by orionontv | Dec 12, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
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.
by orionontv | Dec 12, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
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.
by orionontv | Dec 5, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Wednesday November 30th at 6:45 PM
Here is the Boys Basketball projections heading into the 2022-2023 season.
AROUND THE OAA TOP TEN
- North Farmington
- Ferndale
- Oak Park
- Clarkston
- Adams
- Troy
- Bloomfield Hills
- Stoney Creek
- West Bloomfield
- Lake Orion
Red
EARLY THOUGHTS: The Red is one of the toughest divisions in the State. Ferndale should be in the conversation and possibly State title conversation as well. The Eagles lost their two top players to graduation after making the Division Two State Semifinals the last two years. North Farmington could be a Division One State title contender. The Raiders have the talent to make a deep run. Oak Park has the talent to make a run but they need to overcome their Detroit-University-Detroit Jesuit problem. Clarkston will always be Clarkston but there are some questions at the guards. Adams lost a ton of proven talent but they had a solid sub varsity program to make up for the loss in proven talent and experience. This is a wide open division, anyone can beat anyone on any given day.
NORTH FARMINGTON RAIDERS
Last Season: 18-4, 9-2 Red. Lost 46-44 to Orchard Lake St. Marys in Regional Semifinals.
Top Player: Ryan Hurst-G
Key Player: Prince Jackson-G
Wildcard: Tyler Spratt-G
Biggest Question: Can the Raiders win the Division One State Crown???
INSIGHT: The Raiders have somewhat under performed in the last few years since getting to the Division One State title game in 2016. There were hints of North Farmington returning to greatness after suffering a really tough 46-44 regional semifinal loss to Orchard Lake St. Marys. The Raiders could have their best team since getting to the Division One State championship game in 2016. They have a ton of proven experience in Ryan Hurst, Prince Jackson, Tyler Spratt, Vincent Lee, Lee Hardy, Connor Childress, Daemon Eubanks, Dwayne Ray, Lamar Walls, and Donovan Williams coming back for Coach Tom Negoshian. Program strength looks very solid. North Farmington has really toughen their non-conference schedule with a ton of showcase games. The postseason path for the Raiders will be a challenge especially in the regionals but they are more than capable to get to the Breslin Center but they have to overcome the regional to do that this season.
FERNDALE EAGLES
Last Season: 21-4, 11-0 Red. Lost 82-71 to Grand Rapids Catholic Central in Division Two State Semifinals.
Top Player: Cameron Reed-G
Key Player: Chris Williams-F
Wildcard: Jayden Hardiman-F
Biggest Question: Can the Eagles get back to Breslin Again???
INSIGHT: The Eagles have made the Division Two State Semifinals in the last two years falling to Grand Rapids Catholic Central in both years. Ferndale lost their two top players from last season to graduation and their path back to the Breslin Center is going to be very challenging. They are in a very tough district with a ton of proven teams at an unknown site. Coach Juan Rickman has done a very good job especially in the last two years when it comes to program strength however in future years it will be a concern. The Eagles have Cameron Reed, Chris Williams, Jacoby Jackson, Trenton Ruth, Maurice Booth, and Caleb Renfroe. They added a transfer in Jayden Hardiman. Hardiman transferred from Warren Mott this offseason where he was all Macomb County last season. The non-conference looks very interesting with Rickman playing a ton of showcase games to get his team ready for the postseason. Expect big things from the Eagles this season in the Red but the postseason path is a very difficult one but it’s something that Rickman and his program are use too.
OAK PARK KNIGHTS
Last Season: 15-6, 8-4 Red. Lost 67-66 to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit in District Finals.
Top Player: Geon Hutchins-G
Key Player: LuJuan Holliday-G
Wildcard: Soloman White-G
Biggest Question: Can the Knights overcome Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit???
