by orionontv | Dec 11, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Sunday December 10th at 12:00 PM
Here are my thoughts on each team during this stretch of the season.
Boys
North Farmington: The Raiders had no issue with Farmington winning 68-25. Tyler Spratt and Landon Williams had big games. North Farmington has a really tough schedule ahead of them but they are off to a strong start.
Ferndale: The Eagles had a bounce back win against a really good River Rouge program. Trenton Ruth has really shown out for Coach Juan Rickman. Ferndale has started to turn things around a little bit which is a good sign going forward.
West Bloomfield: The Lakers had a bounce back after losses to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit and East Lansing they earned a 74-45 win over Southfield Arts and Tech. Coach Arnette Jordan despite the two losses has this program playing really well but they still have a long way to go and a tough December still looming. They are in a great spot right now.
Adams: The Highlanders have been rolling despite the concerns in the interior. Adams relies a ton of William Gee and Peter Kardasis. The danger is clearly there for Coach Isisah Novak’s team, what if both or one of the guards struggle, which could spell trouble for the Highlanders going forward.
Clarkston: The Wolves balance showed especially Peyton Fitzsimmons and John Kaul combining for 33 of 52 points in their 52-40 win over Lake Orion. Clarkston did have a tough 56-55 buzzer beating loss to Detroit Old Redford Academy. The Wolves are going to need that balance to be successful and Coach Tim Waslik knows it.
Oak Park: The Knights earned a big win over Macomb Dakota winning 61-54. Oak Park has been up and down. Coach Durrand Sheppard will have this program heading in the right direction, there have been signs which has shown.
Groves: The Falcons are going through a ton of injuries right now which is why they are struggling a little bit. They fell to Troy but bounced back against Oxford. The key for Coach Marc West and his team is to stay healthy and get ready for league play this week.
Troy: The Colts big three of Mason Parker, Chase Kupier, and Jon Whiteside have been very good as of late. They were instrumental in their 67-53 win over Groves. Troy bounced back after their shocking loss to Berkley. The Colts are in a good spot right now.
Harper Woods: The Pioneers have been up and down, it is unknown if they won over Detroit Edison. There are times that Harper Woods has been very inconsistent which is concerning for Coach TaJuan Porter. It will be very interesting to see what happens for the Pioneers going forward.
Troy Athens: The Red Hawks have been playing really good basketball despite their 59-58 loss to Redford Thurston. Troy Athens has been playing really well as of late which is a great sign going forward for Coach Dave Scott.
Seaholm: The Maples are in a rough patch, they had it tough with East Lansing along with losses to Royal Oak and Walled Lake Western. Seaholm needs to find a way to get out of this funk and soon if they want to make some noise this season.
Lake Orion: It was a rough week for the Dragons falling to two really good teams in Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Clarkston. Lake Orion will be fine despite the two losses. They have to be better sound defensively and not turn the ball over, if they do that then success will happen for this group.
Farmington: The Falcons had a really tough matchup with North Farmington falling 68-25. Greg Greys will be relied upon for Coach Byron Johnson to turn things around. It will be very interesting to see how things go for Farmington. It’s been up and down for them.
Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks played better in their 52-42 loss to Royal Oak which is progress for Coach Brian Canfield. Bloomfield Hills needs to keep improving and the results will come despite the tough schedule that lies ahead.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors earned a hard fought 51-48 win over Detroit Fredrick Douglass but fell 74-45 to West Bloomfield. Southfield Arts and Tech is a young team. Coach Terrance Porter’s team will have a ton of ups and downs. They have a really tough schedule in December.
Stoney Creek: It’s time to panic on the Cougars, they are struggling. They did not look good against Windsor Holy Names and New Baltimore Anchor Bay. Stoney Creek needs to find a way to overcome this problem if not then it could be a similar story to last season.
Avondale: It was going to be tough for the Yellow Jackets going up against Birmingham Brother Rice falling 71-47 on Saturday afternoon but there is a reason why Coach Jaret Thomas is playing this tough non conference. Avondale will be fine, no panic with Thomas’s program.
Oxford: The Wildcats have been very competitive despite the 1-3 start. Oxford still needs someone besides Jake Champagne to step up which they are trying. I wouldn’t press the panic button on Coach Joe Fedorinchik’s team not at all, they are fine.
Rochester: The Falcons are off to a really rough start after falling 61-39 to Adams. Rochester needs to find that balance but it’s clear they are struggling. Having six days off should help Coach Nick Evola’s team regroup. The Falcons need their interior to step up and take the pressure off of Luke Lionas and Max Mohl in a huge way.
Berkley: The Bears have been rolling since their opening night loss to Novi which included a win over Troy. Berkley is rolling right now and have gotten contributions from everywhere. Can they keep it up is the question mark going forward.
Pontiac: The Phoenix suffered their first loss to Jackson 62-51 snapping a two game winning streak. Coach Andrew Myers team is still very young. Pontiac will be fine, no panic with them.
Royal Oak: The Ravens made a statement with two big wins over Seaholm and Bloomfield Hills. Coach Aaron Smith has this team believing. They could be a darkhorse in the Blue with how they have been playing lately.
