Baseball Districts are Out-2023.

Written Wednesday March 29th at 9:35 AM

Here are the baseball district early thoughts heading into the season.

District 16 at Livonia Stevenson

FARMINGTON

NORTH FARMINGTON

Livonia Stevenson

Novi

Novi Detroit Catholic Central

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This should be a very interesting district. Livonia Stevenson should be the early favorite but Farmington, North Farmington, and Novi Detroit Catholic Central could have very strong says. Anyone can win this district with how good these teams are this season.

 

District 20 at Grosse Pointe South

HARPER WOODS

Grosse Pointe South

Grosse Pointe North

St. Clair Shores Lakeview

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This is a very interesting district. Grosse Pointe North looks to be the favorite but Grosse Pointe South and St. Clair Shores Lakeview looks to be very tough outs. It’s going to be rough for Harper Woods being up in Division One this season.

 

District 22 at Royal Oak

ROYAL OAK

BERKLEY

Sterling Heights

Warren Cousino

Warren Mott

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This is a very interesting district. I really like what Berkley has done in the past and they should be the early favorite. Royal Oak looks like they will have a strong say. I’m not sure about the Macomb County schools but right now this district looks like it’s the Bears to lose.

 

District 23 at TBA

OAK PARK

FERNDALE

Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit

Detroit Mumford

Detroit Renaissance

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This is not a very strong district on paper. Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit should be the favorite to win this district. Ferndale looks like they will be the Cubs biggest challenger. Other than that there really isn’t anyone that could challenge the Cubs or the Eagles.

 

District 24 at Birmingham Brother Rice

SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

GROVES

SEAHOLM

Birmingham Brother Rice

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This district looks like it could be a three teamer between Groves, Seaholm, and Birmingham Brother Rice. The Warriors look like they are the team to beat but never ever count out the Falcons or the Maples. Southfield Arts and Tech could make some noise but the other three teams are going to be very tough for them to beat.

 

District 27 at Romeo

ROCHESTER

ADAMS

STONEY CREEK

Romeo

Utica Eisenhower

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This district has Adams and Utica Eisenhower written all over it. The Highlanders are the early favorite because of proven experience. The Eagles could be a player if things go right. Rochester is solid as is Stoney Creek. Romeo is the wildcard in this district. Until proven otherwise this district looks like its Adams to lose.

 

District 28 at Avondale

AVONDALE

TROY

TROY ATHENS

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Utica

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This is a pretty even district. Utica is the early favorite but Troy, Troy Athens, Avondale, and Bloomfield Hills should have strong says. This should be a very interesting district to watch that is for sure.

 

District 29 at West Bloomfield

WEST BLOOMFIELD

LAKE ORION

Waterford Kettering

Waterford Mott

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: There are two powerhouse programs in this district and it’s very unfortunate that one of them is going home early. The Eaglets are the favorite but the Dragons should have a very strong say. West Bloomfield is the wildcard in this district. I don’t see the Waterford schools making a ton of noise right now.

 

District 31 at Oxford

OXFORD

CLARKSTON

Fenton

Holly

Grand Blanc

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This looks like a very interesting baseball district. Clarkston is the early favorite to win this district but keep an eye on Oxford and Grand Blanc. They could surprise some people. The Bobcats had a deep postseason run last season and they could be more than capable of doing it again. The Wildcats are well coached despite being a young team.

Softball Districts are Out-2023

Written Wednesday March 29th at 9:30 AM

Here is my early thoughts heading into the softball districts.

District 20 at Farmington Hills Mercy

FARMINGTON

NORTH FARMINGTON

WEST BLOOMFIELD

Farmington Hills Mercy

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This looks like it will be a very tough district. North Farmington should be a player as will Farmington. Farmington Hills Mercy looks like they are the team to beat but also never count West Bloomfield out, they could surprise some people.

 

District 22 at Royal Oak

ROYAL OAK

BERKLEY

GROVES

SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This district looks like it could be either Berkley or Groves that wins it. Royal Oak is the wildcard. It should be very interesting to see how this district goes.

 

District 23 at TBA

FERNDALE

OAK PARK

Detroit Mumford

Detroit Renaissance

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This is not a strong district. Ferndale and Detroit Renaissance look like they are the two teams that could come out of this district.

 

District 24 at Grosse Pointe North

HARPER WOODS

Grosse Pointe North

Grosse Pointe South

Detroit Cass Tech

Detroit Western

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This district looks like it could be a battle of Grosse Pointe’s between the Norsemen and the Blue Devils. Harper Woods is in Division One which they could surprise some people. Detroit Cass Tech and Detroit Western are solid teams as well. I think this district looks like it will be a Grosse Pointe school that moves on.

 

District 25 at Avondale

AVONDALE

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

SEAHOLM

TROY

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This district looks like it is anyone’s to win. Bloomfield Hills looks like they are the early favorite but Seaholm, Troy, and Avondale will have strong says. This is a wide open district on paper.

 

District 26 at Utica

TROY ATHENS

Sterling Heights Stevenson

Utica Ford II

Utica

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This district looks like it is a three team district. Utica looks like they are the favorite but keep an eye on Troy Athens and Utica Ford II. They could make some noise once the postseason comes.

 

District 29 at Oxford

OXFORD

Lapeer

Davison

Port Huron

Port Huron Northern

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This could be a very interesting district. Oxford has a great chance to win this district. Davison and Lapeer could have very strong says. Three teams have a shot to win this district.

 

District 30 at Lake Orion

LAKE ORION

CLARKSTON

ADAMS

Waterford Kettering

Waterford Mott

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This has the makings of a very tough district. Adams shocked everyone last season but Lake Orion and Clarkston are in this district. They could pose some problems for the Highlanders. I don’t see the Waterford schools competing. Three teams have a great chance to win this district.

 

District 31 at Romeo

ROCHESTER

STONEY CREEK

Romeo

Utica Eisenhower

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This should be a very interesting district. Utica Eisenhower should be the favorite to come out of this district. Rochester should be very interesting as will be Stoney Creek. Romeo could surprise some people as well but this district should be the Eagles to lose.

Girls Soccer Districts are Out-2023.

Written Wednesday March 29th at 9:30 AM

Here are the early thoughts for the Girls Soccer districts this season.

District 6 at Clarkston

CLARKSTON

OXFORD

Lapeer

Davison

Grand Blanc

Flushing

Swartz Creek

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This should be a very interesting district at Clarkston. Three teams standout with Clarkston, Oxford, and Grand Blanc being the favorites. Davison is the wildcard. Flushing could also play spoiler if things go right. The Wildcats, Wolves, and Bobcats have great chances to get to the regionals.