INSIGHT: The Knights have had a very successful two years under Coach Durand Sheppard. They have been near or the top of the Red and have had some big wins as well during this stretch. The problem has not been the league it has been the postseason. Oak Park has not been able to beat Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit in the postseason. The Cubs have been the kryptonite to the Knights and have prevented them from having a deep postseason run. They are in the same district again come this postseason. Oak Park has Geon Hutchins, LuJuan Holliday, Soloman White, Kevin Tolliver, Robert Smith, and Jason Harns coming back for Sheppard. Program strength is a concern this season. They should be in the Red conversation but until they can overcome their Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit problem then deep postseason runs could be out of the question for now.
CLARKSTON WOLVES
Last Season: 14-10, 5-7 Red. Lost 52-46 to Novi Detroit Catholic Central in Regional Finals.
Top Player: John Kaul-G
Key Player: Brayden Wiley-G
Wildcard: Brody Kosin-F
Biggest Question: Can the Wolves find a bench???
INSIGHT: The Wolves have always been a traditional power and this season it’s no different. Clarkston has been very consistent as a program. It was very unusual to see this proud program with 10 losses despite making it to the regional finals last season. The Wolves don’t really have that true star player which means it will be like a workman approach. Clarkston has John Kaul, Brayden Wiley, Cavanaugh Diton, Desman Stephens, Zach Scherler, Brody Kosin, Matthew Pflieger, and Cole Church coming back for Coach Tim Waslik. Brady Beck could be a player to watch. Program strength looks very solid. The bench will be an area of concern despite having a ton of proven depth. They tend to usually go between six or seven deep which is very unusual. The Wolves should be in the mix for a deep postseason run this season.
ADAMS HIGHLANDERS
Last Season: 14-9, 6-6 Red. Lost 64-46 to Clarkston in Regional Semifinals.
Top Player: Brady Prieskorn-F
Key Player: Peter Karkasis-G
Wildcard: Drew Blackmeir-G
Biggest Question: Can the Highlanders find last season’s success???
INSIGHT: The Highlanders are in a very interesting spot this season. They lost a ton of talent from last season but in talking to Adams Athletic Director Brian Hossler he said that he expects the Highlanders to play more like a team. Adams has Brady Prieskorn, Peter Karkasis, Drew Blackmeir, Jack Donohoe, and Nathan Kim coming back for Coach Jaret Thomas. Program strength is very strong with the Highlanders this season. Adams has looked very good in the summer leagues. They should be in the mix in the Red this season.
White
EARLY THOUGHTS: The White looks to be a very interesting division when it comes to the teams. West Bloomfield comes from the Red and they bring a ton of proven experience. Farmington also comes from the Red where they should be better after having a very tough year last season. Troy has a ton of proven experience coming back. Groves has a new coach but a solid program to work with. Bloomfield Hills has a new coach but has the best player in the division. Lake Orion should be very interesting. The Dragons have three starters coming back but is the great unknown. This division should be very interesting as mentioned.
TROY COLTS
Last Season: 13-10, 4-4 White. Lost 59-28 to Warren De LaSalle in District Finals.
Top Player: Darius Whiteside-F
Key Player: Zach Penoza-G
Wildcard: Mason Parker-G
Biggest Question: Can the Colts put it all together???
INSIGHT: The Colts were very young last season. They should be very good this season. Troy has several proven players in Darius Whiteside, Zach Penoza, Chaise Kupier, Jon Whiteside, Carter Cusmano, Mason Parker, Bryce Parker, Kyle Parker, and Nate Liberty coming back for Coach Gary Fralick. Program strength looks solid for the Colts. They have everything lined up for a special run. The district is very manageable. They have enough proven experience to have a special season.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS BLACKHAWKS
Last Season: 16-5, 6-2 White. Lost 78-53 to Orchard Lake St. Marys in District Semifinals.
Top Player: Noah Adamcyzk-G
Key Player: Brandon Newland-F
Wildcard: CJ Jackson-G
Biggest Question: Can the Blackhawks find a bench???
INSIGHT: The Blackhawks have shared the White the last two years so you would assume they would go to the Red however that wasn’t the case as they stayed in the White this season. They have a new coach in Brian Canfield taking over the program. Canfield knows the program really well. Bloomfield Hills has their top scorer in Noah Adamcyzk coming back. Adamcyzk has averaged over 20 points per game last season. The Blackhawks also have Ahmad Taylor, Henry Jackson, CJ Jackson, and Brandon Newland coming back for Canfield. Program strength looks to be solid for Bloomfield Hills. They should be in the mix but there are some danger signs to watch though which could be concerns as well.