Ferndale University: The Eagles have bounced back after two really tough losses with two wins over Southfield Christian and Madison Heights Bishop Foley. Ferndale University’s defense has been the difference in their two wins allowing 44.5 points per game. The Eagles have turned things around which is a good sign.
Girls
West Bloomfield: The Lakers haven’t played a game yet but that changes this week. It’s hard to judge Coach Daryelle McCallaster’s team as of yet. West Bloomfield is coming off a tough loss to Rockford last season and returns four proven players in Summer Davis, Indya Davis, Destiny Washington, and Kendall Hendrix. Sheridan Beal looks to be the fifth starter. The Lakers should be a force to watch this season.
Rochester: The Falcons had a good start to the season with a 35-17 win over Adams. Alice Max had 18 points in the game. Rochester needs their guards to step up and take some pressure off Max going forward and Coach Bill Thurston knows that. The Falcons have a really tough December still looming.
Stoney Creek: The Cougars showed some concerns despite winning 36-33 over Bloomfield Hills. Sarah LaPrarie had 13 points while Calista Ivezaj had nine points and Taylor Fulkerson had seven points. I’m not pressing the panic button yet on Coach Columbus Williams program but the concerns are there.
Lake Orion: The Dragons really struggled in summer league with numbers but they looked like a completely different team from the summer in their 68-23 win over Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. Lake Orion had balanced scoring all night. Sure it’s one game but the Dragons look like they haven’t lost a beat despite having a young team which is a great sign for Coach Bob Brydges.
Clarkston: The Wolves have been up and down lately. They have played Saginaw Heritage, Haslett, and Chelsea but the Hawks are down this season and they won by six (39-33) but they hung tough with Chelsea only to allow 71 points in a 71-45 loss however they had a 45-43 win over Haslett. Elianna Robak had six points against Saginaw Heritage but had 21 points against Chelsea. Brooklyn Covert had nine points against Chelsea. I have a lot more concerns about Coach Aaron Goodnough’s team and they have a rough December coming up.
Oxford: The Wildcats had a bounce back after falling 40-30 to Macomb Dakota earlier in the week by winning over a future district opponent in Davison 42-34. Alison Hufstedler had 18 points and Peyton Richter had eight points. Oxford has relied on their experience early in the season. They have a really tough non conference in December. It will be very interesting to see where the Wildcats are when the schedule gets tougher.
Royal Oak: The Ravens got off to a good start with an impressive 45-34 win over Mount Clemens. Lucy Freytag had 20 points for Royal Oak. The Ravens have a really tough non conference in December. Coach Brian Sopota has this team riding with a ton of confidence right now.
Bloomfield Hills: It is clear that the Blackhawks miss Ruby Smith. Smith was hurt in a practice and Coach Kristen Massey’s team is clearly different in their 36-33 loss to Stoney Creek. Brianna Young and Ashley Forner are very talented players but they need Smith if they want to make any noise in the White this season.
Harper Woods: The Pioneers are off to a strong start after an impressive 49-39 win over St. Clair Shores Lakeview. The Huskies are a solid team and Harper Woods has shown the balance even with a new coach, they still have proven experience.
Seaholm: The Maples had a bounce back after falling to Saline in their first game with a 59-8 blowout win over Farmington. Jada Josifovski and Addy Flynn had 14 points each, Mary Gumbas had 12 points, and Emma Weber had 11. Flynn has been playing really well for Seaholm and Coach Chris Manchester. The Maples have a really tough non conference in December. It will be very interesting to see how Seaholm does this season.
Groves: The Falcons are off to a 1-1 week with a 70-34 loss to Birmingham Detroit Country Day but a win over Avondale 54-50 was huge for their confidence. Groves will be fine as they head into the new week for Coach Alison Hidey.
North Farmington: The Raiders have won two straight under new coach Michael Allin with dominating performances. Asiyah Jihad has really been dominant in their two games, she had 27 points against Warren Woods Tower along with 14 points including 11 in the second half against Troy Athens. Anayah Billups had 13 points and 11 points against Troy Athens. North Farmington might be better than people think. The Raiders have a soft December schedule with Adams being their toughest test. We’ll know a lot about them in January.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors looked solid in their 76-35 win over Warren Michigan Colligate. Christian Banks had 28 points in the game for Coach Shaquita Coltrane. Southfield Arts and Tech had a good win to start the year but they have a tough non conference coming up. It will be very interesting to see what happens with the Warriors.
Troy: The Colts are a team that is taking a ton of life lessons. They took a tough loss to Romeo falling 53-31 but bounced back in a big way behind Diamond Prince’s 31 points to beat Sterling Heights Stevenson 58-22 however fell 47-23 to Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood. It will be trial by fire for Coach Laura Guzman’s team.
Berkley: The Bears had a split to the early season winning 45-34 over Utica Eisenhower but fell 51-30 to Plymouth. Coach Clay Shaver has the program heading in the right direction but they still have a long way to go to be where they want to be come March. They have a huge test awaiting them come three days before Christmas but they have an opportunity to build on the momentum they gained despite the loss to the Wildcats.
Adams: The Highlanders knew it was going to be tough against Rochester falling 35-17. They had a 33-20 win over Waterford Kettering earlier in the week. Adams is much better this season then last season despite having a really tough non conference, the Highlanders could surprise some people which would please Coach Joe Malburg.
