Girls Basketball Outlook.

Written Sunday November 27th at 4:00 PM
Updated Thursday December 1st at 11:10 PM

Here is the early outlook for each team. Stay tuned to OAA Now for latest information surrounding the upcoming season.

EARLY TOP TEAMS:

1. Southfield Arts and Tech

2. Stoney Creek

3. Orion

4. Clarkston

5. Bloomfield Hills

6. North Farmington

7. Royal Oak

8. Groves

9. Oxford

10. Rochester

RED:

Southfield Arts and Tech

Stoney Creek

Clarkston

North Farmington

Adams

FAVORITE: Southfield Arts and Tech.

NEXT BEST: Stoney Creek

DARKHORSE: Clarkston

WILDCARD: North Farmington

TOP STORYLINES:

How will the former Southfield students adjust to Michelle Marshall’s scheduling and style of coaching???

What will life be at Adams post Shay Lewis Era???

Does North Farmington have the guards and depth to compete in the Red???

Can Clarkston’s guards replace the point production left by Kayla Russell from last season???

Can Stoney Creek overtake Southfield Arts and Tech and get that Division Crown???

RED OUTLOOK: Whomever wins this division would had earned it. The experts will obviously pick Southfield Arts and Tech to win this division because of whom they have returning and merging with as a new school. The Warriors will have Miss Basketball candidate Deja Church in the fold for coach Michelle Marshall but the question will be for the Warriors is the former Southfield Blue Jays Girls like Alexa Johnson, D’Layna Holloman, and Rizzara Franklin and how they develop coming up from the Blue to the Red. Stoney Creek is the most complete team in the league when you look at whom they have back in Gina Cerney, Ally Voss, Emily Solek, Emily Elchout, Gabi Sinacola in the wings. Not to mention that coach Kellen James team has a deep bench to boot as well. North Farmington comes up from the White after having to overcome both Orion and Bloomfield Hills in the league last season. The Raiders should compete right away with Kierra Crockett, Sophie Muller, and Samantha Cherney. If North Farmington can get production from Lusk and also develop a bench, then coach Jeff Simpson’s team might have something here. Clarkston may have the best interior in the league when you look at Kayla Luchenbach, Molly Nicholson, and Ali Butcher. The question for the Wolves will be the guards as Mary McKillop, Madeline Wiscombe, and especially Maddie Beck are key if Clarkston wants to do some damage this season. Adams has a new coach in Jackie Steinacker but the same system could be in place. The Highlanders only have ten players on the roster this season. Adams returns Maggie Rogers, Hannah Simard, Noelle Dunbar, Makayla Smith, Ryian Owusu and has Grace Van Pelt in the wings as the team’s only sophomore on Varsity. The Highlanders don’t open up until December 9^th when they host Orion so there is time to gel and develop chemistry.

WHITE:

Orion

Bloomfield Hills

Royal Oak

Oxford

Harrison

West Bloomfield

FAVORITE: Bloomfield Hills

NEXT BEST: Orion

DARK-HORSE: Royal Oak

WILDCARD’s: Oxford and Harrison

TOP STORYLINES:

Can Bloomfield Hills produce despite lofty expectations this season from them???

How does Harrison adjust to life without Kristen Nelson and Amber Stephens along with adjusting to their third head coach in two seasons???

Can Orion gel under new coach Kevin Kopec???

How does Oxford replace Abby Butkewitz production from last season along with adjusting to a new coach in Rachel Bryer???

Can Royal Oak produce the same defensive juggernaut like they were last season???

How does West Bloomfield replace Charkia Stubbs, Taylor Pierce, and Macey Kryzakoza’s production from last season???

WHITE OUTLOOK: There are three new coaches in this division this season when you look at the Hawks Shavon Caldwell, the Wildcats Rachel Bryer, and the Dragons Kevin Kopec. There may be a ton of unpredictably this season as these three teams start new eras at their respective schools. Orion will be young with only one senior on its team but it a team that has plenty of Varsity experience. The Dragons return Maddie Novak, Delaney Bryce, Tessa Nuss, and Sophie Wyborski to a team that won 12 games last season. Bloomfield Hills has the balk of their team returning from last season. The Blackhawks will be led by a healthy Amanda Sape along with Victorie Franklin, Katherine Prinna, Becca Hancock, Maryam Hashim, Myah Jones, Immani Wright, Samantha Patterson, and Desiree Duncan. This might be the Blackhawks best chance to make some noise with the senior experience they have back for coach Jeff Rubin. Harrison comes down from the Red to the White and will have to adjust a bit. The Hawks lost Kristen Nelson and Amber Stephens from last season but will have Olivia Perkins, Nyla Warren, and Teddi Pickens back as the Hawks will rely on these three players to carry them. Royal Oak has a big team returning in Samantha Potter, MiKea Williams, Jessica Adams, Claire Kochinski, and June Donnellon but coach Brian Sopota will have to replace Gia Valentine whom graduated from a season ago. The Ravens could be in the middle of this division with their well-known defense. Oxford has a strong team coming back along with a strong freshman class. One of them is on Varsity in Lauren Menther. The Wildcats also return Madelyn Morris, Ashley Herschman, Monae Evans, and Darian Graves. West Bloomfield returns Kori Maxie, Jordyn Elam, Destini Cannon, Jamila Elam, and Destiny Monroe for coach Zach Hilbers. Expect the White to be much tougher than people think, this league could have all six teams win at least ten games.

