Written Saturday March 8th at 5:30 PM

Here is the regional previews for Girls Basketball set for Monday and Wednesday March 10th and 12th.

CLARKSTON vs Utica Eisenhower @ Lapeer

This is a really interesting matchup. The Wolves are the more veteran team taking on an Eagles team that is coming into this game with a lot of confidence. Clarkston came from 17 down on their home floor to stun Lake Orion 59-56 in overtime in an emotional rivalry game. Utica Eisenhower beat Stoney Creek 49-46 at Stoney Creek in a very controversial game. The interior matchup looks to be the key in this matchup and can Clarkston stop the full court trap Utica Eisenhower does??? It should be a really interesting matchup.

WEST BLOOMFIELD vs Grand Blanc @ Lapeer

This is a Division One State Finals rematch and also a rematch from a 76-39 Lakers win over the Bobcats on West Bloomfield’s senior night. The Bobcats will have an advantage on travel but West Bloomfield isn’t afraid of anyone. Usually the Lakers perform which they did against Orchard Lake St. Marys winning 41-36 on their home floor. This should be a really interesting matchup.

ROYAL OAK vs Warren Cousino @ St. Clair Shores Lakeview

The Ravens won their second straight district crown with a 42-35 win over Berkley on their home floor. Now they bring the baby green dinosaur to St. Clair Shores to have a rematch with Warren Cousino. The Patriots have not forgotten the 43-41 buzzer beater by Lucy Freytag last season in Warren. This looks to be a classic between these two teams. The winner will likely see Utica Ford II or Macomb Dakota in the regional final.

FERNDALE vs Redford Union @ Detroit Edison

The Eagles are coming off a convincing 62-28 district final rout of Madison Heights Lamphere. Ferndale has proven players despite the lack of depth. The Eagles should have no issue but they will have a tough one if they can get by Redford Union with Detroit Edison in the regional finals. It will be really interesting to see what happens.

Troy Athens will have a new volleyball coach next fall.

The Red Hawks named Kennedy Paulina their new head coach. She takes over for Mary Kate Zinn who stepped down this offseason.

The hire was confirmed on the Troy Athens X page.

Troy Athens will be in the White with Seaholm, Oxford, Groves, Avondale, North Farmington, Farmington, Berkley, and Royal Oak next season.

Paulina coached the United Volleyball AAU program.

She will be tasked in turning around a Red Hawks program that went 15-12 last season. It will be really interesting to see what happens.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Here is the tweet confirming the hire.

https://x.com/AHS_Athletics23/status/1896944900715028795

Written Saturday March 1st at 6:30 PM

The domination of cheerleading continues in the city of Rochester.

Stoney Creek with only three seniors on their roster repeated as the 2025 MHSAA Division One State Champions scoring a 792.38 score. Rochester was second with 792.06 while Adams was third with 788.62 points on Friday night at Central Michigan’s McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant.

Rochester won the Red and the district while Stoney Creek won the regional and the State Finals this season.

The three Rochester schools are usually in the same district and regional.

It was tight throughout especially in round three but the Cougars found a way to win it keeping the State crown in Rochester.

Rochester has been a cheerleading powerhouse between the three schools. It looks like the Division One State Crown might not leave the city limits any time soon.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Written Saturday February 22nd at 9:05 AM

Final Boys poll.

