Basketball Holiday Tournaments and Games.

Written Monday December 25th at 7:00 PM

Updated Saturday December 30th at 10:30 PM

This column will recap the classic games heading into the holidays. If there are any other games that are added between December 27th until January 2nd please let me know. Coaches if you want to have comments on these games feel free to ask on X (Twitter.)

This blog will be frequently updated and will also be recapped on OAA Now.

All times are Approx Times, most of them will start later than scheduled.

Girls

Michigan Hardwood Classic @ Romulus

 

December 28th

FERNDALE 47, Ann Arbor Pioneer 39.

The Eagles had a really strong second half outscoring the Pioneers 33-15 and coming back from 11 points down in the fourth quarter in rout to a huge 47-39 win in the Hardwood Classic. Ferndale had a ton of balance from Demi Bolton, Aaliyah Frost, and Iyana Davis who combined for 35 of the Eagles 47 points. Coach Keith Paris has another tough one at Wayne Memorial against a good Tecumseh program looming.

 

Birmingham Detroit Country Day 47, CLARKSTON 23.

The rematch was never in doubt in the Hardwood Classic. The Wolves struggled to score in their 47-23 stunning loss to Birmingham Detroit Country Day. The third quarter was the difference as Clarkston was outscored 13-2 in that quarter. The Yellow Jackets kept Brooklyn Covert and Elliana Robak in check and limited the Wolves to 12 second half points. It will be very interesting to see what Coach Aaron Goodnough does heading into 2024.

 

WEST BLOOMFIELD 76, Chicago Wendell Phillips Academy, Illinois 35.

The Lakers showed their dominance against another out of state team in Chicago Wendell Phillips Academy in Illinois. The Davis twins, Sheridan Beal, Kendall Hendrix, Destiny Washington showed out in this blowout in Romulus for Coach Darryle McAllister. Indya Davis had 21 points, Hendrix had 14 points and Beal had 13 points. West Bloomfield has Utica Ford II in Romulus on Saturday looming.

December 30th

WEST BLOOMFIELD 73, Utica Ford II 20.

The Lakers had no issue with Utica Ford II winning 73-20 over the Falcons in Romulus. West Bloomfield was in complete control throughout and had their third running clock in four games. Summer Davis had 25 points, Indya Davis had 15 points, and Sheridan Beal had 10 points for Coach Dareylle McAllister's team. The Lakers are riding into 2024 with a ton of confidence.

Warrior Classic at Westfield Prep 

 

January 2nd

Lansing Waverly 54, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 51.

The Blackhawks lost a tough one to Lansing Waverly 54-51 on Tuesday afternoon. It was a clash of different styles as Bloomfield Hills out rebounded Lansing Waverly 57-31 in the contest. Ruby Smith had 26 points and 20 rebounds while Brianna Young had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Ashley Forner had seven points for Bloomfield Hills. Coach Kristen Massey's team will be fine going forward.

Plymouth Canton 56, HARPER WOODS 28.

The Pioneers had two runs go against them in their 56-28 loss on Tuesday afternoon. The Chiefs went on a 21-0 run in the second quarter and a 17-3 run between the third and fourth quarters for the win. Justice Tramble score 21 points and 22 rebounds for Plymouth Canton. Kendall Kelsey led Harper Woods with 12 points. It will be very interesting to see how Coach LaTonya Tate responds going forward.

 

Boys

Motor City Roundball at Ferndale

 

December 27th

ADAMS 53, Grosse Pointe South 45.

The Highlanders earned a hard fought 53-45 win over Grosse Pointe South. Trenton LaGarge has been a scoring machine for Adams. He had 19 points in the game. Peter Kardasis had 16 points including a buzzer beating three pointer to end the half. Coach Isiah Novak has this program heading in the right direction heading to 2024.

 

Flint Hamady 48, OAK PARK 45.

The Knights have now lost three straight games. They fell on a buzzer beater 48-45 on Wednesday afternoon. Oak Park was called for an illegal screen with six seconds left which set up the winning three point shot from Jakobe Boose for Flint Hamady. The Knights need to figure some things out and quick heading into 2024 or they could be in some trouble.

Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit 70, FERNDALE 48.

The Eagles have been reeling heading into 2024 after a rough second half in a stunning 70-48 loss to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit. Ferndale is a very young team and playing a tough schedule has it's difficult challenges. Coach Juan Rickman needs to get this young team on track especially when the postseason comes. It is clear that the Eagles are reeling as mentioned.

December 28th

FARMINGTON 69, AVONDALE 46.

The Falcons earned their second win of the season by beating the Yellow Jackets 69-46. Greg Grays had a strong outing with 24 points for Farmington who got their second win of the season for Coach Byron Johnson. Avondale has been up and down, they will be fine. Both teams have games in 2023 with the Yellow Jackets playing Walled Lake Northern on Saturday and the Falcons playing Redford Union at Farmington tomorrow night.

Dexter 67, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 53 OT.

The Warriors and Dreadnoughts needed overtime to settle things but Dexter had a little bit more in the tank earning a 67-53 overtime win over Southfield Arts and Tech. The Warriors are making some progress heading into 2024 which should please Coach Terrance Porter.

WEST BLOOMFIELD 59, Grand Rapids South Christian 56.

The Lakers had to survive on Thursday evening against the Sailors winning 59-56. Bloomfield Hills transfer Drew Wilson led West Bloomfield with 30 points while Keith Gilmore had 12 points. It's a huge win for Coach Arnette Jordan over a really good program that has a ton of proven experience. Grand Rapids South Christian has not fared well against the OAA in football and in boys basketball going back to last season, the Sailors are 0-3 against the league. The Lakers have Detroit Renaissance looming next.

December 30th

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 75, PONTIAC 68.

The Phoenix trailed by double figures early in their game with Pontiac Notre Dame Prep but they came back to cut it to six. They fell 75-68 to the Fighting Irish. Wade Robinson had 34 points for Pontiac Notre Dame Prep but Pontiac fought and made it a game against a good opponent. Coach Andrew Myers will be fine despite being 1-5 in their last six games heading into 2024.

Adrian 82, HARPER WOODS 62.

It was going to be a very interesting matchup between the Pioneers Julian Young and the Maples Stevie Elam. Elam earned his 1,000 career point and had 38 points for Adrian in a 82-62 win over Harper Woods. Young had 23 points for Coach TaJuan Porter's team. The Pioneers will be a very interesting team to watch in 2024.

WEST BLOOMFIELD 83, Detroit Renaissance 78.

The Lakers had an up and down struggle with Detroit Renaissance on Saturday afternoon. West Bloomfield needed everything and then some to win 83-78 over the Phoenix. Keith Gilmore had 20 points while Drew Wilson had 18 points, Corey Pittman had 13 points, and Brendin Jones had 12 points to lead Coach Arnette Jordan's team. Jordan Sigmon had 40 points for Detroit Renaissance. The defense will need to be addressed for Coach Jordan's team heading into 2024.

Detroit Cass Tech 69, GROVES 50.

The Falcons have been reeling losing five of their last six games falling to Detroit Cass Tech 69-50 on Saturday night. Groves needs to do something to snap this losing skid heading into 2024 and playing in the Red is not an easy task for Coach Marc West and company.

 

North Farmington Holiday Extravaganza at North Farmington

 

December 28th

TROY 69, Detroit Edison 68.

The Colts have relied on their big three all season and they have delivered again. Mason Parker hit the winning three pointer at the buzzer to give Troy a 69-68 win over Detroit Edison. Parker, Chase Kuiper and Jon Whiteside combined for 57 of the Colts 69 points (Kuiper had 26 points and 11 rebounds while Parker and Whiteside had 16 points each.) Coach Gary Fralick and his team should have a ton of confidence heading into 2024.

 Here is the buzzer beater from Troy Athletics on X

 https://twitter.com/Troy__Athletics/status/1740474510456037630

 

December 30th

AVONDALE 62, Walled Lake Northern 35.