 

District 7 at Lakeland

WEST BLOOMFIELD

NORTH FARMINGTON

Milford

Lakeland

Waterford Mott

Walled Lake Central

Walled Lake Northern

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This should be a very interesting district in White Lake. Lakeland stands as the early favorite but Waterford Mott, Walled Lake Northern, and Walled Lake Central stands out. Milford is the wildcard. North Farmington and West Bloomfield could surprise some people. When I see this on paper, when in doubt go with the hosts.

 

District 8 at Novi

FARMINGTON

Farmington Hills Mercy

Livonia Stevenson

Northville

Novi

South Lyon

South Lyon East

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This should be a very tough regional at Novi. Northville looks like they are the favorite but can’t count out Livonia Stevenson, Novi, South Lyon, or South Lyon East. Farmington looks like the wildcard and Farmington Hills Mercy is more than capable of beating anyone. The Mustangs should be the favorite but like some said “Anyone can be beat on any given day.”

 

District 12 at Grosse Pointe South

HARPER WOODS

Grosse Pointe South

Dearborn

Dearborn Fordson

Detroit Cass Tech

Dearborn Heights Crestwood

Detroit Western

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This is going to be a very tough district for Harper Woods. Grosse Pointe South is solid as is Dearborn and Dearborn Heights Crestwood. This district right now looks like it favors the Blue Devils to advance to the regional.

 

District 13 at Royal Oak

BERKLEY

GROVES

SEAHOLM

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

ROYAL OAK

SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

TROY

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This is an all OAA district. Troy looks to be the early favorite but Bloomfield Hills is the defending Division One State Champs. Seaholm, Berkley, and Groves should be big time players as well. Royal Oak has home field which helps and they are more than capable of springing an upset. This should be a very interesting district to watch at Royal Oak.

 

District 14 at Utica

LAKE ORION

ROCHESTER

ADAMS

STONEY CREEK

Romeo

Utica

Utica Eisenhower

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This is a very tough district at Swienhart Field. Whomever wins this district should have a great chance to get to the Final Four. Rochester is the early favorite, they have a lot of proven talent coming back. Stoney Creek has their fair share as does Adams. Lake Orion is the wildcard in all of this with their defensive first mindset. Utica Eisenhower is also solid as is Romeo. Utica is not bad as well. As mentioned whoever wins this district is more than capable to get to the Final Four.

 

District 15 at Troy Athens

TROY ATHENS

Chippewa Valley

Fraser

Sterling Heights

Sterling Heights Stevenson

Utica Ford II

Warren Cousino

Warren Mott

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This is a very interesting district. Troy Athens should be the favorite with home field but keep an eye on Utica Ford II. The Falcons are more than capable of winning this district. Chippewa Valley and Fraser are dark horses in this district and could upset some people as well. This should be a fun district.

 

District 24 at TBA

FERNDALE

Walled Lake Western

Livonia Clarenceville

Detroit Renaissance

Birmingham Marian

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This district should be very interesting. It looks like this is Birmingham Marian’s to lose but Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood could have a say in this district and give them some problems but early indications look like this district is all Mustangs.

 

District 26 at Goodrich

AVONDALE

PONTIAC

Goodrich

Holly

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

Brandon

Waterford Kettering

 

EARLY THOUGHTS: This should be a very interesting district. Orchard Lake St. Marys, Brandon, and Goodrich look like they are the strong contenders in this district. Avondale looks to be the wildcard. They can beat anyone in this district. This looks like the Catholic League and Flint Metro League reign supreme for now.

Boys Basketball Shortcomings-2023.

Written Saturday March 25th at 9:30 PM

Updated Tuesday November 7th at 8:20 PM

Here are the shortcomings for the 2022-2023 boys basketball season.

Pontiac: It was a rough season for the Phoenix which saw a 65-48 loss to Waterford Kettering in the first round. Pontiac has some questions this offseason to really watch. The Phoenix will have a new coach at Dameon O'Neill stepped down and Andrew Myers took over the program. Myers will need to build program strength. This is an area that Pontiac needs to address this offseason.

Ferndale University: The Eagles had an up and down year this season. Ferndale University fell 98-46 to Ferndale in the district semifinals. They lose several talented players to graduation but Coach Josh Nicks has built the program and is developing on program strength. The best is yet to come for the Eagles.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors had a struggle in Coach Terrance Porter’s first season with the program. Southfield Arts and Tech was no match for North Farmington falling 73-22 in the district semifinals. They lose a lot of proven talent to graduation but they have Xavier Bowman coming back. The Warriors should be a very interesting to watch this offseason.

Avondale: It was a very interesting season for the Yellow Jackets. They went through a coaching change midseason and had to have that transition period during the season. Avondale won 10 games but fell 59-47 to Waterford Mott in the district semifinals. They lose four seniors including Malik Adams, and Jeremiah Phillips to graduation. Avondale has Justin Sykes, DJ Moody, Anthony Burton, and Dequarius White coming back for new coach Jaret Thomas. Program strength looks solid but they will be a team to watch this offseason that is for sure.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers had a great year. They won the Gold and made a ton of noise in Division One. Harper Woods fell 68-45 to Grosse Pointe South in the district finals. They lose DeAndre Williams to graduation. The Pioneers have have Juilan Young, Isiah Lewis, Colby Bailey, Tyler Lowry, and Stephone Buford coming back for Coach TaJuan Porter. Program strength looks solid for Harper Woods. The Pioneers should be a program to watch this offseason.

Royal Oak: It was a very interesting year for the Ravens which saw a ton of ups and downs. They had a 5-0 start to the season but struggled a little in 2023. Royal Oak fell 59-46 to Detroit Renaissance in the first round. They lose Dylan Hoffman, Davis Arbeiter, and Rashad Wilson to graduation. Royal Oak has Nick Hoffman and Camden Clark coming back for Coach Aaron Smith. Program strength is solid for Smith. The Ravens should be a team to watch this offseason.

Troy Athens: It was a very interesting year for the Red Hawks. Troy Athens had a tough 61-60 loss to Sterling Heights Stevenson in the district semifinals. They lose seven seniors to graduation including Kyree Harper, Douglas Mersier, Brock Thornton, Evan Colquhoun, Alex Profke, and Brogan Withun. The Red Hawks have Emmanuel Robinson, Luke DiGiovanni, Hayden Crum, and Eli Garvin coming back for Coach Dave Scott. Program strength looks solid for the Red Hawks. Troy Athens should be a team to watch this offseason.

Berkley: The Bears had a very interesting year which saw them battle for the Blue crown on more than one occasion. Berkley fell 77-23 to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit in the district semifinals. They lose six seniors to graduation including Hunter Robinson and Tamir Runkenvich. Berkley has Donovan Powell and Michael Onuoha coming back. Program strength looks to be solid for Coach Joe Sermo. The Bears will be back for sure next season.

