Volleyball and Basketball Districts are out.

Written Thursday June 18th at 10:00 PM.
Updated Wednesday October 14th at 2:45 PM.

The MHSAA released the 2015 Girls Volleyball, Girls, and Boys Basketball districts as we head into the winter so here they are which involves OAA teams. This post will likely be updated once we get future information considering the location of the basketball districts.

OAA teams are in CAPS.

Class B:

District 42  
Volleyball @ Warren Fitzgerald
Boys Basketball @ Detroit Northwestern
Girls Basketball @ Detroit Mumford

FERNDALE
HAZEL PARK
Warren Fitzgerald
Detroit Northwestern
Detroit Collegiate
Detroit Mumford

When looking at this District: Hazel Park returns after spending one disastrous season in Class A last season and also Detroit Mumford enters into Class B as well after experiencing a downward trend in students. Warren Fitzgerald won in the district in girls basketball last season. This will be an interesting district when there are two OAA schools, three Wayne County schools, and one Macomb County school in here as well.

Volleyball: Ferndale looks to be the favorite because they won the district last season and does have some experience returning but keep an eye on Warren Fitzgerald. The Spartans are the hosts in this district and have a rivalry with the Vikings. Hazel Park could threaten and has had a bit of a resurgence. Detroit Mumford is the wildcard here because they did all right last season in Class A and is moving into Class B.

Boys Basketball: Detroit Mumford looks like to be the favorite but keep an eye on Ferndale and Hazel Park. The Eagles went to the district finals last year but fell to Detroit Henry Ford in the final seconds. The Vikings have a lot of young talent coming back led by Carl Bow and will threaten not only in this district but also in the Gold. There are three teams that have a great shot at winning this district, Detroit Mumford, Hazel Park, and Ferndale.

Girls Basketball: Warren Fitzgerald looks to be the favorite in this district this spring. The Spartans won the district title and went to the regional final last season but keep an eye on Detroit Mumford as they moved down from Class A to Class B. Detroit Mumford could do some damage here in this district with their athleticism and speed. Hazel Park could be a dark horse candidate as well led by Trinity Benton for coach Jessica Wiesler. Ferndale could struggle along with Detroit Northwestern.

Class A:

District 21 
Volleyball and Girls Basketball @ West Bloomfield
Boys Basketball @ Orchard Lake St. Marys

WEST BLOOMFIELD
HARRISON
NORTH FARMINGTON
FARMINGTON
Mercy/Orchard Lake St. Marys

When looking at this District: Farmington returns from being in a district with parts of Wayne County to a district that has their two rivals are in Harrison and North Farmington. Harrison or North Farmington won't be in a district with Birmingham Marian but Mercy will be the Catholic League team to deal with. West Bloomfield returns east from Walled Lake and White Lake areas and will host Volleyball and Girls Basketball but all these teams in this district have to look at Mercy in the girls and Orchard Lake St. Mary's in the boys side.

Volleyball: Mercy is the early favorite because of their coaching staff and recent success in the Catholic League and in the State. The Marlins went to the Final Four last season and could do some damage this season. Harrison and West Bloomfield will challenge for the district title and could give the Marlins trouble. The Lakers took home the White title for the first time since 1995 and will ride into the district with a lot of confidence.

Boys Basketball: This could be one of the toughest districts in the state because of the recent additions that North Farmington has and the teams in here that are solid. The early favorite in this district is North Farmington because of whom they got coming back in Josh Hogans, Jacob Jobert and Billy Thomas. The Raiders have brought in Armaui Hardy and Nate Brooks but keep an eye on West Bloomfield as they will have Tristian Jackson and motivation after being ousted by Walled Lake Central. Orchard Lake St. Mary's could be a factor and is the district host despite their head coach George Porritt retired from coaching basketball in August. Farmington could have a say as well with three starters back. This won't be an easy district to say the least.

