OAA Picks Feb 9th.

Written Saturday February 6th at 6:30 PM

Girls.

Red.

Adams at Lathrup: The Highlanders picked up an emotional win on Friday against a very good Clarkston team 66-51. Adams used an 18-5 run to close out the game led by Maggie Rogers 22 points. The problem for the Highlanders in this game with the Chargers will be the inside presence of the Bello twins and also the emergence of Deja Church and Antoinette Miller. Lathrup was exposed on Saturday losing 56-52 against a very good Detroit Country Day squad despite Church having 28 points. If the Highlanders can get the Chargers into foul trouble knowing that Lathrup is not deep at all then its possibility but it’s not likely. PICK: LATHRUP BY 14.

Oxford at Clarkston: The Wildcats despite their 3-11 record have really improved lately especially on the offensive side of the ball. Oxford is 1-3 in its last four games but is averaging 42.5 points per game. Abigail Butkecwitz has played really well as of late and has been the main offensive force for the Wildcats. The Wolves suffered a tough loss to Adams on Thursday going down 66-51 and was the victims of a 17-5 Highlanders run in the fourth quarter. Prior to the Adams game, Clarkston had won four of their last five games. This is a trap game for the Wolves, the last meeting was 40-21 in Clarkston's favor. Oxford though from then and now is better than people think. If I'm the Wolves in Dale Ryan's house they better be careful of the Wildcats. PICK: CLARKSTON BY 2.

Stoney Creek at Harrison: The Cougars have been struggling with a capital S lately. Ever since the Lathrup loss on January 7^th, Stoney Creek is 2-6 only averaging 34 points per game. What is really troublesome for the Cougars have been their defensive stats, although some have been against very good teams but allowing 38.3 points per game in their last eight games is not good. The Hawks have won three straight games since allowing 80 points to Lathrup. In their last three games since defensively they have allowed 46 points per game, which is still not good but something to work on for Coach Allen Walker. Offensively Harrison has averaged 64.6 points per game in the last three games which has made up for their defensive troubles. The last time these two teams met it was 47-37 Harrison at Stoney Creek. I expect to see a much tougher game here, could come down to whom has the ball last. PICK: HARRISON BY 4.

White.

Bloomfield Hills at North Farmington: The Raiders since the Orion 34-31 loss has been taking names lately going unbeaten in its last three games especially on the defensive end where they have only allowed 33.3 points per game. North Farmington has averaged 52 points per game in that stretch and Kierra Crockett has been at or near 20 points in each of those contests. The Blackhawks suffered perhaps a devastating setback after losing to Orion 40-31 and losing their best player Amanda Sape for an unknown amount of time with a concussion. It will be interesting how Bloomfield Hills adjusts to losing Sape knowing that they are a different team without her. The key matchup looks to be Crockett vs Victorie Franklin and whomever wins that matchup in the house of Tom Negoshian where the full court trap and any sort of trap works there then that could be the winner. The loss of Sape will be huge in this game though as it could be Alexa and Samantha Cherney whom could go off inside. PICK: NORTH BY 18.

Royal Oak at Troy: The Ravens have been getting better since the Orion 42-39 win but suffered a disappointing 52-26 loss to Clarkston only to comeback and beat West Bloomfield 36-29 at home on Thursday. Royal Oak is finally starting to adjust to playing in the White and have been benefiting from balance scoring, that has the makings of a good basketball team. The Ravens will get another shot at the Colts who beat them in early January 37-29 behind their two top players Megan Lenihan and Jordyn Lafayette. Troy has struggled since winning at Royal Oak, going 1-4 in that stretch averaging 27 points per game in those four losses. Their only win in that stretch was against Ferndale where the Colts won 60-14. This game will have a different outcome with two teams going in opposite directions. PICK: ROYAL OAK BY 20.

West Bloomfield at Orion: Not too long ago it was the Lakers that stunned the Dragons 55-48 in January behind 23 points from Charlika Stubbs at West Bloomfield but since winning the Troy game 49-25, West Bloomfield has really struggled going 0-4, averaging 31 points per game and allowing 53.2 points per game.  The Dragons meanwhile since the Adams game has gotten on track a bit, averaging 48 points per game and allowing 33.5 points per game in that stretch. Most of that offensive production has to do with Maddie Novak. Novak has gone over 20 points in 14 of her 15 games so far this season, including a 23 point game against West Bloomfield. Oh and I forgot to mention that Evelyn Wischmeyer did not play in January and is back healthy. This is a big game for both teams with the winner being possibly in a second place tie pending if Bloomfield Hills loses and Orion is a different team now going through a lot of adversity in that stretch. PICK: ORION BY 10.

Blue.

Farmington at Seaholm: What a junior season for Mackenzie Harbort, going over 1,000 points in her Maples career a few weeks ago against West Bloomfield and performed well in beating Rochester 41-22 on Thursday night. Seaholm has performed well since losing 48-35 to Southfield. They will get the Blue Jays on Friday at Southfield. The Falcons meanwhile has been not good, not winning a game in 2016 and haven’t gotten to 40 points since winning over Detroit Allen Academy 51-36 in December. The Maples put up 63 on Farmington in their last meeting, it could get a lot worse. PICK: SEAHOLM BY 38.