Rochester: The Falcons had a ton of ups and downs this season. They fell 64-54 to Lake Orion in the first round. Rochester loses Grant Calcagno, Elijah Kalaj, Rex Maltoid, and Khamanni Potts to graduation. Their future is bright with Max Mohl, Noah Kim, Logan Pleasant, and Jake Tandy coming back for Coach Nick Evola. Program strength looks solid for the Falcons. Rochester should be very interesting to watch this offseason.

Stoney Creek: It was a very tough season for the Cougars. The coaching transition was very difficult throughout the season. Stoney Creek fell 66-63 to Romeo in the first round. The Cougars lose Leo Kent, Jake Fulkerson, Aiden Grotszko, Jonah McCay, Emillo Villafuerte, Peyton Rummler, Jacob Watson, and Brock Cavanaugh to graduation. Stoney Creek has Tre Walker and Tomaaso Sinacola coming back for Coach Jeff Olind. Program strength look solid in the future. The future looks bright for Stoney Creek as mentioned but this senior class left their mark on the program.

Oxford: It was a very interesting year for the Wildcats which saw a ton of ups and downs. They won 13 games this season. Oxford fell 64-48 to Grand Blanc in the district semifinals. They lose four seniors including Lucas Bottente, Dylan Stone, and Kyle DiMalanta to graduation. The Wildcats have Jake Champagne, Dominic Casissee, Drew Cady, Jay Cady, and Luke Stoffan coming back. Program strength looks solid for Oxford. They will have a new coach in Joe Fedorinchik taking over the program. The Wildcats should be a program to watch this offseason.

Seaholm: The Maples were a completely different team in 2023. Seaholm struggled in 2022 going 0-5 to start the season but the Maples turned things around after several players returned from suspension and won the Blue on the final shot over Troy Athens. They beat their arch rival Groves 55-48 in the first round but fell 52-34 to Birmingham Brother Rice in the district semifinals. Seaholm loses seven seniors including Ricky Sparby, Jeff Sheldon, and Ben Diskin to graduation. They have Findlay Sparby coming back for Coach Mike DeGetter. Program strength looks solid for the Maples. Seaholm should be a team to watch this offseason and next season as well.

Farmington: The Falcons had a rough year this season which resulted in a 56-41 loss to Detroit Henry Ford. Farmington loses six seniors including Tony Tolbert and Chris Boyd to graduation but does have Greg Grays, Jordan Turner, Darrell Cochrane, Quintez Salter, and Anthony Bailey coming back but they will have a new coach in Byron Johnson taking over the program. Program strength is a concern for Farmington. The Falcons should be improved next season.

Lake Orion: The Dragons had a very interesting season which saw them finish with a 500 record (12-12.) Lake Orion fell to Adams 50-42 in a hard fought district semifinals. They lose five seniors in DJ Morrow, Blake Liddell, Nate Havrilla, Kevin Tobe, and Matteo Decio. The Dragons have Ryan Rocheleau, Quay Fly, Ethan Sharkey, Hayden Armstrong, Sam Blakeley, Nick Galben, Gabe Scott, and maybe Kaydon DeGraffenreid coming back for Coach Jose Andreadas. Lake Orion added a transfer in Zack Parks who comes from Brandon. Program strength looks to be solid especially at the younger levels for Andreadas. The Dragons should be a very interesting team to watch this offseason as they have some questions heading into next season.

Groves: The Falcons had a very good season but was upset 55-48 by Seaholm in the first round. Groves loses seven seniors to graduation including Jack Abbot, Max Kramer, and Paige Williams. They have John Simpson, Josh Gibson, Brody Tushman, and Elijah Yelder coming back for Coach Marc West. Groves has two players in Paul Hubbard, and Landon McKinney that could make some noise next season. Program strength looks strong. The Falcons could be right back in the mix next season.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks had a ton of ups and downs in a transition year but they won 15 games this season. Bloomfield Hills fell 62-56 to West Bloomfield in the first round. The Blackhawks lose five seniors including 1,000 career point scorer Noah Adamcyzk along with CJ Jackson, Ahmad Taylor, and Dominic Shenna to graduation. The Blackhawks have Brendan Newland coming back for Coach Brian Canfield. Also watch for Carter Canfield to make an impact. Program strength looks solid as well. Bloomfield Hills will be a very interesting team to watch this offseason.

Troy: The Colts had a great season overcoming a ton of adversity. Troy won a district crown with their win over Sterling Heights Stevenson. They didn’t give up or quit with everything against them despite having home court. The Colts fell 54-48 in the regional semifinals to North Farmington. Troy loses a ton of proven experience including Darrius Whiteside, Zach Penoza, Bryce Parker, and Carter Cusmano to graduation. The Colts have three proven starters in Mason Parker, Jon Whiteside, and Chase Kuiper coming back for Coach Gary Fralick. Program strength is a bit of a concern despite having Greg Tester, Jaiden Peacock, along with the younger Cusmano, and younger Penoza to watch in the wings. Troy should be back in the mix next season no matter what division they are in.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers had a very successful year this season. They had a 12 win turnaround from last season. West Bloomfield earned their first playoff win since 2017 with a 62-56 win over Bloomfield Hills in the first round but they had a very tough 57-47 loss to Orchard Lake St. Marys in the district semifinals. West Bloomfield loses Evan Ammori, DeJuan Moore, Andrew Shewcraft, Terrance Curry, Mitchell Seay and Jayden Jones to graduation. They have Chris Britton, Corey Pittman, Donnie Watts, Caleb Caudle, and Dyoni Edwards coming back along with Bloomfield Hills transfer Drew Wilson for Coach Arnette Jordan. Program strength is very strong for Jordan and the Lakers. West Bloomfield should be a force to be a recon with next season.

Adams: It was a great season for the Highlanders. They won their first regional crown in school history with a win over Clarkston. Adams had a rough matchup with Grand Blanc in the State Quarterfinals falling 64-44 to the Bobcats. They lose Nathan Kim, Jack Donohoe, Broder Kawa, Drew Blackmer, and Ozan Kesici to graduation. The Highlanders have William Dee, Peter Karadasis, Trenton Lagarde, Chan Yang, Gavin Farris, Luke Marcial, Jake Andrzejak, Aaron Troxell, and maybe Brady Prieskorn coming back. Coach Jaret Thomas stepped down and left for Avondale. He left the program very strong. Adams named Isisah Novak as their new coach taking over for Thomas. The Highlanders will be a very interesting team to watch next season.

