Girls Basketball Regional Preview.

Written Saturday March 3rd at 11:00 AM

Hello all, there are two teams left in the OAA for Girls Basketball. Here is my insight and projections heading into both Regional at Southfield Arts and Tech and at West Bloomfield.

Region 6 @ Southfield Arts and Tech

SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs Detroit Martin Luther King
Detroit Renaissance vs Dearborn Fordson

INSIGHT: This will be an interesting regional but what there is a host school in Southfield Arts and Tech. The Warriors won a very tough district that had Farmington, Groves, North Farmington, and Farmington Hills Mercy at Farmington Hills Mercy by defeating the Marlins. Detroit Martin Luther King had a tough district in which featured Detroit Cass Tech and Grosse Points South. Dearborn Fordson has won 15 straight games including a nail bitter over Livonia Stevenson 49-41 to get here. The Tractors are led by Rena Elhusseini and Kiki Darwiche, whom both were huge in their win against the Spartans. Detroit Renaissance won a fairly easy district to get here.

FAVORITE: Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors are now home after winning a tough district at Farmington Hills Mercy 49-45 behind 26 points from Alexis Johnson. Southfield Arts and Tech is not a one player team as they have D'Layna Holliman and Cheyenne McEvans whom combined for 21 points against the Marlins. That's not mentioning that the Warriors are well coached as well led by Michelle Marshall.

NEXT: Detroit Martin Luther King: The Crusaders are very athletic and well coached for William Willard. Detroit Martin Luther King had to beat Detroit Cass Tech in a tough district final 55-41 behind 23 points and nine rebounds from Mariah Mitchell along with 11 points and 10 rebounds from Jordan Lewis. Dejanine Williams had nine points, seven assists, and five steals, and Diamond Cannon had eight points and nine rebounds against the Technicians. The Crusaders will present a dangerous challenge to the Warriors.

WHO PLAYS SPOILER: Detroit Renaissance: The Phoenix are a young team but they are led by Kailee Davis whom had 17 points against Berkley. Detroit Renaissance has a nice draw pending if they can get past Dearborn Fordson.

PREDICTION: This is an interesting regional to say the least on the corner of Lahser and 10 Mile. It will be a close matchup between Southfield Arts and Tech and Detroit Martin Luther King but the Warriors pull through. I think Dearborn Fordson upsets Detroit Renaissance because of Elhusseini and Darwiche but end of the day, the hosts move to the quarterfinal. PICK: SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH.


Region 4 @ West Bloomfield

CLARKSTON vs Birmingham Marian
Waterford Kettering vs Utica Eisenhower

INSIGHT: This will be an interesting regional. Birmingham Marian won a tough matchup over Royal Oak 39-25. Clarkston has a senior experience team that basically shut out Holly for three quarters in their district final matchup at home. Waterford Kettering had to go through a very tough Bloomfield Hills team in their place. Utica Eisenhower is fresh off winning it's first district since 2003 features Lauren DeBeau, Paige Montreuli, and Marylin Kostnik for coach Mike Satawa's team.

FAVORITE: Waterford Kettering: The Captains have had Clarkston's number in the last two years. Waterford Kettering is led by Marissa Brady, Clare Broughan, Izzy Dugal, and Ashley Watson for coach Scott Woodhall. The Captains are also known for the "defense department" and they could very well do that in this regional.

NEXT: Clarkston: The Wolves bring a ton of experience into this regional led by Kayla Luchenbach, Molly Nicholson, Kianna Anyotte, Taylor Heaten, and Maddie Beck. Clarkston made Holly look bad, shutting them out for three quarters and shutting down Rebecca Fugate in the process. It won't be easy this time around for coach Christine Rogers team when they play Birmingham Marian because the Mustangs feature a scorer in Moore and have other players that can score as well.

WHO PLAYS SPOILER: Birmingham Marian: The Mustangs are a well coached team under Mary Ciceronee. Birmingham Marian features Olivia Moore. Moore had 17 points against Royal Oak in the district final. Also the Mustangs feature Uche Ike and Megan Kraus whom are capable of having big games.

PREDICTION: I think the Wolves size will be too much for Birmingham Marian and Moore gets shut down by Aynotte. Clarkston does have enough size to contest with Ike in the post and will give the Mustangs problems. I think Waterford Kettering beats Utica Eisenhower pretty handily and we see Clarkston/Waterford Kettering Round Three. Until the Wolves can solve their Captains problem, its hard to pick them to move on. PICK: WATERFORD KETTERING.