Girls Basketball: This will be a competitive and tough district. Harrison returns two top notch players from injuries in Kristen Nelson and Amber Stephans. North Farmington returns four starters led by Kierra Crockett, Amber Stephan-Watts, and the Cherney sisters in Samantha and Alex. West Bloomfield returns three starters led by Charika Stubbs, Taylor Pierce, and Camara Porter and will have two very talented freshman. Mercy is young but talented. Farmington could struggle this season but they do return Mya Douse and MaKayla Martin. I think four teams have a great shot at winning the crown. Mercy is the early favorite but Harrison, North Farmington, and West Bloomfield aren't that far behind and could beat Mercy on any given night.

District 23 
Volleyball @ Royal Oak
Boys and Girls Basketball @ Troy Athens

ROYAL OAK
TROY ATHENS
Sterling Heights
Warren Mott
Warren Cousino
Warren De LaSalle/Warren Regina (Girls Basketball only)

When looking at this District: This is an odd district considering that Troy is out while Troy Athens is in this district. Sterling Heights, Warren Mott, and Warren Cousino know each other well being in a district last season together. Warren De LaSalle and Warren Regina also enter this district as well for Girls Basketball only. Warren Cousino won the Macomb Area Red division in girls basketball but lost to Sterling Heights in both Girls Basketball and Volleyball. Royal Oak will have a tough time adjusting to dealing with the Warren schools and Troy Athens but they will be up to the challenge.

Volleyball: This district won't be an easy district at all, the early favorite is Sterling Heights with whom they got back and won a district title over Warren Cousino and wants to get back at Chippewa Valley for losing to them in the regional but you got to keep an eye on Troy Athens whom has struggled a bit this season in the White. The Red Hawks should be motivated after losing at home to Troy in the district finals last season. Warren Couisno is a dark-horse in this district because they want to get back at some of the teams proving they are better than people think. I expect this district to be a three horse race between Troy Athens, Warren Cousino, and Sterling Heights. Warren Mott is a team to keep an eye on, they could surprise people along with Royal Oak.

Boys Basketball: Warren De LaSalle is here and returns a lot of talent. It's bad news for everyone in this district. Warren Mott is the next team, they were under 500 last season at 8-13 but did score 100 points against Warren Cousino. Troy Athens is the dark horse despite losing a lot of talent last season and they will compete in the ultra tough Red. Sterling Heights will struggle again this season. Royal Oak has a new coach in Aaron Smith and they could surprise some folks, they have two very good guards in Cordell DuPree and Gavin Boswell. This district though is the Pilots to lose.

Girls Basketball: Warren Cousino is one of the top teams in Macomb County, they won the Macomb Area Red division and had big wins over Grosse Pointe South and Romeo but they have a problem with a team that three seasons ago was in Class B, in Sterling Heights. Two seasons ago the Patriots were knocked out of the playoffs by the Stallions in the regional semifinals and last season they were knocked out again but in the district final by the same team. Oddly enough Warren Cousino beat Sterling Heights in the regular season by 20. The Stallions finished 22-2 before losing to Detroit Martin Luther King last season. Royal Oak is the dark horse despite losing  a lot of talent last season but because of their size and sophomore class Ravens coach Brian Sopota's team has been getting better during the summer league. Warren Mott returns three starters from a team that was middle of the pack in the Macomb Area Conference Blue division. Troy Athens will contend in the Gold and has one of the best players in this district in Maddie Crumm. Warren Regina is the wildcard because the Satellites have a lot coming back (six players returning.) Expect Warren Cousino and Sterling Heights to meet at some point in the district and if the Patriots can fix their Stallions problem then they should win this district.

District 24  
Volleyball @ Lathrup
Boys and Girls Basketball @ Southfield

LATHRUP
BERKLEY
SOUTHFIELD
OAK PARK
Detroit Renaissance
University Detroit Jesuit (Boys)

When looking at this District: Lathrup, Berkley, and Oak Park are no strangers to this district but neither is Southfield, Detroit Renaissance, or University of Detroit Jesuit. Lathrup and Southfield will merge next season and become one big high school. Lathrup is a Girls Basketball powerhouse along with Detroit Renaissance. This is a close and geographic district, even though Detroit Renaissance and U-D Jesuit will have to come up to Oakland County from Wayne County. This district in basketball could have a couple of possible state champions coming out this winter.

