Girls Basketball Top 23

by orionontv | Jan 9, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Girls Basketball Top 23.

Written Saturday January 7th at 10:15 AM

1. West Bloomfield (7-2): Lakers relying on their sisterhood to win games.
2. Rochester (7-1): Big test looms for the Falcons in Clarkston.
3. Lake Orion (8-1): Dragons have four monster games coming up.
4. Oxford (8-1): Wildcats are on a collision course with North Farmington.
5. North Farmington (9-0): Raiders are on a collision course with Oxford.
6. Stoney Creek (6-2): Cougars have been rolling like the Road Runner.
7. Royal Oak (6-2): The next four games look very winnable for the Ravens.
8. Clarkston (5-5): Wolves are 1-4 in their last five games.
9. Bloomfield Hills (6-1): Blackhawks are clicking on all cylinders.
10. Groves (3-5): Kaitlyn Sanders has been playing well for the Falcons lately.
11. Harper Woods (5-2): Pioneers have no problem scoring, defending is another story.
12. Seaholm (2-6): Addy Flynn has been very good lately.
13. Troy Athens (5-4): Red Hawks are 1-4 since beating Troy.
14. Southfield Arts and Tech (2-6): Jalyn Austin has played really well lately.
15. Troy (3-7):Rough start to the New Year for the Colts.
16. Adams (2-7): 55 points is a great scoring number. Something to build on.
17. Berkley (2-5): Bears got a much needed win but questions still remain.
18. Farmington (4-5): Falcons have been an odd team to figure out.
19. Avondale (3-7): Yellow Jackets have lost three straight since scoring 69 on Ferndale University.
20. Oak Park (2-4): Scoring 50 points has been a recipe of success for the Knights.
21. Ferndale (1-1): Eagles need to start playing some basketball.
22. Ferndale University (0-5): Eagles rebuild has been very rough.
23. Pontiac (0-8): Phoenix scored 12 points in a loss to Oak Park, it’s a start.

Boys Basketball Top 23

by orionontv | Jan 9, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Around the OAA.

This is a blog that is devoted to the OAA. We cover 23 schools from Oakland County to Wayne County. From Oxford to Harper Woods. This blog will give insight and projections around the OAA.

Saturday, January 7, 2023

Boys Basketball Top 23.

Written Saturday January 7th at 10:30 AM

Updated Saturday January 7th at 9:30 PM

1. North Farmington (7-1): Ryan Hurst when healthy can be very good for the Raiders.
2. Oak Park (4-1): Geon Hutchins is a special player for the Knights.
3. Troy (7-1): Mason Parker has been on fire especially from downtown lately.
4. Adams (4-2): Highlanders haven’t missed Brady Prieskorn as of late.
5. Bloomfield Hills (6-1): Blackhawks don’t play for another week.
6. West Bloomfield (5-1): Lakers haven’t played in a week, we’ll know against Pontiac.
7. Clarkston (7-2): This song describes the Wolves.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPnK39ax_AM
8. Groves (6-2): Falcons can beat teams in so many different ways.
9. Lake Orion (4-2): Welcome back DJ Morrow.
10. Oxford (4-2): Welcome back Jake Champagne.
11. Ferndale (1-5): The schedule has taken its toll on the Eagles.
12. Royal Oak (5-1): Maybe loss to Lake Orion might be a wake up call for the Ravens.
13. Rochester (3-3): Falcons haven’t played in a while. Rust could be a concern.
14. Harper Woods (4-3): Julian Young has been playing well for the Pioneers.
15. Berkley (4-3): Jacob Sheriff has been the Robin to Tamir Runkenvich’s Batman.
16. Troy Athens (3-4): Red Hawks are very inconsistent.
17. Avondale (3-6): Yellow Jackets last two losses have been by a combined three points.
18. Ferndale University (5-3): Eagles starting to turn things around a little bit.
19. Stoney Creek (0-6): Cougars really miss Peyton Rummler.
20. Farmington (2-3): Falcons been getting a lot of rest lately.
21. Seaholm (1-5): Maples are really struggling to score but has been playing solid defensively.
22. Southfield Arts and Tech (2-7): Warriors really struggling to find an identity right now.
23. Pontiac (2-7): Phoenix have not gotten over 40 points in the last four games.

