Here is my previews heading into the 2019-2020 Girls Basketball Season.
EARLY SEASON TOP 21
1. Southfield Arts and Tech
2. West Bloomfield
3. Clarkston
4. Avondale
5. Adams
6. Oxford
7. Lake Orion
8. Stoney Creek
9. Berkley
10. Troy
11. Royal Oak
12. Bloomfield Hills
13. Rochester
14. Troy Athens
15. North Farmington
16. Groves
17. Seaholm
18. Farmington
19. Ferndale
20. Pontiac
21. Oak Park
Red
OUTLOOK: The Red looks to be wide open then in
years past. Southfield Arts and Tech went to the State Finals last season but
they lost two starters and their bench is a huge question mark. West Bloomfield
might be the most complete team in this division. They have a ton of balance to make some noise. Clarkston has a year of experience under
their belt which should help them. They have had a solid summer league and have every starter back from last season.
Stoney Creek has the play makers and should be a story line all season.
Bloomfield Hills will need to address some depth troubles. Groves has some
questions. Royal Oak lost a ton of talent from last season and could struggle
early. This division looks to be very interesting.
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH WARRIORS
Strength: Athleticism.
Weakness: Other two starters and Depth.
The Warriors will be a very interesting team to watch this
season. Southfield Arts and Tech went to the Division One State Finals before
falling to Saginaw Heritage. Coach Michelle Marshall’s team will have three starters back in Cheyenne
McEvans, Kayonia Willis, and Jasmine Worthy. They have some questions
surrounding their depth along with replacing two starters from last season's team. The schedule is going
to be a challenge for the Warriors which is not a surprise for Marshall's squads in the past. They'll play Avondale, Pewamo Westphaila,
East Grand Rapids, Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, Flint Carman Ainsworth, and Bishop
Noll Institute. Program strength is a question mark. The key for Southfield
Arts and Tech will be is if they can production elsewhere besides from
McEvans, Willis, and Worthy if they want to make some noise.
WEST BLOOMFIELD LAKERS
Strength: Athleticism, Experience.
Weakness: Mental Mindset especially in Non-League.
The Lakers moved up from the White to the Red after winning the division last season. They could be up for the challenge in their new division. West Bloomfield is loaded with proven experience and talent. They have Mya Bobo, Logan Lewis,
Jade Goodloe, Sydney Hendrix, and Lola Chambers for Coach Bert Mosley. Mental mindset could be a question though especially with moving up to a new divison and toughen up schedule. The Lakers toughened up
the non-conference slate which includes games against Detroit Renaissance,
River Rouge, Flint Kearsley, Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, and Walled
Lake Western. It could be a special season for West Bloomfield.
CLARKSTON WOLVES
Experience: Experience.
Weakness: Mental Lapses.
The Wolves will be a team to be a recon with this season. Clarkston will be loaded seeing them in the summer league they will be
vastly different. They have every starter back from last season’s
team that started off 0-5 with a very tough schedule which includes Taylor Heaten, Madison Skourspki, Kaitlyn Kaul, Sam Aris, Jennifer Starnes, Olivia Toderan, Izzy Hadley, and Lexi Linton for Coach John Weyer. The Wolves have a very tough
non-conference slate which includes games against Walled Lake Western,
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep,
Lake Orion, and Waterford Kettering. Program strength is very strong as well. The Wolves will be a team to watch for
sure this season.
STONEY CREEK COUGARS
Strength: Proven Guards and Wings.
Weakness: Interior.
The Cougars will be a very interesting team to watch in
2019-2020. Coach Kellen James’s group returns several key players in Lily DiPani,
Devin Vowels, and Sydney LaPrairie returning for Coach Kellen James. Stoney
Creek also has some newcomers that are ready to make some noise in Mia Carson even though interior looks to be a concern. They
have a tough non-conference with games against Harper Woods Chandler Park
Academy, Lake Orion, and Macomb Dakota. The Cougars will be an interesting team
to watch this season.
ROYAL OAK RAVENS
Strength: Young Nucleus.
Weakness: Unproven Experience.
The Ravens lost a ton of talent and experience last season
but Coach Brian Sopota’s team cupboard is far from bare. Royal Oak has a young
nucleus led by Sarah Soraghan. Soraghan became a starter last season and
made an impact. The Ravens will need others to step up as they lost a ton of experience from last season. Royal Oak has talent in Sarah Ammon, Anna
Ross, Ana Johnson, Elinor Kochanski, Sam Mullen, Lexi Romesburg, and
Emily Jenkins. It could be a very interesting year for Sopota and his team
especially with non-conference games against Berkley, Novi, Lake Orion, and
Walled Lake Northern. Expect some growing pains early but later in the year
they could be dangerous.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS BLACKHAWKS
Strength: Guards and Banks.
Weakness: Depth.
The Blackhawks are in an very interesting spot this season. Coach
Jeff Rubin’s squad lost Maryiam Hashim and Grace Getz to graduation but they
have Jordan Banks, Angelina Saavya, and Keleen Fife returning and Banks likely moving to a guard/wing position this year. Bloomfield Hills
has questions in the interior even though they will have Melisa Mecaj there. The Blackhawks also have a tough non-conference schedule which
includes games against North Farmington, Oxford, and Royal Oak Shrine.
