Inside the OAA Top 23 Boys and Girls Basketball Rankings.

Written Saturday December 22nd at 10:00 PM

Here are my rankings heading into the Christmas and New Year Break. The records will be updated as mentioned with the holiday tournaments looming forward.

Girls

1. Southfield Arts and Tech (4-1): Warriors no doubt the best team in the OAA with big non conference wins. They could be a special group come March.

2. Stoney Creek (4-1): Really like where “Team Finebaum” is at right now. Cougars are in a groove right now.

3. Royal Oak (6-0): Ravens haven’t been that impressive lately especially against Clarkston and Royal Oak Shrine. The Royal Oak Shrine game has me concerned with this team right now.

4. West Bloomfield (4-1): Mya Bobo is the real deal for the Lakers. She is the reason why West Bloomfield is where they are at.

5. Bloomfield Hills (3-2): Blackhawks interior is a concern but they have enough experience to overcome that and it’s showing right now.

6. Avondale (6-0): Schedule hasn’t been strong but Yellow Jackets have blown out everyone with their closest game being 15 points.

7. Troy (4-1): Kendal Zeiter is the real deal and to go along with that experience, the Colts could be dangerous this season even though schedule hasn’t been the strongest.

8. Oxford (2-2): Wildcats have not been consistent but are finding ways to win games.

9. Lake Orion (3-1): Dragons despite setback to Oxford is more than half way to their win total from last season.

10. Clarkston (0-5): Wolves despite record are getting better everyday.

11. Rochester (1-4): Falcons have the best shot at winning the Blue this season and have played a brutal non conference schedule.

12. North Farmington (1-6): Raiders have really missed Sam Cherney and the record shows it right now.

13. Adams (1-4): Highlanders have not been the same team since beating Waterford Mott. They need to fix this heading into the new year.

14. Troy Athens (1-3): Red Hawks have three solid players but haven’t been consistent this season.

15. Berkley (4-1): The non conference schedule is a concern and their only test thus far was a loss to Waterford Mott. The Bears have a lot of work to do if they want to contend in the Blue this season.

16. Farmington (1-4): Falcons battled against Troy but schedule will toughen up in January.

17. Groves (2-4): Falcons were in it with Stoney Creek for three quarters. Will need to keep improving in January.

18. Seaholm (2-2): Maples have beaten the non OAA teams but have lost to the OAA teams. That must change if Seaholm wants to go places.

19. Pontiac (3-4): Phoenix had a tough loss to Rochester, they are out of the division race for now.

20. Oak Park (3-2): Schedule hasn’t been impressive thus far for the Knights despite winning three games.

21. Ferndale (4-2): Despite winning four games the Eagles have a long way to go to be competitive.

22. Hazel Park (0-6): Seen them play wasn’t impressed. Could be a long season for the Vikings.

Boys

1. Pontiac (8-0): “The Yak” is back enough said.

2. Clarkston (6-2): Wolves Big Three gaining confidence as we speak.

3. West Bloomfield (3-4): Tough schedule will benefit the Lakers in the long run.

4. Lake Orion (6-1): Besides the hiccup against Clarkston the Dragons have been solid thus far.

5. Adams (5-2): Fully healthy the Highlanders are ready to roll.

6. Farmington (3-2): It has been an uneasy week for the Falcons. They will need to shore up some things heading into 2019.

7. Ferndale (2-3): Eagles starting to get their transfers into the system and when on along with the rest of the team watch out.

8. Oxford (6-0): Schedule has not been impressive despite being unbeaten. The schedule will toughen up for the Wildcats in January.

9. Southfield Arts and Tech (3-3): Warriors battled tough against Farmington and have a big win over Southfield Christian. They are the darkhorse team to watch as we go forward in the season.

10. Oak Park (4-1): The Knights are very talented which showed against Birmingham Detroit Country Day but losing to North Farmington didn’t help things.

11. North Farmington (5-2): The Raiders non conference schedule hasn’t been that impressive and they have lost three straight to Bloomfield Hills which is alarming despite beating Oak Park.

12. Troy (5-3): Brody Parker is the real deal for the Colts.

13. Groves (5-3): Falcons quietly going along with their business right now.

14. Avondale (1-5): The win over Stoney Creek should hopefully turn the Yellow Jackets season around.

15. Berkley (3-2): Bears are an odd team to figure out. They look good one week and then bad the next. Need to address consistency moving forward.

16. Stoney Creek (4-4): Cougars suffered two tough losses but will look to progress heading into the new year.

17. Bloomfield Hills (4-4): Blackhawks have big wins but some questionable losses as well. Something they need to address.

18. Royal Oak (3-3): Can’t figure out the Ravens lately. Been disappointed with the start, hope they can turn it around.

19. Troy Athens (2-5): The Red Hawks had lost three straight until beating Madison Heights Bishop Foley, should be interesting moving forward.

20. Rochester (1-6): The Falcons have struggled giving up points in the last two games. It has been a long season thus far for Rochester.

21. Harrison (3-3): Hawks slowly getting better in their final season as a school.

22. Seaholm (1-6): Been very disappointed with the Maples lately.

23. Hazel Park (1-6): Vikings are in complete rebuild mode as we speak.