by orionontv | Nov 20, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Friday November 17th at 9:00 PM
Farmington Hills Mercy played one of their best performances of the season on Friday night which earned them a trip to the Division One State Finals.
The Marlins overwhelmed Clarkston 25-23, 25-13, and 25-20 on Friday night in the Division One State Semifinals at Battle Creek denying the Wolves their first ever State title in volleyball.
Farmington Hills Mercy will meet Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern who upset Northville on Saturday in the Division One State Finals.
Clarkston led 20-14 in the first set but Farmington Hills Mercy outscored them 11-3 stunning the Wolves and what was yet to come.
The Marlins controlled things in the second set in dominating fashion. The third set they dominated in the middle but the Wolves battled until the end. Farmington Hills Mercy is well coached under Coach Loretta Vogel and they have numerous talented players as well.
Clarkston had a ton of trouble with Marlins setter Campbell Flynn. Flynn kept Vogel’s team in system, and neutralized the Wolves attackers. She also set up Farmington Hills Mercy’s most dangerous outside hitters including Kate Kalczynski who had 14 kills and Maya Zarow had 10 kills. Flynn also added some kills on their own in the match.
This is the third time that Clarkston has fallen in the State Semifinals in program history. (2012-Lake Orion and 2020-Birmingham Marian.)
Wolves freshman standout Marlie Smith had nine kills while Kayla Cogan added seven kills and Emily Kuebler had 19 assists for Clarkston. The Wolves lose five seniors including Cogan and Kuebler next season.
The Wolves had a great season winning the Red and getting this deep into the postseason. They have a lot of proven experience coming back for Coach Alison Smith next season. Clarkston should be one of the favorites to get back to Battle Creek next season.
by orionontv | Nov 13, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday November 11th at 4:30 PM
Harper Woods: The Pioneers had no issue with Carleton Airport on Saturday afternoon at Harper Woods winning 46-19. The Pioneers went through the air behind the play of Nate Rocheleau and Stephone Buford. Colby Bailey started the Harper Woods scoring with a 44 yard touchdown giving them the 7-6 lead in the second quarter. Rocheleau added a 77 yard passing score to Dakota Guerrant to give them a 14-6 lead. They would connect again going 53 yards and a 21-6 lead into the half. Rocheleau would continue his strong play through the air in the second half as he connected with Yasin Milton to extend the lead to 28-6. Carleton Airport got a touchdown and a fourth down stop but an interception from Willie Powell brought momentum back to Harper Woods. Bailey had another big run and Buford had a one yard rushing score making the score 34-12 Harper Woods. Carleton Airport would add another score to make it 34-19 but Buford put the game away with a 50 yard rushing touchdown making it 40-19 Harper Woods. Donald Adams went 66 yards for the Pioneers making the score 46-19 which was the final. The defense looked very good as well. Corey Bailey, Javonta Lee Forbes, and Eilron Beaman had sacks and big plays which included a fumble and Jacob Oden and Powell interceptions on defense. The Pioneers will play Goodrich next week.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors earned their first regional crown in school history with an impressive 31-21 win over Chippewa Valley on Friday night. Isiah Marshall played lights out football. He threw four passing touchdowns on the night with two to Xavier Bowman and two to Juwan Jarrett. The Southfield Arts and Tech defense played well despite allowing 14 points to a very good Chippewa Valley offense that had a really good quarterback in Andrew Schuster. The Warriors will play West Bloomfield next week.
West Bloomfield: The Lakers came from 20-0 down to beat Clarkston and earning revenge after falling 44-36 in week six winning 21-20 in the regional finals at the Swamp. West Bloomfield got a block on the winning field goal by Nigel Dutton who also added a rushing score in the game. Kameron Flowers had a ten yard touchdown and Reqez Nance had the winning 42 yard run off the zone read on a fourth and one. The Lakers defense calmed down and was solid all night. They picked off Desman Stephens in the red zone. West Bloomfield behind a stout defense and timely plays they found a way to win the game. The Lakers have a week eight rematch with Southfield Arts and Tech looming next week.
Clarkston: The Wolves lost a tough one to West Bloomfield 21-20 on Friday night. Clarkston had a very controversial holding penalty called against them which set them back. Eddie Langton had his field goal attempt blocked with two seconds to go in the game. Clarkston had a really good start behind two touchdowns from Brady Collins, one to Brody Kosin (13 yards) and the other to Desman Stephens (94 yards.) Lukas Bowman added a passing score to Kosin from 23 yards out. The Wolves had everything lined up very similar to the Lake Orion game. They connected on a fourth and nine from Collins to Kosin at the two yard line but the West Bloomfield defense locked in stopping Griffin Bowman on two rushing attempts but the Wolves had a chance with the Langton field goal attempt but it was blocked. The extra point miss after the second quarter proved to be very vital in the game. Clarkston has a case that the officials called a roughing the kicker penalty against West Bloomfield that would had given Clarkston another shot. The officials called an unsportsmanlike penalty but they said that time had expired. If they had time they would had one more shot. They lose Kosin and Stephens to graduation but has Brady Collins and the Bowman twins coming back. The Wolves will be back in the hunt next season.