Basketball Storylines heading into the Holiday Classics

by orionontv | Dec 28, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Around the OAA.

This is a blog that is devoted to the OAA. We cover 23 schools from Oakland County to Wayne County. From Oxford to Harper Woods. This blog will give insight and projections around the OAA.

Monday, December 26, 2022

Basketball Storylines heading into the Holiday Classics.

Written Monday December 26th at 2:45 PM

Here are some storylines for each team heading into their respective Holiday Classics.

Boys

Bloomfield Hills: Are the Blackhawks for real is the question mark??? Noah Adamcyzk has been on a tear for Coach Brian Canfield. There are some folks that say that the schedule hasn’t been the greatest and it hasn’t been. Bloomfield Hills has Detroit Pershing and Detroit Henry Ford. Both games should be wins, I would be shocked if they split these two games.

Troy: The Colts are rolling at 5-0. They have been playing team ball and have developed a very good chemistry. Troy will have their toughest test of the season when they play Belleville at North Farmington. The Tigers are a very athletic team that should test Coach Gary Fralick’s team. If the Colts can win this game then they would have a ton of confidence heading into the New Year.

North Farmington: The Raiders have not played a game in a week and a half since their very tough overtime loss to Warren Lincoln. North Farmington has had a chance to heal up and get ready for their own Holiday Showcase. Coach Todd Negoshian has two very tough and interesting games with Detroit Western and Toledo Whitmer that are looming. What helps the Raiders is they have a loaded team with proven experience in Ryan Hurst, Tyler Spratt, Landon Williams, and Prince Jackson. North Farmington has a great chance to get some much needed confidence heading into the New Year.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers are riding high with a 5-0 start. West Bloomfield has proven that they can win and that they are deep. Coach Arnette Jordan has done a wonderful job with this program in his second year. The Lakers have a very tricky matchup with Grosse Pointe South. The Blue Devils beat Groves last week and will look to defeat their second White team in less than a week. It should be a very interesting matchup to say the least.

Adams: Can the Highlanders bounce back after a really tough loss to arch rival Rochester now all be it they did not have Brady Prieskorn but Coach Jaret Thomas won’t use that as an excuse. Peter Karasais and Will Gee have played very well as of late. Adams has Birmingham Detroit Country Day in a matchup they should win but this team needs Prieskorn back if they are going to want to make some noise in the New Year.

Stoney Creek: If there is a team that is in need of a win it’s the Cougars. Stoney Creek is already behind the eight ball a little bit with their loss to Oxford in the Blue. They have a very difficult matchup with Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. Peyton Rummler has been playing well as of late which should help in this matchup. The point guard matchup between Wiley Robinson and Tre Walker is very interesting. The Fighting Irish will be a very tough test for Coach Jeff Olind and his program.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers have not played a game in a week and a half. They have gotten the opportunity to rest up. Harper Woods has won games on the defensive end of the court which is a great sign. They open the Motor City Roundball with a very interesting matchup against Waterford Mott. The Corsairs are a very good team led by Caleb Osbourne. Coach TaJuan Porter has their fair share of very talented players. It’s a big game for the Pioneers considering what is going on in the Gold standings and it could really help them if they can get this one heading into the New Year.

Berkley: The Bears have seemed to have turned things around since their tough 69-66 loss to Avondale. Berkley has developed their depth to go alongside Tamir Runkenvich and company. The Bears have a very interesting game with Dearborn. The Pioneers are a solid team and could very well give Berkley problems if they are not careful. For Coach Joe Sermo it’s keeping his team heading in the right direction, this matchup will certainly be a test.

Oak Park: The Knights have not played in a week which is a concern but they gotten a chance to rest up getting ready for a very interesting matchup with Macomb Dakota. Oak Park has had a ton of close games which is a concern for Coach Durand Sheppard but they have proven to be battle tested. The Cougars aren’t the same team as in years past but they are still Macomb Dakota. It should be a very tough game for Oak Park in this one. If they can get to 4-0 then that will give them confidence heading into the New Year.