Clarkston: The Wolves had a good season despite everything they had to overcome from the Red, a not as strong district, to a game of the ages in a double overtime win over Fenton. Clarkston fell 58-48 to Adams in the regional finals. They lose three seniors in Brayden Wiley, Frank Schuster, and Cavanaugh Diton to graduation. The Wolves have Matt Pfliger, Brody Kosin, Desman Stephens, and John Kaul coming back for Coach Tim Waslik. Program strength looks solid for Clarkston next season. The Wolves should be back right in the thick of things.

Oak Park: The Knights had a very good season but they could not overcome Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit for the third straight year by falling 62-47 in the district finals. They have Geon Hutchins coming back for Coach Durand Sheppard. Program strength looks solid for Oak Park. The Knights until they can overcome their Cubs problem they aren’t expected to have deep postseason runs until they can solve their Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit problem.

Ferndale: It was a tale of two seasons for the Eagles. Ferndale started the season 1-5 after playing a really difficult non conference schedule. They managed to get through it and won 16 of their last 17 games to get back to the Breslin Center for the third straight year. The Eagles won the Division Two State Crown and their first State title since 1966 with a 44-38 win over Grand Rapids South Christian They lose six seniors including Cameron Reed, Caleb Renfroe, Noah Blocker, Chris Williams, Jacoby Jackson, and Jayden Hardiman to graduation. The Eagles have Trenton Ruth, Mishawn Hereford, Julian Cardenas, Kendall Mayes, Markiese Young, Kaden Hutson, and Darion Johnson coming back for Coach Juan Rickman. Program strength is a bit of a concern this offseason. Ferndale should be a very interesting to watch next season.

North Farmington: The Raiders had a very strong season but they had a very tough fourth quarter where they were outscored 22-10 which resulted in a very disappointing 56-44 loss to Orchard Lake St. Marys in the regional semifinals. North Farmington loses a lot of proven talent in Ryan Hurst, Malaki Jackson, and Lee Hardy to graduation. They have Tyler Spratt and Landon Williams coming back for Coach Todd Negoshian. Negoshian added Dylan Smith after he transferred from Walled Lake Western this offseason. Program strength looks solid for the Raiders. It was a tough outcome for North Farmington. The Raiders will be a team to watch this offseason. They should be back next season.

Ferndale Wins First State Crown since 1966.

Written Saturday March 25th at 9:15 PM

I guess it's time to owe apologizes.

The Ferndale Eagles won the Division Two State Championship and their first crown since 1966 with a 44-38 win over Grand Rapids South Christian on Saturday night at the Breslin Center.

The Eagles started the season at 1-5 and went on to win 16 of their last 17 games to win the crown. They play in one of the toughest conferences in the State in the Red and have played a very tough non conference schedule.

This is the same program that lost to Grand Rapids Catholic Central twice in the last two years.

Ferndale loses seven seniors next season including Cameron Reed, Caleb Renfroe, Noah Blocker, Chris Williams, Jaydon Hardiman, and Jakoby Jackson.

They have Trenton Ruth and Markiese Young coming back next season.

Williams had 16 points, Blocker had seven points, and Reed had four points.

Ferndale kept the Sailors top scorers in check limiting Jake DeHann and Jake Vermaas to 28 combined points (14 points each.)

Also congrats to Juan Rickman for getting the Eagles to the promise land in five years coaching the program.

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

Ferndale Makes State Title Game and State Final Preview.

Written Friday March 24th at 8:30 PM

Updated Saturday March 25th at 11:45 AM

This blog article will be updated on the Eagles run to the State Finals.

FERNDALE 65, Saginaw 60.

The Ferndale Eagles are on the verge of getting their first State crown since 1966 when they beat Ann Arbor 65-60 in overtime.

Ferndale beat Saginaw 65-60 in the Division Two State Semifinals on Friday night at the Breslin Center at Michigan State winning their 15th game in the last 16 tries. The Eagles will play Grand Rapids South Christian in the Division Two State Finals on Saturday night at the Breslin Center at Michigan State.

The Eagles had lost two straight State Semifinals both to Grand Rapids Catholic Central after previously making it to the State Semifinals for the first time since 1985.

Caleb Renfoe had 16 points while Jayden Hardiman had 10 points, and Chris Williams and Cameron Reed had 12 points each for the Eagles.

It was a tight game through out with the Trojans but the Eagles found a way to move onto Saturday night in the final game of the basketball season where they will play Grand Rapids South Christian at 6:45 at Michigan State.

State Final Preview

The Eagles are in the Division Two State Finals for the first time since 1966. They will take on Grand Rapids South Christian on Saturday night.

Coach Juan Rickman's team has a ton of proven experience and have played a really tough schedule. They started 1-5 but have turned things around ever since.

Ferndale will have to deal with a very good team in the Sailors. Grand Rapids South Christian is back in the State finals for the first time since 2005. They could join an elite group if they win the Division Two State title on Saturday after winning the Division Four State crown in football.

The Sailors have two really good players in their State Championship quarterback Jake DeHann and Jake Vermaas. Vermaas had 12 points in their 40-35 overtime win over Romulus Summit Academy while DeHann had 14 points in that game. DeHann had 27 points in their 61-38 win over Hudsonville Unity Christian in the State quarterfinals. Nate Brinks and Sam Mendendorp are two solid players for Coach Taylor Johnson whom is in his first year coaching the program.

It should be a very interesting matchup of two different styles going against each other on Saturday night in the final game of the 2022-2023 boys basketball season.

Berkley has their new Girls Basketball Coach.

Written Friday March 24th at 5:30 PM

That didn't take long.

The Berkley Bears Girls Basketball program will have a new head coach next winter.

The Bears named Clay Shaver as their new head coach. Shaver takes over the program for Cody Feltner whom stepped down earlier in the month.

Shaver was an assistant at Milford. He is well known around the area.

"I'm thrilled and humbled to get to work with these student athletes and hope we can give them a special experience while building a culture that they and the community can be proud of. Thank you to my family for supporting me and "gently" nudging me when I thought this chapter of my life was over. Thank you to everyone at Berkley High School for an A+ experience during the interview process. They really do it right. Thank you to all of the other coaches that I've worked with over the years. I've stolen from all of you and will continue too. Can't wait to get after it" Shaver said on Twitter.

Shaver has a very good sports mind and knows girls basketball very well.

Shaver will be tasked to keep the Bears very competitive in what should be a very competitive division next season. Berkley went 11-10 this season falling to Detroit Renaissance in the district semifinals and 13-9 last season under Feltner. The Bears upset Detroit Renaissance in the district finals in Feltner's first season.