Troy Athens: The Red Hawks could be in for a long season after falling 57-29 to North Farmington. Troy Athens has a ton of questions with the guards and also scoring is a big concern for Coach Stacie Klump. It will be very interesting to see how Klump handles the guard situation but this is not a good start to the year for the Red Hawks.
Farmington: I’m shocked that the Falcons have scored 16 points in the last two games and has allowed 69 points per game in their two losses to Livonia Stevenson and Seaholm. That’s not a good way to start the season. Coach Natalie Nowak needs to fix a ton of things and the rest of December is brutal. It could be a long December for Farmington.
Avondale: The Yellow Jackets had a really tough loss to Groves 54-50. No one should press the panic button on Coach Roy Christmon’s team yet. Avondale has proven they can play with teams from the White. This will only help them come March, they are fine.
Ferndale: The Eagles are off to a surprising start with blowout wins over Ann Arbor Skyline and River Rouge. Ferndale has put 50 points in the last two weeks which is a great sign. Coach Keith Paris has this team rolling right now.
Ferndale University: The Eagles have not played a game yet so it’s unknown to judge and analyze Coach Brianna Rowe’s team yet.
Oak Park: It is unknown if the Knights played River Rouge. It will be very interesting to see how Oak Park does going forward.
Pontiac: The Phoenix had a really interesting week. They got Coach Corray Lett’s first win as coach by knocking off Hazel Park 41-22 but lost a tough one to Southfield Parkway Christian 44-31. It is clear Pontiac is much better than they were last season. The Phoenix will be fine.
by orionontv | Dec 11, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday December 9th at 11:30 AM
Updated Saturday December 9th at 8:40 PM
Hello these are the top 23 rankings for the week, I will post these every Saturday. Now the records I have are the current records from the MHSAA website and from X as well. The + sign means that the team is playing this weekend and the record will be updated.
Here are the rankings as of right now.
Boys
- North Farmington (2-0): Tyler Spratt and Landon Williams made their names known against Farmington.
- Ferndale (2-1): Trenton Ruth has shown some strides for the Eagles.
- West Bloomfield (1-2): Lakers might have figured out their defensive issues.
- Adams (4-0): Highlanders can’t rely just on Peter Kardasis and William Gee to win games or can they???
- Clarkston (2-1): Wolves have a nice group of balance.
- Berkley (3-1): Bears are rolling since their loss to Novi.
- Troy (2-1): Colts have rebounded nicely since their overtime loss to Berkley.
- Troy Athens (3-1): Despite loss to Redford Thurston, the Red Hawks are fine.
- Groves (3-1): Falcons have found ways to win games without Josh Simpson.
- Oak Park (1-1): Knights bounced back in a big way against Macomb Dakota.
- Royal Oak (4-0): This start has a much better resume than last season’s start.
- Pontiac (2-1): Despite loss to Jackson, I like where the Phoenix are heading.
- Lake Orion (2-2): Dragons will be fine after two really tough games.
- Seaholm (2-2): It’s been really hard to figure the Maples out.
- Oxford (1-3): Wildcats are better than their record indicates.
- Avondale (1-2): Yellow Jackets playing tough schedule right now.
- Harper Woods (1-1): Pioneers needed long break to figure some things out.
- Ferndale University (2-2): Eagles defense has changed and has resulted in two wins.
- Southfield Arts and Tech (1-1): Warriors had a really tough time with West Bloomfield.
- Farmington (0-2): Falcons are struggling right now.
- Stoney Creek (0-3): Cougars have had a ton of bad luck lately.
- Bloomfield Hills (0-2): Blackhawks had a much better game against Royal Oak but still isn’t there yet.
- Rochester (0-3): Falcons are getting there but haven’t put it all together yet.
Girls
- West Bloomfield (0-0): Lakers haven’t played a game yet but past history tells otherwise.
- Lake Orion (1-0): Dragons are a much different team than they were in the summer.
- Royal Oak (1-0): Lucy Freytag is the real deal.
- Rochester (1-0): Falcons need to find that guard to help Alice Max.
- Clarkston (2-1): Wolves got a hard earned win over Haslett but loss to Chelsea even though they are good bothers me.
- Stoney Creek (1-0): Cougars have some serious concerns despite winning over Bloomfield Hills.
- Oxford (1-1): Wildcats resolve showed itself against Davison.
- Berkley (1-1): Bears made a statement with win over Utica Eisenhower.
- Seaholm (1-1): Maples believe the White is theirs for the taking.
- Southfield Arts and Tech (1-0): Christian Banks consistently putting up numbers is a good sign.
- Harper Woods (1-0): Statement win over St. Clair Shores Lakeview is a start to something.
- Adams (1-1): Highlanders are much better than they were last season.
- North Farmington (2-0): Aniyah Bowes has been a pleasant surprise to the season.
- Groves (1-1): Falcons got a bounce back win after their loss to Birmingham Detroit Country Day.
- Ferndale (2-0): Eagles out to prove something is different.
- Avondale (1-1): Madison Manyweathers off to a good start.