Ferndale: The Eagles are the best 1-3 team in the State. They have been battle tested and are now well rested after not playing in a week and a half. The rust factor could be a concern as they play Orchard Lake St. Marys. The Eaglets are not the same team as last season but still has Trey McKinney and just got two players after they were ineligible for a time. It will be a very tough matchup for Coach Juan Rickman but if they can get this one then it could give them some confidence heading into the New Year.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks have been off for about a week and a half. Troy Athens plays a very tough Okemos program at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and then they have Madison Heights Lamphere in Port Huron. It will be very interesting to see if Coach Dave Scott’s team can get the rust off. If they lose two then that could spell trouble but if they win these two games then it would be a huge confidence boost heading into the New Year.

Ferndale University: What are the Eagles, are they for real or not??? They are 3-3 right now. Coach Josh Nicks has this team playing better. Ferndale University has a very interesting matchup with Sanford Meridian. The Mustangs have been battle tested as seen with their 3-2 record. They have won two games by two points or less over Midland Bullock Creek and Gladwin but fell to Ogemaw Heights and Sheppard. It will be a very tough matchup for the Eagles in Port Huron.

Rochester: The Falcons are on cloud nine after upsetting Adams behind 21 points each from Grant Calcagno and Elijah Kalaj. Rochester heads into the New Baltimore Anchor Bay tournament in what is a very tough field with some proven teams in there. They see Grosse Pointe North first and if they win or lose would play New Baltimore Anchor Bay or Armada either in the championship or constellation game. Either way it is a very tough matchup for Coach Nick Evola’s team. If the Falcons can win this tournament they should be in very good shape heading into the New Year.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets have two classics this week. They play South Lyon East in the Northville Showcase and are also in the Carleton Airport Showcase. One thing for sure for Coach Pat Clancy is that his program will be doing a lot of traveling through three different counties. It is unknown whom is their opponent at Carleton Airport. Avondale is in a good spot right now but they need to win these two games if they want to keep developing that confidence heading into the New Year.

Clarkston: The Wolves have not been the same team as in past years. Clarkston just fell to Flint Carman Ainsworth after having to survive very close calls against Lake Orion, Groves, and Detroit Old Redford Academy. The Wolves have a really tough matchup with Utica Eisenhower at the Dan Fife fieldhouse looming. They need Desman Stephens, Blake Kosin, John Kaul, and Cavanaugh Diton to step up to turn this thing around. The Eagles have size, quickness, proven experience, and is well coached. It will be a very tough matchup for Coach Tim Waslik. Clarkston needs this game with what’s ahead. If they don’t win this game then they could be in some trouble heading into the New Year.

Groves: The Falcons have played two really tough games after a 4-0 start. Groves fell to Clarkston and Grosse Pointe South. They have a very interesting matchup with Walled Lake Central. Josh Gibson and Josh Simpson have played very well for Coach Marc West. If the Falcons can win this game over the Vikings then it could get their confidence back.

Farmington: The Falcons have not played in a week and a half due to a flu outbreak within the program. They had their game postponed with arch rival North Farmington which is expected to be made up at an unknown date. Coach Derrick McDowell needs to get his team healthy before they play a very tough River Rouge program. The Panthers are solid and with Farmington getting back into the thick of things. Rust is a big concern for the Falcons with not playing in a week. It will be very interesting to see if Farmington can continue their magic and get some confidence heading into the New Year.

Girls

West Bloomfield: The Lakers are 2-2 in showcase games which is very unusual since they are in a ton of showcase games. West Bloomfield has the Davis twins, the Hendrix sisters, along with Ava Lord and Destiny Washington. The Lakers have had some very impressive wins over Stoney Creek and Ann Arbor Pioneer. Prior to those two games they played the top team in Indiana in South Bend, Washington and Ypsilanti Arbor Prep. They get yet another very tough team in Kenwood Illinois in the Motor City Roundball Classic. The Broncos are third in Illinois and come in at 12-1. They have four very talented players in Danielle Brooks, Natasha Barnes, Jazelle Young, and Ariella Henigan. It’s going to be a very tough matchup for Coach Darrelle McAllister and West Bloomfield especially with the lack of depth. However if the Lakers can win this game, it will give them some confidence heading into the New Year.

Clarkston: The Wolves have been hanging in there after losing Elle Robak to an injury in their win over Macomb Dakota. They have had their moments for sure. Clarkston should have Robak back against Grand Blanc in the Motor City Roundball Classic. Ava Hernandez, Kierra Tolmie, Claire Walker, Ellerey Hernandez, Marley Mazur, and Mia Zorski have done a very nice job for Coach Aaron Goodnough. The Bobcats have been around 500 but they have some good wins over proven teams. Grand Blanc has proven experience in Chelsea Bishop, Jada McCree, and Malaya Brown. It’s going to be a very tough matchup for the Wolves even with Robak. If Clarkston can get this game then it should give them some confidence heading into the New Year.

