 1-8 looks possible.
Bloomfield Hills has had a really rough start but they might have found a star in the making in Emilia Johnson. Johnson had 19 points against Rochester last Saturday and 18 points on Thursday against Adams. Coach Kristen Massey has had a rough start as mentioned but things will get better for the Blackhawks but she has found a star player in the making in Johnson.
Blue
Avondale has been a disaster which has resulted in multiple blowout losses. It has been a very difficult ride for Coach Roy Christmon despite having Regian Lawrence and Savannah Schmidt. The Yellow Jackets are in a world of hurt right now.
Troy Athens went 1-2 this week with losses to Oxford and Berkley but beat Oak Park. The positives for the Red Hawks have been that Skyler Emerson has played well down the stretch for a program that has relied a ton on Gillian Ciak along with Nitya Baltsu and Clara Shoales. Could Emerson be that X factor for Coach Stacie Klumpp that’s the question?
Rochester had a tough week and is on COVID protocol which they won’t be back until March 6th. The schedule gets challenging for Coach Bill Thurston’s team before districts. It will be very interesting to see what the Falcons do when they do return.
Berkley has been a very odd team to figure out. The Bears had lost two straight including blowing an 11 point lead at Oxford last Thursday but they have won three straight since including beating Farmington and Troy on back to back days. Ashley Loon has been playing very well as has Ry Sanom and Sammi Winthrow. The lack of depth has hurt Coach Kurt Carolan and his team. This is an area that they need to address and quick.
Oxford has been on a tear as of late. They have relied on Mackenzie Methner and Emma Morris to carry them in games but Miranda Wymeniko has really stepped up her game for Coach Rachel Bryer. Oxford is gaining a ton of confidence as a group which is a good sign for them especially with that district looming in Grand Blanc where they have to see Davison, Flint Kearsley, Grand Blanc, and Lapeer. It’s going to be a tough road for the Wildcats.
Lake Orion has won four of five which is a really good sign. Meghan Marshall is the X Factor for the Dragons and Coach Bob Brydges. Maddie Ebbert and Kylie Heck have also stepped up their games as well. The sky is the limit for Lake Orion but next week is very critical if they want to win the Blue.
Gold
Farmington had been playing lights out this season but they took a bit of a hit last week despite beating Oak Park. The Falcons took a disappointing loss to Berkley on Friday night but they still control their own destiny in the Gold race. Farmington will look to get back to their winning ways next week but everything remains in front of them.
Seaholm has played two very difficult teams this week in Clarkston and Macomb Dakota. The Maples almost beat the Cougars on Friday night which would had been another massive upset. Coach Chris Manchester has this team heading in the right direction. Their focus needs to be on Farmington and in the Gold race.
Ferndale University took it hard against Seaholm on Tuesday night by getting blown out. It is unknown how they did against Melvindale on Friday night. The Rising Eagles are going to take their lumps in the Gold which it’s been showing.
Oak Park took two losses this week to Troy Athens and Farmington. Tamara Todd has been playing well for Coach Peggy Evans Carr’s team. The Knights need more if they want to make some noise in the Gold race.
by Becky Andrus | Mar 1, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Top Games This Week.
Written Sunday February 28th at 5:40 PM
Here are the top 15 games this week not in any particular order but these are some games that needs to be must to keep a close eye on.
Boys Top 15 Games this week.
Week of March 1st-March 7th
Ferndale at Orchard Lake St. Marys (Saturday): Jason Drake returns to his old stopping grounds to play his former team.
North Farmington at Oak Park (Tuesday): Knights riding off an emotional win on Friday. The Raiders are coming off a tough loss.
Clarkston at North Farmington (Thursday): Could this be the Raiders best chance to beat Clarkston???
Southfield Arts and Tech at Groves (Thursday): Expect another tense drama in this one.
Lake Orion at Berkley (Tuesday): This has Blue title implications in this game.
Oxford at Lake Orion (Thursday): Wildcats look to keep the Dragons in the same division with them.
Seaholm at Oxford (Tuesday): If the Maples are healthy then Wildcats beware.
Troy at Groves (Saturday): Groves has always been an upset trap. The Colts better beware.
Stoney Creek at Bloomfield Hills (Tuesday): Battle of three point specialists in Bloomfield Hills.
Troy Athens at Oxford (Friday): Do the Wildcats have an answer for Michael Justice???
Pontiac at Rochester (Saturday): This should be the first real test for the Phoenix.
Stoney Creek at Adams (Thursday): This is shaping up to be a very good game.
Groves at Adams (Tuesday): This is shaping up to be a trap game for the Highlanders.
West Bloomfield at Clarkston (Tuesday): This might be the Lakers best chance to beat Clarkston.
Lake Orion at Lapeer (Friday): Dragons were embarrassed last season at Lapeer.
Girls Top 15 Games this week.
Week of March 1st-March 7th
North Farmington at Adams (Monday): Last game went overtime between these two teams. Are we in for an encore???
Oxford at Berkley (Monday): This is a classic trap game for the Wildcats.
Lake Orion at Troy Athens (Monday): This is a classic trap game for the Dragons.
