Ferndale will have a new girls basketball coach next season.
Eagles coach Devin Pettaway has stepped down coaching the program after the 77-27 regional final loss to Detroit Edison last week.
The MHSAA website confirmed the Ferndale job is open.
Pettaway took over for Coach Keith Paris who stepped down midseason. They also saw their two incoming transfers in Kamira Page (Southfield Arts and Tech) and Gabriella Brooks-Foster (Macomb Dakota) transfer out of Ferndale as well. It’s unknown where they both went.
The Eagles went 10-16 this season finishing last in the Red with a 2-8 record.
Program strength is a huge concern with Ferndale. The Eagles should have Zahra Richardson, Iyana Davis, Kaniya Watts, JaNiya Larry, and Malia Taylor coming back but some of them could leave Ferndale and go elsewhere according to a source.
It will be really interesting to see the direction Eagles Boys Basketball Coach, and Athletic Director Juan Rickman goes with his next coaching hire. Program strength is a huge concern for Ferndale heading into next season.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
According to Brandon Folsom of Hometown life, the Farmington schools (North Farmington and Farmington) will depart the OAA and join the Lakes Valley Conference in all sports effective in the fall of 2026-2027.
The Farmington schools will get a chance to renew some old rivalries with the Livonia schools (Livonia Churchill, Livonia Stevenson, Livonia Franklin) who are also joining the Lakes Valley Conference in 2026-2027 along with the South Lyon (South Lyon, South Lyon East), Walled Lake (Walled Lake Northern, Walled Lake Central, Walled Lake Western), and Huron Valley schools (Milford, Lakeland.)
“The decision was made with careful consideration as we believe the Lakes Valley Conference provides a better geographic and competitive fit for our schools. The opportunity to compete to compete against like sized schools and reduce travel demands for our families were key factors in the transition. Joining the LVC aligns us with schools of similar size, ensuring a more competitive and balanced playing field for our student athletes. With member districts having multiple high schools and student populations around the same size we will be facing similar opponents with similar resources and talent pools” said Farmington District Athletic Director Allyssa Robinson to Folsom.
The Lakes Valley Conference made a statement announcing the Farmington schools into the Lakes Valley. “The Lakes Valley Conference is proud to announce that Farmington Public Schools and Livonia Public Schools will be joining the conference in the fall of 2026. This exciting expansion marks a significant step forward in the LVC’s commitment of enhancing competitive excellence in Arts, Athletics, and Academics along with fostering community engagement across the region.” The conference said in a statement.
The Farmington schools came into the OAA from the Western Lakes Activities Association where the league merged with the Kensington Valley Conference in 2002. There were three schools at the time in Farmington but Harrison closed in 2018 leaving the Farmington schools at two schools in Farmington and North Farmington.
The Farmington schools had strong appearances in all sports in the OAA from baseball, football, girls basketball, softball, track, and boys basketball in their 23 years in the league.
“We want to express our sincere gratitude to the Oakland Activities Association for many great years of competition, collaboration, and shared experiences. We have valued being part of this outstanding league and appreciate the leadership, sportsmanship, and tradition that defines the OAA. Although we are leaving the OAA we look forward to seeing them across the fields, gyms, and pools in our non conference schedule for years to come” Robinson concluded.
Robinson made mention that there is a possibility that the Farmington schools could see the OAA in the non league after leaving the league in 2026-2027.
The sports that this move will impact the most will be boys basketball, girls swimming, boys swimming, baseball, and softball.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
Here is the story from Folsom confirming the move.
The Lakers are back at a really familiar place, East Lansing, Michigan.
West Bloomfield is back at Michigan State after a convincing 57-35 win over Utica Ford II in the State Quarterfinals holding the Falcons to a season low 35 points. The Lakers will have a rematch with Belleville on Friday afternoon at the Breslin Center. The Tigers won the first meeting 84-49 at Belleville in the OAA/KLAA Challenge on December 12th.