North Farmington: The Raiders have a ton of confidence after a 7-0 start which included a monster road win over Stoney Creek. North Farmington has been riding Sela Lefler, Penelope Creary, and have found a third scorer in Eliza Muller. This may be Coach Jeff Simpson’s biggest test when they play Saginaw Arthur Hill. The Lumberjacks have one loss and feature very talented players in Hailee Jefferson, Raegan Byrd, JaLeeah Griggs, Dasani Washington, and Diamond Robinson. This should be a very interesting matchup. The Lumberjacks fell 70-49 to Macomb Dakota allowing 38 points from Samone Andrews which broke their school record for most points in a single game. This is a big game for the Raiders because it could tell a lot about them heading into the New Year.

Oak Park: The Knights have been really struggling ever since scoring 50 points against Detroit Martin Luther King. They have really struggled in the Blue with blowout losses to Farmington and Bloomfield Hills. Oak Park needs this game against a very good Deckerville program in the worst way. The Eagles have been very competitive in the North Central Thumb. They had a 0-2 start with losses to Croswell-Lexington and Armada before winning four straight games. This will be a very tough matchup for Coach Chantelle Corson’s team against an improving and confident Deckerville program in Port Huron.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers have been rolling as of late scoring 50 points in each game which has resulted in a 4-1 record. Harper Woods plays Detroit Mumford in the Detroit Public School League Holiday Classic. The Mustangs have been around 500. They have scored over 80 points but have also scored 31 points which was just recently. This should be a high scoring game but if new Coach Anthony Brown can shore up the Pioneers defense then maybe they can win this game and head into the New Year with confidence.

Around the OAA: Boys Basketball Top 23

by orionontv | Dec 12, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Boys Basketball Top 23.

Written Saturday December 10th at 8:40 PM

Here is the top 23 for Boys Basketball. It was really tough to rank teams since everyone is doing very well.

1. North Farmington (2-0): Raiders are the best team in the OAA right now no questions.
2. Ferndale (1-2): Eagles are five points from being 3-0 against a very tough schedule.
3. Oak Park (1-0): Knights worry me a little bit.
4. Troy (2-0): Colts have been well balanced.
5. Bloomfield Hills (2-0): Noah Adamcyzk has been really carrying the Blackhawks.
6. Clarkston (1-1): Wolves will be fine despite loss to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit.
7. Adams (0-0): Can’t judge the Highlanders yet.
8. Groves (2-0): Josh Gibson has played very well lately.
9. West Bloomfield (1-0): Mitchell Seay might be back to his old ways.
10. Lake Orion (2-0): Dragons defense has been key to their success.
11. Royal Oak (2-0): Ravens proving that last season was not a fluke.
12. Ferndale University (2-0): Eagles are proving they are battle tested.
13. Southfield Arts and Tech (2-1): Warriors are better than thought.
14. Rochester (0-0): Can’t judge the Falcons yet.
15. Harper Woods (2-1): Pioneers are winning games on the defensive end, that’s a good sign.
16. Berkley (1-1): Nice bounce back after Coach Joe Sermo called himself out on Twitter.
17. Farmington (1-1): Falcons are much improved.
18. Troy Athens (1-1): Brogan Withun is a name to watch.
19. Avondale (1-2): Yellow Jackets have been very competitive.
20. Oxford (0-1): Wildcats have to get tougher that’s not a question.
21. Stoney Creek (0-1): Can’t blow an 18 point lead and expect to win.
22. Seaholm (0-2): Maples have had a rough week.
23. Pontiac (1-2): Phoenix have been very competitive.

Around the OAA: Boys Basketball Thoughts

by orionontv | Dec 12, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Boys Basketball Thoughts.

Written Saturday December 10th at 8:40 PM

Here are my thoughts on Boys Basketball in their first week of the season.

Pontiac: The Phoenix has had a tough start to the season. They fell to Lincoln King Academy 75-61 but bounced back and beat Detroit Denby 48-45. Pontiac also fell 45-34 to Holland as well. The Phoenix could easily be 0-3 but they sit at 1-2 right now. They have Detroit Central and Jackson looming this week.