Volleyball: This is a wide open district with no Groves or powerhouse in the picture until the regional. The early favorite is Berkley because they have been so close to the district crown and is one of the established of the teams here led by Celia Somers. Oak Park has some talent back led by Jasmine Stackhouse and could make a run. Southfield and Detroit Renaissance will also have strong says as well.

Boys Basketball: This district could be competitive or it might not be. You got four teams that have a shot at winning the district but the favorite is U-D Jesuit because of whom they got back (four starters, including two seven foot Nigerians and a possible Mr. Michigan Basketball candidate in Cassius Winston.) Southfield despite losing Amauri Hardy will have Michael Flowers and Michael Priest back for new coach Mike Avery whom many Chargers know real well. Detroit Renaissance will be solid led by Justin Turner, and Oak Park will have some talent back led by Kevon Fuller if he is back eligible for coach Jamie Thomas. The Knights and Blue Jays could have strong says and threaten the Cubs. Berkley has no shot at winning this district. U-D Jesuit is the favorite to not only win this district but this will be their best shot at winning a State title.

Girls Basketball: Come on now, is there any team that can beat the "Hoop Squad?" Lathrup returns Deja Church, Taige Bello, Kehendre Bello, and Antoinette Miller. Detroit Renaissance has the talent to compete with the Chargers but they don't have the depth to knock them off. Southfield could have a say with the experience they have back as well as Berkley. The Bears are one of the favorites in the Gold this season and returns two starters in Somers and Zoe Anderson. You also can't count out Oak Park either, the Knights have one of the best coaches in the State in Peggy Carr and will get the best of her team. The Blue Jays are the early favorite in the Blue with four starters coming back, they won the Gold last season by finishing 18-2. Looking at this district at the end of the day though nobody is going to beat Lathrup.

District 25 
Volleyball and Girls Basketball @ Bloomfield Hills
Boys Basketball @ Avondale

BLOOMFIELD HILLS
GROVES
SEAHOLM
AVONDALE
TROY
Marian/Brother Rice

When looking at this District: Groves returns to this district and there should be a lot of familiarity with each other. Bloomfield Hills will open up it's new renovated Andover campus with a district in volleyball and likely Girls Basketball after spending three seasons over at the Lahser campus. Marian is still here in this district and is the defending state and district champs in girls basketball. Brother Rice is in the boys for this district replacing Birmingham Marian. Seaholm, Troy, and Groves won volleyball districts from a season ago. Avondale and Troy are the new comers here to the district. I'm surprised Avondale is here in this district because it makes no sense where they are geographically located and with Troy going southwest is interesting as well and not with their arch rivals Troy Athens, it's odd.

Volleyball: Marian is still going to be good and should be motivated after losing at home to Seaholm last season. Bloomfield Hills will be looking for a bounce back season after having a tough season a season ago. Seaholm is the defending district champ and has a very big and experienced front line led by Lauren McLeod, Annie Schecter, and Paige Carey. The Maples shared the Red title with Orion and Stoney Creek. Groves lost a lot of talent from a season ago but did all right in the White. Troy has an emerging star in Jessica Robinson to go along with Claire Keating and Kristen Losey. Avondale has the size led by Alyssa Smith to compete in this district. I see Seaholm winning this district but you can't count out Marian, Groves, or Avondale. Troy is the dark-horse.

Boys Basketball: This could be wide open but the early favorite is Bloomfield Hills under first year coach Mike Maryanski because they return a lot of talent but you got to also keep an eye on Avondale. The Yellow Jackets return a lot of talent from their district championship team last season and is the district host. Groves will have experience back under coach Mark West and is one of the favorites in the Gold. Troy is always scrappy and mentally tough under coach Gary Fralick. I can see this being a three team race though between Avondale, Troy, and Bloomfield Hills for the crown.

