by orionontv | Oct 16, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Friday October 13th at 11:55 PM
AROUND THE OAA TOP TEN-Week Nine
- Lake Orion
- Seaholm
- West Bloomfield
- Southfield Arts and Tech
- Groves
- Harper Woods
- Avondale
- Adams
- Troy
- Clarkston
SCORES.
AVONDALE 49, PONTIAC 19
ROYAL OAK 37, BERKLEY 0
GROVES 49, FERNDALE 0
OXFORD 34, NORTH FARMINGTON 7.
TROY 35, TROY ATHENS 13.
SEAHOLM 42, OAK PARK 22
ADAMS 42, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 13.
LAKE ORION 42, FARMINGTON 7.
STONEY CREEK 35, ROCHESTER 7.
HARPER WOODS 34, CLARKSTON 7.
WEST BLOOMFIELD 31, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 20.
BEST WIN: West Bloomfield: Bryce Rowe returned and an early start lifted the Lakers to a 31-20 win in the Swamp on Friday night. West Bloomfield was clearly the better team and dominated in all phases. They have Oak Park looming next week.
TOUGH LOSS: Troy Athens: The Red Hawks saw their postseason hopes take a hit falling 35-13 on Friday night to arch rival Troy. Troy Athens has Utica Ford II looming next week.
TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Pontiac: The Phoenix had a tough 49-19 loss to Avondale on Friday night. Pontiac will be fine. They have Garden City looming next week.
VALENTI RANT: Clarkston: What is going on with the Wolves after a stunning 34-7 homecoming loss to Harper Woods. It’s a big win for Coach Rob Oden and the Pioneers but with the Wolves something is up especially allowing two deep touchdowns. Clarkston has Utica Eisenhower looming next week.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Berkley: The Bears have hit rock bottom falling to arch rival Royal Oak 37-0 on Friday night. Berkley has St. Clair Shores Lakeview looming next week to close the season.
by orionontv | Oct 16, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Friday October 13th at 11:45 PM
West Bloomfield: The Lakers earned a big 31-20 win over Southfield Arts and Tech on Friday night. Bryce Rowe returned and had a big night for West Bloomfield and the rest of the Lakers followed suit as well. West Bloomfield was clearly the better team. They have Oak Park looming next week.
Lake Orion: The Dragons had no issues on their homecoming with Farmington winning 42-7 on Friday night. TR Hill had three total touchdowns and Billy Roberson had two touchdowns in the game. Lake Orion has a big one looming with Saline next week.
Clarkston: The Wolves have some defensive issues to address. They have allowed 66 points in two weeks including a 34-7 stunner to Harper Woods on Friday night. Clarkston could not get off the field on third down which was a huge problem. They have a tough one with Utica Eisenhower looming next week.
Adams: The Highlanders had no problem with Bloomfield Hills on their homecoming winning 42-13 on Friday night. Brady Prieskorn had a strong game for Adams. They have Sterling Heights Stevenson looming next week.
Oxford: The Wildcats had no problem with North Farmington winning 34-7 on Friday night. Luke Johnson had a big game for Oxford. They still have a shot at the postseason but they need to beat Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit next week.
Stoney Creek: The Cougars had no issue with Rochester winning 35-7 in the Falcon Frenzy Game on Friday night. They got 14 points from their defense with two pick sixes. Stoney Creek concludes the season with a trip to New Baltimore Anchor Bay next week.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors lost a tough one to West Bloomfield falling 31-20 on Friday night. West Bloomfield was clearly the better team in that game. They have Detroit Renaissance looming next week.
Harper Woods: The Pioneers made a huge statement with a 34-7 stunner at Clarkston on Friday night. Harper Woods proved that they are for real and will be a force in Division Four that is for sure. Kobe Taylor was huge early and Nate Rocheleau and Stephone Buford had great games at quarterback. They need to clean up the penalties. The Pioneers have Roseville looming next week.
Groves: The Falcons earned a 49-0 win over Ferndale setting up the showdown with arch rival Seaholm next week. It should be a fun one to watch that is for sure.
Farmington: The Falcons had a ton of trouble with Lake Orion falling 42-7 on Friday night. Farmington concludes the season with Utica next Thursday night.
Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks fell to Adams 42-13 on Friday night. Bloomfield Hills will conclude the regular season with North Farmington next week.
