Boys Basketball Thoughts.

Written Sunday December 25th at 4:00 PM

Merry Christmas everyone and here are my Boys Basketball thoughts surrounding each team. 

Pontiac: The Phoenix have not been playing well and that is a concern going forward for Coach Dameon O’Neil. Pontiac only scored 11 points in their loss to Summit Academy and have scored over 60 points once since that game. O’Neil needs to change things up a little bit if they want to turn things around in a hurry.

Ferndale University: The Eagles had a tough loss to Royal Oak and have been a really hard team to figure out which they have been around 500. Ferndale University has Sanford Meridian looming at St. Clair Community College. I would like to see the Eagles be more consistent heading into the New Year but they are on the right track.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets has been playing consistent basketball. Coach Pat Clancy has two very interesting games in Wayne and Monroe counties looming with South Lyon East and the Carleton Airport Showcase. It will be very interesting to see how Avondale does in their showcase games this week.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers have had a week off but they are rolling and getting healthier. Coach TuJuan Porter has this team playing well especially on the defensive end. Harper Woods has Waterford Mott in the Motor City Roundball Classic looming. They are possibly the favorite in the Gold with the way they are playing.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors have really struggled as of late. They have lost four straight to Northville, West Bloomfield, Carleton Airport, and Milford. Southfield Arts and Tech is reeling right now heading into the Holiday break. Coach Terrance Porter needs to find a way with this veteran group that is struggling right now.

Royal Oak: The Ravens have been rolling behind the play of Davis Arbeiter, Dylan Hoffman, Rashad Wilson, and Clark Camden. Royal Oak shot 13 threes in their win over Madison Heights Bishop Foley. The schedule hasn’t been the greatest for the Ravens but they are 5-0 and have a very tough January looming. It will be very interesting to see how the New Year goes for Coach Aaron Smith and company.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks have not played in a week. It’s a big week for Coach Dave Scott and his program. They have Okemos and Madison Heights Lamphere at St. Clair Community College looming over the holidays.

Seaholm: The Maples have been struggling lately but they are starting to figure some things out. Seaholm beat Walled Lake Western but fell to Troy and Berkley. The Maples should be getting some key players back for the New Year. They should be a different team when 2023 looms.

Oxford: The Wildcats have won two straight since their loss to Groves. Oxford has been playing team ball as of late. They have been without Jake Champagne whom has been out with an injury. It is expected that Champagne will come back to start the New Year. Lucas Botette has really picked up the scoring in Champagne’s absence. He scored 27 points each against Lapeer and Livonia Clarenceville. It will be very interesting to see how Champagne’s return will impact Coach Steve Laidlaw’s team when he gets back.

Berkley: The Bears have been bouncing back in the last few games. They won in overtime over Warren Cousino 61-51 and also had a very good 68-53 win over Seaholm thanks to a spark from their bench. Coach Joe Sermo has this team believing. They have Dearborn in the Motor City Roundball Classic looming.

Rochester: The Falcons are coming off a confident boosting win over arch rival Adams. Elijah Kalaj and Grant Calcagno had 21 points each in that game. The Adams win was huge for Coach Nick Evola. Rochester still has some concerns despite the win over the Highlanders. They have the New Baltimore Anchor Bay Classic looming this week.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars are in a transition period as shown in their losses to New Baltimore Anchor Bay, Groves and Oxford. The transition period has to happen during the season with the players and Coach Jeff Olind. Stoney Creek will be fine, no need to panic. They have Sterling Heights Stevenson, and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in the Motor City Roundball Classic looming.

Groves: The Falcons look like a completely different team with Coach Marc West’s return to the bench. Groves has played really well especially Josh Gibson whom looks like a completely different player under West along with Josh Simpson as well. The Falcons lost to Clarkston and Grosse Pointe South and have Walled Lake Central looming but they are in a much better place right now despite the two game losing streak.

Farmington: The Falcons have been impacted by a flu outbreak and was forced to postpone their game with North Farmington. They have River Rouge looming as well. Farmington should be healthy enough hopefully to play in that game. Coach Derrick McDowell has them trending in the right direction for sure.

Lake Orion: The injury and flu bug has hit the Dragons. That impact showed in losses to Clarkston and Adams. Lake Orion had to survive against a very strong Holly program winning 53-49 allowing a 25 point fourth quarter in that game. Quay Fly has been a bright spot for the Dragons during this stretch. Bottom line and no sugar coating for Coach Jose Andrades and company is that they need to get healthy. When healthy they are fine.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers have been rolling lately with wins over Rochester, Southfield Arts and Tech, Warren Fitzgerald, and Ann Arbor Skyline. Coach Arnette Jordan had to postpone their game with Ypsilanti because of the snow and wind storm. West Bloomfield has Grosse Pointe South in the Motor City Roundball Classic looming this week.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks picked up three wins over Plymouth, Walled Lake Central, and Traverse City West. Noah Adamcyzk picked up his 1,000 career point against Plymouth. Bloomfield Hills besides Adamcyzk has Ahmad Taylor, CJ Jackson, and Drew Wilson has made an impact as well in his freshman season for Coach Brian Canfield. The non conference schedule hasn’t been that impressive for the Blackhawks which is the knack on them. They have Detroit Pershing at Detroit Cass Tech, and Detroit Henry Ford in the Motor City Roundball Classic looming.

Troy: The Colts picked up wins over Adams in a hard fought game, Troy Athens, Southfield Christian, and Seaholm. Coach Gary Fralick has this team clicking on all cylinders. Troy has been playing really good basketball behind the play of Mason Parker, Zach Penoza, Chase Kuiper, and Darius Whiteside. They have Belleville at the North Farmington Showcase looming.

Adams: The Highlanders had a very interesting week. They beat Utica but fell to Rochester. They did not have Brady Prieskorn which would make a huge difference. Peter Karakasis had 31 points and William Gee had 14 points against the Falcons in their loss but it’s clear that Coach Jaret Thomas’s team is different with Prieskorn in the lineup. He should be back for Birmingham Detroit Country Day in the Motor City Roundball Classic looming.

Clarkston: The Wolves have been living on the edge lately which it caught up to them in a loss to Flint Carman Ainsworth. Coach Tim Waslik knows he has a very young team and they will go through some lumps. They have Utica Eisenhower looming. It’s never easy with the Wolves.

Oak Park: The Knights haven’t played in a week which is very unusual for a Coach Durand Sheppard like team but it has allowed them to get healthy. Oak Park has Macomb Dakota in the Motor City Roundball Classic looming.

Ferndale: The Eagles might be the best 1-3 team in the State with the schedule they are playing. Coach Juan Rickman has had a chance to look at the tape and his players have gotten healthy with not playing last week. They have Orchard Lake St. Marys looming in the Motor City Roundball Classic.

North Farmington: The Raiders have not played in a week after their game with arch rival Farmington was postponed because of a flu outbreak affecting the Falcons. North Farmington should be fine after their upset loss to Warren Lincoln. They have their own showcase with Detroit Western, and Toledo Whitmer looming which should be very interesting games.