Girls Basketball Pre-Season Top Ten.

Written Monday October 10th at 12:00 AM

1. Southfield Arts and Tech- The Warriors have a new coach in Michelle Marshall whom won the job via the controversial route but she will have Miss Basketball and Minnesota commit Deja Church back but it will be the role players that came over from Southfield that Marshall must get on board with her team in Alexis Johnson, D’Layna Holloman, Tyler Washington, and Rizzara Franklin. If they all come together then this could be a good team. The non-conference is brutal with games against Midland Dow, Detroit Country Day, Williamston, the Motor City Roundball Classic, the Dearborn Robichaud Showcase, and Detroit Renaissance.

2. Stoney Creek- The Cougars may be the most complete team in the OAA this season and perhaps the most dangerous to Southfield Arts and Tech when looking at them. Stoney Creek coach Kellen James’s non-conference schedule is brutal with games against Orion, Highland Chandler Park Academy, Belleville, and Waterford Kettering and that’s not mentioning the league or the Motor City Roundball Classic. The Cougars will be solid again led by Ally Voss, Emily Solek, Emily Elkhout, and Gina Cerney. Watch out for Gabby Sincola, she is a sleeper to watch for an already loaded Stoney Creek squad.

3. Orion- The Dragons have a new coach in Kevin Kopec whom could make Orion into a dangerous power this season. Orion will have the services of Maddie Novak. Novak injured her knee last season in a district semifinal loss to Waterford Mott appears to be better than ever. Novak will have some help to go to this season in the form of Delaney Bryce, Sophie Wyborski, and Tessa Nuss. There are also some rising girls in the making that could make some noise as well. This could be a very interesting season in Orion this year.

4. Clarkston- The Wolves might have the best post in the league when looking at coach Christine Rogers team. Clarkston returns Kayla Luchenbach, Molly Nicholson, and Ali Buscher gives them three girls at six foot or more. The guards are a major concern but the Wolves have Maddie Beck, Mary McKillop, and Kristen Paige. The schedule is interesting with games against Oxford, Orion, The Motor City Roundball Classic, Groves, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, and Royal Oak. That won’t be an easy feeling heading into this matchup.

5. North Farmington- The Raiders will be an interesting team to keep an eye on this season. North Farmington coach Jeff Simpson will be solid as they are led by Kierra Crockett and Samantha Cherney. The key for the Raiders will be the guards as Kelsey Lusk will be the team’s most experienced guard. Watch for Patti Tcholakian, she could make some noise like she did last season at the Junior Varsity level.

6. Bloomfield Hills- Perhaps this maybe coach Jeff Rubin’s best chance to win the White and the district this season. The Blackhawks will have a healthy Amanda Sape whom will be Kent State bound to go along with Victorie Franklin, Myah Jones, Immani Wright, Rebecca Hancock, Kathrine Prinna, Samantha Patterson, and Maryam Hashim. Bloomfield Hills will have a very difficult non-conference schedule starting with the Caledonia tournament against Spring Lake and have a possible clash with Caledonia in the final, then games against Adams, North Farmington, Clarkston, and Detroit Edison. Talk about going through a complete 360 with the schedule compared to last season.

7. Royal Oak- The Ravens are in an interesting position this season. Royal Oak coach Brian Sopota returns Samantha Potter, June Donnelon, MiKea Williams, and Claire Kochinski. The Ravens will be a team that leans heavily on their defense. They have to overcome their Walled Lake Northern demons and they have a tough non-league games with Milford and Adams but Royal Oak right now looks to be in a good spot heading into the season.

8. Adams- The Highlanders took a step back last season but they do return Maggie Rogers along with Ryian Owusu and Hannah Simard for coach Shay Lewis. Adams has an interesting schedule as they open up with Orion but the big one against Macomb Dakota will have the Highlanders ready for that matchup.

9. Oxford- The Wildcats have a new coach in Rachel Bryer and she will do some different things with the Oxford Girls Basketball program. The Wildcats return some key players in Ashley Herschmann, Monae Evans, Jordan Zyniger, Grace Cleland, and Madeline Morris. Oxford must address whom replaces the scoring left behind by Abigail Butkeiwitcz, it could be a team effort. The Wildcats non-conference schedule is brutal with games against Lapeer, Adams, Northville, Clarkston, and a possible clash with Warren Cousino or Dexter and that’s not counting league play. Wow that’s brutal.

T-10. Rochester- With the injury to Mackenzie Harbort at Seaholm, this changes a lot of things when it comes to the Blue. The Falcons will get some key players back in Paola Barazza-Duran and also Jenna Norgrove for coach Adam Sheldon’s crew. You put in what Tori Hawkins did then you got something here in Big Blue Country here.

T-10. Groves- The Falcons may have perhaps coach Amos Thompson’s best team in a while when you look at Shea Carter, Lexi Carter, Jane Jung, and Morgan Morrison all back. Groves will make some serious noise this season. Also, they have a tough non-league schedule with games against Southfield Arts and Tech, Adams, Clarkston, and Orion. It will be interesting to see what the Falcons do this season.