Girls Basketball Thoughts.

Written Sunday December 25th at 11:20 AM

Merry Christmas to everyone, here are my thoughts on each team in Girls Basketball.

Oak Park: The Knights haven’t been the same team since scoring 50 points against Detroit Martin Luther King. They are still having issues scoring and allowing a ton of points. This is where Coach Chantelle Corson needs to address if Oak Park wants to make some noise in the Blue. They have Deckerville, Detroit Southeastern, Ecorse, and Melvindale for their non conference. It will be very interesting to see if those games will help them get ready for the postseason.

Ferndale: The Eagles have been able to find stability and that’s a concern. They are 1-1 heading into the Holiday break but they need to develop as a program. Ferndale has the talent to be very competitive but coaching stability has been a major issue. The Eagles have very tough matchups against Madison Heights Lamphere and Southfield Arts and Tech looming for their non conference. There is certainly improvement if they play more games and for Coach Keith Paris it’s just improving and being there long term for the program.

Pontiac: The Phoenix are really struggling. They have not scored 10 points at all and has allowed over 50 points this season. It has clearly been a struggle for Pontiac and Coach Corray Lett whom is in his first season with the program. The wins should come in time. The Blue looks manageable for the Phoenix. They have Ypsilanti, Urbana, and Detroit Southeastern twice. The Phoenix clearly have a ton of work to do to get their program back on track.

Ferndale University: The Eagles have clearly struggled. Ferndale University hasn’t scored over 23 points this season and has given up over 60 points in the last two games. I don’t what Coach Brianna Rowe is doing but something needs to change with the Eagles if they want to turn this thing around.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets have been on a mission trying to get to 500 but they had a very tough loss to Warren Fitzgerald to close out 2022. They had been rolling prior to that loss to the Spartans. Lily Titus has been playing really good basketball as had Madison Manyweathers. Other than that horrible loss to Warren Mott, Avondale has been playing solid basketball for Coach Roy Christmon. The Yellow Jackets still have to play Chippewa Valley, Romeo, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, and Sterling Heights. Avondale will be fine, just have to keep believing in the process.

Farmington: The Falcons have really taken advantage of playing in the Blue which has been shown in their wins. Yasmine Thorpe has been a scoring machine as of late averaging 17 points per game. Desire Green has also been playing good basketball getting double-doubles in the last two games while Clarissa Hankins and Kennedy Jones have had moments for Coach Laura Guzman. Their league test will come when they see Bloomfield Hills. Also they have struggled against North Farmington, Troy Athens, and Troy. Farmington has to play Seaholm, Berkley, and Adams which looks winnable on paper. The Falcons if they can ride Thorpe and Green and get solid play from Hankins and Jones might be onto something here.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks have been rolling since their 19 point fourth quarter against Seaholm. Bloomfield Hills has won five straight games. Ruby Smith has been playing well along with Ashley Forner and Brianna Young. They have also gotten solid contributions from Michelle Barnett, Gabrielle Porter, Ari Hicks, Brielle Brooks, and Mikaeya Paulateer. There will be people that say that the Blackhawks haven’t played the schedule as others have which is true but Coach Kristen Massey has toughen the non conference with Dearborn Heights Robichaud, Birmingham Marian, and Walled Lake Western along with Detroit Cody. All of those games look winnable and the district is now wide open. Bloomfield Hills is in a good spot right now.

