Written Sunday February 27th at 11:45 AM
Updated Friday March 4th at 11:10 AM
Here are the Boys Basketball district matchups and early thoughts. My co-host Ian Locke and I will talk these districts more on the podcast.
District 4 @ Davison
OXFORD vs Flint Kearsley
OXFORD/Flint Kearsley vs Davison
Lapeer vs Grand Blanc
EARLY THOUGHTS: This is a very interesting district at Davison. Grand Blanc is the overwhelming favorite despite being the defending Division One State Champs and having key wins against very good teams like Ferndale and Flint Beecher. There are some teams that could give the Bobcats some trouble in this district. Davison and Lapeer played Grand Blanc very tough in the Saginaw Valley League and it's hard to beat a team twice or three times a year. Oxford is the darkhorse with everything they have went through in the last four months emotionally and mentally. The Wildcats have a very interesting matchup with Flint Kearsley in the first round. If Oxford can beat the Hornets then they would play Davison in the district semifinals. The Wildcats are playing with everything to gain and nothing to lose. The Bobcats have a rematch with the Lightning in the district semifinals which is a very interesting matchup. Until otherwise though this is Grand Blanc's district to lose.
District 5 @ Romeo
STONEY CREEK vs ROCHESTER
STONEY CREEK/ROCHESTER vs ADAMS
Romeo vs Utica Eisenhower
Romeo/Utica Eisenhower vs LAKE ORION
EARLY THOUGHTS: This is setting up to be a very interesting district at Romeo. Adams is the early favorite with the experience they have. The Highlanders won 11 games in the tough Red and have the number two seed. Lake Orion has been a very interesting story this season. The Dragons changed coaches during mid-season and have turned things around. They shared the White and is the top seed in the district. Rochester had a rough patch of injuries but they have turned things around to win the Blue. Stoney Creek will be a tough out for anyone. The Cougars are scrappy and battle tested in the White. Romeo has been hot and cold despite winning the MAC White. The Bulldogs have been playing around 500 lately in the MAC Tournament. Utica Eisenhower has also been hot and cold this season and have also been playing 500 in the MAC Tournament. If Adams wants to get back to the district finals they would have to repeat their Rochester dominance against their city rivals to get there and the Falcons will be healthy if they meet in the district semifinals. Utica Eisenhower and Romeo split their MAC White matchups so that will be a very interesting first round matchup. Whoever wins that matchup will have a very interesting matchup with Lake Orion in the district semifinals. If it's the Bulldogs then the Dragons could face the same situation that the Stoney Creek girls basketball team faced last Wednesday night, it's very possible. This should be a fun district to watch.
District 6 @ Waterford Mott
Waterford Kettering vs AVONDALE
Waterford Kettering/AVONDALE vs CLARKSTON
PONTIAC vs Waterford Mott
EARLY THOUGHTS: If you told me that Waterford Mott would be the number one seed in a district that includes Clarkston, I would had said “you’re kidding yourself” but here they are with the top seed and they host their district. The Corsairs have a very difficult district semifinal matchup with Pontiac in the district semifinals. The Phoenix are a Jekyll and Hyde team however they are always dangerous come postseason time. Clarkston is the number two seed in the district and have played a really tough schedule as the Red always poses. The Wolves haven’t been themselves but that could change with them being healthy and Keegan Waslik coming back from an ankle injury. Avondale is the wildcard in the district. The Yellow Jackets have been playing much better lately in the final weeks of the season. They have Waterford Kettering in the first round in which they should win that game. The winner of the Avondale/Waterford Kettering matchup will play Clarkston in the district semifinals. I believe it will be a Waterford Mott/Wolves district final. When healthy Clarkston is the team to beat and they still are.
District 26 @ Royal Oak
ROYAL OAK vs Detroit Renaissance
ROYAL OAK/Detroit Renaissance vs Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit
BERKLEY vs Detroit Mumford
BERKLEY/Detroit Mumford vs OAK PARK
EARLY THOUGHTS: This could be a fun district to watch at Royal Oak. Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit is the top seed in the district but keep an eye on Oak Park. The Knights are the second seed in the district and is motivated more than ever to get another shot at the Cubs after losing in double overtime in the district semifinals. They could get that chance in the district finals pending if they get there. Detroit Renaissance has been struggling which is a concern heading into the postseason. Despite their struggles they are a very dangerous team no matter where they are at. They could pose problems for Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit in the district semifinals pending if they get by Royal Oak in the first round. The Ravens are having a bounce back year with them sharing the Gold this season and they also have home court. Royal Oak could upset the Phoenix if they are not careful in the first round. Berkley is having a very odd season in which they are 1-7 since February 8th. The Bears can turn things around with a very interesting first round matchup with Detroit Mumford. The Mustangs are quietly having a good season. I think there are three teams that could win this district.