The Yellow Jackets bounced back after a tough loss to Farmington with a 62-35 win over Walled Lake Northern at North Farmington. Jordan Bush had a really good game for Avondale who needed a win to keep some momentum heading into 2024.

 

NORTH FARMINGTON 65, Flat Rock 43.

The Raiders had a really slow start but picked it up during the second half to pull away winning 65-43 on Saturday night. Tyler Spratt had a big night for North Farmington. The Raiders and Coach Todd Negoshian head into 2024 with a ton of confidence and also a ton to work on as well.

 

St. Clair Community Classic Showcase at Port Huron

 

December 27th

Hamtramck 67, FERNDALE UNIVERSITY 31.

It was a really rough day for Coach Josh Nicks and the Eagles against Hamtramck on Wednesday afternoon. The Cosmos were too much for Ferndale University. It will be very interesting to see how Nicks and the Eagles respond heading into 2024.

 

December 29th

TROY ATHENS 42, St. Clair Shores Lakeview 41.

This was a very interesting game that went back and fourth but the Red Hawks got a huge win over a very good Huskies team winning 42-41 and ending 2023 on a two game winning streak. This win should give Coach Dave Scott some momentum heading into 2024.

 

New Baltimore Anchor Bay Tournament @ New Baltimore Anchor Bay

December 27th

Grosse Pointe North 60, ROCHESTER 54. 

The Falcons went back in fourth with the Norsemen at New Baltimore on Wednesday but it wasn't meant to be for Rochester as they fell to Grosse Pointe North 60-54. Max Mohl and Jake Tandy combined for 32 points in the game. The Falcons will play Lakeland in the consolation game.

 

December 28th

ROCHESTER 51, Lakeland 41.

The Falcons bounced back after a tough loss to Grosse Pointe North with a big win over Lakeland taking third place in the New Baltimore Anchor Bay classic. Max Mohl has really stepped up for Coach Nick Evola and Rochester. They have had some timely moments from Jake Tandy as well. The Falcons will look to continue the momentum heading into 2024..

 

Detroit Public School League Holiday Classic at Detroit Cass Tech

 

December 27th

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 57, Detroit Central 46.

The Blackhawks earned their first win of the season with a 57-46 win over the Trailblazers at Detroit Cass Tech. Phillip Muhammad and Dioyne Edwards combined for 27 points. Bloomfield Hills had a really strong second half outscoring Detroit Central 31-22 in the game. This win should help Coach Brian Canfield and his program get some confidence heading into 2024.

Other Games (All games at OAA sites)

December 28th

STONEY CREEK 68, Sterling Heights 52.

The Cougars need a win in the worst way possible and they got it in a big way. Stoney Creek a lot like Bloomfield Hills was dominant through out. They got in control and never looked back leading by 25 points at one point. Tyree Smith had 24 points while Tre Walker had 13 points for the Cougars. Hopefully this is a turning point for Coach Jeff Olind and his program heading into 2024.

December 29th

Novi 55, ROYAL OAK 54 OT.

This was a back and fourth game that went overtime between the Ravens and the Wildcats. Royal Oak and Novi went to the wire but it was the Wildcats that made one more point and won 55-54 on Friday night. Coach Aaron Smith's team is fine heading into 2024.

FARMINGTON 67, Redford Union 63.

The Falcons earned a hard fought 67-63 win over the Panthers on Friday afternoon. Greg Grays had another outstanding performance. Farmington has won two straight games which is huge for Coach Byron Johnson heading into 2024.

My Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwDbSSZL-zE

Boys Basketball Thoughts.

Written Sunday December 24th at 10:14 PM

Updated Sunday December 31st at 10:17 AM

Here are my thoughts on all 23 boys teams heading into the holiday season.

North Farmington: The Raiders are rolling right now with wins over Clarkston, Groves, and Oak Park along with Farmington, Zeeland West, Flat Rock, and Detroit Martin Luther King. Tyler Spratt and Landon Williams are playing really well and Rob Smith has been very good for North Farmington. Coach Todd Negoshian has this team clicking on all cylinders heading into 2024. Negoshian has this team in a good spot right now.