Ferndale University: The Eagles are off to a good start with two good wins. They beat Hazel Park 49-43 and Detroit Cody 58-51. Ferndale University had really improved as a program and now they are getting battled tested against some solid teams. They have Southfield Christian and Troy Athens looming this week.

Avondale: It was a very interesting week for the Yellow Jackets which saw an 87-55 opening night win over Warren Mott behind 18 points from Jeremiah Phillips and Anthony Burton along with 15 points from Justin Sykes. Avondale was blown out by Groves 74-47 and had a heartbreaking 67-65 loss to Novi. The Yellow Jackets should be fine. I think they are improved and a sleeper to watch in the Gold this season. They have Holly and Berkley looming this week.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers have had a battle tested three games. They fell 69-52 to Warren Michigan Colligate but have bounced back by beating Detroit Mumford 47-45 and Warren Fitzgerald 42-36. The defense has really stood out with Harper Woods. If they can keep teams under 45 then they are a very good team. The Pioneers have a tough week with Detroit Renaissance and Sterling Heights Stevenson looming this week.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors have been playing really good basketball early despite going 2-1 on the week. Southfield Arts and Tech beat Seaholm 45-43 on a buzzer beater then they fell 71-69 to Romulus and then bounced back with a 65-47 win over neighbor Southfield Christian. The Warriors are much improved than they were last season. They have Carleton Airport, West Bloomfield, and Northville looming this week.

Royal Oak: The Ravens are off to a good start winning two games over Cranbrook-Kingswood 60-47 and Fraser 58-33. The big three for Royal Oak has been the difference with their start. Davis Arebieter had 23 points and Dylan Hoffman had 10 points against Cranbrook-Kingswood while Camden Clark had 17 points and Hoffman added 14 points against Fraser. Dylan’s younger brother Nick added 10 points against Fraser as well. The Ravens are off to a nice start as they have Pontiac Academy of Excellence looming this week.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks had a split last week by beating Warren Cousino 61-52 but fell 51-38 to arch rival Troy. Brogan Withun had 19 points, Kyree Harper had 15 points, and Evan Coquholn had 13 points against Warren Cousino. Troy Athens should be fine going forward. They have Rochester and Southfield Arts and Tech looming this week.

Seaholm: The Maples have had two tough losses to start the season. Seaholm lost 45-43 on a buzzer beater to Southfield Arts and Tech and 35-23 to Lake Orion in a defensive low scoring game. The Maples have Walled Lake Western and Troy looming this week.

Oxford: The Wildcats are coming off a very tough 50-37 loss to Lake Orion on Tuesday night. Jake Champagne led Oxford with 23 points in their game. The Wildcats rely on Champagne to carry the load and that’s not a recipe for success. They need someone besides Champagne to step up if they want to make some noise this season. The Wildcats have Groves and Lapeer looming this week and both games are at Ian Smith Gym.

Berkley: I give a ton of credit to Bears coach Joe Sermo for taking responsibility in their 58-29 loss to Troy on Twitter. Berkley came through in a big way with a 52-44 win over Detroit East English Village Prep. Tamir Runkenvich had 20 points and Henry Robinson added 10 points. The Bears have Avondale looming this week.

Rochester: Can’t judge the Falcons since they haven’t played a game yet. Rochester has West Bloomfield and Farmington looming this week.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars looked real good early however they blew an 18 point lead against New Baltimore Anchor Bay falling 62-60. Aiden Grosko had 16 points while Tre Walker added 12 and Peyton Rummler added nine points for Stoney Creek. I think the Cougars will be fine going forward. They have Groves looming this week.

Groves: The Falcons look like a completely different team with Coach Marc West’s return to the bench. Groves had two wins over Avondale 74-47 and Redford Thurston 66-45. Josh Gibson had 19 points and Paige Williams added 10 points in their win over Avondale. The Falcons are clicking but it’s early. They have Oxford and Stoney Creek looming this week.

Farmington: The Falcons looked improved even though they split this week. Farmington fell 63-45 to Ann Arbor Pioneer but beat Detroit Osborn 79-52. The Falcons are a very interesting team to watch. They have Brighton and Rochester looming this week.