Rochester at Oak Park: The Knights are a mystery team in Coach Peggy Evans-Carr’s first season. Oak Park was projected to do well but have not lived up to expectations. Before beating Avondale 42-31, the Knights have really struggled especially defensibly against four very good teams in Seaholm, Southfield, Groves, and Detroit Edison. They allowed 57.3 points per game in that stretch and only scored 32.2 points per game. That won’t get it done for the Knights at all if they have any chance come March. The Falcons have had an injury riddled season and it has been showing in their play recently especially defensibly, Rochester in their last three games has allowed 45.6 points per game while only scoring 23 points per game. It’s been a long season for both of these teams but the last time these two met it was 35-31 Oak Park, this time I’m thinking other way around. PICK: ROCHESTER BY 4.

Southfield at Avondale: When looking at this game, this is a mismatch on both paper and on the basketball floor. The Yellow Jackets have scored 40 points or over just once this season (Rochester won 40-32.) In the first meeting, Avondale met the Blue Jays, they lost by 22 (52-30) on the road. Southfield ripped Farmington to shreds on Thursday with a 63-20 beat down. The Blue Jays have averaged over 50 points per game until they met Lathrup and lost by 21 (42-21.) This will get very ugly on Tuesday in Auburn Hills. PICK: SOUTHFIELD BY 34.

Gold.

Ferndale at Troy Athens: The Red Hawks got a monster win over Groves on Thursday night 50-47 despite Shea Carter going for 27 points in that game. Maddy Crumm has really stepped into her own as of late along with her teammates especially in league play where they have won four straight games, including a 44-11 win over Ferndale and also a huge 36-34 win over Berkley. The Eagles have been inconsistent this season but they are focused on getting ready for the districts. PICK: TROY ATHENS BY 30.

Pontiac at Groves: Imagine how Coach Amos Thompson is feeling to see that his Falcons are tied with Troy Athens on top of the Gold standings at 5-1. Shea Carter had 27 points in a losing effort on Thursday night against the Red Hawks 50-47. Groves had won seven straight until the loss to Troy Athens, in the eight games including the Red Hawks, the Falcons have averaged 58.1 points per game while allowing 32.2 points per game prior. The Phoenix meanwhile has improved lately but suffered a 46-21 loss to Berkley really has hurt the progress of Pontiac. The Phoenix split with Avondale (won 38-26 on the road, and lost 37-36 at home) and won 41-30 over Ferndale but neither the Yellow Jackets nor the Eagles are not the Falcons and it could be a long night for the Phoenix. PICK: GROVES BY 20.

Berkley at Hazel Park: This will be a major test for Trinity Benton and the Vikings. Hazel Park has won three straight games averaging only 40 points per game but defensibly in that winning streak the Vikings have allowed only 26 points per game. In the last meeting with the Bears, Berkley whipped Hazel Park 48-13 but Benton did not play in that game but now she is back and will likely lock horns with Zoe Anderson. The Bears are 3-3 since beating Hazel Park and have losses to Troy Athens and Groves. They will play both teams again but Berkley needs this game if they want to stay in the Gold race with the Red Hawks and Falcons. PICK: BERKLEY BY 8.

Boys.

Troy at Farmington: The Falcons have had consistency troubles along with mental relapses that have cost them games and a huge part of their 2-10 season. Farmington needed a rally to beat Seaholm 51-39 and divine intervention (an and-one) to beat Rochester 47-44. Those are their two wins of the season but they do have a favorable schedule to close out the season with seven of their next eight games being at home. The Falcons have had a real problem defensibly allowing 71.1 points per game in their last seven games and scoring 53.4 points per game. The Colts meanwhile if they were in the Blue, they would be right up there but they have won three of four so far and a lot of that has to be their defense. Troy has allowed 52 points in their three victories, allowed 62 points to Pontiac in their only loss. They have scored in the last four games 61 points per game. This one will be interesting but the Colts will be the ones who prevail. PICK: TROY BY 12.

Troy Athens at Harper Woods: The story of the Red Hawks season got worse on Friday when they lost to arch rival Troy by 21 (72-51 on the road.) Troy Athens does have seven sophomores on its team and has gone through a lot this season with being in the Red and struggling to win games. The Red Hawks will be tested by a very good Harper Woods squad. This has the makings of a long night for Coach Dave Scott’s team. PICK: HARPER WOODS BY 8.

Berkley at Ferndale University Prep: This will be a tough game for the Bears. Ferndale University Prep did put up 62 points against Avondale in a 62-54 win. If Jerome Cobb can get 33 points like, he did against Stoney Creek then maybe Berkley can pull off the upset. The Bears are 1-6 in their last seven games averaging 58 points per game and allowing 65.2 points per game. Berkley would have to a lot right if they want to pull off the upset. PICK: FERNDALE UNIVERSITY PREP BY 6.

Oak Park at Ypsilanti Lincoln: The Knights with their transfers now into their lineup is coming on strong. Since their 52-50 loss to Pontiac, Oak Park has averaged 66.2 points per game, one of them included a four overtime 90-83 loss to Bloomfield Hills in the last four contests. The Knights have allowed 67 points per game in those four games as well. Ypsilanti Lincoln will be a tough matchup for Oak Park but the way the Knights are playing right now it could be a high scoring affair in Ypsilanti. PICK: OAK PARK BY 5.