Rochester: The Falcons fell to Stoney Creek 35-7 in the Falcon Frenzy Game on Friday night. They threw two pick sixes in the game which was a difference. Rochester concludes the season against Walled Lake Northern next week.
Seaholm: The Maples won the Blue and set up a big showdown with arch rival Groves in a 42-22 win over Oak Park in the Maple Forest. The Kinnie brothers, Kyle Robbins, and company have been very consistent. They have Groves as mentioned next week.
North Farmington: The Raiders had a tough 34-7 loss to Oxford on Friday night. North Farmington will be fine. They have Bloomfield Hills looming next week.
Oak Park: The Knights postseason hopes took a hit with a 42-22 loss to Seaholm on Friday night. Oak Park needs to beat West Bloomfield to have a chance at the postseason next week.
Troy: The Colts kept their postseason hopes alive with a 35-13 win over Troy Athens on Friday night. Troy got big games from Nolan Block and Greg Tester. They have Fraser looming next week.
Troy Athens: The Red Hawks postseason hopes took a hit with a 35-13 loss to Troy Athens on Friday night. Troy Athens has Utica Ford looming next week.
Ferndale: The Eagles were blown out by Groves 49-0 on Friday night. Ferndale closes the regular season against St. Clair Shores South Lake next week.
Avondale: The Yellow Jackets rolled to a 49-19 win over Pontiac. Avondale has Warren Fitzgerald looming next week.
Berkley: The Bears were shutout by arch rival Royal Oak 37-0 on Friday night. Berkley closes the regular season against St. Clair Shores Lakeview next week.
Royal Oak: The Ravens have scored 74 points in the last two weeks and took the Battle of Woodward Trophy with a 37-0 win over Berkley on Friday night. Coach Colin Campbell has this program believing. They have a tough one with Madison Heights Lamphere looming next week.
Pontiac: The Phoenix lost a tough one to Avondale 49-19 on Friday night. Pontiac closes the season against Garden City next week.
by orionontv | Oct 9, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Postseason Watch-Week Eight.
Updated Saturday October 7th at 12:30 PM
The postseason is only a month away so here are some scenarios surrounding some teams in the OAA that have a chance to make the postseason, some are locks, others are on the bubble and others need to win out.
Thanks to GoosePoop on Twitter/X for giving me some analytics on each team’s chances to make the postseason so here they are.
LOCKS:
Lake Orion (7-0): The Dragons are looking really good when it comes to the postseason. Lake Orion has had strong wins over Harper Woods, West Bloomfield, Adams, and Clarkston. They still have state power and likely undefeated Saline coming up. Lake Orion has Farmington in their homecoming this week. The Dragons are safely in the postseason field in Division One.
Clarkston (4-3): The Wolves are looking really good when it comes to the postseason and they keep getting better every week. They have played a really tough schedule and have beaten some really good teams as well. Despite losing to Northville, Southfield Arts and Tech, and Lake Orion (all of whom are strong teams), they hold quality wins over Adams and West Bloomfield. Clarkston still has, Division Four, Harper Woods for their homecoming and finish the regular season playing Co Macomb Area Conference Red champion Utica Eisenhower. Both teams are strong programs. If you’re a Wolves fan, you won’t have to worry about not making the postseason. Clarkston is safely in the postseason field in Division One.
West Bloomfield (5-2): The Lakers have had some issues especially defensively. The win over Chippewa Valley is huge at the moment for West Bloomfield. They need to address the defense as they have a ton of injuries right now. The schedule is very interesting for the Lakers starting with Southfield Arts and Tech who could a potential postseason opponent and Oak Park who is fighting for a playoff birth. West Bloomfield is safely in the postseason field in Division One.
Southfield Arts and Tech (7-0): The Warriors early season wins have already got them into the postseason. Southfield Arts and Tech is kind of in a lull when it comes to competition in the White with their two toughest challengers in Groves and Harper Woods they faced earlier in the season. The win over Detroit Cass Tech is looking better and better. They still have West Bloomfield which is always interesting as both teams look to that game as a barometer game. The Warriors are safely in the postseason field for Division One.
Seaholm (6-1): The Maples have been rolling with confidence heading into the postseason. Seaholm has some big wins under their belt as well and will have two quality opponents to help prepare them for the postseason in Oak Park (For the Blue title) and arch rival Groves who have given them a lot of problems in the past, mostly because Groves has played in the much tougher White division. Despite having to figure out their problems with Groves, the Maples are safely in the postseason field for Division Two.
