Boys Basketball District Preview.

Written Friday March 6th, at 3:00 PM

District 26 @ Walled Lake Central

Orchard Lake St. Marys vs Walled Lake Western-Monday 6 PM
Walled Lake Northern vs Walled Lake Central-Monday 7:30 PM
OLSM/Walled Lake Western vs Lakeland-Wednesday 6 PM
Walled Lake Northern/Walled Lake Central vs West Bloomfield-Wednesday 7:30 PM
District Final- Friday 7 PM

Favorite: Walled Lake Western: The Warriors won the KLAA by destroying Plymouth but they beat Walled Lake Central in the process. Walled Lake Western is rolling right now, they have a lot of experience to win this district but the question will be is can they handle the pressure.

Top Contenders: I look at Orchard Lake St. Marys, West Bloomfield, and Walled Lake Central as top contenders here. With OLSM, the Eaglets went to the Catholic League finals, beat Birmingham Brother Rice but lost to U-D Jesuit in the final. Walled Lake Central lost a tough one to Walled Lake Western in the Kensington Final and will have home court for the district. West Bloomfield shared the Blue with Avondale and features a three headed monster in Michael King, Zach Allread, and Tristian Jackson.

Projection: This is a tough district to predict, there are four solid teams in this district. OLSM and Walled Lake Western is going to be a heck of a matchup but I like Western to pull it out because of experience despite OLSM playing much tougher competition. I think Central will beat Northern and face West Bloomfield. Western will beat Lakeland but the Eagles defense will keep it close. This will be interesting Anton Lucaj will face his former team in the Lakers on his new home court. I like the upset here, I think West Bloomfield has played a more daunting schedule and would like to get some revenge here and I think they will get it. In the end I like West Bloomfield coming out because of the three headed monster and it will be the Lakers who move on.

Pick: West Bloomfield

District 23 @ Warren Woods Tower

Warren Cousino vs Sterling Heights- Monday 5 PM
Hazel Park vs Warren De Lassale-Monday 7 PM
Warren Cousino/Sterling Heights vs Warren Mott- Wednesday 5 PM
Hazel Park/Warren De Lassale vs Warren Woods Tower-Wednesday 7 PM
District Final-Friday 7 PM

Favorite: Warren De Lassale: Despite the Pilots record they have some good wins and play in the Catholic League. Warren De Lassale is very talented and could play with anyone in this district.

Top Contenders: Hazel Park can compete with anyone and is very young as well. The Vikings were one game away from winning the Gold but some bad losses cost them dearly but Hazel Park has a tough matchup with Warren De Lassale first. The other contender is Warren Woods Tower, even though they finished 11-9 they have home court and even that could have an impact here.

Projection: This is a very bad district but I like Sterling Heights over Cousino. Warren De Lassale will beat Hazel Park. Warren Mott will beat Sterling Heights while Warren De Lassale will beat Warren Woods Tower and the Pilots will be moving on here.

Pick: Warren De Lassale

District 21 @ Detroit Renaissance

Detroit Mumford vs Detroit Renaissance-Monday 5 PM
Farmington vs Southfield-Monday 6:30 PM
Detroit Mumford/Detroit Renaissance vs Detroit U-D Jesuit- Wednesday 5 PM
Farmington/Southfield vs Detroit Cody-Wednesday 6:30 PM
District Final-Friday 7 PM

Favorite: U-D Jesuit: They have the state's best player in Cannes Winston, they have the two Nigerians inside. They won the Catholic League. They want to get back to Breslin in the worst way. I'm not sure there is an overwhelming favorite since Birmingham Marian in the girls side as U-D Jesuit is to win this district.

Top Contenders: I don't think anyone will touch U-D Jesuit. Southfield and Detroit Renaissance may have the best chance but neither the Blue Jays or Phoenix are at the level of the Cubs right now.

Projection: Detroit Renaissance will beat Detroit Mumford. Southfield is a deceptive 10-10 on the season will beat Farmington who won the Gold this season. The Falcons have been too inconsistent as well. I like U-D Jesuit to beat Detroit Renissance and Southfield to beat Detroit Cody. In the end it will be the Cubs who advance.

Pick: Detroit U-D Jesuit

District 24 @ Royal Oak

Royal Oak vs Lathrup- Monday 5:30 PM
Berkley vs Oak Park- Wednesday 5:30 PM
Royal Oak/Lathrup vs Groves- Wednesday 7 PM
District Final-Friday 7 PM

Favorite: Oak Park: The Knights have been in turmoil all season long but the district tournament gives them an opportunity to get themselves ready for the tournament. Oak Park has played a tough schedule but the inner turmoil resulting from the academic cheating scandal could be their downfall. They should win this district handily though.

Top Contenders: With Oak Park's turmoil the question is can a team come up and beat them and that answer is yes in the form of Southfield Lathrup. The Chargers have Fred John a good post player heading to Toledo. They may have the best chance to knock off Oak Park. Oak Park also better be careful of Berkley and their star guard Johnathan Radner who is heading to Syracuse next season.

Projection: The Knights should handle this district but two trouble spots loom. I like Lathrup over Royal Oak because of Fred John, Oak Park because of Rodney Scales should beat beat Berkley. Lathrup will knock off Groves and sets up a final where I see the Knights moving on.