Berkley has Maeve Nolan, Avery Wintergarden, Hailey Kirkwood, Kate McAllister, and Nadia Watt coming back. Shaver will need to address program strength this offseason. The Bears are in a very interesting spot next season.

Thoughts

I think this will be a great hire. Shaver brings a lot of experience to Berkley. He also was at Milford and they have a ton of proven coaches over in Milford. Shaver needs to be in Berkley long term and if he does and builds the program then I think the Bears will be a much dangerous team next season and in the future. 

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

West Bloomfield has their new Varsity Football Coach.

Written Wednesday March 22nd at 2:00 PM

If it's not broke don't fix it.

West Bloomfield did that with their football coaching search.

The Lakers named Zach Hilbers as their new head coach. He takes over for Coach Tyrice Grice whom stepped down after two years to focus on his new job out of State. Hilbers is a teacher in the building and has been with West Bloomfield for 17 years as an assistant most recently the quarterbacks coach.

"I'm thrilled and honored to be the next head football coach at West Bloomfield High School. West Bloomfield has been part of my life since preschool and I'm excited to be able to serve its student athletes in this new capacity. I look forward to our future together as we strive to continue the strong traditions that have been established at West Bloomfield" Hilbers said in a press release.

Hilbers has been well known in the West Bloomfield community. He coached girls basketball until the 2018 season and is also involved in track and field. Hilbers has been involved in so many different athletic events around West Bloomfield.

Hilbers will have several proven returners in quarterback Requan Nance, running back Jaiden Allos, linemen Brandon-Davis Swan, and Zander Davis along with linebackers Reginald Hayes, Montelle Johnson, Josh Tate, and Kari Jackson, and wide receivers/defensive secondary Jamir Benjamin and recently Ann Arbor Huron transfer Kamryn Flowers.

Program strength will be very interesting to watch for the Lakers this offseason.

Thoughts

I really like this hire a lot. Hilbers is well known within the Lakers program. He has a proven track record and is very respected within the West Bloomfield community. Hilbers is a State Championship Coach as an assistant under Coach Ron Bellamy.

There really wasn't no reason for the Lakers to go outside with their coaching hire. The transtion should be very smooth for West Bloomfield. They should be a very interesting team to watch this fall.

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

Here is the press release

https://westbloomfieldathletics.com/2023/03/22/zach-hilbers-is-named-as-the-new-varsity-head-football-coach-for-the-lakers/

Boys State Quarterfinal Recap and State Semifinal Preview.

Written Tuesday March 21st at 10:00 PM

FERNDALE 71, Goodrich 66

This was a game that got scary for Eagles fans. Ferndale really struggled defending against Goodrich and couldn't hit free throws. The Martians hit 10 three pointers and had four players in double figures but the Eagles made just enough. Cameron Reed had 19 points and Chris Williams had 10 points for Ferndale. The Eagles need to play better that is for sure. Ferndale will head to Michigan State for the third straight season with a Division Two State Semifinal matchup with powerhouse Saginaw. The Trojans are back in a State Semifinal for the first time since 2013.

Grand Blanc 64, ADAMS 44

It was going to be a very tough game for the Highlanders against Grand Blanc on Tuesday night. The Bobcats sped Adams up and shut the guards down holding Peter Kardasis to six points in a 64-44 win over Adams. Tae Boyd had 17 points for Grand Blanc. Brady Prieskorn had 17 points and William Dee had 14 points for Adams on the night. The Highlanders did a lot of good this season, they won their first regional crown in school history and the sky is the limit for Adams going forward.

Division Two State Semifinals

FERNDALE vs Saginaw 5:30 PM-Friday

The Eagles are back at the Breslin Center for the third straight year. They won't be facing Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the State Semifinals. Ferndale had lost three straight to them but they will be facing a much different opponent with a rich history in basketball.

Ferndale will play Saginaw at the Breslin Center on Friday night at 5:30 PM.

The Eagles have won 14 of their last 15 games with their only loss being to North Farmington.

The Trojans are very similar to the Eagles. They are very athletic and talented also well coached under Coach Julian Taylor. Saginaw is back in their first State Semifinal since 2013 after coming back to beat Cadillac 61-57 at Alma. Taelor Lowery had 16 points (14 in the second quarter), D'Laurence Clark added 14 points, while Brandon McCune had 11 points for the Trojans.

The Eagles have a ton of experience playing in this game and are also well coached under Coach Juan Rickman. They have not made the State Finals since 1996. Saginaw does not have the experience but the Trojans have history on their side in this game.

It should be a good one on Friday night at Michigan State.

Girls Basketball Shortcomings-2023.

Written Saturday March 18th at 3:00 PM

Updated Tuesday November 7th at 8:20 PM

With the Girls Basketball season done, here is a recap of the season and what the future lies for each team in the OAA.

Pontiac: It was a very rough season for the Phoenix. Pontiac fell 64-22 to Waterford Kettering in the first round. They had seven freshmen in the program this season. The future looks bright even though there will still be some growing pains. Program strength will be a major concern for Coach Corray Lett. It will take some time for the Phoenix to develop their program.

Oak Park: It was a tale of two seasons for the Knights this year. They struggled early but really picked things up late. Oak Park fell 48-19 to Berkley in the first round. They have a new coach in Tyler Washington who takes over the program. The Knights should be better next season. It will be very interesting to see what happens this offseason with Oak Park.

Ferndale: The Eagles made some strides winning eight games this season which did include an upset win over Avondale. They beat arch rival Ferndale University 58-17 in the first round but fell 68-35 to Warren Fitzgerald in the district semifinals. Coach Keith Paris needs to be at Ferndale long term for this to work. They need coaching stability to build this program. Program strength is a big time concern for the Eagles. Everything starts and ends with coaching stability when it comes to the Eagles.

Ferndale University: It was a very rough season for Coach Brianna Rowe and the Eagles. Ferndale University won two games (both were over Pontiac) and fell to Ferndale 58-17 in the first round. The Eagles should be much improved next season with the talent pool. Program strength is a concern for Rowe next season. It will be very interesting to see how Rowe does this offseason with her team.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets had a very rough season which saw some very high expectations for them despite losing their two top players from last season. Avondale started 0-5 on the season but won three straight before going 4-11 the rest of the way. They won seven games this season. The Yellow Jackets beat Sterling Heights Stevenson 53-47 in a very competitive first round. They fell 59-17 to a very good Utica Ford II program in the district semifinals. Avondale loses Kaliyah Carroll and Kendall Cabot to graduation. They have Madison Manyweathers, Arielle Dudley, Khalia Bradley, and Trenitee Carroll coming back for Coach Roy Christmon. They added Morgan McPherson from Adams which should be big additions for them. Program strength is a concern this offseason. The Yellow Jackets should be a very interesting team to watch.

