Basketball Pre-Season Top 24.

Written Wednesday November 25th at 1:15 PM

Girls are here as they start on Monday while the Boys have one more week so here is the early top 24 in each set of basketball. No comments given.

Girls.

1. Lathrup

2. Adams

3. Harrison

4. Orion

5. North Farmington

6. Bloomfield Hills

7. Clarkston

8. Stoney Creek

9. Southfield

10. West Bloomfield

11. Oak Park

12. Avondale

13. Royal Oak

14. Seaholm

15. Oxford

16. Rochester

17. Berkley

18. Troy Athens

19. Groves

20. Troy

21. Pontiac

22. Hazel Park

23. Farmington

24. Ferndale

Boys.

1. North Farmington

2. Clarkston

3. Adams

4. West Bloomfield

5. Pontiac

6. Bloomfield Hills

7. Southfield

8. Avondale

9. Stoney Creek

10. Orion

11. Rochester

12. Hazel Park

13. Oak Park

14. Royal Oak

15. Farmington

16. Groves

17. Troy

18. Seaholm

19. Lathrup

20. Troy Athens

21. Oxford

22. Berkley

23. Ferndale

24. Harrison

Thoughts on why the rankings are as is please listen in to OAA Now for future episodes on ONTV, OCTV or on Youtube the reasons why I think the season will unfold and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Football Pick- Week Twelve.

Written Tuesday November 10th at 11:00 PM

Records:

Keith 102-26

Dan 94-34

Ant 94-34

Sean 92-36

Sammy 92-36

Division Two.

Region 3 Final.

Livonia Franklin at Berkley:

The Berkley Bears shocked the world last week in upsetting Southfield 28-20. Now if they want to get their first regional title in school history, then the Bears must go through the Patriots of Livonia Franklin. The Patriots feature a Wing T offense very similar to Zeeland West but they can also spread it out at times as well. Livonia Franklin put up 63 points last week against Jackson in a 63-35 win and have played on previous OAA School in Farmington where they had to survive 33-30 in that game. The Bears must be stout defensively if they have any chance of beating the Patriots at Hurley Field on Friday night.

SAMMY PICK: LIVONIA FRANKLIN 70, BERKLEY 42.

ANT PICK: LIVONIA FRANKLIN 28, BERKLEY 14.

KEITH PICK: BERKLEY 24, LIVONIA FRANKLIN 21.

DAN PICK: BERKLEY 21, LIVONIA FRANKLIN 20.

SEAN PICK: LIVONIA FRANKLIN 49, BERKLEY 28.

OAA Volleyball Regional Preview.

Written Saturday November 7th at 10:35 AM

Note if Berkley did win at Southfield Lathrup then we will edit and preview Regional 4 at Grosse Pointe South.

The regional matchups are set so here they are affecting OAA Teams.

Regional 6 @ Warren Cousino

Troy Athens vs Sterling Heights Stevenson

Bloomfield Hills vs Grosse Pointe North

The Red Hawks are coming off a three game sweep over Warren Cousino and got another huge win in the district semifinals over Sterling Heights. Troy Athens has been rolling as of late led by Lauren Van Hoef, Danielle Stanichuk, Nya Rodriguez, Aliana Kirtland, Elise Leverenz, and Nicole Borkosh. The Red Hawks take on a Sterling Heights Stevenson team that has been red hot and is very young. The Titans beat Macomb L’Anse Creuse at Fraser in three sets on Friday night for their first district title since 2011. This will be an interesting matchup between these two teams and another stress test for Coach Christine Stanichuk.

The Blackhawks have been on cloud nine in the last few days with big wins over Birmingham Marian and a MONSTER upset of Birmingham Seaholm despite both games being at home but they must take it on the road to Warren. Grosse Pointe North has been playing very well in this district tournament and in the MAC Red. They swept Lakeshore in St. Clair Shores in the district final getting to this point. The Norseman are solid and will present a problem for Bloomfield Hills but the league the Blackhawks are in could help them in this match up. The question will be has Bloomfield Hills magic ran out or is it on for another day.