Ferndale: The Eagles had two really tough losses at home. They had a 69-58 loss to West Bloomfield and a 70-48 loss to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit which set them back a little bit. Ferndale has two tough games looming with  Muskegon and North Farmington heading into 2024. Coach Juan Rickman needs more scoring out of those besides Trenton Ruth if they want to get back in the thick of the Red title picture. The Eagles were in a much similar situation to this last season.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers are a perfect Rodney Dangerfield with how they have played lately. Unlike Berkley, West Bloomfield has went through greatness like beating Ferndale, Westland John Glenn, and Southfield Arts and Tech to some heartbreaking losses like Warren Lincoln and Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit, a blowout loss to East Lansing, and a tough one to River Rouge. The win over Ferndale was very important for Coach Arnette Jordan because if they played like they did against the Eagles and do that on a consistent basis then they could beat anyone especially when they get to the postseason when they could see Orchard Lake St. Marys. The Lakers earned their second straight win when they beat Grand Rapids South Christian 59-56 behind Drew Wilson's 30 points. Drew Gilmore had 20 points in their 83-78 win over Detroit Renaissance. It will be very interesting to see how Jordan does in 2024 as well.

Adams: The Highlanders bounced back after a really tough 52-48 loss to Clarkston with wins over Groves and a big one over Grosse Pointe South. Adams had been on a roll with wins over Rochester, Oxford, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, Milford, and Northville. William Gee and Peter Kardasis are doing their part but Trenton LaGarde has stepped up for Coach Isiah Novak. LaGarde has had several double digit games and has really become that third option for Novak. Adams is in a really good spot right now heading into 2024.

Clarkston: The Wolves have played very consistent as of late with the play of Peyton Fitzsimmons, Cole Charter, John Kaul, Quinn Rosenburg and company. Clarkston is 4-1 in their last five games with wins over Lake Orion, Fenton, Adams, Sterling Heights Stevenson, and Brighton along with tough losses to North Farmington and Detroit Old Redford Academy. Coach Tim Waslik has this team clicking on all cylinders heading into 2024.

Oak Park: The Knights could be in some serious trouble with their play lately. They needed a buzzer beater to beat Warren Michigan Collegiate. They were blown out by Ferndale and North Farmington which are not good signs in the Red. Oak Park had a heartbreaking buzzer beating loss to Flint Hamady after a terrible foul in a tie game which caused the winning three point shot. Coach Durrand Sheppard needs to figure some things out heading into 2024 or it could be a very rough go especially when the postseason looms.

Groves: The Falcons have been really struggling. They have lost five in a row to North Farmington, Ferndale, Plymouth Canton, Detroit Cass Tech, and Adams. Defense has been a big problem for Coach Marc West’s team as they have allowed over 60 points in three of those four games. They also have a loss to Troy and had to survive against Redford Thurston in which they allowed 77 points. They also have wins against Oxford and Livonia Clarenceville where they won by double figures. West needs to address the defense heading into 2024.

Troy: The Colts have started to turn things around after their stunning loss to Berkley. They have wins over Southfield Arts and Tech, Harper Woods, Farmington, Novi, Groves, and Detroit Edison. Troy’s success has been based on their big three of Mason Parker, Jon Whiteside, and Chase Kuiper. Coach Gary Fralick is rolling right now. The Colts are rolling right now.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers have played a really tough schedule. Juilian Young has been the focal point for Harper Woods. They have wins over Seaholm and Bloomfield Hills but losses to Troy, Detroit Renaissance, Detroit Edison, Adrian, and Novi Detroit Catholic Central has been rough for Coach TaJuan Porter. The Pioneers look like they are starting to put things together.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks have been up and down as of late. They had some really tough losses to Redford Thurston and Lake Orion along with a stunning blowout loss to Howell. Troy Athens has wins over Rochester, Waterford Oakdale Prep, Livonia Churchill, Seaholm, Southfield Arts and Tech, and St. Clair Shores Lakeview. Emmanuel Robinson has been playing really well for Coach Dave Scott. Troy Athens is in a good spot right now.