Farmington: The Falcons have done very well against the Blue but they have not fared well in the non-conference. This is something that the new coach will need to improve on heading into next season. Farmington beat Detroit Henry Ford 90-7 in the first round however they fell 68-33 to Farmington Hills Mercy in the district semifinals. The Falcons lose six seniors including Kennedi Jones, Clarissa Hankins, Deserre Green, Zipporah Johnson, and Yasmine Thorpe. They have EdiMari King, Anna Tornachuk, and Jayla Silver coming back for new coach Natalie Nowak. Farmington should be a team to watch this offseason.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks had an incredible season winning their first ever division crown in the Blue. Bloomfield Hills fell to Groves 54-45 in overtime in the first round. The Blackhawks lose five seniors including Makayla Paulateer to graduation but Ashley Forner, Ruby Smith, Brianna Young, and Michelle Barnett come back for Coach Kristen Massey. Program strength looks very good for the Blackhawks. Bloomfield Hills will be a team to watch next season.

Adams: The Highlanders were a very young team. They took a ton of ups and downs this season. Adams trailed 20-18 at halftime but had a rough second half and fell 57-29 to Stoney Creek in the first round. They lose four seniors to graduation including Aujuyna Howard and Taylor Green. The Highlanders have Samantha Blaine, Layla Tomezak, and Faith Zolhus coming back for Coach Joe Malburg. Program strength looks to be up and coming for Adams. They should be a team to watch this offseason.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks had a very interesting season. Troy Athens started hot at 4-0 but they really struggled going 3-14. They fell 46-44 to Utica in the district semifinals. Injuries is what really hurt the Red Hawks this season. They lose six seniors in Skyler Emerson, Ellie Musko, Rebekah Delia, Fiona Wingblad, and Gabby Leonard. The Red Hawks have Abby Malone, Kayci Mersier, Alex Link, Ava Laurer, and Katy Keller coming back for Coach Stacie Klumpp. Program strength will be very interesting to watch next season. Troy Athens should be a team to watch this offseason.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers had a very interesting season in the White. They won 12 games but had a very tough district ahead of them. Harper Woods fell to St. Clair Shores Lakeview 50-41 in the district semifinals. They don't really lose anyone to graduation this offseason. Harper Woods has Clearia Peterson, Kendall Kelsey, Tamina Montgomery, Mikyra Kelly, Autumn Trotter, and Laniyah West coming back but they will have a new coach. Program strength is a concern for the Pioneers and it will be something to watch this offseason.

Royal Oak: The Ravens had a bounce back season. They won 13 games and was a serious player in the White. Royal Oak fell 45-42 to Detroit Mumford in the district semifinals. The Ravens have everyone coming back including Emilee Austin, Lydia Dickens, Anna Waterstredt, Lucy Freytag, Megan Hahn, and Maddie Lawrence for Coach Brian Sopota. Program strength looks to be on the upward swing for Royal Oak. The Ravens will be a force next season.

Berkley: The Bears had a tale of two teams this season. They struggled early but improved late in the season. Berkley fell to Detroit Renaissance 56-29 in the district semifinals after winning 48-19 in the first round over Oak Park. They lose Jillian Gomes, Sammi Withrow, Mya Jones, and Ava Beard to graduation. The Bears have Maeve Nolan, Avery Wintergarden, Haley Kirkwood, Kate McAllister, and Nadia Watt coming back. According to a very accurate source is that Coach Cody Feltner has stepped down the program. Berkley named Clay Shaver as their new head coach. He comes from Milford and brings a lot of proven coaching experience to the program. The Bears should be a very interesting team to watch this offseason.

Seaholm: The Maples had a very young team that had some great moments especially in the postseason. Seaholm beat Troy 62-34 in the district semifinals at Birmingham Marian. They had a home game against Birmingham Marian because Birmingham Marian had a power outage thanks to a heavy wet snowstorm. The Maples fell 47-31 to the Mustangs in the district finals. They lose four seniors including Shay Manchester, Lola Weber, and Anne Boogerian to graduation. Seaholm has Addy Flynn, Mary Gumbis, Clara Guffey, Addy Kitzman, Emma Weber, Taylor Harwig, and Mary Wiltgen coming back for Coach Chris Manchester. Program strength is a concern for Manchester. The Maples will be a team to watch this offseason.

Oxford: The Wildcats had a very good season for a very young team that made a ton of strides. They won 18 games which included beating Birmingham Marian and Clarkston. Their four losses were to Lake Orion and North Farmington twice. Oxford beat Lapeer 61-41 in the district semifinals but fell 66-30 to Grand Blanc in the district finals which was the third straight year the Wildcats have fallen to the Bobcats. Oxford loses Myranda Wynemeko to graduation and Neveah Wood transferred to Avondale this offseason. They have Sophie Rabb, Alison Hufsteddler, Peyton Ritcher, Braydee Elling, and Lexi Yankee coming back for Coach Rachel Bryer. Emma Beggs could be a player to watch this offseason. Program strength looks solid for Oxford. This is a program that is ready for the Red. They will be a team to watch this offseason.

North Farmington: The Raiders had an incredible and historic season. They won the White and went undefeated for the first time in school history going 22-0 and gained some very impressive wins throughout the season. North Farmington earned a hard fought 66-56 win over Southfield Arts and Tech in the district semifinals at home but because of a power outage the district finals was moved to Farmington where they fell 59-23 to Farmington Hills Mercy. The Raiders lose a ton of proven experience with Sela Lefler, Penelope Creary, Eliza Muller, Hallie Rogers, and Kelly Simpson to graduation. North Farmington has Hannah Hart and Asiyah Jihad coming back but they will have a new coach as Jeff Simpson stepped down after 29 years with the program. Michael Allan is the new coach for the Raiders. Program strength is a big concern heading into the offseason for Allan. North Farmington should be a team to watch this offseason.

Troy: It was a very rough season for the Colts. Troy really struggled losing 18 straight games to close the year. They fell 62-34 to Seaholm in the district semifinals. The Colts lose Avery Allen, Katelyn Morris, and Charlotte Guillon to graduation. They have Regan Zeiter, Olivia Sprangler, and Diamond Prince coming back at the guards along with Carly Higginbottom in the interior. Strangler and Higginbottom were five quarter players this season. They could likely be full time next season. Program strength will be very interesting this offseason. The Colts will have a new coach next season with Julius Porter stepping down in June. They have a new coach in Laura Guzman taking over the program. The Colts might need a year away from the Red especially with Macey Zeiter coming into the program in a few years.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors had a very interesting season which saw a ton of ups and downs. They fell 66-56 to North Farmington in the district semifinals. Southfield Arts and Tech lose Jaylin Austin to graduation. They have Kamaria Page, Christen Banks, Jordyn Ushery, and Jamyra Fritz coming back for Coach Shaquita Coltrane. Program strength is a major concern for the Warriors. They should be a team to watch this offseason.