Regional 7 @ Romeo:

Utica Eisenhower vs Fenton

Orion vs Romeo

Orion and Romeo could be GAME of the YEAR in the State with the winner likely heading to Battle Creek. Romeo is the defending State Champs coming into the game. The Dragons have had the Bulldogs number this season in tournaments but the match being at Romeo and its low ceiling gym could be a huge factor in this game. If the Dragons can practice at the CERC or at Scripps then it could minimize the advantage that Romeo will have. Both Orion and Romeo have star players with Division One talent, the Bulldogs have Gia Milana who is heading to Maryland while the Dragons have Courtney Wightman who is heading to Oakland. The Dragons also know Milana personally as Natalie Wehner and Kori Varney both played with Milana on their National Championship AAU team and that could play a role in this contest. This match will come down to who knows the court and each other and also the mindset of each team.

OAA Crossroads.

Written Saturday November 7th at 10:15 AM

The OAA is at a crossroads as we head into the 2016-2017 school year with Southfield and Lathrup merging and being at 23 schools. There has been rumblings that the league could lose Ferndale as low enrollment continues and also we don’t know what is going on with Harrison and Pontiac. Pontiac is under a consent agreement with the State of Michigan. Harrison could close soon which could set a chain reaction within the OAA. Does the OAA do like what the MAC does, expand its influence to different counties. The MAC has schools from Oakland, Wayne, and St. Clair Counties that are in that league. The OAA can very well do this route if they choose to do so, if they choose not too then it could be the end of the league as we know it.

Here are some possible schools that could fit the league.

Lapeer:

The Lightning is an interesting but they do fit the standpoint of the league. Lapeer has not been in a stable conference since the merger with Lapeer East and Lapeer West when they were kicked out of the Flint Metro League. The Lightning gets no competition in the Saginaw Valley Conference and have to travel as far north as Mount Pleasant.

PRO’S: The move in the league will give Lapeer renewed rivalries with the northern Oakland County schools in Orion, Oxford, Clarkston, Stoney Creek, Rochester, and Adams. They will bring revenue as they bring most of the town out to their games. The Lightning do bring a football, softball, girls basketball, and volleyball presence.

CONCERNS: The southern Oakland County schools have major concern if Lapeer joins the league. The travel up north will be a major issue for them and also school size but they are projected to go down in recent years.

TOP RIVAL IF JOIN LEAGUE: Oxford.

PROJECTION: I think Lapeer joins the league and finally gets the stability they deserve.

Davison and Grand Blanc:

The Cardinals have wanted into the league for some time and they will bring something if they join the OAA. Davison has not been in a stable conference since the Big Nine dissolved and they were forced to join the Saginaw Valley Conference in which like Lapeer has to travel as far north as Mount Pleasant.

Grand Blanc is in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association and also have been wanting into the league. They will bring big numbers into the league and competition. They are a track and soccer presence in the league and could rival Troy and the Rochester Schools.

PRO’S: The move in the league will bring stability for the Cardinals and it will renew rivalries with Clarkston as they only have to travel down M-15 into Oakland County. Orion is a rival to Davison as well. Davison will bring a wrestling presence and could bring competition in girls basketball and softball.

Grand Blanc would bring strong sports and is one of the biggest schools in the State. They would reignite rivalries with Orion and Clarkston but also could create new rivarlies with Oxford, Troy, Troy Athens, Rochester, Stoney Creek, Adams, and West Bloomfield.

CONCERNS: The travel is a major concern to the Southern Oakland County schools for both Davison and Grand Blanc. Both schools are located in Genesee County and especially Southeast Oakland County will have major concerns in getting both teams to come or go to their respective locations. Money and revenue is a huge concern as well as Grand Blanc doesn’t bring a lot of fans south but not as much for Davison though.

