Girls Basketball Thoughts.

Written Wednesday December 31 at 9:15 PM

When looking at each team, I will give my insight on all 24 OAA teams in Girls Basketball this season so far.

Red:

Harrison: The Hawks had a huge win over Chicago Crete Montee with mostly one of their top superstars Kristen Nelson in foul trouble in the Motor City Roundball Classic. Harrison has played a brutal non conference schedule (Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, Ann Arbor Huron, Plymouth, Livonia Stevenson) and has to play a good Harper Woods team before opening up league play. Expect Harrison to ride Nelson, Amber Stephans, who had 31 points against Farmington, and Kyla Roland to be factors but also Deja Hunter and Katie Conrad are wildcards but the major concern is depth but coach Tim Micklash won the division last season and has the experience to repeat.

Adams: This may be the best team for the Highlanders have had in a long time. Adams has a new coach in Shay Lewis and future Northwestern recruit Amber Jamison in the post and Raiven Owusu at the small forward spot along with her sister Ryian and Olivia Aregros. The Highlanders have gotten stronger with the arrival of Dazia Dinkins from West Bloomfield. Adams also has a deep bench led by Maggie Rogers and Anna Twitty. Expect Adams to make noise in this division this season but they haven’t played a game since they rolled Utica on Teddy Bear night.

Lathrup: The Chargers are for real but they had to overcome a tough Chicago Crete Montee team in overtime and steamrolled East Chicago Central at the Motor City Roundball Classic. Lathrup has two 6.2 twins in the middle in Paige and Taize Bello but the emergence of guards Antoinette Miller and Deja Church has helped the Hoop Squad take the pressure off the Bello Twins for coach Michelle Jackson-Marshall. The concern for Lathrup is the bench and if the twins get in foul trouble it could be interesting. The Chargers will be good this season.

Clarkston: Coach Tim Waslik has been trying to find a true second scorer to go along with Marquette bound Erica Davenport. Davenport has been playing really well but the Wolves have played a tough schedule in playing Waterford Mott and Grosse Pointe South. Clarkston has some candidates to be the second scorer in center Kayla Lucenbach, forward Jessica Altene, forward Kayla Russell, three point specialist Ashley Skaggs, point guard Taylor Mullins, and guard Meghan Deardorff. The Wolves will have options besides Davenport to help them this season.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars have been doing well so far this season and is riding their guards Maria Zandi and the Solek sisters Courtney and Emily. Zandi has had a strong start but did miss the Oxford game and it showed, she had strong showings against Macomb Dakota and Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes and she will have to be relied on if coach Brad Crighton wants to be successful.

North Farmington: The Raiders should be sitting at 6-0 had it loss a terrible game to Walled Lake Northern but did beat Farmington and River Rouge. Megan Carter has missed some time with a shoulder injury but returned against the Farmington. North Farmington needs to get someone besides Carter to carry the load if they want to compete in the Red.

Blue:

Seaholm: The best kept secret is out with Makenzie Harbort, she has to adjust to being the girl in Birmingham. She did have 39 points against Royal Oak Shrine and 20 points against Rochester. The schedule however for the Maples and coach January Hlauski will get tough with them having to play Orion, Stoney Creek, and Adams. That’s not going to be easy.

Oak Park: The Knights has had a strange season so far with wins over Trenton and Flint Southwestern Academy but losses to Flint Beecher and Blissfield have haunted coach Diane Jones Knights young team. Oak Park needs to be consistent especially heading into division play.

Rochester: The Falcons got their first win of the season against a bad Warren Woods Tower.  Rochester has played a brutal schedule early (Adams, Stoney Creek, Seaholm, and Orion.) The key to the Falcons success is the combination of guard Palo Barraza and forward Shikara Hodges. If these two stay out of foul trouble then coach Adam Sheldon can have something here and also Zo Schultz must become a scorer if Rochester has any chance in the Blue.

Royal Oak: Coach Brian Sopta has had an up and down season for the Ravens but guard Bailey Haran has fitted in nicely to go along with Allison Karpinski for a one-two punch. The Ravens beat Royal Oak Shrine and Jaylen Rose Leadership Academy but lost to Walled Lake Northern and Troy Athens. Royal Oak will ride it’s defense this season as they have a big match up with Bloomfield Hills coming up.