Seaholm: The Maples have been around 500 lately with wins over Southfield Arts and Tech, Avondale, and Livonia Churchill but they have had losses to East Lansing, Harper Woods, Troy Athens, Walled Lake Western, and Royal Oak are very concerning. Seaholm is very good when they keep teams under 45 points and have struggled when the opponent scored over 45 points. They scored over 50 points in each of their last two games. Coach Mike DeGeeter is more than capable of getting this team back on track heading into 2024.

Lake Orion: The Dragons have won five straight since suffering losses to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Clarkston. Lake Orion has wins over Holly, Troy Athens, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington, Oxford, Plymouth, and Rochester. Coach Jose Andrades has done a really nice job with this really young team. The Dragons have built proven scorers and it has shown. Lake Orion will be tested heading into 2024 but they are in a really good place right now and the scary part is they can get better.

Farmington: The Falcons are better than their record indicates. Greg Grays has been playing very well for Coach Byron Johnson. They have been in a ton of close games against Lake Orion, Livonia Stevenson, and Livonia Franklin even though they lost those games much closer than the score indicated. They did beat Bloomfield Hills, Redford Union, and Avondale. Farmington is a very young team. If Johnson can keep this core together than two years from now they will be very good

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks have been struggling as of late. They have blowout losses to Walled Lake Central and Lake Orion along with tough losses to Harper Woods, Farmington, Royal Oak, and South Lyon. Talking to Coach Brian Canfield it’s like putting a puzzle together. Canfield has the pieces there like a Phillip Muhammad, or a DeRon Mason, or a Carter Canfield but it’s putting it all together and it will take time. Bloomfield Hills did get their first win of the season by beating Detroit Central 57-46 behind a balanced attack for Canfield's team. It’s a puzzle when describing the Blackhawks.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors have been really struggling. They had blowout losses to West Bloomfield, Belleville, Summit Academy, Troy, and Seaholm. They lost a tough one to Troy Athens and beat Detroit Fredrick Douglass and Detroit Denby Tech. Coach Terrance Porter is taking small steps with this team. They took Dexter to overtime which shows a first step that they can play with them. It will be interesting to see how Porter does with Southfield Arts and Tech as we head into 2024.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars have really struggled and the stats prove it. They don’t really have a true scorer besides Tre Walker. Walker needs to be on the floor in order for Coach Jeff Olind’s team to be successful. They earned their first win of the season by winning over Sterling Heights. Stoney Creek was up by 25 points at one point. Tyree Smith had a breakout game with 25 points while Walked added 13 points. That could be an indicator that things might be starting to turn around. Walker needs to be on the floor if the Cougars want be successful.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets have started to turn things around a little bit with wins over Pontiac and Ferndale University. Avondale has kept teams from going under 50 points which is a recipe for success for Coach Jaret Thomas. Thomas has played a brutal non conference which included tough losses to Birmingham Brother Rice, Seaholm, Farmington, and Dearborn. They also have wins over Berkley, Walled Lake Northern, and Detroit Loyola as well. Thomas has Avondale in a good place right now.

Oxford: The Wildcats have won four straight after a 1-3 start. Oxford has wins over Royal Oak, Stoney Creek, Rochester, Plymouth Salem, and Lapeer along with tough losses to Lake Orion, Groves, and Adams. Jake Champagne has been a scoring machine but others have stepped up like Luke Stoffan, Jay Cady, Drew Cady, and Nolan Mauser. Coach Joe Fedorinchik has his team in a really good place heading into 2024.

Rochester: The Falcons earned their first win of the season with a 62-59 win over Pontiac. Prior to that game they had scored no more than under 50 points until this past week where they scored 57 and 62 respectably. Rochester had blowout losses to Lake Orion and Adams along with really tough losses to Dearborn Fordson, Troy Athens, Oxford, and Berkley prior to their win over Pontiac. They had a tough loss to Grosse Pointe North but bounced back to beat Lakeland in the New Baltimore Anchor Bay Classic. Coach Nick Evola has been trying to get this team on track and it looks like he has. The Falcons will be a very interesting team to watch heading into 2024.