- Bloomfield Hills (0-1): Blackhawks need Ruby Smith back.
- Troy (1-2): Colts have been a really hard team to figure out.
- Pontiac (1-1): Phoenix are much better than last season.
- Troy Athens (0-1): Red Hawks had a rough second half against North Farmington.
- Ferndale University (0-0): Can’t judge the Eagles yet.
- Oak Park (0-0): Can’t judge the Knights yet.
- Farmington (0-2): Falcons have scored 16 points in eight quarters is very concerning.
by orionontv | Dec 11, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Friday December 8th at 8:41 AM
The Berkley Bears have their new football coach.
The Bears went with Casey Humes as their new coach. He replaces Sean Shields who stepped down last month. Shields led Berkley to two postseason appearances in his tenure at Berkley.
The move was confirmed by Inside the OAA.
Humes coached the junior varsity last season and is a Berkley alum where he played linebacker. He will be tasked with turning around a program that went 2-16 in the last two years and 0-9 last season.
The Humes hire is a very interesting one, he is a Berkley alum and understands the situation the Bears are facing. The transition period should be a smooth one since he was on staff last season which helps.
Berkley needs to start from scratch when looking at the stats it was not good especially in the last two years. The Bears scored 46 points which has been the major problem. Humes who is a defensive specialist will be tasked to turn a defense that has allowed 702 points in the last two years.
The challenges are there and program strength are also concerns as well. It will be very interesting to see how Humes and the players address both sides of the football in the fall.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the last developments on this story.
by orionontv | Dec 11, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Tuesday December 5th at 10:15 PM
There will be a new football coach at Stoney Creek next season.
Stoney Creek coach Nick Merlo has accepted an assistant coaching position at Orchard Lake St. Marys according to sources.
Merlo confirmed to me via text message that he stepped down as coach of the Cougars.
Merlo coached Stoney Creek for seven years posting a 27-28 record. He led the Cougars to three postseason appearances and got the program’s first ever playoff win by beating Chippewa Valley 28-21 in the first round in 2020.
Stoney Creek went 3-6 this season.
It will be very interesting to see who replaces Merlo. He did a lot of great things in building the program at Stoney Creek. He brought in the ARMOR UP culture which has been very good for the community.
Merlo will be missed with the program.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
by orionontv | Dec 11, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
OAA/KLAA Basketball Challenge Preview.
Updated Sunday December 10th at 11:35 AM
This my early insight on the OAA/KLAA Basketball Challenge. I like to thank Matt Mowery for his insight on the top five matchups. Games will be played on December 14th, 15th, and 16th with the Girls hosted by OAA schools and the boys by KLAA schools.
Here they are.
Girls
Plymouth Salem at West Bloomfield
This is a rematch of the Division One State Semifinals which West Bloomfield won 78-53. The Lakers have both Davis sisters along with Kendall Hendrix and Destiny Washington coming back. The Rocks have Madison Morson among others coming back. Plymouth Salem is off to a strong start but they haven’t been very impressive in both games. Both teams are very experienced. It should be a fun game.
Dearborn Fordson at Rochester
This should be a very interesting matchup especially in the paint between the Ajami sisters (Sarrinah and Rokaya) against Alice Max. The guards looks to be key in this matchup. The Tractors also have Celina Bazzi and Milan Berry as well. Dearborn Fordson hasn’t scored over 50 points this season but they are coming off a loss to South Lyon East. The Falcons will need Lucy Cook, Kaitlyn Guiola, Kayla Parsons, and Angela Cichowski to step up in this matchup.
Howell at Clarkston
This is shaping up to be a battle of star players in Elliana Robak and Gabby Piepho. Both played very well in the postseason. Howell has really been battle tested especially with wins over Williamston and Farmington Hills Mercy. Piepho had 34 points with eight three pointers against Farmington Hills Mercy for the Highlanders. Robak had 21 points in the Wolves loss to Chelsea. Clarkston has played the likes of Haslett, Chelsea, and Saginaw Heritage. Role players like Emily Valenca or Brooklyn Covert for the Wolves or Alexis Le of the Highlanders should be the key in this matchup that is for sure.
Belleville at Oxford
The Tigers are one of the standard bearers of the KLAA. Belleville is loaded with proven experience and talent. The Wildcats have been up and coming for a while now but this could be their biggest test against a proven KLAA powerhouse. Oxford has Peyton Richter, Sophia Rabb, and Alison Hufstedler coming back. Braydee Elling or Lexi Yankee should fill that fifth starting spot. They also have Emma Beggs whom could emerge as a potential impact player. It’s a clash of different styles as well as Belleville likes to go up and down while Oxford likes to slow things down. Whoever style shows itself should win this game.
Novi at Troy
This is a very interesting matchup of two teams that really struggled last season. The Wildcats won their district when they upset Plymouth and they are off to a 2-0 start with wins over Walled Lake Northern and Madison Heights Bishop Foley. Both teams are rebuilding. Novi counters with Jordyn Popyk and Anna Lindsey. The Colts have been very hard to figure out with tough losses to Romeo and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood. They have Diamond Prince, Regan Zeiter, and Olivia Sprangler coming back for new Coach Laura Guzman. Prince had 31 points against Sterling Heights Stevenson. Carly Higginbottom looks to be the key in this matchup and if the Wildcats have someone who can matchup with her. This is a very interesting game, this looks to be a statement game for Guzman and her program.