Groves: The Falcons have struggled this season but have two wins over Redford Union and Detroit University Prep. Groves has a very talented freshman in Shea Carter to go along with Madison Meredith but the question for coach Amos Thompson will be who will show up inside, so far they have had to rely on Erin Eflimoff and Jenna Weed to carry Groves.

Farmington: The Falcons have struggled since Mary Sheltron returned to coach the Falcons but she has the pieces in Mya Douse, Armani Echols, Taylor Surrmeyer, and Natalia Peurach but losing Maddy Trevisian has hurt Farmington. The schedule is difficult for the Falcons they still has to play Orion and then they go into league play where they have to see Royal Oak, Oak Park, Rochester, and Seaholm. This could be interesting.

Gold:

Hazel Park: First year coach Jessica Wieseler will have her hands full but is off to a good start. The Vikings beat River Rouge and has started to change the culture in Vikings land but the schedule is still tough heading into league play.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks sit at 2-3 after losing to Northville in the Holiday tournament but they are a hit or miss team. They beat Berkley and Royal Oak handily but lost to Northville, Troy, and Sterling Heights Stevenson. Troy Athens is led by forward Kasey Joslyn and Michelle Gervalis but they have had to move Gervalis to the shooting guard spot to take the pressure off her but she may have to have the ball more in her hands if the Red Hawks want to be successful.

Pontiac: The Phoenix had a competitive game against Avondale but was blown out by Harper Woods. It could be another long season for coach Lance Davis but they will be competitive in this division with the speed they have.

Ferndale: The Eagles have been up and down but they have beaten the teams they are suppose to beat but were crushed by Bloomfield Hills. Ferndale under coach Eric Lloyd should be all right as we head into league play this month.

Berkley: The Bears have been an up and down team but Zoe Anderson has helped since coming over from Bloomfield Hills. She was huge against Seaholm in a win this month. Celia Somers has emerged as the go to guard for Berkley and if she and Anderson could bring their magic then coach Jordan Gruppen will be very happy.

Southfield: Krystal Lynn Defoe and Stormeigh Mattison has had a strong season so far for the Blue Jays and coach Jamie Glinz however they will get a test when they play Seaholm. Tough games are going to be ahead for this group especially when they see Troy Athens and Berkley as well.

White:

Oxford: The Wildcats are an interesting team. They can slow the game down like they did against Notre Dame Prep or rely a lot on Jessica Murphy. Skye Donaldson has had a solid season so far for coach Steve Emert but the question will be the bench especially when they play good teams and they lost to early season games to Lakeland and Adams and still has to play Clarkston and Stoney Creek before league play starts.

Orion: Besides the Linden game the Dragons are off to a strong start, led by Hannah Hamay and Evelyn Wischmeyer. The schedule will get tough for Orion as they play Clarkston, Adams, Seaholm, and Lapeer and then league play starts. This Dragon team will be an interesting team to watch this season for coach Steve Roberts.

Troy: The Colts are solid for coach Simon Bato, the Grecky sisters Rachel and Alyssa have been huge in making Troy good. The Colts have played a tough schedule with their only loss to Waterford Mott by three points. Troy has experience and depth but the question is the forward and inside game with them relying along on Tupper Bigelow and Jordan Layfette for now but their guards are very solid. The Colts will be in the league race all season along.

West Bloomfield: Charlika Stubbs has replaced Dazia Dinkins in the Lakers lineup and has done a solid job to go along with guards Krystal Glass, Rachel Harnish and forward Taylor Pierce. Coach Zach Hilbers has had a nice start but the schedule tightens up when they have to go to Harrison before league play starts.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets under coach Darious Whiteside will have experience led by forward Taylor Scarettli and 6.3 center Alyssa Smith and have the Morton sisters at the guards but have struggled this season in games against Adams, Pontiac, and Brandon. The schedule is brutal for Avondale especially when they get into league play.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks haven’t been tested yet but they will be when they play Lathrup. Coach Jeff Rubin is led by forward Amanda Sape who is 6.4 who came out for basketball to go along with guards Amanda Moss, Katherine Prinna and Sherry Jackson. Diana Hosley is the other starter and they have a solid freshman in Becca Hancock who will get minutes this season.