Top Girls Basketball Storylines as we head into 2016.

Written Friday December 25th at 3:30 PM

1.  Will Bloomfield Hills Non-League Schedule help or hurt them???

The Blackhawks Girls Basketball team sit at 6-1 on the season after suffering a disappointing eight-point loss to Highland Park Chandler Park Academy (37-29) in the Bloomfield Hills Showcase. Bloomfield Hills’s division rivals Orion and North Farmington have played by far a more difficult non-conference schedule than the Blackhawks. The Dragons played Lapeer, Clarkston, and Stoney Creek while the Raiders played Harrison, Clarkston, and Lansing Everett in the Roundball. Bloomfield Hills has played Milford, South Lyon East, and Berkley and had to survive each of those games. The Blackhawks will be tested in January when they open up league play at Orion.

2. Will Adams Recover in League Play???

The Highlanders sit at 1-4 with non-conference losses to Macomb Dakota, Warren Cousino, and Howell. What makes Adams road much tougher is that they have a league loss to Stoney Creek. They have to still play Stoney Creek one more time along with Clarkston, Harrison, and Lathrup twice. Life in the Red is very difficult and coach Shay Lewis knows that but they did show potential of what they could be at the Palace despite losing 61-58 to the Patriots. Adams plays Royal Oak Shrine before we head into 2016 and they do open league play with a trip to Clarkston.

3. Will Oak Park threaten Seaholm???

We might as well give the Blue Division crown to Southfield but who is the second best team in the league??? Seaholm currently sits at 5-1 with wins over Berkley, Troy, and Royal Oak. It’s only loss was to Waterford Mott 36-35 on the road. Oak Park meanwhile sits 1-4 but have played a murderous row schedule with games against Harrison, River Rouge, Grosse Pointe South, Dearborn Robichaud, and Lansing Everett. The Knights still have to play Waterford Mott and Woodhaven in the Roundball before they get into league play. Oak Park is much deeper than Seaholm but the Maples have more experience than the Knights even though Seaholm has major questions at the wing positions. Oak Park is still trying to adjust to new coach Peggy Evans-Carr’s system and that will take time to do that.

4. Can Pontiac exceed five wins???

The Phoenix have improved in coach Christopher Wright’s three seasons in Pontiac despite all the problems he can’t control. Pontiac went winless in the 2013-2014 season to 5-15 last season but still they don’t get the respect they deserve. The Phoenix sit 1-2 with a huge game against the host school Detroit Edison at the Roundball. If Pontiac can get depth to their lineup, then there is no reason that this team can win nine games this season with the experience they have back despite being very young. Pontiac is on the way up and could be a major player in the Gold this season despite Troy Athens and Berkley being the two top teams in the division.

5. Who is the best team in the Gold???

The Gold is very interesting this season with Berkley sitting at 3-3 being the best team in the division. Pontiac is 1-2, Groves is 2-3, Troy Athens is 0-4, Hazel Park is 1-3, and Ferndale is 0-5. I wonder who is the best team in this division despite the league being a combined 7-20 this season. Berkley has played a tough non-conference schedule while Groves has not been impressive. Hazel Park is building a program under coach Jessica Wagner and has a lot of experience back from that team. Pontiac also has a lot of experience back as well. Ferndale is very young and not deep. The most disappointing team of the bunch is Troy Athens who sits 0-4 and has a tough game with New Haven coming up at Rochester. We’ll see what happens when league play starts in 2016, someone will break out and separate themselves from the pack.

6. Is Southfield-Lathrup a State Championship Team???

The expectations were very high at Southfield-Lathrup with its final season as a school before they merge with Southfield. The Blue Jays are playing well right now and is expected to run away with the Blue division but the question is with the Chargers as they sit 2-2 and have losses to Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Bay City John Glenn but they did beat Ann Arbor Huron last week. Coach Michelle Jackson-Marshall's team will have a big one with Waterford Kettering at Detroit Edison in the Roundball before going into league play with Stoney Creek. Southfield-Lathrup was ranked 22^nd nationally until the loss to Bay City John Glenn. After the loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central there were questions that if the Chargers were still a State Championship caliber team with the college bound talent they have on its roster. We will know a lot about the Southfield-Lathrup Chargers in March when they are in a very tough district with Detroit Renaissance, Southfield, Berkley, and Oak Park.

7. Oxford Is In BIG trouble.

The Wildcats currently sit at 1-4 on the season and have a tough slate of games coming up for coach Steve Emert. Oxford was demolished by Orion and their only win was against Lakeland in a close contest. The Wildcats are coming off a disappointing 22-15 loss to Pontiac Notre Dame Preparatory. Oxford will play in the Northville Tournament against the host school and then likely against Dexter for the second game. In 2016, the Wildcats will have a tough game against West Bloomfield before league play starts and that includes Lathrup, Stoney Creek, Harrison, Clarkston, and Adams all twice. It wouldn't surprise anyone if Oxford doesn't win a game in the league and finish either 1-19 or 2-18 in the regular season.