Basketball Divisions Released.

Written Monday April 16th at 4:15 PM

The 2018-2019 season will be interesting to say the least in both Boys and Girls Basketball.

Here is a look at the new divisions.

Girls

Red:

Southfield Arts and Tech
Clarkston
North Farmington
Bloomfield Hills
Stoney Creek
Royal Oak
Groves

Thoughts

This will be an interesting division looking at the names and coaches of these teams like Jeff Rubin at Bloomfield Hills, Jeff Simpson at North Farmington, Kellen James at Stoney Creek, Christine Rogers at Clarkston, Brian Sopota at Royal Oak, Jessica Wiesler at Groves, and Michelle Marshall at Southfield Arts and Tech. Royal Oak and Groves come up from the White after both teams shared the division. Clarkston made the State Quarterfinals last season will be very young this upcoming winter. Southfield Arts and Tech, Bloomfield Hills, and Royal Oak have a ton of talent coming back. North Farmington will have to address some major concerns in the interior. Groves is a young team. If I had to pick an early favorite it would be the Warriors with the talent they have back but the Ravens aren't that far behind with a senior heavy squad. The Blackhawks are my darkhorse to watch followed by the Wolves, Raiders, Cougars, and Falcons.

White:

Lake Orion
Adams
Oxford
West Bloomfield
Troy
Troy Athens
Avondale
Farmington

Thoughts

This will be an interesting division based on competitive balance and different styles with coaches like Bert Mosley at West Bloomfield, Mike Griffin at Lake Orion, Rachel Bryer at Oxford, Shay Lewis at Adams, Simon Bato at Troy, Stacie Klump at Troy Athens, Phil Dawson at Avondale, and Laura Guzman at Farmington. Lake Orion and Adams come down from the Red while Avondale and Farmington come up from the Blue to the White after sharing the Blue title. Oxford returns the majority of their team along with Lake Orion, Avondale, Troy, and West Bloomfield (everyone is back for them.) Troy Athens will have to replace some key players along with the Highlanders but both teams have returning players coming back. Farmington will have to replace a ton of talent from last season's Blue division team. When I look at this division this will be very competitive, if I had to choose an early favorite it's Lake Orion with whom they return and when healthy could be dangerous (last season, the Dragons had a ton of injuries to key players) followed by Oxford, West Bloomfield, Adams, Avondale, Troy, Troy Athens, and then Farmington. This division in the OAA will be the one to watch for sure.

Blue:

Rochester
Seaholm
Pontiac
Oak Park
Ferndale
Hazel Park
Berkley

Thoughts

This could be a division where some teams could use as a recovery division. Rochester and Seaholm come down from the White to the Blue. Berkley should be solid next season with the majority of their team returning. The Falcons could make some noise with their future being bright but coaching will be a question mark. The Maples have the majority of their team coming back for coach January Hlaski. Pontiac should be decent with whom they have coming back for coach Christopher Wright. Oak Park has their guards coming back and could be a darkhorse candidate. Ferndale will have two key returning players and a new head coach. Hazel Park will be very young after graduating heavy. If I had to choose an early favorite in this division it's Rochester followed by the Seaholm and then the Bears. The Knights, Phoenix, Vikings, and Eagles fill out the rest of this division.

Boys

Blue:

Oxford
Seaholm
Pontiac
Hazel Park
Royal Oak
Harrison
Berkley
Ferndale

Thoughts

This could be an interesting division when you look at it. Oxford and Seaholm come from the White and Hazel Park come to the Blue from the Red. There are some well known coaches in this division like Steve Laidlaw at Oxford, Josh Schroder at Pontiac, Joe Sermo at Berkley, Greg DeGeeter at Seaholm, Aaron Smith at Royal Oak, Juan Rickman at Ferndale, and Jarrell Hogan at Harrison. Oxford, Ferndale and Pontiac return a ton of talent and could make some noise next season. Royal Oak could be a darkhorse team as they have some talent coming back. Berkley has to replace nine seniors from a team that had a tale of two seasons which started at 9-0 and then a 1-11 finish the rest of the way. Seaholm will be young but could also be a darkhorse team. Harrison in it's final season could play spoiler. Hazel Park will be very young and could be in for some dark times ahead. My early favorite right now would have to be the Wildcats with the talent they have coming back followed by the Eagles, then the Phoenix, Maples, Ravens, Bears, Hawks, and then Hazel Park.

White:

Southfield Arts and Tech
Troy Athens
Adams
Rochester
Stoney Creek
Avondale
Farmington
Groves

Thoughts

This could be an interesting division that features a co-champ and three teams with the name Falcons in Groves, Rochester, and Farmington. There are some well known coaches that are in this division as well in Brad Crighton at Adams, Mike Avery at Southfield Arts and Tech, Steve Norgrove at Stoney Creek, Tim Morton at Avondale, Vance Kirkwood at Rochester, Dave Scott at Troy Athens, and Terrance Porter at Farmington. There isn't a coach at Groves at the moment as Marc West stepped down to take an assistant coaching role at Henry Ford Community College last week. Rochester and Farmington comes from the Blue while Southfield Arts and Tech comes from the Red. The Warriors return a ton of talent that has Red ecxperience, as does the Highlanders, Yellow Jackets, Groves, and Farmington. Rochester, Cougars, and the Red Hawks will have to replace some key talent left by last season's teams. If I had to choose an early favorite it has to be Adams because of whom they have back followed by Avondale, Farmington, and Southfield Arts and Tech. Troy Athens, Stoney Creek, Groves, and then Rochester.

Red:

Clarkston
West Bloomfield
Troy
North Farmington
Bloomfield Hills
Oak Park
Lake Orion

Thoughts

This could be an interesting division as you have the back to back State Champs along with the White and co-Blue Champs here as well. Lake Orion moves up from the Blue and Oak Park from the White. There are some well known coaches in this division as well in Phil Kurjian at Bloomfield Hills, Bobby Thompson at Oak Park, Jeremy Dehna at West Bloomfield, Gary Fralick at Troy, Todd Negoshian at North Farmington, Dan Fife at Clarkston, and Jim Manzo at Lake Orion. The Wolves will be young but talented. The Knights have the most experience coming back talent wise as do the Dragons and Lakers. The Blackhawks, Colts, and Raiders will be young but very competitive. If I had to choose an early favorite, people would say Clarkston but for me it's Oak Park with the talent they have back followed by the Wolves and then West Bloomfield with their experience playing in this division helping both teams. Lake Orion is my darkhorse team to watch as they have a ton back as mentioned. Troy is another to watch that could make a move up the standings. North Farmington, and Bloomfield Hills will be rebuilding a bit.

It will be an interesting season as mentioned, so let it began.

Soundcloud from the podcast that include this story.
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