Adams: The Highlanders has really struggled and a lot of it has to do with them being very young and inexperienced. It would be a very challenging season for Coach Joe Malburg this year but they have made some great progress. Morgan McPherson has been Adams best player. They have also gotten contributions from Samantha Blaine and Faith Zoldos. McPherson and Blaine will be the key for the Highlanders all season long. They still have to play Stoney Creek and Farmington which will be tough matchups. Adams will be fine in the long term, they are going through some tough lumps right now.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks have not been the same team since beating Troy earlier in the month. They have lost three straight since that game and that’s not a good sign heading into the New Year. Skyler Emerson has been a completely different player for Coach Stacie Klumpp especially from the offensive end but when she struggles the team tends to struggle. Troy Athens has gotten solid play from Rebecah Deliah and Abby Malone. Ella Musto has had some good games as well. Klumpp needs Emerson to be consistent with what I’m noticing is that when she struggles the team struggles and when she does well, they win games. The Red Hawks have Center Line and Stoney Creek looming for their non conference. Troy Athens still has their goals in front of them but they have work to do.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers has had a really good start to the season despite starting very late. Harper Woods is 2-0 against teams from the Detroit area. They have been a scoring machine scoring over 50 points in each game. Clearia Peterson has been the key for the Pioneers as has their proven experience for Coach Anthony Brown. They have Detroit Mumford looming before going into White play and have a really tough district which has Grosse Pointe South, Grosse Pointe North, and St. Clair Shores Lakeview. The Pioneers are in a good spot right now.

Seaholm: The Maples have been struggling which has been evident. They have scored 50 points only twice this season. To Coach Chris Manchester’s defense they have played a really tough schedule which includes Saline, Stoney Creek, Groves, and Clarkston. Seaholm still has Center Line and Farmington on the schedule as well. The Maples have been getting contributions from Addy Flynn, Shay Manchester, Anne Boogeran, Emma Weber, and Clara Guffey. Flynn has been their most consistent player when it comes to scoring. Defense is a concern for Manchester heading into the New Year. They have the scorers but they need to defend that will be the key for Seaholm going forward.

Royal Oak: The Ravens are starting to look more like the past and that’s a good sign and the results has shown it since their opening night loss to Walled Lake Northern. Royal Oak has gotten very strong play from Lucy Freytag and Emilee Austin. Lydia Dickens keeps improving and is getting better. They have gotten solid contributions from Anna Waterstredt, Emmy Walden, and Megan Haun. The Ravens have very favorable non conference with games against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Clawson. They are a sleeper come postseason time. Coach Brian Sopota has this program heading in the right direction.

Berkley: The Bears have been very disappointing with tough losses to Utica Eisenhower and Royal Oak Shrine. They had a really bad loss to Southfield Arts and Tech but managed to beat Adams before falling to North Farmington. Something looks like a miss in describing Berkley. Ava Beard, Sammi Withrow, and Maeve Nolan are doing everything they can on both ends of the floor. Coach Cody Feltner needs Jillian Gomes to step up. Gomes is more than capable of being a double-double player every night. They have a tough non conference with Rochester and Farmington. If the Bears can get Gomes going then that would take so much pressure off Beard, Nolan, and Withrow and maybe Berkley can turn this around and quick.

North Farmington: The Raiders have had a very good start which includes that big win at Stoney Creek. Sela Lefler and Penelope Creary has been as good as advertised. Coach Jeff Simpson has seemed to have found a third scorer in Eliza Muller. Muller was huge in their wins over Stoney Creek and Troy Athens. I don’t think the non conference schedule besides Stoney Creek was a strong as people think. North Farmington should be tested against Saginaw Arthur Hill and Groves with White play being very interesting. Everything is leading up for Simpson’s program for a likely clash with Farmington Hills Mercy come postseason time. The key for the Raiders is developing the bench and finding more scoring options besides Lefler and Creary but they are off to a good start.

Oxford: The Wildcats have been rolling since their loss to Lake Orion on opening night. The starting five for Oxford has been playing very well whether it is Myranda Wynmenkio, Peyton Richter, Sophia Rabb, Alison Hufsteddler, or Nevaeh Wood. If they can get production from their bench which they have been lately but especially in big games then it would put less stress on their starters. Coach Rachel Bryer’s team really hasn’t been that tested since surviving North Branch. They have that win over Birmingham Marian which is huge. The Wildcats have tough non league games against Clarkston, Lake Orion, and Troy and that’s not mentioning the White either to along with a very tough district that has Grand Blanc. Oxford is in a very good spot right now.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors have been a mystery team. They are much better than last season. A lot of that improvement goes to the play of Kamara Page and Christian Banks. Offensively they are a solid team but defensively is where the issues are for Coach Shaquita Coltraine’s program. Southfield Arts and Tech has had one game where they allowed under 40 points. If the Warriors want to turn things around heading into the New Year, they have to address the defensive end if they want to win games.