WEST BLOOMFIELD LAKERS
Last Season: 4-16, 2-10 Red. Lost 60-46 to Bloomfield Hills in First Round.
Top Player: Mitchell Seay-G
Key Player: Jayden Jones-G
Wildcard: Isisiah Bryant-G
Biggest Question: How will the Lakers do in the White???
INSIGHT: It was a very rough year for the Lakers winning four games last season. They come from the Red which they were a part of for a long while. West Bloomfield should be in line for a much better season. They have Mitchell Seay, Jayden Jones, Evan Ammori, Isisiah Bryant, Terrance Curry, Adam Shewcraft, and Louis Johnson coming back for Coach Arnette Jordon. Program strength looks to be solid for the Lakers. They are in a very tough district this season. It should be very interesting to see how West Bloomfield does in the White this season.
LAKE ORION DRAGONS
Last Season: 15-7, 6-2 White. Lost 52-46 to Adams in District Finals
Top Player: Blake Liddell-F
Key Player: DJ Morrow-G
Wildcard: Kaydon DeGraffenreid-F
Biggest Question: Can the Dragons be on the same page???
INSIGHT: It was a very weird year for the Dragons which saw a coaching change mid-season along with sharing the White and getting to the district finals is a heck of an accomplishment last season. Lake Orion should be very interesting under Coach Jose Andrades in his first full season leading the Dragons. Lake Orion has Nate Havrilla, Blake Liddell, DJ Morrow, and Kevin Tobe coming back for Andrades. Kaydon DeGraffenreid and Ryan Rocheleau could be a players to watch. Program strength is a concern for Andrades. If the Dragons have that chip on the shoulder then they could be a force this season.
FARMINGTON FALCONS
Last Season: 2-19, 0-12 Red. Lost 73-61 to Southfield Arts and Tech in First Round.
Top Player: Jaden Turner-G
Key Player: Luke Donehue-F
Wildcard: Tony Tobert-G
Biggest Question: Can the Falcons bounce back after a rough year last season???
INSIGHT: It was a very tough year for the Falcons which saw two wins last season. Farmington has some optimism coming into this season. They are in the White and have a bunch of proven experience. The Falcons have Jaden Turner, Tony Tobert, Luke Donehue, Nick Morgan, Chris Boyd, and Logan Robinson coming back for Coach Derrick McDowell. Program strength is a concern for McDowell coming into the season. Farmington should be better as mentioned, now it’s time to prove it.
GROVES FALCONS
Last Season: 13-8, 4-4 White. Lost 59-41 to Birmingham Brother Rice in District Semifinals.
Top Player: Elijah Yelder-G
Key Player: Jack Abbott-G
Wildcard: Josh Gibson-G
Biggest Question: How will the Falcons adjust to new coach Marc West???
INSIGHT: The Falcons had a good year winning 13 games last season. The postseason bugaboos have really bothered them falling to Birmingham Brother Rice in the last two years. Groves made some changes this offseason. They have a new coach but its a familiar one in Marc West. West has coached at Groves and brings a ton of college experience being an assistant. He knows the program inside and out. The Falcons have Elijah Yelder, Jack Abbott, Max Kramer, Josh Gibson, Max Young, Myles McClary, and Brody Tushman coming back. Program strength is a big concern for West. Groves is a very young team but under West they should turn things around real quickly. They should be a very interesting team to watch this season.
Blue
EARLY THOUGHTS: It is very odd that the Blue has seven teams this season. Stoney Creek has a ton of proven experience coming back but they also have a new coach. Seaholm should be better and they are always scrappy. Royal Oak comes from the Gold and are looking to prove themselves. Rochester looks to be solid after having a really strong summer. Troy Athens has several returners coming back after an odd season. Oxford is a sleeper in this division. They have a star player in the wings. Berkley has a star player but role players are a question mark. This should be a very interesting division with each team bringing different styles to the division.