Sheridan Beal who is the team’s only returning starter had 17 points, Breanna Gamble-Jones had 11 points, and Breasia Gamble-Jones also had 11 points for West Bloomfield against Utica Ford II.
The Lakers were 1-4 playing a brutal non conference schedule not mentioning the Red as well but they have gone 18-4 since then.
West Bloomfield fans are really familiar with Belleville seeing them in Football many times.
The Tigers have a ton of proven experience and are well coached under Coach Jason Wilkins. Belleville features Sydney Savoury who is the sister of Orchard Lake St. Marys guard Jayden Savoury. Savoury basically saved the Tigers in their 59-54 win over DeWitt in the State Quarterfinals scoring 29 points. Belleville has others besides Savoury that can do some damage.
Belleville was in the Final Four falling 54-45 to Grand Blanc last season. The Tigers are 26-1 with their only loss being 57-52 to Wayne Memorial on February 1st.
This will be a really interesting matchup to say the least.
BOYS: This should be a really interesting regional. Adams should be the favorite because of balance but keep an eye on Oak Park, Birmingham Brother Rice, Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit. Troy is the wildcard and could be a team that could sneak up with their balance. This should be a fun regional.
GIRLS: Oak Park is loaded in the girls but Rochester can have a strong say along with Detroit Renaissance. Royal Oak, Troy, and Seaholm brings balance. Overall the Knights are the favorite but the Falcons are right behind them.
Region 9 at Milford
Milford
CLARKSTON
LAKE ORION
OXFORD
FARMINGTON
NORTH FARMINGTON
WEST BLOOMFIELD
Novi Detroit Catholic Central (Boys only)
Holly
Lapeer
Walled Lake Central
Walled Lake Northern
Walled Lake Western
Waterford Kettering
Waterford Mott
Lakeland
Farmington Hills Mercy (Girls only)
BOYS: Walled Lake Central looks to be the favorite but keep and eye on West Bloomfield, Clarkston, and Novi Detroit Catholic Central. They could do some damage in this regional. Overall this should be a really interesting regional.
GIRLS: This should be a really interesting regional. Lake Orion is the early favorite winning last season but keep an eye on Clarkston and Walled Lake Central, these teams can score in bunches. Milford is the wildcard.
Region 10 at Romeo
Romeo
TROY ATHENS
Chippewa Valley
Fraser
Macomb L’Anse Creuse
Macomb Dakota
New Baltimore Anchor Bay
Port Huron
Port Huron Northern
Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights Stevenson
Utica
Utica Eisenhower
Utica Ford II
BOYS: This should be a wide open regional. Chippewa Valley has the sprints, Macomb Dakota has the balance while several teams bring the field events. Overall this is anyone’s meet to take.
GIRLS: This should be a really interesting regional. Macomb Dakota is the early favorite but Troy Athens and Romeo might have says who could win this regional. This should be a three team regional between these three teams.
Region 18 at Marian (Oakland)
Birmingham Marian (Girls only)
FERNDALE
FERNDALE UNIVERSITY
HARPER WOODS
Center Line
Detroit Country Day
Detroit Denby
Detroit Henry Ford
Eastpointe
Harper Woods Chandler Park
Hazel Park
Madison Heights Lamphere
St. Clair Shores South Lake
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore
Warren Fitzgerald
Warren Lincoln
Warren Regina (Girls only)
BOYS: Birmingham Detroit Country Day is loaded with proven experience. Ferndale could challenge although they don’t have a lot of balance. Overall this is the Yellow Jackets regional to lose.
GIRLS: Birmingham Detroit Country Day is loaded with proven experience. Ferndale and Madison Heights Lamphere could challenge but neither team has a lot of balance to challenge the Yellow Jackets. Overall this is the Yellow Jackets regional to lose.