by orionontv | Nov 13, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday November 11th at 4:30 PM
HARPER WOODS 46, Carleton Airport 19: The Pioneers had no issue with the Jets on Saturday afternoon at Harper Woods winning 46-19. Nate Rocheleau and Stephone Buford were dominant at quarterback. Kolby Bailey was also solid for the Pioneers. He had a 44 yard touchdown run giving Harper Woods a 7-6 lead after the Jets scored late in the first quarter for a 7-6 lead. Rocheleau would extend the lead with a 77 yard pass to Dakota Guerrant for a 14-6 Harper Woods lead. That duo would connect again from 53 yards to give them a 21-6 lead at the half. Rocheleau would continue his dominance through the air. He connected with Yasin Milton giving the Pioneers a 28-6 lead. Jack Mills kept the Jets in the game with his second score but the two point try failed making the score 28-12. Carleton Airport had momentum but Willie Powell had an interception which led to a Bailey run and a Buford one yard touchdown making the score 34-12 Harper Woods. Carleton Airport added a touchdown from Mills to make it 34-19 but Buford responded by going 50 yards to make it 40-19 Pioneers. Harper Woods would add one more score on a 66 yard Donald Adams touchdown to make it 46-19 Harper Woods. The Pioneers defense was very good all day as well. Harper Woods will have a showdown with Goodrich at Livonia Franklin next week in the State Semifinals.
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 31, Chippewa Valley 21: The Warriors earned their first regional title in school history with a 31-21 win at Chippewa Valley on Friday night. Southfield Arts and Tech started the scoring with a rushing touchdown from Mathas Davis from three yards out. Chippewa Valley added a touchdown to give themselves a 7-6 lead. Southfield Arts and Tech answered with Isiah Marshall connecting to Xavier Bowman making the score 12-7 Warriors. Marshall would connected again this time to Jawon Jarrett from 13 yards in the third quarter making the score 18-7 Southfield Arts and Tech. Marshall and Jarrett would connect again from 23 yards out making the score 24-7 Warriors. The Big Reds scored on an 24 yard touchdown pass from Andrew Schuster to Cash Shaw making the score 24-14. Marshall connected with Bowman again for a 15 yard score making the score 31-14 Southfield Arts and Tech. Chippewa Valley added a 75 yard fumble recovery making it 31-21 which ended up being the final score. Southfield Arts and Tech will have a rematch with West Bloomfield at Troy in the State Semifinals next week.
WEST BLOOMFIELD 21, CLARKSTON 20: The Wolves “Nothing to lose” mentality went into the Swamp and it became an instant classic. It was all Clarkston early as Brady Collins had two passing touchdowns including a 94 yard pass to Desman Stephens. Stephens added an interception while Brody Kosin caught two touchdown passes one was a 23 yard catch from Collins and a 20 yard touchdown pass from Lukas Bowman on a trick play. The Wolves also recovered a squib kick and did a solid job defensively on Reqez Nance. Nigel Dutton answered for the Lakers with a two yard touchdown run but missed a 36 yard field goal as the half closes with Clarkston leading 20-7. West Bloomfield answered on a Kameron Flowers 10 yard rushing touchdown making it 20-14 Clarkston. The Lakers defense got a big stop forcing a Stephens interception. They took the lead on a 42 yard rushing touchdown from Nance on fourth down and one yard giving them a 21-20 lead late in the fourth quarter. Clarkston had an opportunity on a fourth and seven and connected from Collins to Kosin giving them a chance to win the game from Eddie Langton from 26 yards out but the kick was blocked by Dutton and Jamir Benjamin came up with the football. West Bloomfield earned a 21-20 win over Clarkston and will move on to play Southfield Arts and Tech at Troy in the State Semifinals next week.
by orionontv | Nov 13, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Monday November 13th at 7:25 AM
The Wolves come into their State quarterfinal with a ton of motivation and confidence. It was last season at the same place at St. Clair Community College where Paige Giethbrook tore her ACL which led Birmingham Marian to their win over Clarkston.
The Wolves return to Port Huron but it’s not the Mustangs they will be playing, it will be Macomb L’Anse Creuse North they will play on Tuesday night.
Clarkston has not put a full complete game yet which has to bother Coach Alison Smith. Most of their wins have went four games and they have had slow starts in each of them. The Crusaders have been very good all season and they have wins over Macomb Dakota and Utica Eisenhower.
It will be very interesting with the winner heading to Battle Creek to take on either Birmingham Marian or Farmington Hills Mercy on Thursday in the Division One State Semifinals.
We’ll see what happens.
by orionontv | Nov 13, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Tuesday November 7th at 6:25 PM
The Berkley Bears will have a new football coach next fall.
Coach Sean Shields has stepped down coaching the program after six seasons. He went 18-32 at Berkley and led the Bears to two postseason berths in 2019 and 2020 but they went 0-9 this season.
It was confirmed by “Inside the OAA.”