STONEY CREEK COUGARS
Last Season: 6-15, 0-8 White. Lost 57-39 to Rochester in First Round.
Top Player: Peyton Rummler-F
Key Player: Tre Walker-G
Wildcard: Jonah McCay-F
Biggest Question: How will the Cougars adjust to a new system???
INSIGHT: It was very tough for the Cougars last season but there are some changes that happened this offseason. They are in a new division and have a new coach. Stoney Creek named Jeff Olind their new head coach. He comes from Warren Mott and led the Mauraders to greatness during his time with the program. Olind takes over a program that has proven experience in Peyton Rummler and Tre Walker. Stoney Creek also has Jonah McCay, Tommasso Sincola, Emilio Villafuerte, and Jacob Watson coming back. Program strength looks to be solid for Olind. The transition period will be a challenge early but once they get all in sync with one another then look out. Stoney Creek is the early favorite in the Blue for good reason, experience everywhere with this program.
ROCHESTER FALCONS
Last Season: 15-7, 7-3 Blue. Lost 56-33 to Adams in District Semifinals.
Top Player: Elijah Kalaj-G
Key Player: Kharmani Potts-F
Wildcard: Alex Bueno-G
Biggest Question: Can the Falcons keep the momentum going???
INSIGHT: The Falcons made a ton of strides in winning 15 games last season. Can Rochester keep the momentum will be the question heading into this season??? The Falcons lost some proven experience to graduation last season. They have Elijah Kalaj, Kharmani Potts, Joe Lulgjuraj, Jayden Bolden, Grant Calcagno, and Alex Bueno coming back for Coach Nick Evola. Kalaj has made a name for himself this summer while Bueno, Potts, Bolden, and Calcagno led the Rochester football program to their first postseason win in school history over Stoney Creek this past season for Coach Eric Vernon. Program strength is a bit of a concern for Evola. Rochester should be a player in the Blue with the proven experience they have this season.
SEAHOLM MAPLES
Last Season: 8-12, 6-4 Blue. Lost 41-35 to Groves in First Round.
Top Player: Ben Diskin-G
Key Player: Jeff Sheldon-G
Wildcard: Ricky Sparby-G
Biggest Question: Can the Maples keep improving???
INSIGHT: The Maples are traditionally a scrappy bunch and they should be a scrappy bunch again this season. Seaholm really struggled overall winning eight games but six were in the Blue which was an odyssey. They still have to overcome their arch rival which will be very interesting if they meet in the postseason. The Maples have a lot of proven experience Ben Diskin, Jeff Sheldon, Findlay Sparby, Ricky Sparby, Rishi Thota, and Abe Miller coming back for Coach Mike DeGeeter. Program strength looks to be very solid for DeGeeter this season. This group a few years ago had a very successful season when they were freshman and could be in line to repeat that same magic. Seaholm is a dark horse in the Blue. The Maples could surprise some people this season.
BERKLEY BEARS
Last Season: 13-9, 5-5 Blue. Lost 67-35 to Oak Park in District Semifinals.
Top Player: Tamir Runkenvich-G
Key Player: Jacob Sheriff-G
Wildcard: Hunter Robinson-F
Biggest Question: Can the Bears a secondary scorer to Runkenvich???
INSIGHT: The Bears have been playing very good basketball in the last three years. They haven’t had good luck when it comes to the postseason. Berkley should be very interesting with where they are as a program. The Bears have their top player in Tamir Runkenvich coming back. He had a break out year and is expected to continue that path this season. Secondary scoring a concern for Coach Joe Sermo but there are some options with Jacob Sheriff, Luke Winter, David Rolands, Riley Shafritz, Ian Smith, and Hunter Robinson coming back for Sermo. Program strength has really improved in the last two years for Sermo. They just need better luck come postseason time though but this should be a very good basketball team.
OXFORD WILDCATS
Last Season: 10-13, 5-5 Blue. Lost 66-32 to Grand Blanc in District Finals.
Top Player: Jake Champaigne-G
Key Player: Dominic Cassisse-G
Wildcard: Jay Cady-F
Biggest Question: Can the Wildcats find some size???