Brighton at Stoney Creek
The Cougars and Bulldogs are solid programs. Both are also coming off very disappointing losses in the district semifinals. Brighton has played a tough schedule which included a 40-29 loss to Dexter. The Bulldogs have Mackenzie Jabari, Sara Auty, Sophia Moir, Megan Keller, Isobel Block, Genevieve Cox, and Noelle Ebel coming back. Stoney Creek has a new coach in Columbus Williams taking over the program. The Cougars have Sarah LaPrarie, Merrick Schawalbach, and Izzy Ivezaj coming back. They had to survive 36-33 against Bloomfield Hills which could be a sign of concern. This should be a very interesting matchup.
Plymouth at Lake Orion
These are two programs that pride themselves on program strength. The Wildcats have a ton of proven depth coming back from a team that struggled and have wins over Gibraltar Carlson and Berkley by over 20 points. Plymouth has a ton of balance with Mackenzie Dicken, Annie Flavin, Elana DiMarca, Zaynab Saab, Olivia Maciag, Evelyn Stiglish, and Kasey Wilson coming back. The Dragons graduated nine seniors from last season. They have proven players in Izzy Wotlinski, Charlotte Peplowski, and Ryan Pawlaycyzk along with Neveah Wood and Ellie Britt are also back in the fold. Lake Orion put up 68 points against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. The coaching matchup between Bob Brydges and Kyle Ballard is very interesting as well. This is should be a very interesting game at Lake Orion.
Wayne Memorial at Troy Athens
This should be a very interesting matchup of two different styles. The Zebras are an up and down team with proven players in Mariah Cross who had 25 points and four three pointers, Morgan Cross had 14 points, and Collenna Bryant who had a triple double 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in their 78-36 blowout of Kalamazoo Central. The Red Hawks have Alex Link, Abby Malone, Kacyi Mersier, Ava Laurer, and Katy Keller coming back. They did not look good in their loss to North Farmington. It depends which style of play shows up in this matchup. Troy Athens needs to slow the pace in this matchup that is for sure if not then it could be a long night for Coach Stacie Klump and the Red Hawks.
Hartland at Farmington
This is going to be a very difficult matchup for the Falcons and new Coach Natalie Nowak. Farmington has scored 16 total points this season. The Eagles are one of the best teams in the State and had a big 57-56 win over Lansing Holt then they have Grand Blanc before this game. Farmington will be tested that is for sure in this matchup.
Northville at Adams
This looks like a very bad matchup on paper but in reality it could be a sneaky good game. The Mustangs are replacing seven seniors but they have some experience. They won 48-35 over a good Lakeland program but were shocked 38-36 by Warren Regina. Northville has Birmingham Detroit Country Day prior to that matchup. The Highlanders have most of their team coming back in Samantha Blaine, Layla Tomezak, and Faith Zolhus. Adams has looked much better despite their only setback to Rochester but they have a win over Waterford Kettering. It should be a very interesting matchup and it’s a big one for Coach Joe Malburg and his program.
Livonia Stevenson at Royal Oak
This should be a very interesting matchup of two teams with very different styles. The Ravens have everyone back and runs a defense first system. Royal Oak is coming off a 45-34 win over Mount Clemens The Spartans have a lot of experience coming back as well and have won two games over Farmington and survived against Ann Arbor Pioneer. This should be a fun and defensive matchup in Royal Oak.
Dearborn at Avondale
This should be a very interesting matchup between a team that has been there and another team that is currently on the rise. The Pioneers won 13 games last season and have wins over Plymouth Christian and Pinckney. The Yellow Jackets really struggled last season but have retooled recently despite the loss to Groves. Avondale has Madison Manyweathers, Arielle Dudley, Khalia Bradley, Trentee Carroll, and Morgan McPherson coming back. It’s a big game for Coach Roy Christmon to see if his program can turn the corner.
Plymouth Canton at Bloomfield Hills
This is probably the most underrated matchup in this whole challenge. The Chiefs have been solid each year and have wins over Detroit University Prep and Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy both in blowout fashion. The Blackhawks are up and coming despite the tough three point loss to Stoney Creek. They feature four very talented players in Ruby Smith, Brianna Young, Michelle Barrett, and Ashley Forner. This should be a fun matchup on Andover Road between two really competitive teams.
Livonia Franklin at Seaholm
This should be a very interesting game in Birmingham. The Patriots won seven games last season and are all ready off to a 2-0 start with wins over Walled Lake Western and Walled Lake Central. They have Livonia Clarenceville and could be heading to Birmingham unbeaten. The Maples have battle tested with a win over Farmington and a tough loss to Saline. Seaholm has proven experience in Addy Flynn, Mary Gumbis, Clara Guffey, Addy Kitzman, Emma Weber, Taylor Harwig, and Mary Wiltgen coming back. It should be very competitive between two teams that are gaining a ton of confidence.