Clarkston at Troy (Monday): I’m wondering where the Colts mindset is at after Saturday’s loss to Berkley.
Clarkston at West Bloomfield (Wednesday): Can the Wolves avenge their only loss in the Swamp???
Oxford at Lake Orion (Wednesday): If both teams win on Monday then the Blue is on the line.
Farmington at Adams (Wednesday): Another make or break game for the Falcons.
Lake Orion at Midland (Friday): A huge MPR game looms in Mid-Michigan between two very strong programs.
Stoney Creek at Rochester (Saturday): What a game for the Falcons to come back from COVID protocol.
Royal Oak at Groves (Monday): Ravens should have this one circled after the Falcons shocked Royal Oak earlier in the season.
Southfield Arts and Tech at Seaholm (Friday): Could this be the chance for the Warriors to get their first win???
Berkley at Royal Oak (Friday): The Bears stunned Royal Oak last season but now it’s Berkley that makes the short trip to meet the Ravens.
Seaholm at Troy Athens (Wednesday): Maples have played a tough non-league schedule and it gets tougher with a trip to play the Red Hawks.
Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy at West Bloomfield (Saturday): Lakers have another tough team brewing on the weekend.
Lapeer at Oxford (Thursday): Wildcats should be motivated after losing to the Lightning last season.
by Becky Andrus | Feb 22, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Saturday, February 20, 2021
Inside the OAA Top 22 and Top 20 Basketball Rankings.
Written Sunday February 21st at 1:20 AM
Boys Top 22.
- North Farmington (4-0) – Raiders seem to be putting everything together at the right time.
- Ferndale (4-1) – Jason Drake and Traveon Lewis might be the best back court in the OAA.
- Clarkston (5-1) – Wolves still have some issues to fix.
- Troy (2-0) – Colts are in COVID protocol.
- Stoney Creek (3-1) – Cougars have had some battles lately.
- Troy Athens (3-1) – Red Hawks leaning on senior experience thus far.
- Southfield Arts and Tech (1-1) – Warriors are still a mystery team.
- Adams (4-2) – It wasn’t a good week for the Highlanders but beating Rochester was huge for their confidence.
- Berkley (3-2) – Arshad Walker has been the catalyst for the Bears.
- Pontiac (2-0) – Phoenix seems to be breaking out a bit.
- Rochester (2-3) – Falcons have been playing better lately.
- Bloomfield Hills (3-2) – Blackhawks are starting to figure some things out since their loss to Groves.
- Oak Park (1-3) – Knights have been up and down lately.
- West Bloomfield (0-5) – Lakers have played a tough schedule to their defense.
- Groves (1-3) – Falcons played better against Clarkston but still that overtime loss hurts.
- Lake Orion (3-2) – Dragons have the defense but the offense is missing in action.
- Oxford (2-3) – Wildcats can’t rely on Mason Mulholland to bail them out every night.
- Farmington (2-3) – When the Falcons play outside the Red they are pretty good.
- Seaholm (1-4) – Maples have been a hit or miss team lately.
- Avondale (2-2) – Yellow Jackets have won two straight since losing to Lake Orion.
- Royal Oak (0-3) – Ravens having a hard time putting together wins.
- Ferndale University (0-4) – Rising Eagles are struggling right now.
Girls Top 20.
- West Bloomfield (5-0) – Lakers really have no true weaknesses.
- Clarkston (4-1) – Wolves have been really good lately but the team ahead of them is better right now.
- Stoney Creek (5-0) – Mia Carson has played well at the point guard spot which is why the Cougars are where they are at.
- Farmington (5-1) – Falcons are buzzing with confidence right now.
- Troy (3-2) – If the Colts can get Alyssa Matuza and Charlotte Sobotka going to help Kendal Zeiter then the Colts could do some wonders.
- Groves (4-2) – Navaeh Otis has been playing really well and is getting better each week for the Falcons.
- Adams (3-1) – Maddie Doelinga has been the key for the Highlanders.
- Royal Oak (2-2) – Will the real Ravens please stand up???
- Rochester (3-2) – Falcons have been a very interesting team lately despite having some COVID issues.
- Lake Orion (2-4) – Dragons have played a brutal schedule. They are improving despite only scoring 40 points twice this season.
- Oxford (2-2) -Miranda Wymeniko has really filled in nicely for the Wildcats.
- Troy Athens (2-2, 3-2) – The Red Hawks will be as good as Gillian Ciak takes them.
- Seaholm (1-3) – Maples have been a mystery team.
- Berkley (1-3, 2-3) – How did the Bears blow an 11 point lead on Thursday night in Oxford???
- North Farmington (1-3) – Raiders can’t seem to close out games.
- Southfield Arts and Tech (0-3) – Warriors are putting up numbers but they are allowing more as well.
- Oak Park (1-0) – Knights haven’t played in a week.
- Ferndale University (1-1) – Rising Eagles haven’t played in a week.
- Bloomfield Hills (0-4) – Emelia Johnston has become a bright spot for the Blackhawks.
- Avondale (0-2, 0-4) – Yellow Jackets are not the same team that they were last season.