INSIGHT: The Wildcats have always been a tough team and they should be this season. Oxford is in a very tough district for the second straight year after making the district finals last season. The Wildcats have had a strong summer especially Jake Champaigne. Champaigne has averaged over 40 points per game during the summer. His backcourt mate and starting quarterback Dominic Cassisse whom played on their junior varsity last season is also expected to make some noise as well for Coach Steve Laidlaw. Laidlaw also has Lucas Botette, Drew Kady, Jay Kady, Dylan Stone, Kyle DiMalanta, and Keaton Lynn coming back. Size is a big concern for Laidlaw this season. Program strength should be solid. Expect Oxford to go more up and down this season.
TROY ATHENS RED HAWKS
Last Season: 11-10, 5-5 Blue. Lost 34-31 to Troy in District Semifinals.
Top Player: Emmanuel Robinson-G
Key Player: Brogan Withun-F
Wildcard: Kyrie Harper-G
Biggest Question: Can the Red Hawks find more height beside Withun???
INSIGHT: The Red Hawks could be a very interesting team if they keep making strides this season. Troy Athens was above 500 despite having some struggles last season. There is a nice blend of youth and experience for Coach Dave Scott. They have Emmanuel Robinson, Brogan Withun, Doug Mersier, Evan Colquhoun, Alex Proekee, and Kyrie Harper coming back for Scott. Program strength is a concern for Troy Athens. The Red Hawks are a great mystery this season.
ROYAL OAK RAVENS
Last Season: 13-8, 5-3 Gold. Lost 59-35 to Detroit Renaissance in First Round.
Top Player: Camden Clark-G
Key Player: Davis Arbeiter-F
Wildcard: Dylan Hoffman-G
Biggest Question: How will the Ravens do in the Blue???
INSIGHT: The Ravens have really been struggling as a program in the last five years. There was some promise with winning a league crown and gaining some much needed confidence. They made a huge step by winning the Gold last season. Royal Oak has some questions coming into this season especially with how they will do in a different division with much better teams. The Ravens have some proven experience in Camden Clark, Davis Arbeiter, and Dylan Hoffman coming back for Coach Aaron Smith. Program strength is a big concern for Smith. Royal Oak will have to rely on Hoffman, Clark, and Arbeiter to win games. They should be a very interesting team to watch this season with the changes.
Gold
EARLY THOUGHTS: The Gold should be very interesting this season. Southfield Arts and Tech has a new coach and a ton of proven experience. Avondale has really improved this summer and should be a player this season. Harper Woods should be solid in year two in the OAA. The Pioneers are coming off a district title from last season. Ferndale University looks much improved and are primed to make the next step in the division. Pontiac should be in line for a bounce back year after really struggling last season. The Gold should be very interesting as mentioned. Anyone can win this division.
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH WARRIORS
Last Season: 7-15, 2-8 Blue. Lost 50-47 to Livonia Stevenson in District Semifinals.
Top Player: Bryce Hewins-G
Key Player: Davier Burt-G
Wildcard: Juwan Ramsey-G
Biggest Question: How will the Warriors adjust under a new coach???
INSIGHT: The Warriors made some big changes this offseason after going down from the Red to the Gold in a span of four years. They have a new coach in former Farmington Coach Terrance Porter. Porter was an assistant with his younger brother TaJuan at Harper Woods last season. He will see his brother in the division twice this season. Southfield Arts and Tech really struggled last season. They should be better with Bryce Hewins, Davier Burt, Quantie Pryor, Ethan Taylor, Kayel Sims, Nicholas Hardy, Matt Young, and Juwan Ramsey coming back. Program strength is a concern for Porter this season. They are one of the favorites in the Gold but can they adjust to the new system and there is a transition period that has to happen and for the Warriors it has to happen during the season.
HARPER WOODS PIONEERS
Last Season: 13-10, 5-3 Gold. Lost 64-46 to Detroit Pershing in Regional Semifinals.
Top Player: Julian Young-G
Key Player: Stephone Buford-G
Wildcard: DeAndre Williams-G
Biggest Question: Can the Pioneers compete against Division One Teams come in the postseason???