Livonia Churchill at Groves
These are two teams that are coming off hard fought wins and blowout losses to powerhouse programs. The Chargers really struggled last season but they have been playing better despite the blowout loss to Grand Blanc. Livonia Churchill beat Trenton 43-42 to open the season. The Falcons were blown out by Birmingham Detroit Country Day but beat a very good Avondale team. Groves lost a ton of proven experience from last season but they have Cira Racco, Nevaeh Cochran-McCay, Cameron Little, and Jacey Roy. This should be a very interesting to see how this matchup goes.
Westland John Glenn at Pontiac
Both teams really struggled last season with neither team winning a game. However both teams have won one game this season, the Rockets beat Madison Heights Madison 52-12. They have to play Adrian before they play Pontiac. The Phoenix have been very competitive and are coming off a 41-22 win over Hazel Park. They did fall to Sterling Heights Parkway Christian and have two games before this matchup. Pontiac played eight sophomores and with a full year of experience should help. This should be a very interesting game at Sy Green Gym.
Boys
Troy at Novi
This is a very interesting matchup of two teams that have different styles and are very similar record wise with a very questionable loss. The Colts have Mason Parker, Jon Whiteside, and Chase Kuiper coming back from a team that is rolling since their opening night overtime loss to Berkley. The Wildcats lost six seniors but have Te’John McGowan, Rodney Hackman and others that can fill the void. Novi has three solid wins but a questionable loss to Walled Lake Central. This should be a very interesting matchup especially from a depth perspective.
Clarkston at Brighton
The Bulldogs were a senior heavy team last season. Brighton is off to a 1-1 start with a loss to Redford Thurston but they won against Traverse City Central. They will have to replace a ton of talent and playing a tradition like program like Clarkston isn’t always the easiest in the world. The Wolves have proven talent John Kaul, Peyton Fitzsimmons, and Matt Phfliger and they have been playing really well despite the loss to Detroit Old Redford Academy. This could be another possible game that Dan Leach attends.
Groves at Plymouth Canton
These are two teams that had very disappointing postseason’s last season. The Chiefs have to replace a ton of talent. The Falcons have proven experience in John Simpson and Josh Gibson along with Elijah Yelder and Brody Tushman coming back. Plymouth Canton is not an easy place to play. The Chiefs have lost both their games by a combined seven points including a two point loss to Saline and the other to Hamtramck. It should be a very interesting matchup for Groves going to Plymouth.
Adams at Northville
The Mustangs had a surprising postseason run which included upset wins over Novi Detroit Catholic Central and Plymouth Canton last season. Northville has Carlos Adamson, Justin Huang, and Caleb Williams coming back. They are 1-1 with a triple overtime win over Detroit Jalen Rose Academy and a blowout loss to Ann Arbor Pioneer. The Highlanders are a very interesting team. They won their first regional crown in school history and have William Dee, Peter Karadasis, Trenton Lagarde, Gavin Farris, Luke Marcial, Jake Andrzejak, and Aaron Troxwell. It’s a very interesting matchup in Wayne County to say the least.
Troy Athens at Howell
This should be a very interesting matchup for the Red Hawks going into Livingston County to play a Howell team that has lost to Williamston and Okemos. Troy Athens is coming off a very tough loss to Redford Thurston has really played some good basketball in that stretch. They have proven talents in Emmanuel Robinson, Hayden Crum, Luke DioGiovanni, and Eli Garvin coming back. The Highlanders have some experience as well in Jayden Hicks and Andrew Weber. It should be a very interesting matchup in Livingston County. I imagine Dan Leach and company will either be at this game or the one in Hartland.
Farmington at Livonia Franklin
This is going to be a very interesting matchup between two teams that want to go high scoring and give up a ton of points. The Falcons have a star in Greg Grays and a nice supporting cast but have struggled under new coach Byron Johnson. The Patriots have a ton of proven experience coming back and are off to a 3-1 start with their only loss coming against Dearborn Heights Crestwood. This will be a very tough matchup for Farmington.
Avondale at Dearborn
This is a very tough matchup for the Yellow Jackets and new Coach Jaret Thomas. The Pioneers wins over Novi Detroit Catholic Central and Grand Haven. They have Tayshawn Crosby, Adam Harajly, Muhammad Mashhour, Ali Makkai, Mahadi Aljebury, and Hassan Makki coming back. Avondale has Dequarius Warren and Justin Sykes coming back but this is going to be a very difficult matchup for sure especially going against a team that won 19 games last season.
Southfield Arts and Tech at Belleville
I know that Coach Terrance Porter loves difficult matchups and this is no different for the Warriors. The Tigers are a solid and very deep program but they are off to a 1-2 start with losses to Redford Thurston and Ypsilanti Lincoln but beat Romulus. Southfield Arts and Tech will be very young this season and has a loss to West Bloomfield. It will be very interesting to see how Porter handles this matchup.
Lake Orion at Plymouth
This should be a very interesting matchup between the Dragons and the Wildcats. Both coaches know each other very well in Jose Andrades and Andrew Meeuwsen. Plymouth has three very good players in Idrys Cotton, Zach Jones, and Ross Craft. Lake Orion has some question marks but they have Quay Fly, Ethan Sharkey, Ryan Rocheleau, and Gabe Scott coming back. This should be a very interesting matchup of two teams that are rebuilding a little bit.