Girls Basketball: This district is wide open, Marian doesn't have the talent after losing the Thomas sisters whom transferred to Nevada. Bloomfield Hills will be defending state champ's biggest threat because they host the district and they match up well with the Mustangs with the combination of Amanda Sape, Victorie Franklin, Sam Patterson, Immani Wright, Becca Hancock, and Katherine Prinna. Troy is a wildcard here because they are scrappy and return Megan Lenihan and Jordan Lafayette. Avondale will have the size up front in Addie Saltarrei and Smith to compete for the district but have questions with the guards. Seaholm has two very good players in Mackenzie Harbort and Dana Hoerman but the problem could be the schedule. The non conference schedule isn't as daunting as you think for Seaholm. They will have big non conference tests Waterford Mott and West Bloomfield and deal with Southfield and Oak Park in the Blue. Groves should be improved led by Madison Meredith and Shea Carter and should contend in the Gold for coach Amos Thompson. I think right now you have two solid teams that have a good chance to win the district and a few that could surprise some folks.

District 30 
Volleyball @ Utica Eisenhower
Boys Basketball @ Adams
Girls Basketball @ Utica

STONEY CREEK
ADAMS
ROCHESTER
Utica Eisenhower
Utica

When looking at this District: The Rochester schools will go east into Macomb County and they have great shots at winning this district in their respective sports. Utica and Utica Eisenhower enter this district after being paired with Romeo and Utica Ford II for a few seasons. Utica Eisenhower is the defending Boys Basketball and Volleyball champs in this district. Stoney Creek is the defending Girls Basketball district champs. It's interesting that Romeo isn't in this district and were sent east to see Macomb Dakota, Anchor Bay, L'Anse Cruse North, and the Port Huron schools in District 28 or Utica Ford, whom is in District 29 with L'Anse Cruse, Fraser, Sterling Heights Stevenson, and Chippewa Valley but it's something especially that Utica or Eisenhower don't have to worry about until the regional if they get there.

Volleyball: The luxury of this district is Romeo the defending State Champions isn't in this district and neither is Orion and Clarkston. Stoney Creek shared the Red with Orion and Seaholm for the first time in school history returns some key players back to a team that almost took Clarkston out of the playoffs last season in Sammy Sattaman and Alexa Tomluck. Adams will be improved as they return a lot of talent led by Madison Tuscansky and Paige Staudacher. Utica Eisenhower won the Macomb Area Conference White division and district crown last season is the dark horse along with being the district host. Rochester will have some experience back and has had a solid season. Utica finished second in the Macomb Area Conference Blue last season but has questions with focus after losing in five sets to Sterling Heights. Stoney Creek is favored in this district but keep an eye on Adams, Utica, and Utica Eisenhower, they will be there as well.

Boys Basketball: Utica Eisenhower had a good season winning a district title last season and is expected to be one of the top teams in Macomb County despite losing a lot of talent. Oddly enough one of the Eagles wins was over Adams last season. The Highlanders has most of their team back for coach John Hall in Spencer Littleson and Joe Zinni. Adams is the early favorite with Utica Eisenhower right behind them as the Highlanders host the district. The darkhorses are Stoney Creek and Rochester. The Cougars are solid this season led by their top player John Paul Sincola and also the three point shot will keep coach Steve Norgrove's team in games. The Falcons finished 0-21 last season but returns Hunter Schlatter and Ivan Barazza-Duran and have a solid sophomore coming up for coach John Pleasant. Utica returns eight players and is expected to contend for the Macomb Area White division crown but at the end of the day it will be the Highlanders district to lose.