Bloomfield Hills could surprise some folks this season.
GROVES FALCONS
Strength: Interior.
Weakness: Program Strength.
The Falcons had an interesting year which included upset
wins over North Farmington, Bloomfield Hills, and Stoney Creek last season.
Groves will have some experience back in Ellie Ruprich and Mia Yarberry.
Program strength is a major concern despite fielding all three teams this year. The
Falcons non-conference looks very challenging with Oxford, Seaholm, Berkley,
Troy Athens, Adams, Royal Oak Shrine, and Lakeland. It could be a very long season
for the Falcons this season.
White
OUTLOOK: The White will have a ton of parity this
season. Any team from top to bottom can win the division with how even the teams
are is heading into the season. Avondale has to be the early favorite because
of talent but they have questions especially when it comes to their depth.
Oxford, Lake Orion, Adams, and Troy have a ton of talent back and program
strength for each squad is very strong as well. North Farmington will be an
interesting team to watch as they come down from the Red. Troy Athens has all
their starters back from last season but can they put it together. This could
be a fun division to watch all season.
AVONDALE YELLOW JACKETS
Strength: Experience and Size.
Weakness: Depth.
The Yellow Jackets in Coach Bob Lees second year will be a team to keep an eye on as they are the preseason favorite in the White. Avondale returns Reigan Lawrence, Keori Lee, and Taniah
Jackson. They will add Braila Benion who transferred in from Pontiac last
season. The Yellow Jackets will need to address their depth as they could be
seven deep. They also have a very tough non-league schedule with games against
Waterford Kettering, Southfield Arts and Tech, Birmingham Marian, Novi,
Birmingham Detroit Country Day, Carleton Airport, and Seaholm. This will be a
team to watch.
ADAMS HIGHLANDERS
Strength: Experience.
Weakness: Interior.
The Highlanders should be an interesting team to keep an eye on this season. They have a ton of proven experience returning from
a team that battled with Waterford Kettering in the district final last season.
Adams has Maggie Doelinga, Amelia Drahnak, Abbey Drahnak, Nicole Clarehout,
Laura Petersmark, Elizabeth Blaine, Anaiah Howard, and Maddie Kessman for Coach Shay Lewis. The Highlanders have questions in the interior despite
having enough experience. Adams has a very interesting
non-conference schedule which includes Utica, Bloomfield Hills, Walled Lake
Central, and Waterford Mott. The Highlanders will be a team to watch.
OXFORD WILDCATS
Strength: Work Ethic.
Weakness: Size.
The Wildcats are a team that has a workers mentality as
seen in the summer league. Oxford has a ton of experience back in Sarah
Tyrell, Emma Morris, Gabby Dinges, Aleah Dymond, and Mackenzie Methner returning for Coach
Rachel Bryer. Program strength is very strong from top to bottom which is a
plus. The Wildcats have non-conference games against Bloomfield Hills, Walled
Lake Central, Armada, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Davison, and St. Clair Shores
Lakeview. They should be a team to watch this season.
LAKE ORION DRAGONS
Strength: Program Strength.
Weakness: Size.
The Dragons should look vastly different in Coach Bob
Brydges second year. Lake Orion is a team on the rise led by Meghan Marshall,
Kierra Tierney, Grace Vukeluch, Erin Humes, and Melissa Normand along with
newcomers Kacy Lauer, Sydney Maddox, Claudia Staruch, among others. The Dragons
will have the balance and program strength is very strong. Lake Orion has a very
tough non-conference schedule with games against Stoney Creek, Royal Oak,
Lapeer, and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. There will be an early adjustment period
for this team but when everyone is on the same page look out.
TROY COLTS
Strength: Experience.
Weakness: Interior besides Sampson.
The Colts has a ton of experience returning for a team that
made the district finals last season. Troy has Athena Sampson returning in the
front court along with Calen Knight, Riya Chakravity, Elena Renke, and Laura
Gumma should provide guard depth. Charlotte Sobotka, Alyssa Matuza, and Kayla
Rutledge should be impactful players this season for Coach Simon Bato. Program
strength looks to be very strong for the Colts. Troy’s non-conference will be
interesting with games against Chippewa Valley, Berkley, Waterford Mott,
Seaholm, and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. The Colts will be a team to watch.
NORTH FARMINGTON RAIDERS
Strength: Guards.
Weakness: Interior and Program Strength.
The Raiders moved down from the Red this season and should
be an interesting team to watch. North Farmington has their two top players
back in Molly Simpson and Maya Kelly but their are issues that still remain for Coach Jeff
Simpson. There are two issues that could impact his squad this season, the
interior and program strength. They will not field a freshman program this
season. The Raiders have a very tough non-conference schedule with games
against Groves, Walled Lake Northern, Detroit Cornerstone, Bloomfield Hills,
Farmington, and Chicago Philips. They will be a team to watch closely.
TROY ATHENS RED HAWKS
Strength: Experience.