Berkley: The Bears are your classic Rodney Dangerfield. They are off to a strong start which included an upset win over Troy but losses to Novi, Avondale, and Hartland are very concerning but to their defense they didn’t have Owen Stone in the Hartland game. Berkley has played very well since the Hartland game winning two straight and heading into 2024 with a ton of confidence. Coach Joe Sermo has this team in a better place right now.

Pontiac: The Phoenix are 1-5 in their last five games which is not good but they have been competitive in each of those games. The defense has been the problem for Coach Andrew Myers. They have allowed over 60 points in each of those losses. If Pontiac wants to get back to what got them wins over Hazel Park, Ferndale University, and Southfield Christian they have to really defend because if they don’t they could be in some trouble.

Royal Oak: The Ravens started off strong with wins over Seaholm and Bloomfield Hills. They rolled to a 7-3 start with their losses to Oxford, Novi, and Livonia Stevenson. Camden Clark has been the story for Coach Aaron Smith. They have others as well like Nick Hoffman among others who have also stepped their games up. If Royal Oak can keep this up then they could be a darkhorse in the Blue heading into 2024.

Ferndale University: The Eagles have lost three straight league games to Pontiac, Royal Oak, and Avondale and four straight if you count Hamtramck. Ferndale University hasn’t been able to get to 50 points in those games which is very concerning for Coach Josh Nicks and the points against has gone up as well. The Eagles were scoring over 50 points earlier in the season but teams have done a good job defending them. Ferndale University needs to score more than 50 points if they want to be very competitive in 2024.

 

My Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwDbSSZL-zE

Girls Basketball Thoughts.

Written Sunday December 24th at 10:30 AM

Updated Sunday December 31st at 12:30 PM

What we learned about each team.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers have been on a roll to start the season. West Bloomfield has had four wins over Plymouth Salem, Utica Ford II, Chicago Wendell Phillips, and Chicago Butler Prep. The Davis twins have been very good especially Indya as of late but Summer has had her moments. Destiny Washington and Sheridan Beal have been very good along with Kendall Hendrix for Coach Daryelle McAllister. West Bloomfield comes into 2024 riding with a ton of confidence but there are several questions when it comes to these blowout wins that the Lakers have had this season. They are a very talented team but they haven't been that tested and that's the big question going forward.

Rochester: The Falcons have been unusually struggling with really tough losses to Wixom St. Catherine Sienna Academy, Dearborn Fordson, and Utica Ford II, all be it all of them are really good teams and they beat Adams. They have relied a ton on Alice Max scoring a double-double per night but it’s clear she needs help, she needs a robin, it’s the same situation it is with the boys basketball team at Oxford with Jake Champagne. Kylie Robinson is expected to be back in January which should help but the bigger concern for Coach Bill Thurston has to be which guard can step up and take the pressure off of Max. Thurston has Kaitlyn Guiola and Lucy Cook, among others but the problem has been trying to find that guard that can take the pressure off of Max before league play starts. Thurston has to address this or they are in trouble.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars have been on a roll which has pleased Coach Columbus Williams who is in his first year with the program. Stoney Creek has been dominant against Macomb County foes Romeo and Utica Eisenhower winning by 14 and 13 points respectively. They have also had to survive upset traps against Bloomfield Hills and Brighton. Defense has been the strength for Williams especially the press whether it’s the 1-2-2 or the 2-2-1 full court trap. The changing defenses has really confused offensives that Stoney Creek has faced thus far. Sarah LaPrarie, Merrick Schlawbach, and Izzy Ivezaj has played very well for Williams and they have had others that have stepped up as well. The Cougars should be tested when 2024 starts when they have Royal Oak. It’s been a good for Williams and company thus far.