Pick: Oak Park

District 25 @ North Farmington

Seaholm vs Harrison-Monday 7 PM
Brother Rice vs Bloomfield Hills-Wednesday 5:30 PM
Seaholm/Harrison vs North Farmington-Wednesday 7 PM
District Final-Friday 7 PM

Favorite: North Farmington: The Raiders will have Jerome Rogers, Anthony Qassaca, Caleb Hogans, and Jacob Jobbert but no Billy Thomas and that is unfortunate. North could be a state title contender, they have the peaces to win it all and also they might become the next Bloomfield Hills this season.

Top Contenders: Brother Rice: The Warriors have had a strong season and they also beat U-D Jesuit in the season. They lost to Orchard Lake St. Mary's in the Catholic League semifinals but they could give North Farmington a run for their money.

Projection: Everything looks set for a North/Rice final on Friday which is where I'm heading as well. I like Seaholm behind their two good guards to beat Harrison on Monday. I like Rice over Bloomfield Hills. The Blackhawks have had a long season with the Dwayne Graves mess as well. I like North Farmington to beat Seaholm because of their experience and will like them because of home court and experience to knock off Brother Rice.

Pick: North Farmington

District 42-Class B @ Detroit Collegiate Prep

Hamtramck Frontier International @ Ferndale- 4 PM Monday
Detroit Central vs Detroit Old Redford-5 PM Monday
Detroit Collegiate Prep vs Warren Fitzgerald-7 PM Monday
Ferndale/Hamtramck Frontier International vs Detroit Henry Ford-Wednesday 5 PM
Detroit Central/Detroit Old Redford vs Detroit Collegiate Prep/Warren Fitzgerald-Wednesday 7 PM
District Final-Friday 5:30 PM

Favorite: Ferndale: The Eagles have played in a tougher division all season long in the Gold and has played a lot of Class A schools which should get them ready for this tournament as well.

Top Contenders: Detroit Central and Detroit Old Redford both have over eight wins this season looks to be the top contenders to the Eagles but also watch out for the host Detroit Collegiate Prep, which could make some noise as well.

Prediction: I like Ferndale over Hamtramck Frontier International. I like Detroit Old Redford to beat Detroit Central. I like the hosts Detroit Collegiate Prep to beat Warren Fitzgerald on Monday as well. On Wednesday I like Detroit Old Redford to beat the hosts Detroit Collegiate Prep and Ferndale over Detroit Henry Ford. Just to be safe I like Ferndale to move on.

Pick: Ferndale

District 31 @ Troy Athens

Waterford Kettering vs Avondale-Monday 6 PM
Pontiac vs Troy-Monday 8 PM
Waterford Kettering/Avondale vs Waterford Mott-Wednesday 6 PM
Pontiac/Troy vs Troy Athens-Wednesday 8 PM
District Final-Friday 7 PM

Favorite: Troy Athens: The Red Hawks have won the lat two districts and won their second straight White crown. They have 10 seniors on their team and home court, that's a tough pill to swallow.

Top Contenders: Pontiac has the athletes and style to slow down the Red Hawks under coach Ben Kelso. Troy can play with their arch rivals and it's always hard to beat a team three times like Troy Athens has done to both Pontiac and Troy this season. Waterford Mott is a sleeper despite having struggles this season and also watch out for Avondale, they have a nice draw and could surprise some people in this district.

Projection: This is the toughest district besides the Walled Lake Central district to predict. Avondale will destroy Waterford Kettering. Troy has lost twice to Pontiac this season but I like the Colts to beat the Phoenix here in the night cap to set the stage with their arch rivals. Avondale behind Chris Barton will beat Waterford Mott and with Troy Athens and Troy it could go either way but will go with Troy Athens because of their experience and that experience will make it a three peat for the Red Hawks in front of their fans.

Pick: Troy Athens

District 32 @ Clarkston

Adams vs Stoney Creek-Monday 5:30 PM
Oxford vs Rochester-Monday 7 PM
Adams/Stoney Creek vs Orion-Wednesday 5:30 PM
Oxford/Rochester vs Clarkston-Wednesday 7 PM
District Final-Friday 7 PM

Favorite: Clarkston: The Wolves were perfect this season 20-0, won the Red and have two very good guards in Foster Loyer and Andrew Myers, have Merrick Canada, along with Jonah Newblatt, and Cole Chewins. Is it possible that Clarkston to get to Breslin???

Top Contenders: Adams will have a strong case despite losing to Clarkston at the end of the regular season having Spencer Littleson and Joey Zinni. Stoney Creek has the three point shooting that can match anyone. Oxford has experience despite having a disappointing 11-9 season and watch out for Orion who is right now playing it's best basketball of the season and just knocked off Oak Park on the road.

Prediction: I like Adams to beat Stoney Creek despite the Cougars beat the Highlanders early in the season. Oxford and Rochester battled at Oxford with the Wildcats winning by seven but the Falcons are win-less. This could be a trap game for Oxford and the Wildcats have been struggling as of late, so you know what I'm picking the upset here with Rochester beating Oxford. I think another upset will occur again here with Orion beating Adams because the last time these two teams met Adams won in overtime and this one could go down to the wire again. Clarkston will beat Rochester or Oxford bad and Orion and Clarkston could be a little closer than before but the Wolves too much experience and depth will move on.

Pick: Clarkston