INSIGHT: The Pioneers had a tale of two seasons in their first year in the OAA. Harper Woods really struggled early but improved late which earned them a district crown. They were in Division Two last season but now they are in Division One thanks to an enrollment hike and in a very tough district this postseason. The Pioneers have some experience which should help in Julian Young, Stephone Buford, Isiah Lewis, and DeAndre Williams coming back for Coach TaJuan Porter. Program strength looks to be solid for Harper Woods. The key should be the start and if they can adjust and keep improving each game then they will be ready once the postseason comes.
AVONDALE YELLOW JACKETS
Last Season: 10-12, 4-4 Gold. Lost 69-32 to Clarkston in District Semifinals.
Top Player: Justin Sykes-F
Key Player: Malik Adams-G
Wildcard: Dequarius Moody-G
Biggest Question: Can the Yellow Jackets make some noise in the postseason???
INSIGHT: If there is a program with a ton of optimism this season this is it. The Yellow Jackets were very young last season but what they have done this summer has been very impressive. Avondale has Justin Sykes, Malik Adams, Denzel White, Tyler Prentice, Terry Daniel, Issac Gordon, DJ White, Darren Pagel, and Jeremiah Phillips coming back for Coach Pat Clancy. A few players to watch that could make some noise are Anthony Burton and Dequarius Moody. Program strength is a bit of a concern for Clancy and should be something to watch. The Yellow Jackets have a very interesting district come postseason time where they could give someone problems. They are a sleeper in the Gold this season.
FERNDALE UNIVERSITY EAGLES
Last Season: 7-13, 4-4 Gold. Lost 65-61 in overtime to Detroit Jalen Rose Academy in First Round.
Top Player: Semaj McGhee-G
Key Player: Rasheed Jones-F
Wildcard: Chris Kendrix-G
Biggest Question: Can the Eagles keep building as a program???
INSIGHT: The Eagles have been making big strides as a program. They won seven games and battled tough with Detroit Jalen Rose Academy which went overtime in the postseason last season. Ferndale University should be a sleeper in the Gold this season because of proven experience. They have Semaj McGhee, Rasheed Jones, Chris Kendrix, Semaj Clark, Cordea McAllister, Antione Owens, Pierce Sanders, Zakaria Sillah, Jonathan King, and Damir Orr coming back for Coach Josh Nicks. Nicks has done a very nice job with the program and has toughen up the non-conference. Program strength is a concern and if they can get three teams then it will improve the program even further going forward.
PONTIAC PHOENIX
Last Season: 2-10, 2-6 Gold. Lost 71-34 to Waterford Mott in District Semifinals.
Top Player: Davion Hall-G
Key Player: Tyree Long-G
Wildcard: Carter Douglass-F
Biggest Question: Can the Phoenix find some depth to go with their three top players???
INSIGHT: It was a very unusual for the Phoenix to struggle this much winning two games last season. Pontiac only played 12 games which was also unusual. The Phoenix should be better with the proven experience they have. Pontiac has Davion Hall, Tyree Long, and Carter Douglass coming back for Coach Damion O’Neil. Program strength is a question mark for the Phoenix this season. Pontiac really needs a bounce back season in the worst way possible.
by orionontv | Dec 5, 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.
Sunday, December 4, 2022
Written Sunday December 4th at 10:20 AM
Here are my thoughts of each team coming into the week. I will do this weekly with both girls and boys basketball so without further a do here they are.
Oak Park: The Knights are coming off a blowout loss to Detroit University Prep on Tuesday. Oak Park still has some concerns regarding scoring and defense. They really struggled last season and it looks like they have not addressed those issues. There are some concerns with this team.
Ferndale: I can’t really judge the Eagles since they haven’t played a game yet.
Pontiac: The Phoenix scoring nine points against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep is a cause of serious concern and with a really tough non conference schedule looming which includes Lake Orion and Troy Athens that could be pretty challenging for Coach Rawelle Marshall. Pontiac has going through a really tough stretch right now.