Oxford at Plymouth Salem
These are two teams that are off to rough starts to their seasons. The Wildcats have went into Wayne County (Livonia Clarenceville) before which has helped. They have a ton of proven experience in Jake Champagne, Luke Stoffan, and the Cady brothers coming back for new Coach Joe Fedorinchik. The Rocks were a senior heavy team. They won 11 games last season and off to a 1-3 start. They have Ryan Peters and Eric Milt along with Tommy Veresch, Mitchell Robillard, Aydin Saiyed, Karmen Cheema, and Landon Locke coming back. It should be a very interesting matchup of two teams that have different styles and are very scrappy.
Pontiac at Wayne Memorial
This should be a very interesting matchup between the Phoenix and the Zebras. Pontiac really struggled this season but they have a new coach in Andrew Myers and are off to a very strong start with their only loss coming to Jackson. Wayne Memorial has almost everyone coming back and is off to a strong start with their blowout win over Romulus. This is going to be a very tough matchup for the Phoenix.
Royal Oak at Livonia Stevenson
This should be a very interesting matchup of two teams with very different styles. Livonia Stevenson likes to go up and down as shown in their two wins over Farmington and Dearborn Heights Robachud when they went over 60 points, in their only loss to Saline they were held to 54 points. Royal Oak is a defense first team and they have wins over Seaholm and Bloomfield Hills. The Ravens have Camden Clark and Nick Hoffman coming back. The Spartans have Mark Stein, Dylan McGlinch, Issac Iacoben, Nathan Muthean, John Ericksen, and John Toth coming back. Whoever style comes into play should win this game.
Rochester at Dearborn Fordson
The Falcons lost a ton of proven scorers from last season. They have Max Mohl, Logan Pleasant, and Jake Tandy coming back. Rochester has really struggled this season and seeing an undefeated Dearborn Fordson who is off to a 4-0 start. The Tractors have Mohammad Habhad, Mustafa Aljanaby, Ali Gooba, Yousesef Saleh, Mahdi Dabje, and Hassan Alzubidi coming back. This should be a very interesting matchup in Dearborn.
Berkley at Hartland
I know that Coach Joe Sermo is not a big fan of traveling west well he will have to travel to Livingston County and into Hartland to take on the Eagles. Hartland really struggled in the regular season but upset Holly in the district semifinals last season. They are off to a 3-0 start. The Eagles have Brady Quinn coming back while the Bears have Donovan Powell and Michael Owanua coming back and they are off to a 3-1 start with their only loss being against the Kensington Lakes Activities member in Novi. It should be a very interesting matchup between two teams with different styles. It is also possible that Dan Leach could be at this game as well.
West Bloomfield at Westland John Glenn
The Lakers had a very successful turnaround winning 14 games last season for Coach Arnette Jordan but they have had a bit of a rough start with losses to East Lansing and Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit. They have Donnie Watts, Chris Britton, Corey Pittman, Caleb Caule, and Dyoni Edwards coming back along with Drew Wilson. Westland John Glenn was very young last season and it showed winning seven games and they have lost both their games to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit and Saginaw. They have a new coach in Jerret Smith and they have been much improved. It should be a very interesting matchup in Westland.
Seaholm at Livonia Churchill
The Maples had a very strong January which included a major upset win over arch rival Groves in the postseason last season. Seaholm is off to a really slow start with losses to Royal Oak, Walled Lake Western, and East Lansing but beat a good Avondale program. They have Findlay Sparby coming back but not a lot of experience despite going 11 deep. The Chargers really struggled last season and have struggled again losing each of them including to Berkley and Troy Athens by double digits this season.
by orionontv | Dec 4, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Sunday December 3rd at 10:35 AM
Here are my thoughts after week one of the season.
North Farmington: The Raiders had a really slow start against Detroit Martin Luther King but found a way to win that game. Dylan Smith was huge in the game against the Crusaders. It wasn’t the perfect game for Coach Todd Negoshian but North Farmington got a win out of it which is a great sign going forward.
Ferndale: The Eagles split their two games this week. They fell to Birmingham Brother Rice on the road but beat Davison at North Farmington. Ferndale is young but they are also very talented led by Trenton Ruth who is off to a strong start. Coach Juan Rickman’s team will be fine.
West Bloomfield: It was a rough week for the Lakers which saw two losses to two really good teams. West Bloomfield put 70 points which is a good start but was held to 50 points against East Lansing who was in the back end of a back to back. Defensively is where the concern lies for Coach Arnette Jordan where they are allowing 78.5 points per game. The Lakers need to step up defensively if they want to turn things around.
Adams: The Highlanders will be as good as Peter Kardasisis and Will Gee takes them. Kardasisis had 29 points against Lanse Creuse North and Adams needed to survive Milford by four points. Coach Isiah Novak will rely a ton on his guards but they need to find that interior presence especially with the schedule that is ahead of them.
Clarkston: The Wolves have started to become more of a balanced team and it showed in their nine point win over Sterling Heights Stevenson. Clarkston isn’t just John Kaul but Quinn Rosenberg and Peyton Fitzsimmons had big games against the Titans. Cole Charter and Hayden Flavin are more capable of having big games. Coach Tim Waslik has a really tough schedule ahead of them but if they can get balance they’ll be in every game.