Groves: The Falcons had a very interesting season which saw a ton of ups and downs Groves fell 30-29 to Birmingham Marian in the district semifinals after dominating the game throughout but they let the Mustangs hang around and that happened. The Falcons lose seven seniors including Lilly Gallagher and Kaitlyn Sanders to graduation. They have Jacey Roy, Nevaeh Cochran-McCay, Cameron Little, and Cira Racco coming back for Coach Allison Hidey. Program strength is a major concern next season for Hidey. The offseason will be very interesting to watch.

Clarkston: The Wolves had a very young team that saw a ton of ups and downs this season. They won 13 games which included wins over Stoney Creek and Rochester and were very competitive in most others. Clarkston blew out Waterford Mott 59-25 in the district semifinals but fell 54-52 to Lake Orion in the district finals. They lose five seniors in Ava Hernandez, Anna Thomas, Mia Zorski, Eleonoro Spano, and Kierra Tolmie to graduation. The Wolves have Emily Valencia, Kierra Zorski, Lauren Fishtaller, Ella Morgner, Ellery Hernandez, Marley Mazur, Claire Walker, and Elliana Robak coming back for Coach Aaron Goodnough. Program strength looks to be solid. Clarkston should be a force to be a recon with next season.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars had a very young team in the always tough and competitive Red this season. They won 17 games which included wins over Lake Orion, Clarkston, and Rochester. Stoney Creek beat Adams 57-29 in the first round but they fell 43-39 to Rochester in the district semifinals. The Cougars lose Lily Solek, Kaeli Butcher, and Mia Carson to graduation. They have Merrick Schlawbach, Sarah LaPrarie, Erin Flynn, and Izzy Ivezaj coming back. Stoney Creek will have a new coach as Coach Kellen James stepped down in September and Columbus Williams has taken over the program. Program strength looks solid for Stoney Creek. The offseason will be very interesting to watch for the Cougars. They should be very good next season.

Rochester: It was a very strong year for the Falcons which saw them back to the Red after a few years away from it. Rochester was an honorable mention in Division One and won 18 games this season which included wins over Macomb Dakota, Clarkston, Stoney Creek, and Lake Orion. The Falcons beat Stoney Creek 43-39 in the district semifinals and snapped their four year district final drought by beating Utica Eisenhower 44-33 for the second straight year on their home floor. It was their first district crown since 2008. They battled tough but fell 61-41 to West Bloomfield in the regional semifinals. Rochester loses Ava Williams, Stevie Norgrove, Abbey Pleasant, Alana Webb, and Sammi Glover to graduation. The Falcons have their two top interior players in Alice Max and Kylie Robinson coming back. Watch for Lucy Cook to make some noise next season for Coach Bill Thurston. Program strength looks solid as well. Rochester's size will be a problem for everyone next season. They will be back that is for sure.

Lake Orion: The Dragons had an incredible season with a ton of ups. They made a ton of noise in their first season back in the Red for the first time since 2017 and was an honorable mention in Division One. Lake Orion won 20 games and made the regional finals for the first time since 2009. They beat Oxford twice, Clarkston three times including a 54-52 victory in the district finals, Rochester, Stoney Creek, and Howell. The Dragons also won back to back district crowns for the first time since 2010 and won their first regional game since 2009 when they beat Howell in that epic 47-44 win in the regional semifinals. They fell to West Bloomfield 48-30 in the regional finals. That game was closer than the score indicated. Lake Orion loses nine seniors in Maddie Ebbert, Chloe Wiegers, Grace Sullivan, Taylor Dinda, Jodie McCaffery, Kylie Heck, Alison May, Fontana Blackney, and Audrey Wischmeyer to graduation. They also lose Rocco Garcia and Carmen Huetras as they were foreign exchange students. The Dragons will be a different team next season but they have Izzy Wotlinski, Charlotte Peplowski, and Ryan Pawlacyzk coming back for Coach Bob Brydges. Wotlinski missed most of the season with an ACL injury while Peplowski had an ankle injury which kept her out of the postseason. They did add Neveah Wood who comes from Oxford this offseason. Program strength is strong for Brydges. The Dragons should be a very interesting program to watch this offseason.

West Bloomfield: It has been an incredible season for the Lakers. West Bloomfield had two very tough losses to South Bend Washington, Indiana and Ypsilanti Arbor. They managed to overcome a lot to make it back to the Division One State title game. They fell 40-36 to Rockford in a very low scoring defensive game to the Rams. The Lakers have been dominant this postseason winning by an average of 29.5 points which held until the Rockford game. West Bloomfield loses two proven seniors in Sydney Hendrix and Jada Vaughn to graduation. They have Kendall Hendrix, Destiny Washington, Indya Davis, and Summer Davis. Ava Lord, Gabrielle Hale, or Sheridan Beal coming back for Coach Darrin McAllister next season. Depth will be a concern for the Lakers next season. Program strength is also a concern in the future for McAllister. West Bloomfield should be very good next season but the next few years looks very concerning.

West Bloomfield Falls to Rockford in Crazy Game.

Written Saturday March 18th at 2:45 PM

Updated Sunday March 19th at 11:00 AM

The Rockford Rams were on a mission to not make the same mistake that happened last season to them. In a tight defensive game, the Rams held West Bloomfield, a team that had won their postseason games by 29.5 points per game to their lowest point total of the season as Rockford stunned the Lakers 40-36 on Saturday afternoon in the Division One State Finals at Michigan State.

West Bloomfield won 66-63 over Rockford in the Division One State Semifinals which led them to the Division One State crown last season but the Rams had a very good game plan to play at their pace and not West Bloomfield's.

The Rams took advantage of West Bloomfield's foul situation and lack of depth. They got the Hendrix sisters into foul trouble. The foul trouble allowed Rockford to pay more attention toward the Davis twins.

Kendall Hendrix had 12 points while Sydney Hendrix had 10 points. The Rams held the Davis twins to 12 total combined points (Indya had eight while Summer had four points.)

The Lakers held Grace Lyons whom torched them with 21 points (five threes) last season to five points but those five points were in very critical moments and in the fourth quarter. 

She got a steal and then hit a contested three pointer off very good ball movement from the Wypych sisters causing the defense to collapse leading to the three with 40 seconds left. The three by Lyons proved to be the dagger in the fourth quarter which gave Rockford the 38-36 lead. West Bloomfield would try to get the ball up the court but turned the ball over with 33 seconds left giving it back to the Rams.