Boys

1. Groves 17-5: Falcons know what’s ahead of them in the district finals.

2. Avondale 15-7: Yellow Jackets have been really impressive in first year in Red.

3. Oxford 21-1: It’s been an incredible year for the Wildcats.

4. Clarkston 15-7: Wolves staring Avondale in the face as we speak.

5. Lake Orion 15-7: Dragons have their confidence back heading into the postseason.

6. Farmington 16-5: Falcons looked shaky against Oak Park, can’t have that come postseason time.

7. Rochester 17-5: Falcons could have Adams staring at them in the district final.

8. North Farmington 12-9: Raiders need Rob Smith to perform in the postseason.

9. Ferndale 9-13: Eagles looking at Detroit Pershing as we speak.

10. Royal Oak 13-9: How do you lose to Romeo, Ravens???

11. Bloomfield Hills 13-9: Mason Canfield and D’Ron Mason are stars in the making.

12. Troy 10-12: Colts confidence is a bit shaken after rough loss to Seaholm.

13. Adams 7-15: Highlanders are the most dangerous team in their district.

14. Troy Athens 7-15: Red Hawks looking to get revenge on their arch rivals in the postseason.

15. West Bloomfield 5-16: Lakers are better than their record indicates.

16. Pontiac 12-9: Phoenix riding with some confidence heading into the postseason.

17. Seaholm 5-17: Maples might be the hottest team right now heading into the postseason.

18. Oak Park 6-11: Knights have been really inconsistent.

19. Ferndale University 9-11: Eagles preparing for Hazel Park as we speak.

20. Southfield Arts and Tech 7-15: Warriors win at Stoney Creek is a confidence boost.

21. Stoney Creek 10-11: Losses to Ferndale University and Southfield Arts and Tech is not a good sign.

22. Berkley 5-17: How do you lose to Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood Bears???

23. Harper Woods 3-16: Pioneers had a rough week, now it’s Eastpointe.

Girls

1. Clarkston 15-6: Wolves riding with a ton of confidence right now.

2. Rochester 17-3: Falcons riding into the postseason with confidence.

3. Avondale 16-4: Despite loss to Chippewa Valley, the Yellow Jackets are fine.

4. West Bloomfield 12-8: Sheridan Beal is the real deal.

5. Stoney Creek 13-6: Cougars have been treading water lately.

6. Lake Orion 11-10: Congrats Izzy Wotlinski on 1,000 career points.

7. Oxford 7-14: Wildcats have been competitive despite rough season.

8. Southfield Arts and Tech 13-7: Warriors could be very dangerous come postseason time.

9. Berkley 13-7: Bears are in a really interesting spot this postseason.

10. Seaholm 12-9: Maples are the team to watch this postseason.

11. Bloomfield Hills 8-10: Blackhawks have been really competitive despite two tough losses.

12. Groves 5-14: Harlem Simpson is the real deal.

13. Ferndale 7-13: Forfeiting games is not the way despite beating Stoney Creek.

14. Royal Oak 9-11: Ravens have been a Jekyll and Hyde lately.

15. Adams 9-10: Highlanders starting to get their confidence back.

16. Harper Woods 8-8: Pioneers looking to gain confidence heading into the postseason.

17. Troy Athens 7-13: Red Hawks are still a Scooby Doo team.

18. Troy 6-13: Colts are a different team without Diamond Prince.

19. Farmington 8-12: Falcons loss to Walled Lake Western was not good.

20. North Farmington 5-13: Raiders have been playing tough opponents as of late.

21. Pontiac 9-6: Phoenix have been really competitive lately.

22. Ferndale University 8-6: Eagles getting a week to prepare for final stretch.

23. Oak Park 0-12: Knights struggling with confidence.

Written Wednesday February 19th at 1:50 PM

The Yellow Jackets have their new football coach.

Avondale has named Jim Carlisle as their new football coach according to an accurate source and the MHSAA website. Carlisle takes over for Coach Bob Meyer who stepped down at the end of the season.

Carlisle has coached 36 years most recently he coached at Vassar from 2022 until this season. He also had a stint at Imlay City which he was the coach from 2018 until 2022.

The Yellow Jackets will be in line for another change in offense. Carlisle likes to run the spread offense, it will be a much in line to past Avondale coaches Steve Duestch and Ed Coutrier when they were in Auburn Hills.

Carlisle will be tasked of keeping the tradition alive in Auburn Hills. Avondale will be in the Gold with Berkley, Royal Oak, Pontiac, and Ferndale this season.

My Thoughts.

Carlisle is a really interesting hire coming from the thumb area. Carlisle brings experience and the spread to a program that has seen a ton of experience in this offense. I don’t know if he is familiar with the OAA when it comes to the teams. What helps is the majority of the division has new coaches if you include Casey Humes who was at Berkley last season. It will be very interesting to see what happens.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

MHSAA Website

https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/avondale/boys/varsity/football/2025