Ferndale University: The Eagles did not look very good on Tuesday against Hazel Park only scoring 14 points. That is a serious concern for Coach Brianna Rowe. They have two games looming this week that they need to bounce back. If Ferndale University plays like they did against Hazel Park then they could be in some trouble. The Eagles need to get back on track and quick.
Avondale: The Yellow Jackets are in a ton of trouble right now. I watched the film and they had six girls in their opening game loss to Warren Mott then they ran into Riley Abney and Ortonville Brandon and fell by 18 points. Avondale really needs to address some issues defensively if they want to get things back on track.
Farmington: The Falcons have been very competitive lately and that’s a good sign. They held Waterford Mott to five points in the second half on Friday which is a great sign. Yasmine Thorpe is off to a very strong start for Farmington. Thorpe has averaged 17.5 points per game in their two games thus far. The Falcons need more from Carissa Hankins, she has averaged eight points per game in the last two games. There are a ton of positives for Farmington and Coach Laura Guzman and that’s a good sign going forward.
Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks didn’t look great for three quarters in their game on Friday but the 19 point fourth quarter and fight Bloomfield Hills showed in their one point loss to Seaholm proves that this is a much different Blackhawks squad. Ashley Forner and Ruby Smith are much better than last season. There is a reason why Bloomfield Hills is favored in the Blue and the Blackhawks showed it. Coach Kristen Massey’s team is fine, no reason to panic.
Adams: The Highlanders might be better than I thought. They had a really good win over Lapeer and was a steal away from winning over Lakeland. Morgan McPherson has really taking on a leadership role. She has been playing really well for Coach Joe Malburg. Samantha Blaine has also played very well as well. Adams will rely on their defense which has been really good. The schedule will get tough for the Highlanders with two city rivals looming this week.
Troy Athens: The Red Hawks are a much improved team from last season where they won six games. Skylar Emerson is a completely different player and is more comfortable at point guard. She was very impressive in their win over Walled Lake Western and was huge against Farmington and Royal Oak Shrine. Emerson had 21 points in their win over Farmington. Rebech Delia and Abby Malone have also shown significant improvement as well. Ellie Musko has had moments of greatness, she had 14 points against Royal Oak Shrine. Alex Link has also been solid for Coach Stacie Klumpp. Troy Athens has played very well in their three games. The schedule will get tough for the Red Hawks when they have arch rival Troy looming this week. Troy Athens is in a very good spot right now.
Harper Woods: I can’t really judge the Pioneers since they haven’t played a game yet.
Seaholm: The Maples are really lucky they are not 0-2 right now. Seaholm almost blew a 15 point lead against Bloomfield Hills and was blown out by Stoney Creek. The last two games are not a good sign with Groves, Clarkston, and Saline still on the non conference schedule. On the bright side Addy Flynn is off to a nice start for Coach Chris Manchester averaging 15 points per game. Seaholm can fix this but the danger signs are clearly there.
Royal Oak: The Ravens are better than what I expected. I really like how Royal Oak plays basketball. Lucy Freytag is a solid player along with Anna Waterstedt and Emily Walden. Lydia Dickens is a star in the making, she can shoot the three well and is a very good rebounder. Also the Ravens are back to playing their traditional defensive principals. The Walled Lake Northern loss ended up being a good loss for Coach Brian Sopota and his team. I think Royal Oak could make some serious noise in the White.
Berkley: The Bears have me very concerned. The Utica Eisenhower loss was okay but the Royal Oak Shrine loss has me worried going forward. Mya Jones didn’t play against Royal Oak Shrine but they have other players whom can pick it up. Berkley if they can’t get things together then they could be in trouble but a long break should help them going forward and to get some confidence back in the team.
North Farmington: The Raiders are off to a good start with two wins over Southfield Arts and Tech and Walled Lake Central. Sela Lefler and Penelope Creary are the big reason for the 2-0 start. Lefler had 19 points against Southfield Arts and Tech and 25 against Walled Lake Central. She has averaged 22 points per game. Creary had 14 points against Southfield Arts and Tech and 12 points against Walled Lake Central and has averaged 13 points per game. North Farmington needs third and fourth scoring which really concerns me with Coach Jeff Simpson’s team. It is really hard to rely on Lefler and Creary night in and night out, Simpson needs that third and fourth scorer to stand out if the Raiders want to make some noise this season.
