Girls Basketball Offseason.

Written Saturday March 17th at 3:00 PM

Well the OAA Girls Basketball season has came to an end with Clarkston's loss to Saginaw Heritage in the State Quarterfinals. I like to congratulate Royal Oak, Groves, Southfield Arts and Tech, Clarkston, Avondale, and Farmington on league titles this season.

Any coaching moves will be updated on the blog and on the podcast.

Here is what each team could look and what they will need to address next season.

Royal Oak: The Ravens will be a team to watch next season and they have two top players returning in Samantha Potter and Jessica Adams. Royal Oak coach Brian Sopota might have to address the guard situation this offseason especially with June Donnellon graduating and losing Clare Kostecki as well to graduation. The Ravens should be fine in the offseason but it's time to take the next step up for Sopota's team.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors will have Keoanna Willis, Cheyenne McEvans, and Alexis Johnson returning from a team that had a disappointing loss to Detroit Martin Luther King. The question will be whom replaces D'Layna Holliman. A player to watch in the offseason that could make some noise is Myori Reeves. She can make am impact for Southfield Arts and Tech.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks will be in the thick of things next season and will feature three players whom return with a boatload of experience for coach Jeff Rubin in Maryiam Hashim, Grace Getz, and Jordan Banks. Bloomfield Hills will need to address how to replace Becca Hancock but there are some players that can replace her production.

Oxford: The Wildcats have had a strong season for coach Rachel Bryer but they do have the Methner sisters Lauren and Mackenzie along with Ashley Herschmann returning. Oxford will have some questions in the interior next season and they have a freshman coming into the program that is solid. The future is bright for the Wildcats.

Lake Orion: The Dragons have a ton of questions heading into next season for coach Mike Griffin for a team that was depleted by injuries but they will have a ton of returnees in Paytin Shadaia, Sophie Wyborski, Meghan Marshall, Kendall Robinson, Sophie Canine, Katie Janoss, Carrie Janoss, Grace Berger, Kylie Anderson, among others. This offseason will be critical if Lake Orion wants to make some noise.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers had a rough first season under coach Bert Mosley but the future is bright. Mosley will have a nucleus to build on next season led by Destiny Monroe, Mari Horton, Mya Bobo, Jade Goodloe, Lola Chambers, Niah Thurman, MiKayla Duncan, Ikia Elam, Samiria Williams, Jada Grady, N'Josia Batiste, and Toni Brooks. West Bloomfield will be a team to keep an eye on this offseason and next year.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars had a rough season but they have some key players returning in Meghan Solek and Emily Echout. The player I'm watching for next season for coach Kellen James is Sophia Ubalydi in the post. If she keeps on developing her inside game then Stoney Creek will be much better next season.

Adams: The Highlanders lose MaKayla Smith and Noelle Dunbar but players like Amelia Drahnak, Lauren Petersmark, and Grace VanPelt return for coach Shay Lewis. The question for Adams will be chemistry after struggling this season. If the Highlanders can have a strong offseason to go along with a strong freshman class then they could make some noise next season.

Clarkston: The Wolves lose so much talent in Maddie Beck, Kayla Luchenbach, Molly Nicholson, and Kianna Ayotte. Clarkston will have one returning starter in Taylor Heaten but watch for players like Piper Bosart and Kaitlyn Kahl to make an impact next season for coach Christine Rogers team.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets will return the balk of their team led by Keiori Lee and Olivia Russell. They also will have Keziah Buggs back for coach Phil Dawson. It will be interesting this offseason what Avondale does.

North Farmington: It could be an interesting offseason for coach Jeff Simpson and his team. The Raiders will return three very good guards in Maya Kelly, Molly Simpson, and Patti Tzchokian but they lose Samantha Cherney in the interior which will hurt them next season. North Farmington will be a team to watch this offseason on how will they replace Cherney's production.

Troy: The Colts could be a team that could make some noise next season for coach Simon Bato. Troy returns Emily Olson and Athena Sampson but losing Danica Murray to graduation will hurt. The Colts had a rough season this year but they have a ton of experience coming back, could it be the return of Troy???

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks will lose Maddie Crumm to graduation but Isabelle Crumm, Grace Bright, and Abby Bright returns for a team that struggled this season. It will be interesting to see what coach Stacie Klumpp has for Troy Athens but if they want to get back in the thick of things, it starts in the offseason.

Groves: The Falcons will be a different team next season. Groves loses Shea Carter, Kayla Nelson, and Lauren Palmer but they do have Emlie Felix coming back to go along with some height for coach Jessica Wiesler but we will see how the Falcons do and it starts in the offseason.

Rochester: The Falcons have a lot of underclassman returning led by Tori Hawkins, Payton Johnson, Sam Thiesson, Maddie Perkins, and Alyssa Miller but they do lose Paola Barazza and Jenna Norgrove. They will need a new coach as Al Poynter resigned last week. It will be interesting how Rochester handles their third coach in three seasons.

Seaholm: The Maples could be a team next season no one wants to see. Seaholm will return Julia Bell, Chloe Burkett, Julia Crump, Meredith Owens, Helena Beasley, Lily Grills, Audrey Stachelski, among others returning next season. Expect coach January Hlaski to have a loaded team next season but the Maples will need a strong offseason.

Farmington: The Falcons had a successful first season under coach Laura Guzman but they will be very young next season. Farmington will be an interesting team to keep an eye on this offseason considering where the direction the program goes.

Berkley: The Bears could be a team on the rise for coach Kirk Carolan. Berkley will return Olivia DiCarlo and Savannah Casida. Although what hurt Berkley was the non conference schedule. If the Bears want to go somewhere they need that talent to develop and play teams to the caliber that their district is like Detroit Renaissance and if they do then they will be better quick and it starts in the offseason.

Oak Park: The Knights will be an interesting team this offseason. Oak Park will need to address depth as they are still going to be talented led by Kiya Wilson and Aerial Kennedy. If the Knights can address the depth then they could go somewhere.

Pontiac: The Phoenix do have Braila Belton coming back next season but they do need to address depth for coach Christopher Wright. A strong offseason will led to great things for Pontiac.

Ferndale: The Eagles will be an interesting team to keep an eye on this offseason for first year coach Christina Nagle. Ferndale will have Jaliyah Love, Kyra Newman, and Keneisha Williams returning next season. The Eagles will look to grow next season and create a program. Stability will be very important for Ferndale this offseason.

Hazel Park: The Vikings will have two players returning from a team that really struggled finding consistency for coach Chad Ossman. It will be an interesting offseason what Hazel Park has in the sub varsity. It will be a different Vikings team next season.