Girls Basketball: Stoney Creek., Rochester, and Adams move east into Macomb County and the small court of Utica High School. Utica and Utica Eisenhower are thrilled that Utica Ford II is not in the district. The Chieftains are the defending Macomb Area Conference White division champions and returns nine of ten players from a season ago. Eisenhower lost in a district final to Romeo last season return three starters. The Eagles should be motivated to get back to the district finals after winning one out of nowhere in 2013. The Cougars has won six straight district titles and is looking to gain another one but they have a new coach in Kellen James whom takes over for coach Brad Crighton. The Cougars return Ally Voss and Emily Solek. The Highlanders were solid last season and is expected to be one of the top teams in the Red led by their four returning starters in Ryian Owusu, Olivia Aregros, and Maggie Rogers. Adams did get a transfer in Taylor Smith whom came over from Linden. Rochester has experience as well and is expected to be a Blue contender led by Paola Barazza-Duran and Jenna Norgrove for coach Adam Sheldon. This will be a tough district, Utica is the early favorite because of their interior and size followed by Adams and then Stoney Creek. Rochester will play spoiler and also keep an eye on Eisenhower as well, it's anyone's ball game.

District 31
Volleyball @ Waterford Kettering
Boys Basketball @ Waterford Mott
Girls Basketball @ Orion

CLARKSTON
OXFORD
ORION
PONTIAC
Waterford Mott
Waterford Kettering

When looking at this District: The last time Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott were in a district with Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston was 2009 and now these teams are back together. Pontiac will enter this district for the first time as one school since both Pontiac Northern and Pontiac Central were here in 2004. Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott have had fierce battles with Orion and Clarkston in the past and are expected to do so again. This will be a district where there could be no love loss for one another.

Volleyball: It's looking like it will either be Orion or Clarkston that will win this district and go into Macomb County in the regional. The Wolves have won the last 11 district titles but Orion won the regular season meeting at home. The Dragons shared the Red with Seaholm and Stoney Creek for it's first district title since they were in the White in 2007 while Clarkston saw it's reign of eight Red titles come to an end but could make amends in the playoffs. The Wolves has had the Dragons number winning four of the last five playoff meetings. Oxford is the wildcard here in this district and will be a pain to either Orion or Clarkston. It will either be the Wolves or Dragons moving on.

Boys Basketball: The question will be is can anyone beat the Wolves. Clarkston will be the overwhelming favorite because of Foster Loyer, Tabin Throgmorton, Mitch Heaton, and Dylan Alderson in this district but keep an eye on Orion. The Dragons will compete and give the Wolves a run for their money with their senior experience and new coach in Jim Manzo. Pontiac is the wildcard because you don't know what your going to get from them and their coach Ben Kelso coached at Waterford Kettering for one season before leaving for Pontiac. The Phoenix have three top notch players in the program in Israel Williams, Jaylen Kelso, and Ronald McDonald. Waterford Mott is the unknown here because they have had up and down seasons. Oxford will compete and will spoil someone's season. Waterford Kettering is not that good this season and will struggle.

Girls Basketball: Waterford Kettering looks to be the favorite because of experience and talent that coach Scott Woodhull returns. Keep an eye on Waterford Mott. The Corsairs return a lot of experience and have given their arch rivals problems in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association North division play and district play in the past for coach Michelle Scarr. There is  a different element however for the Waterford schools and that could be the opponents in the district as Troy, Troy Athens, and Avondale are in different districts. They are replaced by the three big OAA schools in the Dragons, Wolves, and Wildcats. Orion has the talent to face and beat both Waterford schools and  they host the district. Clarkston has a new coach in Christine Rogers whom takes over for coach Tim Waslik. The Wolves should be steaming after losing by 15 to Waterford Mott last season and would like to get another crack at the Corsairs. Pontiac is an improving team for coach Christopher Wright. Five teams have a shot as this district but in all reality it could be four teams with Waterford Kettering the favorite, Waterford Mott is next up, Orion is the dark-horse, Clarkston is the wildcard, and Oxford could be a play as well because of their pressure defense for coach Steve Emmert.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for complete district coverage.