Oxford: The Wildcats had a very emotional week. They lost a tough one to Lake Orion then earned a big win over Lapeer but the statement they sent to the State when they went into Birmingham Marian and Mary Cicerone Court to stun the Mustangs by 11 points that says a lot. Myranda Wyniemko has been playing outstanding. Nevaeh Wood and Sophia Raab have had their moments as has Peyton Ritcher but the play of Allison Hufstedler has been the key for Coach Rachel Bryer. She has played very consistent and has been the glue of the team. Oxford has North Branch looming this week. The Wildcats are a serious player in the White and also in their district which has Grand Blanc, Lapeer, and Davison.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors have been struggling defensively which is a big concern. In their two losses to North Farmington and Wixom St. Catherine Sienna Academy they have allowed 54 points per game. This is an area that Coach Shaquita Coltrane needs to address. Jaylin Austin has been playing well for Southfield Arts and Tech. The Warriors have Romulus looming this week, it should be winnable for them. It will be interesting to see where Southfield Arts and Tech goes but the defense needs to be fixed.
Troy: The Colts are a very young team where they rely a ton of freshman and sophomores but they have two good wins over Waterford Kettering and Holly. Troy has a very good freshman in Diamond Prince. Prince is a solid dribble driver and good three point shooter. She has averaged 16 points per game in her three games this season. Reagan Zeiter is a very good proven shooter along with Charlotte Guillion one of their three seniors. It is going to be a long year Troy but the future is bright especially with the classes coming into the program in the middle school levels.
Groves: The Falcons had everything in place to get their first win of the season in Novi on Friday night then a 15-1 run hit in the fourth quarter and Groves fell 41-35 to the Wildcats. There are some concerns to watch for Coach Allison Hidey and her program. This week is a big week for the program if they want to turn things around.
Stoney Creek: The Cougars have been quietly going along with their business. Sarah LaPrarie, Mia Carson, and Erin Flynn have been as good as advertised but I’ve been really impressed with Lily Solek. Her size makes up for a lot of the lack of height for Coach Kellen James. Solek played well in their win over South Lyon. Merrick Schwalbach has been playing very good off the bench and Kelsi Butcher has been solid as well. There is a lot to like about “Team Finebaum.” They have some really tricky but manageable games looming this week. If Stoney Creek can keep building on their depth then look out.
Clarkston: Elli Roback looks to be the real deal for the Wolves. She can dribble drive and shoot the three on a consistent basis. Roback has averaged 16 points per game in their two wins over Novi and Saginaw Heritage. Ava Hernandez has played very well in her first full season fully healthy. Kierra Tolmie, Emily Velicina, and Claire Walker have had moments. We will know more about Clarkston when they play Macomb Dakota and Chelsea is a very tricky game as well. The Wolves are rolling on all cylinders.
Rochester: Well besides the turnover and mistake prone disaster against Farmington Hills Mercy the Falcons got themselves back on track against Milford winning 33-18. Rochester relies on Alice Max and Kiley Robinson in games a bit too much which is a concern. They haven’t scored over 35 which is a concern but the defense looks very good where they are allowing 22.5 points per game. Guard play will be the key going forward for Rochester whom has a tough week which includes a tough one with a very good Utica Ford II program that looms.
Lake Orion: The Dragons haven’t missed a beat from last season’s district title run. Lake Orion is the deepest team in Oakland County for good reason. The win over Oxford is huge for this program. Would like to see more of that depth develop and there is a good chance that could happen in the future. The Dragons are certainly a player right now.
West Bloomfield: The Lakers look like they are the real deal. The Hendrix and Davis sisters looked dominant on all phases against South Lyon East. They can shoot, rebound, play fast, and play a physical brand of basketball. Depth is their biggest weakness. If teams can get both the Hendrix and Davis sisters in foul trouble or if they run into a very tight officiating crew then it could get very interesting. West Bloomfield has things clicking on all cylinders.
