Girls Basketball Top 23.

Written Saturday January 29th at 10:00 AM

Here is the girls basketball top 23 for the week.

1. West Bloomfield (12-1): Lakers have been rolling and taking names.

2. Clarkston (8-5): Emily Valencia is the wildcard for the Wolves.

3. Stoney Creek (9-4): Sydney LaPrarie has played lights out for “Team Finebaum.”

4. Rochester (10-2): Falcons control their destiny in the White.

5. Lake Orion (12-2): Dragons are a much different team with Kylie Heck.

6. Oxford (5-4): Wildcats are getting better very quickly.

7. Seaholm (10-3): Maples control their destiny in the Blue.

8. Harper Woods (11-1): Pioneers have been shaky a little bit.

9. Berkley (6-5): Ashley Loon, enough said.

10. Groves (7-6): Kaitlyn Sanders needs to be the Falcons top player to win games.

11. North Farmington (7-7): Raiders are a Jekyll and Hyde right now.

12. Adams (4-6): Highlanders have been playing better lately.

13. Farmington (5-6): Loss to Harper Woods hurts Falcons Blue title hopes.

14. Troy Athens (4-10): Red Hawks are really struggling right now.

15. Troy (4-9): Kendal Zeiter is doing everything she can to help the Colts win games.

16. Avondale (4-7): Yellow Jackets have been playing much better basketball.

17. Ferndale University (6-3): Eagles are a Jekyll and Hyde right now.

18. Southfield Arts and Tech (5-10): Warriors are 1-10 in their last 11 games, not good.

19. Bloomfield Hills (3-8): Blackhawks are slowly getting better.

20. Royal Oak (2-10): Ravens really struggling to score right now.

21. Pontiac (2-6): Phoenix are starting to make some progress.

22. Oak Park (2-7): Knights are still a hard team to figure out.

23. Ferndale (0-11): Eagles are making some progress.

Boys Basketball Top 23.

Written Saturday January 29th at 9:15 AM

Updated to include the forfeit wins over Warren Fitzgerald for Harper Woods and Southfield Arts and Tech on Wednesday February 2nd at 1:00 PM.

Here are the rankings.

1. Ferndale (8-2): Treyvon Lewis is a Mr. Michigan basketball candidate.

2. North Farmington (10-2): Raiders haven’t played in a week. Using time to rest up for the stretch run.

3. Bloomfield Hills (10-2): I’m really surprised that colleges haven’t paid attention. There are a ton of talented Blackhawks on the roster.

4. Clarkston (8-3): Wolves have had a ton of close games lately.

5. Oak Park (8-3): Knights on the verge of taking off big time.

6. Adams (6-5): Peter Kadrdais is the wildcard for the Highlanders.

7. Berkley (8-3): Tamir Runinkevich’s buzzer beater has changed the Blue race for now.

8. Rochester (8-2): Falcons still control their destiny in the Blue.

9. Lake Orion (8-4): Malachi Grandberry has been the X Factor for the Dragons.

10. Oxford (5-5): Wildcats are a player in the Blue.

11. Groves (7-3): Falcons need more from Nick Lurz if they want to make some noise.

12. Troy (6-6): Colts are gaining balance and confidence heading into a huge one on Tuesday.

13. Ferndale University (4-6): Eagles might be the best team in the Gold.

14. Avondale (4-7): Yellow Jackets have had a nice week. Starting to turn things around a little bit.

15. Royal Oak (5-5): Ravens have been very inconsistent.

16. Troy Athens (4-6): Red Hawks have played two very good teams. Will be a sleeper in the Blue.

17. Stoney Creek (5-7): Evan Taras has been the Cougars best player as of late.

18. Seaholm (3-9): Jon Chinosis will be the key for the Maples going forward.

19. Southfield Arts and Tech (4-8): Warriors are at a crossroads in their season.

20. West Bloomfield (2-9): Lakers are battling and competing that’s all you have to ask.

21. Pontiac (1-4): Daveon Hall has been the Phoenix best player lately.

22. Harper Woods (3-8): Pioneers are not adjusting well to life in the OAA.

23. Farmington (2-9): Scoring 18 points is just not acceptable in the Red, Falcons.

Keenest takes over at Holly.