Groves (5-2): The Falcons have played some very strong opponents (West Bloomfield and Southfield Arts and Tech) and picked up some big wins including a big league win over Harper Woods and a big non league win over North Farmington. Groves still has games with Ferndale, and arch rival Seaholm, who they could possibly meet twice in the postseason in which the Falcons have gotten the better of the Maples primarily because of playing in the tougher OAA White. Groves is safely in the postseason field for Division Two.
Harper Woods (4-3): For a team who is in Division Four, the Pioneers have played a really tough schedule playing against a ton of Division One (Stoney Creek, Lake Orion, Southfield Arts and Tech) and Division Two teams (Groves). Harper Woods still has to play two more Division One programs in powerhouse Clarkston and finish the year against Division Two Roseville. Even if they have a losing record, the Pioneers are safely in the postseason field for Division Four because of their strength of schedule and could be a state championship contender come postseason time.
Avondale (6-1): The Yellow Jackets have been rolling as of late, most likely securing the Gold Championship in the process. Avondale has also been tested with quality wins over division three Brandon and Division Two Oak Park but had a setback against division two power Seaholm. Avondale still has rivals Pontiac and Warren Fitzgerald looming on their schedule. They are safely in the postseason field for Division Three and they could make a ton of noise.
Adams (4-3): The Highlanders are a very interesting team to watch because they are a wildcard. Their chances of getting in the postseason are still very strong, probably the strongest of the bubble teams. Adams has Bloomfield Hills, and Sterling Heights Stevenson, two Division One teams, both teams they are capable of beating. It’s hard to envision this program not making the postseason, also whoever gets them first, it will be a tough test going against the vaunted veer offense.
North Farmington (4-3): The Raiders have been playing well as of late, despite playing a very daunting schedule especially early with Division Two powers Groves, Caledonia, and Seaholm. The Raiders have held their own and was able to get strong wins over Division One’s Troy and Troy Athens along with division two, Oak Park, and division three . The Raiders will have two strong tests coming up with Division One foes Oxford and Bloomfield Hills. Even if North loses to one of these teams, they should be a lock for the postseason. Oxford is the toughest of the two teams remaining on their schedule.
BUBBLE:
Troy (4-3): The Colts have been struggling a little bit as of late especially going against Division Two powers Seaholm, Oak Park, and North Farmington. Troy however, has benefited with wins over Division One Detroit Mumford and Division One Macomb L’Anse Creuse North but that was early in the season. They did bounce back with a homecoming win over Berkley. They also have two tests on the horizon with Fraser and arch rival Troy Athens. Their arch rival will be their biggest test, it is a rivalry game so you throw records out the window. Despite Troy being successful, the last few years, Athens has had a history of playing spoiler. If Troy loses one of these next two games, their chances of making the postseason is slim.
Oak Park (3-4): The Knights are a dark horse to watch when it comes to the postseason but the schedule looks very challenging. After an 0-2 start, Oak Park has bounced back with wins over Troy Athens and Troy respectively. Oak Park however, has Division One power West Bloomfield, along with Division Two power Seaholm looming. For the Knights, it’s either win out or win one of two. Should this happen, the Knights will be able to make the postseason given the schedule they have played.
NEED TO WIN OUT:
Oxford (2-5): The Wildcats are in a win now mode if they want to make the postseason. They have North Farmington, and University-Detroit Jesuit all at Wildcat Stadium. Despite playing a very tough schedule with the likes of Utica Eisenhower, Clarkston, Adams, arch rival Lake Orion, and West Bloomfield, Oxford has two wins (Division Two, Oak Park and Division One, Stoney Creek.) If Oxford can win their next two home games and receive help from the teams they have played then they are most likely a postseason team. It’s that simple for the Wildcats, win out and most likely you’re in the postseason.
Troy Athens (3-4): The Red Hawks overtime win against Royal Oak has put them in a position where they have to win out in order to make the postseason. They have wins over Berkley, Royal Oak and Pontiac. If Athens is to make the postseason, they must beat their arch rival Troy and Utica Ford II, both games are very winnable for the Red Hawks.
by orionontv | Oct 9, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday October 7th at 12:50 AM
AROUND THE OAA TOP TEN-Week Seven
- Lake Orion
- Southfield Arts and Tech
- Seaholm
- Clarkston
- West Bloomfield
- Groves
- Avondale
- North Farmington
- Harper Woods
- Adams
SCORES.