TOP RIVALS IF THEY BOTH JOIN LEAGUE: Clarkston

PROJECTION: I don’t think Davison or Grand Blanc will join the league, they are too far northwest but if Brandon comes into the league then that will change otherwise. Davison though is in a better position to join the league though than Grand Blanc.

Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott:

The Waterford schools have struggled in sports recently despite leaving the OAA in the mid 2000’s for the KLAA. The Captains and Corsairs have both been frustrated with the league with their lack of realignment process and if they were to return to the league then they could compete and not be stuck in a regional format.

PRO’S: Both Waterford schools will bring stability as Waterford divides the north and south. Both schools have rivalries to the north with Orion, Clarkston, Oxford, Troy, Troy Athens, Pontiac, and Avondale. The district pairings have had them play OAA teams so if they moved back into the OAA then it would bring them competition.

CONCERNS: Can both of them be successful if they come back??? Yes both teams bring a sports presence especially in girls basketball but can they compete. The reason why the Waterford schools left the league was for competition purposes but they have found out maybe the Kensington might not be as rosy as people thinks.

TOP RIVALS IF JOIN LEAGUE: Clarkston

PROJECTION: I think the league will welcome Waterford back with open arms. The southeast Oakland County schools could vote against this move but I see both Waterford schools coming back into the league with open arms.

Holly:

The Bronchos are interesting because they are in the Flint Metro League and is one of two teams in Oakland County along with Brandon. We don’t know the stability of the Flint Metro but from a geographic standpoint it makes sense for Holly to join the league.

PRO’s: Holly brings a track and cross country presence along with a basketball and football presence as well. The Bronchos would renew rivalries with Oxford and Clarkston if they were to join the league.

CONCERNS: Enrollment is interesting as Holly is a Division Two School. Also the Athletic Director at Holly is against moving. Travel will be a major concern for the southern schools going northwest into Holly so it could be a long shot.

TOP RIVAL IF JOIN LEAGUE: Clarkston

PROJECTION: It’s a long shot for Holly to join the league because of their situation they are in. They could join if want too but Southern Schools might be against it.

Brandon:

The Blackhawks would be an interesting fit into the league because they are a Division Three School which could appease Avondale and the smaller schools. Brandon brings some sports and maybe bringing in more competition will make them feel solid.

PRO’S: Brandon returning to the league from the Flint Metro League would reignite rivalries with Oxford and create a new rivalry with Avondale. The Blackhawks would bring a football presence into the league and could bring new opportunities if they decide to return to the league.

CONCERNS: Travel will always be a concern to the Blackhawks as they are in Northwest Oakland County and the Southeastern Oakland County schools will have major concerns along with the money impact.

TOP RIVAL IF JOIN LEAGUE: Oxford

PROJECTION: Brandon coming back into the league makes perfect sense as they would compete with Oxford, Avondale, Hazel Park, and Royal Oak. Brandon doesn’t mind traveling down there to play games and they feel they can compete. Also the league could change and it could also bring Davison and Grand Blanc in the league as well.

Lakeland:

The Eagles could be a nice fit to the OAA and are in need of a fresh start in a new league. The problem with Lakeland is that there is no realignment process in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association and with the Eagles being in the KLAA North with Waterford Kettering, Waterford Mott, Walled Lake Western, Walled Lake Northern, and Walled Lake Central. You could see why there could be a reason why they want out.

PRO’S: If Lakeland were to join the OAA they would bring stability based on their location and create rivalries with Clarkston, Farmington, North Farmington, Groves, Seaholm, Bloomfield Hills, and West Bloomfield. They will bring a softball and volleyball presence into the league and also the realignment process also helps as well.

CONCERNS: It could be hard to walk away of a rivalry with Milford and the Walled Lake’s but there aren’t much concerns with the league. It makes sense and their location is perfect as well as they would connect the north from the south.

TOP RIVAL IF JOIN LEAGUE: North Farmington

PROJECTION: Lakeland has to be seriously be considered to join the league. I think the Eagles will join the league in the very near future.