Lake Orion: The word resilient is perfect to describe the Dragons and their 4-0 start. Lake Orion has been through the ringer with gutsy wins over Plymouth and Bay City Western along with wins over Adams and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. Izzy Woltinski is back to being herself being a double-double machine every night. Ryann Pawlacyzk, Charlotte Peplowski, and Lexi Stroshein have been very good as well. Ellie Britt has been that stabilizer. Nevaeh Wood fits right in with this team especially in clutch time and that’s not mentioning Grace Hoenshien, Lauren LaForge, Xana Cuesda, and Dani Heck who’ve been very good off the bench for Coach Bob Brydges. This is much different team than they were in the summer and even last season when they lost nine seniors to graduation. Lake Orion has a ton of room for improvement as well. This will be a team to watch in 2024.

Clarkston: The Wolves have been battle tested which it has shown in recent weeks. They have wins over Saginaw Heritage, Novi, Haslett, Howell, and Lake Fenton along with a blowout of Macomb L’Anse Creuse. Clarkston has two losses, one to Chelsea where they're ranked the top team in Division Two, and Birmingham Detroit Country Day where they had a rough third quarter and were held to 23 points. Coach Aaron Goodnough has had several players step up and make crucial plays in crucial times in Brooklyn Covert, Emily Valencia, Claire Walker, and Elliana Robak. The Wolves have been very competitive which is a great sign heading into league play and their likely postseason clash with Lake Orion.

Oxford: The Wildcats have been around 500 despite playing a really tough schedule. They have wins over Flushing, Warren Regina, and Davison but really tough losses to Saginaw Heritage, Belleville, and Macomb Dakota. Peyton Ritcher, Sophia Rabb, Lexie Yankee, Emma Beggs, Braydee Elling, and Alison Huffstedler have been the glue for Coach Rachel Bryer. Mia Champagne has started to develop into her own as of late. The non-conference Oxford has played should help them especially going into the postseason where they have beaten Davison but they don’t see Lapeer or Grand Blanc until the postseason. The Wildcats are in a really good place heading into 2024.

Royal Oak: The Ravens have used their balance to win games and they have been battle tested. Royal Oak has had three close games against Livonia Stevenson, Walled Lake Northern, and Berkley which resulted in wins but it prepares them for the road ahead. 2024 should be a fun year for Coach Brian Sopota and company.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks have been very competitive for Coach Kristen Massey despite two early losses to Stoney Creek and Plymouth Canton. They have had no issues with Farmington and Ferndale University winning by a combined 128-24 in both meetings. Bloomfield Hills has a really interesting week to start 2024 with Lansing Waverly followed by Oxford and Lake Orion. We’ll see where they stand after the first week of January but the Blackhawks are heading in the right direction.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers haven’t really played in a long while which is a concern heading into 2024. They sit at 3-1 right now but they have to start playing some games. Harper Woods has a tough January looming starting with Canton. That matchup to start 2024 should test Coach LaTonya Tate’s team big time.

Seaholm: The Maples have been up and down lately with their 3-2 record. Addy Flynn has been solid for Seaholm. They earned blowout wins over Farmington, Livonia Franklin, and Clawson but two tough losses to Saline and Warren Cousino. We’ll know a lot about Coach Chris Manchester’s team in January when they play Clarkston and Stoney Creek, it’s a perfect barometer to see where the Maples are at.

Groves: The Falcons have been a really hard team to figure out. Coach Allison Hidey’s team was blown out by Hartland and Birmingham Detroit Country Day, and lost a tough one to Livonia Churchill. They have two wins against Troy and Avondale. Groves needs to find a way to be very competitive against really good teams heading into 2024 especially with the district they are in this postseason. They have a really tough January which includes Novi, Arbor Prep, and West Bloomfield.

North Farmington: The Raiders have been on a roll winning five straight games but they haven’t been battle tested so to some experts the jury is out on Coach Michael Allin’s team. North Farmington has a big test awaiting them when they head to Lake Orion, that game will be a good indicator to see where the Raiders are at. North Farmington is off to a strong start after having a great 2023. Lets see what 2024 brings for the Raiders.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors are back to their scoring ways which is a good sign for Coach Shaquita Coltrane. Southfield Arts and Tech has a ton of proven experience and it has shown in their wins over Warren Michigan, Collegiate, Detroit Denby Tech, and Avondale. The loss to Livonia Stevenson is a concern especially that the Warriors are in the same district with the Spartans. Southfield Arts and Tech has a lot to be excited about heading into 2024.