District 27 @ North Farmington
FARMINGTON vs SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH
FARMINGTON/SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs Livonia Stevenson
Redford Thurston vs NORTH FARMINGTON
EARLY THOUGHTS: This is not a strong district when looking at the teams in this district. North Farmington is the favorite with their experience, home court, and talent. The Raiders should have no problem with Redford Thurston in the district semifinals. Livonia Stevenson is the second seed in the district despite having an average season. Farmington is the wildcard despite having a really rough season in the Red. The Falcons have the talent to get to the district finals. Southfield Arts and Tech has had a season to forget but could make up for it in the postseason.The Spartans need to be on upset alert in the district semifinals. I don’t really see any of the three teams mentioned beating North Farmington. This district is the Raiders to lose.
District 28 @ West Bloomfield
WEST BLOOMFIELD vs BLOOMFIELD HILLS
WEST BLOOMFIELD/BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs Orchard Lake St Marys
GROVES vs SEAHOLM
GROVES/SEAHOLM vs Birmingham Brother Rice
EARLY THOUGHTS: This is a really tough district. The two Catholic League powers are be seeded but the team to really watch is Bloomfield Hills. The Blackhawks whom shared the White could pose a big problem for Orchard Lake St. Marys in the district semifinals if they are on and play well. Groves is another team to watch. The Falcons gave Birmingham Brother Rice everything they could handle last season in the district semifinals in their gym and it could be a repeat if they were to meet. Seaholm has surprised some folks finishing second in the Blue this season. The Maples have a really tough matchup against arch rival Groves in the first round. West Bloomfield has had a really rough year but they are talented and athletic. They gave Bloomfield Hills everything they could handle a few weeks ago and they will rematch on the blacktop in the first round. I know everyone has talked about the Eaglets and the talent they have but Birmingham Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, and Groves could have very strong says in this district.
District 29 @ Troy
TROY vs Warren Cousino
TROY/Warren Cousino vs TROY ATHENS
Warren Woods Tower vs Warren Mott
Warren Mott/Warren Woods Tower vs Warren De LaSalle
EARLY THOUGHTS: This is going to be a very interesting district at Troy. Warren De LaSalle and Troy Athens are the seeded teams but Troy is very dangerous and they host the district. Troy Athens snuck into the second seed after the Colts fell to Lake Orion and the Red Hawks senior night blowout over Seaholm last Friday night. The Pilots are loaded with talent and experience. They are the favorite in this district however the Colts or Red Hawks could give them some trouble in the district finals. It should be an easy path for Warren De LaSalle in the district semifinals. The Pilots should get by either Warren Woods Tower or Warren Mott in the district semifinals. The most interesting game should be the Colts and the Red Hawks in the district semifinals pending if Troy can get by Warren Cousino in the first round which is a tricky matchup. The Colts also beat Troy Athens earlier in the season. This should be a fun district to watch but three teams really stand out.
District 58 @ Birmingham Detroit Country Day
FERNDALE UNIVERSITY vs Detroit Jalen Rose Academy
FERNDALE UNIVERSITY/Detroit Jalen Rose Academy vs Birmingham Detroit Country Day
Detroit Old Redford vs FERNDALE
EARLY THOUGHTS: This is shaping up to be a very interesting district finals between Ferndale and Birmingham Detroit Country Day pending if both teams get there. The Eagles and Yellow Jackets are both senior heavy teams and are seeded in the district. Ferndale won the Red for a second straight season and have been talking about getting back to the Breslin Center for some time now. Ferndale University is the wildcard in this district. The Eagles have been playing much better. They should beat Detroit Jalen Rose Academy in the first round and could pose some problems for the Yellow Jackets in the district semifinals. The Eagles should have no problem with Detroit Old Redford in the district semifinals. Until otherwise this is a two team district.
District 60 @ Eastpointe
Detroit Denby vs Detroit Osborn
Detroit Denby/Detroit Osborn vs Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy
HARPER WOODS vs Eastpointe
HARPER WOODS/Eastpointe vs St. Clair Shores South Lake
EARLY THOUGHTS: This should be a very interesting district at Eastpointe. St. Clair Shores South Lake has the top seed while Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy has the second seed in the district. The Cavaliers and Eagles are the favorites to get to the district finals however keep a eye on Harper Woods and Detroit Denby. They are more than capable of knocking off the seeded teams in the district semifinals if they can win their respective first round matchups. The Pioneers shared the Gold in their first year in the OAA this season but the postseason is a different animal. Eastpointe could give Harper Woods some trouble in the first round because of home court. Detroit Osborn and Detroit Denby know each other this season playing in the Detroit Public School League. I see four teams having good shots to win this district.
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