Troy: The Colts have had a ton of growing pains. The win-loss record doesn’t show the progress of Coach Julius Porter’s program. Diamond Prince and Regan Zeiter have been outstanding but Olivia Stringer could be a wildcard. She is a very good shooter that is playing the five quarter rule. Carly Higginbottom is also a five quarter player has had her moments as well. Troy is very young but in a few years they could be scary.

Groves: The Falcons closed the New Year with a blowout win over Waterford Kettering. Groves hasn’t been able to take the next step as they have been hovering around 500 with a 3-4 record heading into the Holiday break. Katelyn Sanders has been playing well for the Falcons as has others like Cirra Racco, Cameron Little, and Lily Gallagher. They still have very tough non-league games with Birmingham Detroit Country Day, Riverview, and North Farmington. The district has changed a little bit with Birmingham Marian really struggling. There is some optimism for Coach Alison Hidey’s program but they need to get over 500 which is very tough being in the Red and with the schedule ahead, it won’t be easy.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars have been relying on their proven experience in Sarah LaPrarie, Mia Carson, and Emily Flynn but the play of Lily Solek and Merrick Schwalbach has really helped take the pressure off the big three. Other than the loss to North Farmington, Stoney Creek’s season thus far has been very good. Coach Kellen James has a lot to look forward to heading into the New Year.

Clarkston: The Wolves have been winning which is a good sign and they are doing it without Elle Robak. They have big wins over Macomb Dakota and Saginaw Heritage. It is expected that Robak whom has had a great start prior to the injury will be back very possibly against Grand Blanc for the Motor City Roundball Classic. Clarkston has had strong play from Ava Hernandez, Kierra Tolmie, Claire Walker, Emily Valencia, and Mia Zorski. The key for Coach Aaron Goodnough’s team coming into the New Year will be bench play. The non conference is going to be very difficult going up against proven teams in Grand Blanc, Oxford, and Birmingham Detroit Country Day. Clarkston is winning games but it is clear that they need Robak to be at her best when she comes back. The Wolves are in a good spot right now and with Robak coming back we will see where they are at.

Rochester: The Falcons have been winning the close games which is a good sign for Coach Bill Thurston and his team. Alice Max has played her part and Natalie Rayce has made clutch shots late in games. Rochester needs more from Kylie Robinson. She has hit a bit of a sophomore slump lately. Abbey Pleasant, Stevie Norgrove, and Ava Williams have had their moments. If Thurston can get Robinson going then it would take the pressure off Max. The Falcons still have Berkley and Madison Heights Bishop Foley. Rochester is in a good spot heading into the New Year.

Lake Orion: The Dragons besides the setback to Rochester has really been rolling as expected. Maddie Ebbert and Chloe Wiegers have been proven stabilizers for Coach Bob Brydges. They have also gotten proven play from Ryan Pawlacyzk, Taylor Dinda, and Audrey Wischmeyer contributing in different areas. The proven depth has been as good as advertised with Grace Sullivan, Jodie McCaffery, and Charlotte Peplowski. They have also had contributions from Alison May and Fontana Blackney. Once Brydges can get a healthy Kylie Heck and Izzy Woltinzski back from injury then the Dragons can really take off. The non-conference is interesting with Holly, Oxford, and Detroit Renaissance looming. Lake Orion is really close to being whole and when they are then look out.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers have been playing really good basketball despite the record which they have shocking losses to South Bend, Washington Indiana, and Ypsilanti Arbor Prep. They have played a really tough non conference schedule and have had a ton of showcase games. The Davis twins and Hendrix sisters have been playing as good as advertised and they have gotten key contributions from Ava Lord and Destiny Washington. The key for Coach Darryl McAllister’s team will be developing the bench. As I mentioned on the podcast there will be games in which the Davis twins and the Hendrix sisters get in foul trouble. The Lakers have showcase games against Kentwood Illinois and Detroit Cass Tech along with a non league game against Detroit Edison. West Bloomfield is the defending Division One State Champions and has the proven talent but depth on the bench could be the key to the Lakers season.