TROY 48, BERKLEY 0.
TROY ATHENS 38, ROYAL OAK 37 OT.
NORTH FARMINGTON 66, PONTIAC 8.
SEAHOLM 20, AVONDALE 0.
OAK PARK 22, FERNDALE 9.
GROVES 30, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 6.
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 25, ROCHESTER 13.
HARPER WOODS 55, FARMINGTON 0.
LAKE ORION 42, CLARKSTON 21.
WEST BLOOMFIELD 38, OXFORD 19.
ADAMS 28, STONEY CREEK 7.
BEST WIN: Lake Orion: The Dragons went into Clarkston and won 42-21 on Friday night. Billy Roberson and TR Hill combined for five touchdowns in the game. Lake Orion is rolling right now. They have Farmington looming next week.
TOUGH LOSS: Avondale: The Yellow Jackets had a tough matchup on Friday night against Seaholm falling 20-0 in the Maple Forest. Avondale will be fine going forward though but this is a wakeup call for Coach Bob Meyer and company. The Yellow Jackets have Pontiac looming next week.
TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Oxford: The Wildcats postseason hopes took a hit with a 38-19 loss to West Bloomfield on Friday night. Oxford needs some help and win out to make the postseason. They have North Farmington looming next week.
VALENTI RANT: Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks have struggled all season long including a 30-6 loss to Groves on Friday night. Bloomfield Hills has been outscored 129-6 in the last two weeks. The Blackhawks have Adams looming next week.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME: Farmington: The Falcons have not had Cameron Pettaway most of the season. They have been outscored 134-7 in the last four weeks including a 55-0 loss to Harper Woods. Farmington has a really tough two game stretch to close the season with Lake Orion starting next week.
by orionontv | Oct 9, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday October 7th at 12:30 AM
West Bloomfield: The Lakers bounced back after a rough loss to Clarkston with a 38-19 win at Oxford on Friday night. Brandon Davis-Swain and Rick Nance had a big nights for West Bloomfield. The Lakers defense is still a concern and they have a big test looming with Southfield Arts and Tech next week.
Lake Orion: The Dragons earned the Red crown and a 42-21 win over Clarkston on Friday night. Billy Roberson had three touchdowns while TR Hill had two scores on the night. Lake Orion has Farmington looming next week.
Clarkston: The Wolves had a tough 42-21 loss to Lake Orion on Friday night. Desman Stephens had two touchdowns while Brody Kosin added a score. Clarkston will be fine. They have Harper Woods looming next week.
Adams: The Highlanders bounced back after falling to Lake Orion last week with a 28-7 win over Stoney Creek. They have Bloomfield Hills looming next week.
Oxford: The Wildcats postseason hopes took a hit with a 38-19 loss to West Bloomfield on Friday night. Oxford will need to win out and get some help if they want to make the postseason. The Wildcats have North Farmington looming next week.
Stoney Creek: The Cougars had a tough 28-7 loss to Adams on Friday night. Stoney Creek has Rochester looming next week.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors were tested winning 25-13 over Rochester on Friday night. Southfield Arts and Tech needed a game like this especially with West Bloomfield looming next week.
Harper Woods: The Pioneers got back on track with a 55-0 blowout win over Farmington on Friday night. Harper Woods has a statement game with Clarkston looming next week.
Groves: The Falcons had no issue with Bloomfield Hills winning 30-6 on Friday night. Groves is rolling with confidence right now. They have Ferndale looming next week.
Farmington: The Falcons have really struggled since Cam Pettaway went down but he did return in this game. They fell 55-0 to Harper Woods on Friday night. Farmington has been outscored 134-7 in the last three weeks and it won’t get any easier. They have Lake Orion looming next week.
Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks have had a rough three weeks. They fell 30-6 to Groves on Friday night. Bloomfield Hills has been outscored 129-6 in the last two weeks. They have a tough one looming with Adams next week.
Rochester: The Falcons battled despite falling 25-13 to Southfield Arts and Tech. Rochester kept Southfield Arts and Tech to one of their lowest scores of the season. They have Stoney Creek looming next week.
Seaholm: The Maples behind the play of Jack Lewis and the Kinnie brothers were dominant in their 20-0 win over Avondale on Friday night. Seaholm is rolling with confidence. They have Oak Park looming next week.
North Farmington: The Raiders had no issues with Pontiac winning 66-8 on Friday night. Lorence Woodley had 207 total yards and a touchdown in the game. North Farmington will for sure be tested when they head to Oxford next week.