Region 19 at North Branch
North Branch
PONTIAC
Armada
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
Croswell Lexington
Goodrich
Imlay City
Macomb Lutheran North
Marysville
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Brandon
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Richmond
St. Clair
Yale
BOYS: This is a really interesting regional. Orchard Lake St. Marys is favored but Yale and Goodrich could have strong says. Marysville and North Branch are the wildcards. This is anyone’s regional to take.
GIRLS: This is a wide open regional. Yale, North Branch, Goodrich, Marysville, and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood could score big in this regional. This regional like the boys is wide open at the moment.
EARLY THOUGHTS: We could be on a collison course between two powerhouses in Clarkston and Hartland which could be a tense drama in the regional final. Grand Blanc is a sleeper but this has Wolves and Eagles all over it.
Regional 4
ROCHESTER
ROCHESTER ADAMS
TROY
TROY ATHENS/AVONDALE
Birmingham Brother Rice
Romeo
Utica Eisenhower/Utica
Waterford United
EARLY THOUGHTS: This is a tough regional for anyone having to deal with Birmingham Brother Rice. The Warriors are loaded every season. No one is touching Birmingham Brother Rice in this regional.
Regional 5
LAKE ORION
Chippewa Valley
Macomb Dakota
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North
New Baltimore Anchor Bay
Port Huron United
St. Clair (Marine City, Marysville)
Utica Ford II/Sterling Heights Stevenson
EARLY THOUGHTS: This looks to be a really interesting regional, no one stands out to challenge Lake Orion, maybe Macomb Dakota but this regional looks to be painted in green and white early.
Regional 6
BIRMINGHAM UNITED
M-1
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
FARMINGTON UNITED
WEST BLOOMFIELD
Brownstown Woodhaven
Detroit Cass Tech
Livonia United
EARLY THOUGHTS: Could this be the year Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham have a rematch in the regional finals, it looks possible. This is anyone’s regional to take it’s wide open.
Regional 14
STONEY CREEK
Birmingham Detroit Country Day
Macomb L’Anse Creuse
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
Madison Heights Bishop Foley (Macomb Lutheran North, Clawson)
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Royal Oak Shrine (Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, Rochester Lutheran NW, Clarkston Everest)
EARLY THOUGHTS: This regional looks like it will be Birmingham Detroit Country Day against Stoney Creek. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood looks to be the wildcard in this regional.
EARLY THOUGHTS: This looks to be a really interesting regional. Brighton is loaded with proven experience. I don’t see anyone in this regional that can beat the Bulldogs not a home.
Regional 3 at West Bloomfield
WEST BLOOMFIELD
BIRMINGHAM
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
ROCHESTER
M-1 (ROYAL OAK/BERKLEY)
TROY
TROY ATHENS
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood
Chippewa Valley/Dakota
Utica Eisenhower
Grosse Pointe North
Grosse Pointe South
Utica Ford/Utica
St. Clair Shores Lakeview/St. Clair Shores Lake Shore
EARLY THOUGHTS: This regional could see Birmingham vs Bloomfield Hills in a rematch although Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood could challenge. This could be a repeat of the past or something different.
Regional 4 at Hartland
Hartland
LAKE ORION
CLARKSTON
OXFORD
Davison
Fenton/Linden
Howell
Grand Blanc
Holt
Howell
Lansing Catholic
Waterford United
Midland United
White Lake United
EARLY THOUGHTS: This regional looks like it has Hartland written all over it. They have home field. Lake Orion and Grand Blanc look to be the top challengers to the Eagles in this regional. Oxford is the sleeper.
Regional 7 at Stoney Creek
STONEY CREEK
ADAMS
AVONDALE
Sacred Heart Academy/Bishop Foley/Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes
Holly/Brandon
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Birmingham Marian
Birmingham Detroit Country Day
Grosse Pointe University Liggett
Warren Regina
EARLY THOUGHTS: This is a really interesting regional. Five teams have a chance to win this district in Grosse Pointe University Liggett, Warren Regina, Birmingham Marian, Birmingham Detroit Country Day, and Stoney Creek. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep is the wildcard. This should be a fun regional.