Written Wednesday January 26th at 8:40 AM

Updated Wednesday January 26th at 10:15 AM

In a surprising move there will be a new coach at Troy Athens next season.

Coach Billy Keenest has stepped down at Troy Athens and accepted the coaching position at Holly. 

“Over the last four seasons there have been a few things I have enjoyed more than being your head coach. Leading the Red Hawks has been an incredible experience in my life and I won’t forget Hawk mornings, practices, Friday night lights, some of the greatest memories I will ever have. Over the last few years life has taken me in many directions and to new opportunities. Today I am resigning as your head football coach. I will always love the Hawks and forever have red and gold in my heart. I want to thank all of my former players first and foremost. I love you guys more than you know. Secondly to all our assistant coaches I love you guys and appreciate all your hard work. The fine board is still running. Thank you so much to the parents who have supported me and this program. I’m sad to leave Athens but it’s time to move on. Thank you and GO HAWKS.” Keenest said on Twitter to Red Hawk nation on Tuesday.

Keenest was 11-22 in his four seasons at Troy Athens. He also spent one season at Berkley in 2016.

Keenest was the offensive coordinator at Troy Athens under then coach Josh Heppner for a time. He also played his high school football at Oxford under Bud Rowley.

The Red Hawks should a pretty good team despite losing Keenest. They will be in the Blue next season. Whoever comes to Troy Athens has a ton of experience on both lines with linemen Alex Afhan and Luke Summerall coming back along with linebacker Jaden Najm on the defensive side of the football. The offense will be very interesting to see if they keep the same offense or go with something different. They need to find a quarterback but have proven skill players wide receivers Austin Pokley and Noah Vivian along with running back Anthony Ashor coming back as well. Program strength looks to be getting better with Troy Athens and it will be very important for the new coach to keep the program at a high level.

It will be very interesting to see what happens with Troy Athens football program and who becomes the new head coach next season.

 

Thoughts

I was very surprised to see Keenest leave Troy Athens after four years coaching the program. Keenest is not the first OAA coach to leave for the Flint Metro League. Coach Brad Zube left Stoney Creek to take the Brandon job in 2017.  Holly is a very interesting program. The Bronchos are 19-33 since 2016. The Flint Metro League has a ton of proven challengers in Lake Fenton, Brandon, Linden, and Fenton. Holly will be going through a transition period and should be one of the teams to watch next season. The Red Hawks should be pretty good next season with the experience coming back but whoever takes over the program

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

Oxford High School Reopens.

Written Monday January 24th at 1:10 AM

Monday will be a major step in the healing process for Oxford.

Oxford High School will be in session for in person learning for the first time since that dark day seven weeks ago.

The school has been refurbished. There has been messages of love and support along with encouragement from the Oxford community.

Oxford athletics has also been very important in the healing process. The boys bowling and wrestling teams whom lost teammates in the tragedy won the Oakland County Championship in their respective sports. Also one of the survivors who plays boys basketball returned to active competition and got a standing ovation earlier this month.

The support and love from other communities has been tremendous from Lake Orion, Clarkston, Rochester, Lapeer, and many others throughout the State.

The MHSAA has designated February 4th to be Oxford Strong Day. They are selling Oxford Strong T-Shirts with 80 percent of the proceeds going to Oxford High School and the Oxford community. The MHSAA has also encouraged schools throughout the State to dedicate February in support of the Oxford community.

Reading from a message on YouTube by Wildcats Principal Steven Wolf. Wolf used a powerful message from Doctor Martin Luther King. King said that “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

Monday will be a test for the students, staff, and everyone involved but it’s a test they will win.