Oak Park: The Knights had their game called due to gun shots outside Knight Valley. Oak Park won 22-9 with six minutes to go in the game. The win helps their postseason hopes. They have Seaholm looming next week.
Troy: The Colts had no issue with Berkley keeping their postseason hopes alive winning 48-0. Troy will be tested next week when they play Troy Athens.
Troy Athens: The Red Hawks survived in overtime on Friday night winning 38-37 over Royal Oak. The Red Hawks have won two straight and has a big one looming with Troy next week.
Ferndale: The Eagles had their game called due to gun shots outside Oak Park. Ferndale fell 22-9 which hurt their postseason hopes. They need to win out to make the postseason. They have Groves looming next week.
Avondale: The Yellow Jackets had a tough test but they fell to a very good Seaholm program 20-0 on Friday night. Avondale will be fine. They have Pontiac looming next week.
Berkley: The Bears were blown out 48-0 by Troy on Friday night. Berkley is really struggling. They have Royal Oak looming next week.
Royal Oak: The Ravens lost a heart breaker to Troy Athens in overtime 38-37 on Friday night. The offense was solid all night for Royal Oak despite the weather conditions. Coach Collin Campbell has this team heading in the right direction. They have Berkley looming next week.
Pontiac: The Phoenix had a rough night falling 66-8 to North Farmington on Friday night. Pontiac has another tough one looming with Avondale next week.
by orionontv | Oct 2, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Tuesday September 26th at 2:00 PM
This was a move that none of us thought would happen.
Stoney Creek girls basketball coach Kellen James has stepped down coaching the program.
James sighted parent involvement as the reason he stepped down. He wrote to Principal Brian Shelson talking about his decision. “Dear Principal Shelson, I’m writing to formally announce my resignation from my position as the Varsity Women’s Basketball Coach at Stoney Creek High School. This decision has not been taken lightly and comes after careful consideration of the circumstances surrounding my coaching tenure. I have had the privilege of working with dedicated student athletes, a supportive coaching staff, and many outstanding individuals within the school community during my time as the basketball coach. It has been an enriching experience that has allowed me to develop as a coach and mentor to these young women. I’m proud of the progress we made together both on and off the court. However it is with a heavy heart that I must tender my resignation due to ongoing challenges relating to parent involvement. It has become increasingly apparent that external pressures and excessive involvement from parents have made it difficult to maintain a positive and productive coaching environment. While I understand and appreciate the passion that parents have for their children’s success, this level of interference has reached a point where it’s affecting my ability to effectively lead the program. I firmly believe that student-athletes deserve a supportive and respectful environment in which they can grow, learn, and enjoy their sports experience. It is essential for their personal and athletic development. Given the current situation, I believe stepping down as the head coach is in the best interest of the team and the school. I want to express my gratitude to our Athletic Director Mr. (Brian) Anderson, the coaching staff, and the student-athletes for their unwavering support and dedication. I will always cherish the memories and the relationships I’ve formed during my time here. I will work diligently during my notice period to ensure a smooth transition and to assist in finding a suitable replacement. If there is anything in specific you require during this transition please do not hesitate to let me know. Thank you once again for the opportunity to lead the basketball program at Stoney Creek. I wish the team, the school, and the athletes nothing but success in the future. I hope that in time the challenges I faced with parental involvement can be resolved to create a more positive and nurturing environment for the student athletes” James wrote.
James has been with the Cougars for a long while. He was an assistant under then coach Brad Crighton (coaching at Orchard Lake St. Marys) and his junior varsity coach with a ton of success. James took over the program in 2015 and has coached some great athletes including Gabby Yurik, Mia Carson, Megan Solek, Sydney LaPrarie, among others who have came out of the Stoney Creek program.
James went 97-59 in his eight years with the program and 46-11 in the last three years.
It will be very interesting to see who takes over this season. Stoney Creek has Sarah LaPrarie, Emily Flynn, Merrick Schlawbach, Taylor Fulkerson, and Izzy Ivezaj coming back. The Cougars are in the Red with West Bloomfield, Lake Orion, Rochester, Clarkston, and Oxford. They have a tough district with Adams, Romeo, Rochester, and Utica Eisenhower despite hosting the district.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
James resignation letter
https://twitter.com/StoneycreekGBB/status/1706713895618920790/photo/1