Oak Park: The Knights had a rough outing against Detroit Edison falling 72-58. Oak Park has a tough schedule coming up. Coach Durrand Sheppard needs to clean some things up especially defensively if not, it could be a really long season for the Knights.
Groves: The Falcons are off to a really strong start. They put 65 and 82 respectably against two good teams in Livonia Clarenceville and Redford Thurston. Groves has two really tough games coming up but Coach Marc West’s team has a ton of confidence right now.
Troy: The Colts were shocked by Berkley in overtime despite Mason Parker and Chase Kupier scoring 21 points each in that game but that’s not a good way to start the season. It could also be a wake up call for Coach Gary Fralick’s team as well that you don’t take any team for granted. Troy will be fine going forward.
Harper Woods: The Pioneers have had two really tough games against Detroit Renaissance and Novi Detroit Catholic Central. The 34 points scored against the Shamrocks is most concerning for Coach Tajuan Porter but to their defense the football players who won the Division Four State crown aren’t in game mode yet. Harper Woods could struggle if things don’t turn around quick.
Troy Athens: The Red Hawks had a really strong week. They earned a 53-45 win over Rochester despite allowing 30 points from Max Mohl. Troy Athens put up 83 points in a win over Waterford Oakdale Prep. The Red Hawks have a tall order ahead of them this week which should tell more about Coach Dave Scott’s team.
Seaholm: It was a split week for the Maples which saw them fall by seven to Walled Lake Western but survived Avondale 43-41 in a defensive slug fest. Max Laskey has really emerged in their first two games for Coach Mike DeGeeter. Seaholm has been really scrappy and that could help them going forward.
Lake Orion: The Dragons might have something after two really good wins. Zach Parks has fit in really well and has contributed everywhere. Nick Galben, Gabe Scott, Ethan Sharkey and Ryan Rocheleau are off to strong starts and Quay Fly has been solid on the glass. Lake Orion is still very young, if they find that balance then Coach Jose Andrades might have something here. The Dragons will be tested next week and beyond but it’s a promising early start.
Farmington: The Falcons had a solid outing despite falling 68-62 to Livonia Stevenson. Greg Grays was solid for Farmington. It should be a very interesting matchup for the Falcons when they play arch rival North Farmington but it will take some time for Coach Bryan Johnson to put his program in place.
Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks have some big concerns after scoring 23 points against Walled Lake Central. Bloomfield Hills did lose a ton of talent from last season but I didn’t expect them to score 23 points in their first game. Coach Brian Canfield will get this thing figured out, they’ll be fine.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors have not played a game yet so I can’t judge them yet.
Stoney Creek: The Cougars had a really tough 12 point loss to Romeo. Stoney Creek had some moments especially from the three point line where they executed offensively but defensibly is a big concern still. Griffin Beers looked solid. They rely a ton on Tre Walker to carry them and if he gets in foul trouble that’s where they could struggle. The Cougars have to overcome when Walker is not on the floor and that’s a concern for Coach Jeff Olind going forward. Stoney Creek will be fine but they need to overcome when Walker is not on the floor.
Avondale: The Yellow Jackets had a really rough loss to Seaholm falling 43-41. Avondale was solid defensively all night but the offense struggled at times. It was going to be a transition period for Coach Jaret Thomas which it has. The Yellow Jackets will be fine, no need to panic.
Oxford: The Wildcats are the typical Batman and Robin type team. Jake Champagne is the Batman but he needs a Robin. Luke Stoffan had 14 points in their three point win over Lapeer but was held to six against Lake Orion. Champagne had 20 points in both their games against Lake Orion and Lapeer. It’s clear as day for Coach Joe Fedorinchik he needs a Robin if Oxford is going to win games.
Rochester: The Falcons have had two rough games against Troy Athens and Lake Orion. Max Mohl had 30 points against the Red Hawks while Luke Lionas had 12 points against the Dragons. Rochester needs to find that balance where both their stars along with Jake Tandy and Evan Crowe have monster games, if they do then Coach Nick Evola might have something brewing.
Berkley: The Bears could be an enigma this season. Berkley did not play well by any means against Novi falling by 21 points only to go and stun Troy in overtime at home. The Bears have size and scoring which is huge for Coach Joe Sermo. The next two games look very manageable, Berkley despite the loss to Novi is in a good spot right now but they can’t haven an letdown.
Pontiac: The Phoenix are off to a strong start with wins over Hazel Park and Southfield Christian. Coach Andrew Myers has this program believing at the moment which is a great sign going forward. JJ Claudio is off to a really strong start. Pontiac could be a sleeper in the Blue this season.
Royal Oak: The Ravens have been a really odd team to figure out. They won by eight over Southfield Christian and trailed at the half against Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood. Camden Clark has been solid for Coach Aaron Smith. They have two big tests looming this week so we’ll know a ton about the Ravens.
Ferndale University: The Eagles have had two very competitive games despite two tough losses to Detroit Douglass and Detroit Osborn. It’s a game of inches that separates Coach Josh Nicks team. Ferndale University isn’t there yet. They have shown that they can be in close games, they’ll be fine.