West Bloomfield still had a chance to tie the game after a free throw miss by Rockford. They got the ball to Summer Davis whom was fouled. Davis missed both free throws which the second was missed intentionally but was wiped off by a lane violation giving the ball to the Rams and Lyons sealed it with with two free throws.

"We came up short a few plays and Rockford is a great team, great coached team and they made plays when it counted and they walked away. And I'll say this, today they were the better team, today. They were the better team, they walked away. And they are champions. And I respect that" said Coach Darrin McAllister during his press conference to MIPrepZone and the Oakland Press's Matt Mowery.

Anna Wypych had 20 points (five threes) while Alyssa Wypych had nine points for Rockford. The big three for the Rams combined for 34 of Rockford's 40 points on the night.

The 36 points were the lowest the Lakers had scored this season. They scored 48 against Lake Orion which was their previous lowest prior to the game.

West Bloomfield finished the season with a 26-3 record. They lose Sydney Hendrix and Jada Vaughn to graduation but they have both Davis twins, Kendall Hendrix, Gabrielle Hale, Ava Lord, Sheridan Beal, and Destiny Washington coming back. 

The Lakers should be motivated to get the Division One State crown back and they should be with four starters coming back plus two more off the bench. They do have a few questions to address particularly program strength.

More will be talked about this game on the podcast on Monday so stay tuned to OAA Now.

West Bloomfield returns to the State Finals.

Written Friday March 17th at 5:00 PM

The Lakers are back in the Division One State title game. They had no problem with Plymouth Salem in the Division One State Semifinals on Friday afternoon at Michigan State. West Bloomfield earned a 78-53 win over the Rocks setting up a rematch with Rockford at 12:15 PM at Michigan State. The Lakers beat the Rams 66-63 in the Division One State Semifinals last season.

The defending Division One State Champs scored 58 points inside the paint against Plymouth Salem. Indya Davis had 23 points, Summer Davis had 20 points, Sydney Hendrix had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Kendall Hendrix had 11 points. The Lakers out rebounded Plymouth Salem 47-27 and had 22 offensive rebounds.

The Lakers whom are 26-2 with losses to South Bend Washington, Indiana (86-74) and Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (66-62) will have a rematch with Rockford in the Division One State Finals. West Bloomfield won 66-63 over the Rams as mentioned in front of a really hostile orange clad student section. Rockford comes in with a 27-1 record with their only loss to Grand Rapids West Catholic 61-54 back on December 22nd. They have won 22 straight since that game which included a stunning 65-42 blowout of Detroit Renaissance in the State Semifinals.

The Rams have proven they can play that style that the Lakers want to play with as with last season's game and also their win over Detroit Renaissance. West Bloomfield and Detroit Renaissance are almost similar teams when it comes to pace.

Rockford is a senior heavy team with the Wypich sisters (Grace and Anna whom had 25 combined points against Detroit Renaissance) and Grace Lyons had 23 points against Detroit Renaissance. These three torched West Bloomfield last season especially from behind the three point line. Lyons had 21 points in that game. The three point defense has been one of the Lakers biggest weaknesses all season.

West Bloomfield counters with the Davis sisters, Hendrix sisters, and Destiny Washington. Depth is a big part of this matchup which doesn't favor the Lakers. The Rams are a deep team. It will be very interesting to see what happens in this matchup on Saturday afternoon.

Boys State Quarterfinal and Girls State Semifinal Preview.

Written Thursday March 16th at 11:35 AM

Here is my insight and early previews of the State Quarterfinals for Boys with both games being played at Lake Orion on Tuesday and the Girls being played at Michigan State on Friday and Saturday.

Here they are.

Boys State Quarterfinals

FERNDALE vs Goodrich

The Eagles have played a very tough non conference schedule and not to mention playing in the Red is never an easy task which it has shown. Ferndale is reaping the rewards of playing that brutal schedule and their play has shown it in the postseason. Coach Juan Rickman has done a really good job navigating through the early dark waters of the season. The Eagles have won 13 of their last 14 games behind the play of their proven experience players in Chris Williams, Cameron Reed, Trenton Ruth, and Caleb Renfroe. They have played really well and played alongside proven scorers in Jason Drake and Treyvon Lewis from last two seasons when they went to the Breslin Center in back to back years. Ferndale has been scoring in bunches lately which is what Rickman wants. The Eagles haven’t really needed to go elsewhere, they have been at Hazel Park in both rounds of the postseason. Goodrich is a solid team. They beat Croswell-Lexington 56-39 in the regional finals in Imlay City. The Martians or the Eagles have not seen any common opponents this season. It should be a very interesting game to say the least.

ADAMS vs Grand Blanc 

 

The Highlanders have been riding on cloud nine. They earned their first regional crown in school history with a 58-48 win over Clarkston. Coach Jared Thomas has done a remarkable job in three years with this program. Adams looks to continue riding that postseason success from football, girls golf, and boys soccer with a very tough matchup against Grand Blanc. The Highlanders have relied on Brady Prieskorn, Peter Kardasis, and William Gee. Kardasis was huge in the regionals against both Milford and Clarkston. He had 27 points against the Wolves. Prieskorn has had his moments in the postseason as well. As mentioned, the Bobcats bring a ton of proven postseason experience with RJ Taylor, Bryce O’Mara, and Tae Boyd. Coach Tory Jackson has done a really good job in his first year with Grand Blanc. The Bobcats really struggled against Mount Pleasant in the regional final winning 54-53 in overtime. Oxford is the common opponent for both of these teams. Experience favors Grand Blanc but Adams is playing with nothing to lose and everything to gain and that’s a good sign for Thomas and company.

Girls State Semifinals

WEST BLOOMFIELD vs Plymouth Salem

The Lakers bounced back from their disastrous regional against Rochester and Lake Orion with a 64-32 blowout of Flint Carman Ainsworth in the State quarterfinals. West Bloomfield sees a Plymouth Salem team that has faced an odd road with upsets of Canton, Saline, and Riverview. The Rocks won their first regional crown in 33 years by beating Dexter 40-23. Plymouth Salem has two really good players and Shahd Bakkar and Madison Morson. Morson had 17 points against Dexter in their win. I don’t think the Rocks have seen a team that is as talented and as athletic as West Bloomfield, even though they could compare them to Wayne Memorial. The Lakers have Sydney Hendrix, Kendall Hendrix, Destiny Washington, and both Davis sisters Summer and Indya. It should be a very interesting matchup but proven experience favors Coach Darrel McAllister and West Bloomfield in this matchup on Friday afternoon. The winner gets either Rockford or Detroit Renaissance which if it's the Lakers it will be a very tough matchup on Saturday afternoon.