Lake Orion: Defense wins championships, that’s likely going to be the mantra that the Dragons could be using this season. Lake Orion beat Oxford 50-37 behind 21 points from Blake Liddell and Seaholm in a hard fought defensive game 35-23 in which Liddell had 12 points and DJ Morrow added 10 points. The Dragons are a very interesting team that has a nice blend of youth and proven experience. They have a tough week looming with Clarkston and Adams this week.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers opened their season with a 68-63 win over Detroit Western. Mitchell Seay had 22 points while Jayden Jones and Corey Pittman had 14 points each and Donald Watts had 13 points for West Bloomfield. The Lakers are off to a good start even though there are some concerns they will need to address at some point. They have Rochester and Southfield Arts and Tech looming next week.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks are off to a very good start with two wins over Romeo 62-48 and Novi Christian Academy 76-56. A big reason for their success has been the play of Noah Adamcyzk. He had 32 against Romeo and 33 against Novi Christian Academy. Bloomfield Hills has also gotten contributions elsewhere as well. The play of Adamcyzk is critical to the Blackhawks success this season. They have Plymouth and their annual trip to Traverse City to play Traverse City West this week.

Troy: The Colts are off to a strong start by beating Berkley 58-29 and Troy Athens 51-38. Mason Parker has been an x factor for Troy. They have also gotten contributions from Darius Whiteside, Chase Kuiper, and Zach Penoza as well. Troy has Adams and Seaholm looming this week.

Adams: Can’t judge the Highlanders since they haven’t played a game yet. Adams has Troy and Lake Orion looming this week.

Clarkston: It was a split week for the Wolves. Clarkston beat Sterling Heights Stevenson 45-33 behind a dominant defensive effort. The Wolves had a really tough time against Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit falling 71-47. The Wolves have Lake Orion and Detroit Old Redford Academy looming this week.

Oak Park: The Knights are off to a good start with a 60-54 win over Detroit Old Redford. Oak Park was tied with Detroit Old Redford after three quarters but had just enough to get the win. The Knights know the Red will be tough and if they aren’t on every night then it could be a long night for them. Oak Park has Detroit University Prep looming this week.

Ferndale: The Eagles have had things very tough when it comes to the schedule. They could easily be 3-0 but they are 1-2. Ferndale lost their last two games by a combined five points including a 57-55 loss to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit and a 55-52 loss to Detroit University Prep. They beat Grosse Pointe South 67-61 in a hard fought game. Noah Blocker had 29 points. He had been a surprise for the Eagles. Ferndale should be fine despite the record. They have Birmingham Brother Rice looming this week.

North Farmington: The Raiders have been very impressive by earning two dominant wins over Detroit Martin Luther King 49-36 and Detroit Edison 70-39. Ryan Hurst has been dominant for North Farmington whom besides Hurst has a ton of proven depth. They have Novi Detroit Catholic Central, Hamtramck, and Warren Lincoln looming this week.

Around the OAA: Girls Basketball Thoughts

by orionontv | Dec 12, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Girls Basketball Thoughts.

Written Saturday December 10th at 8:30 PM

Here are my thoughts this week in Girls Basketball.

Oak Park: The Knights had a huge win over Detroit Martin Luther King in which they scored more points against them than the entire year last season. Oak Park may have found something. They have Farmington looming this week.

Ferndale: The Eagles have not played a game yet. They will have Ferndale University looming this week. Ferndale will be very interesting this season.

Pontiac: The Phoenix are really struggling right now. They fell to Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, Lake Orion, and Southfield Christian. Pontiac has a really tough week with Troy Athens and Avondale looming this week. Maybe it could help them going forward.

Ferndale University: The Eagles have some serious concerns after losing to Sterling Heights Parkway Christian. Ferndale University could be in some trouble with the blowout losses. They have Ferndale looming this week but long terms concerns are there with the Eagles.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets are really struggling right now. Avondale has been blown out three times since their opening night loss to Warren Mott. The Yellow Jackets have two winnable games against Holly and Pontiac looming. Avondale needs to turn things around and quickly.

Farmington: The Falcons have had a rough week with losses to Troy and North Farmington. There are some concerns with Farmington. They have Royal Oak and Oak Park looming. It’s a big week for the Falcons if they want to bounce back from their rough week.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks used that 19 point fourth quarter rally in their loss to Seaholm and put up two good wins over Detroit Cody and Orchard Lake St. Marys. Bloomfield Hills has two road trips to Adrian and Sterling Heights Stevenson this week. It will be a very interesting week for the Blackhawks.