BLUE:

Rochester

Troy Athens

Troy

Seaholm

Avondale

Oak Park

FAVORITE: Rochester

NEXT BEST: Troy Athens

DARKHORSE: Seaholm

WILDCARD: Troy

TOP STORYLINES:

Does Seaholm have enough talent until Mackenzie Harbort comes back???

Can Rochester stay healthy???

Can Troy Athens repeat the success of last season’s Gold title run???

Who will be the Robin to Troy’s Megan Lenihan???

How will Avondale adjust to Phil Dawson’s coaching style???

Can Oak Park be competitive this season???

BLUE OUTLOOK: The division was thought to be the Maples to lose until there was news that shocked Seaholm as their star player Mackenzie Harbort got injured with an ACL tear during the summer and will be out until February. The Maples will have to rely on Caroline Owens, Dana Hoerman, and Wendy Wilkerson to carry the team until Harbort gets back for coach January Hlaski. Rochester has a shot to have a strong bounce back season as they return Tori Hawkins and Jenna Norgrove. The Falcons will get a big spark as Paola Barazza-Duran returns after tearing her ACL, causing her to miss her junior season. If they can address their small forward and center spots, then this team will be a serious contender after a tough season in 2015-2016. Troy moved down from the White returns Megan Lenihan for coach Simon Bato. The Colts have some questions this season to whom will replace Jordan Layfette from last season. Troy will also be very scrappy this season especially on the defensive side of the basketball. Troy Athens returns Maddie Crumm and Alexa Van Hoef from a team that could make some noise this season. The Red Hawks moved up from the Gold after coach Stacie Klump's team shared the division with Groves and Berkley last season. Avondale has Toya Golden and Brooke Blanchitte back and Olivia Russell returns after tearing her ACL last season comes into the fold for new coach Phil Dawson this season. Dawson takes over for Daruis Whiteside and will look to get the Yellow Jackets back to respectability. Oak Park will have a long season in 2016-2017 as they will be pretty young and inexperienced. There is a lot of parity in this division but it could be interesting when these teams have to play each other in January.

GOLD:

Groves

Berkley

Farmington
Ferndale

Pontiac
Hazel Park

FAVORITE: Groves

NEXT BEST: Berkley

DARKHORSE: Farmington

WILDCARD: Ferndale

TOP STORYLINES:

Can Berkley find a way to overtake Groves in the division and how will they replace Cecila Somers and Zoe Anderson???

How will Hazel Park react to having a new coach in Chris Stroud???

Ferndale has everyone back, now can they get continue the progress that was made from last season???

Does Groves league schedule help or hurt them???

Does Pontiac have enough scoring and talent to replace Infinnatie Rowe’s production???

Can Farmington make some noise in the Gold with them moving down a division???

GOLD OUTLOOK:  This division will be interesting as there are two teams from last season that shared the Gold title that are still in this division. Farmington dropped down from the Blue after having a tough year last season. Groves returns a ton of talent led by Shea Carter, Lexi Carter, Jane Jung, Nicole Miller, and Morgan Morrison for coach Amos Thompson. The Falcons non-conference schedule is difficult which will offset some of the teams in the division. Berkley shared the title with Groves last season will have Makoya Denham and Olivia Dicardo back in the fold for coach Jordan DeGreppen. Hazel Park returns some talent as well led by Liz Sternor, Ghyanna Green, and Trinity Benton for new coach Chris Stroud. Ferndale will have the majority of their squad back from a team that struggled badly last season for new coach Cody Feltner. The Eagles were mostly juniors and sophomores from a season ago and now they will have that experience to compete in what will be a tough division. Ferndale will be led by Kayla Boyd this season. Pontiac will return some talent in Zakirya Brown, Taleah Washington, Diamond Curill, and Savannah Pitts for coach Christopher Wright. Farmington has a new coach and Abbey Powell is back but the Falcons could struggle this season adjusting to life under a new coach.