Weakness: Size.
The Red Hawks will look to rebound after a very disappointing one point home loss to Chippewa Valley last
season in the district semifinal. Troy Athens will have a ton of experience returning this season in Izzy Crumm, Grace
Bright, Abby Bright, Emma Wodwakski, Clare Shoales, and Shayna Landess for
coach Stacie Klumpp. The non-conference slate is looks manageable with games against
Berkley, Seaholm, Groves, Sterling Heights Stevenson, and an improved Lakeland
team. This will be a team to watch.
Blue
OUTLOOK: When looking at the Blue it looks like it
could be a repeat as last season except there could be one team that wins it
outright. Berkley has a ton of young talent back but program strength will be a
question. Rochester has their fourth coach in four years but they will be
competitive and experienced. Seaholm has a ton of experience back. Farmington
should be better. Ferndale has a new coach. Pontiac is always a mystery. Oak
Park could struggle. It will be a very interesting division to watch.
BERKLEY BEARS
Strength: Experience.
Weakness: Program Strength.
The Bears will be an interesting team to watch this season. Berkley has a ton
of proven experience from a team that shared the Blue with Rochester a year ago. The Bears have a ton of young talent for Coach Kirk Carolan to work with in Emma Hamilton, Ashley Loon, Charlesa Rice, Lauryn Thomas, and Tessa Voss returning for
a team that won 16 games last season. They added a freshman in Jillian Gomes that should help their interior. Berkley has toughened
up their non-conference schedule which has Macomb Dakota, Troy, and
Madison Heights Bishop Foley. Program strength is a question mark though. The
Bears should get a ton of attention this season.
ROCHESTER FALCONS
Strength: Experience.
Weakness: Mental Mindset.
The Falcons have their fourth coach in four years as
Bill Thurston takes over the program. Thurston has been around the program for
four different coaches and he brings his expertise into the program. Rochester will have some talent back in Laura Kucera,
Anna Winkler, and Megan Lorenzo. The Falcons shared the Blue with Berkley last
season which should be a motivator They should be right back in the thick of the league race this season
with the experience they have returning and the team they could be. Rochester has an interesting non-conference
slate which includes Waterford Mott, Madison Heights Bishop Foley, Birmingham
Detroit Country Day, Adams, and Stoney Creek. They should be a team to watch
this season.
SEAHOLM MAPLES
Strength: Experience.
Weakness: Program Strength.
This should be a very interesting second year for Coach Chris
Manchester and his Maples. Seaholm had a tough adjustment period going from then
coach turned assistant principal January Hlaski to Manchester last season and it showed early. The Maples have
a ton of experience returning in Julia Bell, Meredith Owens, Helena Beasley,
Julia Crump, and Lily Morris. Seaholm has a very tough non-conference schedule which
includes games against Groves, Lake Orion, Avondale, Troy Athens, Milford, and
Stoney Creek. Program strength is a huge concern looking at the state of the Maples. Seaholm is a team to really keep an eye on especially with how the players can
adjust in Manchester’s second season.
FARMINGTON FALCONS
Strength: Interior.
Weakness: Depth.
The Falcons had a rough year last season but there is optimism for
Farmington as they moved down from the White to the Blue this season. The Falcons have Val Pallett and Autumn Bartlett returning for Coach Laura Guzman. Farmington
has a very interesting non-conference schedule which includes games against
North Farmington, Royal Oak, Madison Heights Bishop Foley, Troy Athens, and a
matchup with former coach Dave Browne and Milford. It should be an interesting
season for the Falcons.
FERNDALE EAGLES
Strength: Guards.
Weakness: Program Strength.
The Eagles will be an interesting team to watch this season.
Keith Paris takes over as the program’s third coach in three years.
The question for Paris’s team will be program strength which has been a huge
concern because of the low numbers (don't field sub-varsity teams.) Ferndale has Keneshia Williams
and Kyra Newman returning which is a good starting point. It will take some
time for Paris to put his program in place and when he does they can go places. The
non-conference schedule looks favorable with the exception of playing Detroit
Edison. I don’t know if Ferndale is ready to take that next step right now.
PONTIAC PHOENIX
Strength: Athleticism.
Weakness: Depth.
The Phoenix are in an interesting place right now. Pontiac
still has athletes and will be competitive for Coach Christopher Wright. The
Phoenix have been making strides despite not having a ton of depth to work
with. They have some tough non-conference games looming against Bloomfield
Hills and Birmingham Detroit Country Day. Pontiac will be a team to keep an eye
on this season.
OAK PARK KNIGHTS
Strength: Guards.
Weakness: Depth.
The Knights could be in for a challenging season this year again for coach Peggy Carr. Kyla Wilson is back for Oak Park but the schedule looks very challenging. It could be a long season as mentioned for the Knights.
My Podcast from November 26th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MzSnkLJtxc&t=431s
My Podcast from December 2nd.
https://soundcloud.com/user-539915961/oaa-now-12-02-19
My Podcast from December 2nd.
https://soundcloud.com/user-539915961/oaa-now-12-02-19
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