Adams: The Highlanders had a very tough week against their city rivals. They fell by one to Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest and was blown out by Rochester. Adams is very young to their defense. They have Utica and Berkley looming this week. It’s a big week for the Highlanders.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks beat their arch rival Troy last week. Troy Athens has been playing very good basketball. They have Pontiac and a big one with North Farmington later in the week. The Red Hawks have been rolling but their biggest test awaits on Friday.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers haven’t played a game yet. They have St. Clair Shores Lake Shore and Royal Oak this week. It will be a tough challenge especially the second game for Harper Woods. If they can win both games then they could be a sleeper.

Seaholm: The Maples have some concerns. They did not play well against Groves last week. Seaholm has a tough week looming with Clarkston and Oxford both on the road. It’s going to be a very tall task for sure for Seaholm.

Royal Oak: The Ravens had a good win against arch rival Royal Oak Shrine. Royal Oak has been a pleasant surprise this season. The Ravens have Farmington and Harper Woods looming this week. Should be a very interesting week for Royal Oak.

Berkley: The Bears did not played a game this week but the 0-2 start is a big concern. Berkley has Southfield Arts and Tech and Adams. If they can get two wins then maybe it could turn things around for them. It’s a big week for the Bears for sure.

North Farmington: The Raiders weren’t really tested this week in beating arch rival Farmington. We’ll know a lot more about North Farmington when they play Stoney Creek, Orchard Lake St. Marys, and Troy Athens this week. The Raiders have been solid right now but this week should be a big test.

Oxford: The Wildcats almost had a letdown against North Branch last week but managed to survive that one. Oxford has a very interesting matchup with Riley Abbney and Brandon and Seaholm looming this week. The Wildcats should be fine going forward but they have to be careful of the letdowns.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors have been scoring a ton of points lately which is a great sign but the defense is still a problem. They beat Hamtramck but lost to Romulus. Southfield Arts and Tech has Berkley and Stoney Creek looming which should be tough matchups. It looks like the Warriors are heading in the right direction when it comes to putting up points.

Troy: The Colts had their moments of ups and downs. They beat Farmington but lost to arch rival Troy Athens. The road for Troy gets tougher with Dearborn and Stoney Creek looming this week. The Colts are very young as mentioned last week but going through the process is a tough road.

Groves: The Falcons had two bounce back games against Seaholm and Livonia Thurston winning both games after losing to Novi on opening night. Groves has two tough games looming with both programs that made the Division One State Finals in Hartland and West Bloomfield. This is going to be a very tough challenge looming for the Falcons.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars are quietly going along with their business by winning over Orchard Lake St. Marys and Macomb Lutheran North. Stoney Creek has a tough week ahead of them when they play North Farmington and then Southfield Arts and Tech. The Cougars have been rolling but we will see if they are for real this week.

Clarkston: The Wolves are clearly a different team without Ellie Roback. Roback had a concussion which was evident in their blowout loss. Clarkston also went on the road and beat a good Macomb Dakota program. They have Seaholm and Lake Orion this week. It should be a very interesting week for the Wolves.

Rochester: The Falcons are a much different team since their opening night loss to Farmington Hills Mercy. They had a good week by beating a very good Utica Ford II program and also arch rival Adams. Rochester should have a very interesting week with Rochester Lutheran Northwest and Troy this week. The Falcons have been starting to figure some things out.

Lake Orion: The Dragons have went along with their business by beating Pontiac and Rochester Lutheran Northwest. Lake Orion has Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and then should be tested on Friday when they host Clarkston in what will likely be three meetings this season. There are some critics that have really criticized the schedule on a competitive part but its strategic scheduling to improve the depth heading into the Red. The Dragons are in good shape right now.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers took on the top ranked team in Indiana in South Bend Washington and fell 86-74. Summer Davis had 29 points while her sister Indya had 14 points in the loss. Turnovers and missed layups doomed West Bloomfield in their loss along with rebounding. The Lakers depth remains a concern. They have two very tough but winnable games with Saginaw Heritage and Ann Arbor Prep looming this week.