Troy: The Colts have a young team going through a transition period and for Coach Laura Guzman the transition had to happen during the season. Troy is 2-1 vs Macomb County teams which includes wins over Sterling Heights Stevenson and a monster win over St. Clair Shores Lakeview but they have had some really tough losses to Groves, Orchard Lake St. Marys where they were very competitive, and blowout losses to Novi, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood, and Romeo. It’s been very rough for the Colts but they have the players and the time to turn this around. They could be a dangerous team come postseason time with the experience and they could sneak up on some people in the Blue.

Berkley: The Bears are in a much better place despite their 4-3 record with tough losses to Royal Oak, Plymouth, and Madison Heights Foley but they have a monster win against Utica Eisenhower which is huge at the moment. They have been very competitive in each of their losses and have been improving under Coach Clay Shaver. Berkley has built program strength as well which should help heading into the future. This is a darkhorse team in the Blue and in the district. I don’t think a ton of teams will like to play the Bears in 2024, they are getting better and better.

Adams: The Highlanders have been very competitive for Coach Joe Malburg but it was a really tough week with losses to Lake Orion and North Farmington. They had another blowout loss to Rochester and a tough one to Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood. Adams has two wins over Waterford Kettering and Northville which is a huge win for Malburg. Samantha Blaine has been Malburg’s top player but his top players are very young and are gaining a ton of experience. They are a scrappy group defensively. The Highlanders will be fine but they have a brutal January coming up.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks have had a rough December but ended the month on a high note winning 40-25 over Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. Coach Stacie Klump’s team were very competitive against Utica Eisenhower and South Lyon but were blown out by North Farmington and Wayne Memorial. Troy Athens started to get some consistency and will look for some more consistency which should lead into wins heading into 2024.

Farmington: It has been a really rough 2023 for Coach Natalie Nowak and the Falcons. Farmington is really struggling, no sugar coating that. They have been blown out in each game this season which is very concerning. Nowak needs to change something in 2024 if the Falcons are to be competitive.

Avondale: The injury bug has really hurt Coach Roy Christmon’s team. The Yellow Jackets has lost three straight to Dearborn, Chippewa Valley, and Southfield Arts and Tech. The defense has been the problem for Avondale. They have allowed over 50 points in each of their five losses. Christmon needs to focus on the defensive end with his proven squad. The Yellow Jackets have a tough schedule coming up with features Berkley, Bloomfield Hills, Harper Woods, Rochester, Seaholm, and Lake Orion along with the Gold schedule. Defense is something that Christmon needs to address heading into 2024.

Ferndale: The Eagles have made a statement which included a win over Detroit Cass Tech in Detroit. Ferndale has played proven teams in Macomb Dakota and Dexter also tough as well. Coach Keith Paris has built this program. They bounced back and won over Ann Arbor Pioneer coming back from 11 points down to win. The Eagles are a much different team than last season. They could be the favorite in the Gold in 2024.

Ferndale University: The Eagles were very competitive in their first two games and especially against Detroit Old Redford Academy where they lost by nine but they have only scored nine points in two games. This is something where Coach Brianna Rowe needs to correct heading into 2024.

Oak Park: The Knights have some issues scoring which has shown in their three losses, two of them were blowout losses to Harper Woods and South Lyon but they were very competitive despite their loss to Walled Lake Central by three points. If Oak Park can develop scoring and play aggressive defense then they could surprise some people but it’s one game at a time for Coach Tyler Washington and company.

Pontiac: The Phoenix have three wins over Hazel Park, Marine City Cardinal Mooney, and Brighton Stockwood Prep. They have been very competitive in their losses to Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, Bloomfield Hills Sacred Heart, Westland John Glenn, and Waterford Kettering. Pontiac didn’t win a game last season and having three wins is a great sign for a young program that Coach Corray Lett has. The Phoenix still have Troy Athens and Royal Oak with every non-conference game being winnable. They still have a long way to go but Lett has this program heading in the right direction heading into 2024.

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