“It is with a very heavy heart that I announce after six seasons of hard work, loyalty, and love I’ve been asked to step down as the head coach of the Berkley high school football program. For the boys that are still in the program I can’t wait to see the great things that you do. I’m sorry that we weren’t able to complete your high school journey together. I know that your in great hands with Coach Horn and he’s going to make sure you guys have the best experience possible in your high school careers. For all of my former players and families I want to thank you all so much for allowing me to be a part of your and your children’s lives. I will always be grateful for the memories we’ve built and all the time that we’ve shared, you’ve meant so much to me and my family over these years. I love these young men and women you have all become after high school. Again thank you, I love every single one of my former players. I will always be your guy’s coach even if I’m not coaching you anymore. So for one last time, Bears on three, Family on six, one, two, three Bears, four, five, six family. I truly love you all” Shields posted on X.
Shields did a ton of good leading the program and he went 4-3 against arch rival Royal Oak. He also has one of the Bears best wins when they went into Livonia Clarenceville and stunned them which was a huge win at the time in 2019.
It will be very interesting to see who leads the Bears next season.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
Here is the tweet.
https://twitter.com/BerkleyBearsFB/status/1721896766831014390
by orionontv | Nov 8, 2023 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Tuesday November 7th at 7:00 PM
Welcome to the 2023 football season, here are our pickers for the season. Here are everyone who is doing picks this season.
SANDY DUNES is Sammy Taormina, OAA Now host and blogger.
COTTER is Sean Cotter, Walled Lake Western football and North Farmington basketball video coordinator
DUNLAP is Keith Dunlap, WDIV freelance writer
STICK is Dan Stickradt, North Oakland Sports writer
BURNEY is Scott Burnstein, MIPrepZone and State Champs sports writer.
TIM is Tim English, High School Sports Historian and Blogger.
SANDY DUNES 108-39
COTTER 121-26
BURNEY 109-38
DUNLAP 102-45
STICK 115-32
TIM 113-34
We’ll get Tim’s picks when we can.
Carleton Airport at HARPER WOODS: The Jets have been rolling people since their week three loss to Flat Rock. Carleton Airport had been averaging over 40 points per game and even put 70 on Detroit East English Village Prep in the first round but Carleton Airport with deep respect hasn’t played the schedule the Pioneers have. Harper Woods has played a brutal schedule and it has paid dividends. They also have proven players as well. It should be a fun one in northeast Wayne County on Saturday afternoon.
SANDY DUNES: HARPER WOODS 45, CARLETON AIRPORT 21.
COTTER: HARPER WOODS 32, CARLETON AIRPORT 21.
DUNLAP: CARLETON AIRPORT 24, HARPER WOODS 21.
STICK: HARPER WOODS over CARLETON AIRPORT.
BURNEY: HARPER WOODS 29, CARLETON AIRPORT 24.
TIM:
Haslett at Goodrich: This is a very interesting matchup of two teams that are rolling right now. The Martians survived Freeland 21-20 last week while the Vikings went into Chelsea and stunned the Bulldogs 30-22 last week. It should be a fun matchup on M-15 this week.
SANDY DUNES: GOODRICH 21, HASLETT 17.
COTTER: GOODRICH 35, HASLETT 28.
DUNLAP: GOODRICH 28, HASLETT 20.
STICK: GOODRICH over HASLETT.
BURNEY: HASLETT 40, GOODRICH 35.
TIM:
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH at Chippewa Valley: The Warriors are one game away from having the longest year in school history if they can go into Clinton Township and beat Chippewa Valley. Both teams have proven quarterbacks in Isisah Marshall and Andrew Schuster. Both teams have deep threats and solid rushing attacks. It should be a very interesting matchup that is for sure in Chippewa Valley.
SANDY DUNES: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 35, CHIPPEWA VALLEY 27.
COTTER: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 32, CHIPPEWA VALLEY 28.
DUNLAP: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 27, CHIPPEWA VALLEY 20.
STICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH over CHIPPEWA VALLEY.
BURNEY: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 31, CHIPPEWA VALLEY 28.
TIM:
CLARKSTON at WEST BLOOMFIELD: This is a rematch of a 44-36 Wolves win over the Lakers in week seven. Clarkston is coming off a stunning 38-37 upset at Lake Orion last week behind the play of Desman Stephens, Brody Kosin, and Brady Collins but injuries have seem to be piling up for Clarkston as of late. West Bloomfield is coming off a very impressive 24-6 win over Utica Eisenhower at Swienhart. Jaiden Allos had two interceptions including one for a touchdown while Rick Nance had three touchdown passes in that game. It should be a very interesting matchup in the Swamp.
SANDY DUNES: WEST BLOOMFIELD 45, CLARKSTON 21.
COTTER: WEST BLOOMFIELD 38, CLARKSTON 35.
DUNLAP: WEST BLOOMFIELD 34, CLARKSTON 20.
STICK: WEST BLOOMFIELD over CLARKSTON.
BURNEY: WEST BLOOMFIELD 33, CLARKSTON 26.
TIM:
My Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6iPGnzqLi8&t=2463s
