Boys Basketball District Matchups Announced.

Written Sunday February 23rd at 11:10 AM
Updated Saturday March 7th at 11:00 AM

Hello everyone last week the girls district draws were released. Here are the boys draws that were released this morning.

It will also be on the ONTV blog as well and there will be a podcast talking about the draws on the following day.

Underlined: Seeded

District 5 @ Clarkston

ADAMS vs CLARKSTON

ADAMS/CLARKSTON vs OXFORD

LAKE ORION vs Romeo

LAKE ORION/Romeo vs Waterford Kettering

PROJECTED District Final: Clarkston vs Lake Orion

BEST GAME IN DISTRICT: Lake Orion vs Romeo

MOST LIKELY TO GET UPSET: Romeo

PLAYER TO WATCH: Dylan Boedigheimer-Lake Orion

CHAMPION: Clarkston

Thoughts: This is in all reality the same district as last season except that Lake Orion and Oxford switched places in the bracket. The Dragons and Clarkston got great draws in their respective district parings while Adams and the Wildcats got terrible draws having to play the Wolves in the pre-district and district semifinals respectably. The Highlanders upset Clarkston 38-37 last season in the pre-district at Lake Orion. Adams is a much different team than they were last season. The winner will see Oxford in the district semifinals. The Wildcats finished 10-10 this season but they have both Zach and Trey Townsend along with a talented supporting cast. Lake Orion and Romeo is going to be a very interesting game as both teams look very similar on paper and have almost identical records. I think strength of schedule will play a huge role in that game (Lake Orion has played a much tougher schedule than Romeo.) Whoever wins the Dragons/Bulldogs matchup will get Waterford Kettering in the district semifinals. Both teams match up really well with the Captains as Waterford Kettering has had a miserable season despite having Bennie Krenshaw. Whoever gets to the district finals will likely see Clarkston. I think if it’s Lake Orion it will be very interesting but anyone else it could get ugly. I see the Wolves moving onto the next round.

District 6 @ West Bloomfield

PONTIAC vs Orchard Lake St. Marys

PONTIAC/Orchard Lake St Marys vs BLOOMFIELD HILLS

AVONDALE vs Waterford Mott

AVONDALE/Waterford Mott vs WEST BLOOMFIELD

PROJECTED District Final: Orchard Lake St Marys vs West Bloomfield

BEST GAME IN DISTRICT: Waterford Mott vs West Bloomfield

MOST LIKELY TO GET UPSET: Waterford Mott

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jack Crighton-Orchard Lake St. Marys

CHAMPION: Orchard Lake St. Marys

Thoughts: There will be a ton of star power occurring on the gray top. Waterford Mott has Isaiah Jackson and DaMarion Bonds, West Bloomfield has Michael Seay, Ryan Hurst, Shameer Mathews, Kenndi Marion, Travis Reece, and Kipras Blaxevicius, Bloomfield Hills has Mason Canfield, Collin Hecker, and Noah Adamcyzk, and Orchard Lake St. Marys has Kareem Rosier, Jason Drake, Julian Rosier, Peter Nwoke, and Lorne Bowman. On the matchup side of things, I thought that Orchard Lake St. Marys got an excellent draw. The Eaglets won the Catholic League crown this season and has given Clarkston their only loss this season. I don’t see them getting tested by Pontiac despite the season the Phoenix are having in the pre-district. I think the Eaglets will get tested by Bloomfield Hills in the district semifinal pending if the Blackhawks play well. On the other side of the bracket, Waterford Mott should have no problem with Avondale in the pre-district but the game to watch is the district semifinal between West Bloomfield and the Corsairs. I think this will be a great game and there are a ton of storylines along with a great coaching matchup between Jeremy Dehna and Todd Cobert. The Lakers have the depth, home court, and athleticism to give Waterford Mott problems. I see this game likely heading to the buzzer. In the district final whoever Orchard Lake St. Marys gets whether it’s the Corsairs or West Bloomfield, I see their talent overcoming that and getting to the regionals.

District 25 @ Farmington

FARMINGTON vs Birmingham Brother Rice

FARMINGTON/Birmingham Brother Rice vs SEAHOLM

GROVES vs SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

GROVES/SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs NORTH FARMINGTON

PROJECTED District Final: Birmingham Brother Rice vs North Farmington

BEST GAME IN THIS DISTRICT: Groves vs Southfield Arts and Tech

MOST LIKELY TO GET UPSET: Birmingham Brother Rice

PLAYER TO WATCH: Basheer Jihad-North Farmington

CHAMPION: North Farmington

Thoughts: I read MIPrepZone’s Scott Burnstein’s thoughts on this district and I agree with him, this district at Farmington could be the toughest in the State. There are five quality squads that have shots to win this district. When I look at the matchups, I thought that Birmingham Brother Rice and North Farmington got great draws in this district. Farmington who won the White this season but they do not match up very well with the Warriors especially in the interior. That winner will see Seaholm. The Maples have not played the competition the rest of the district has this season with them being in the Blue. They got a horrible draw despite having the bye and they are coming off blowing an 18 point third quarter lead against Troy Athens. Groves and Southfield Arts and Tech have had classic battles in the past and this season with the Falcons winning both meetings despite the Warriors being seeded. I see another instant classic brewing between Groves and Southfield Arts and Tech after the Warriors needed a 23-6 fourth quarter to beat Troy and sweep the season series. That winner will see North Farmington who is a juggernaut in their own right. The Raiders are solid as we know. I see a North Farmington/Birmingham Brother Rice district final. If this district were on any other court besides Farmington or North Farmington, I would give the slight edge to Coach Rick Palmer’s team but because of court size I give the edge to Coach Todd Negoshian’s crew.

District 26 @ Detroit Mumford

OAK PARK vs Detroit University Detroit-Jesuit

OAK PARK/Detroit University Detroit Jesuit vs Detroit Renaissance

BERKLEY vs Detroit Mumford

BERKLEY/Detroit Mumford vs ROYAL OAK

PROJECTED District Final: Berkley vs Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit

BEST GAME IN THIS DISTRICT: Berkley vs Detroit Mumford

MOST LIKELY TO GET UPSET: Detroit Mumford

PLAYER TO WATCH: Ari Belshinsky-Berkley

CHAMPION: Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit

Thoughts: When looking at this district, it’s very interesting. I see four teams having great shots to win this district. I thought Berkley got a great draw even though they will see Detroit Mumford first on their home floor in the pre-district. I have like the Bears this season, they have enough talent and experience to make a run in this district pending if they get past the host Mustangs then they could be likely playing on Friday. I just can't see Royal Oak making any noise in this district. The Ravens have been up and down this season even though their strength is in the interior, they don't matchup really well with either Detroit Mumford or Berkley. On the other side of the district there is Oak Park and Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit. They are no strangers to each other in the postseason. I thought the Knights got a really bad draw with having the play the Cubs first in the pre-district. Oak Park has really struggled in February (1-6 in the month and 2-8 since January 30th.) That's not a good omen heading into the postseason. Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit is a young team but they are having a good season in the always tough Catholic League and are well coached under Coach Pat Donnelly. Detroit Renaissance is the wildcard in this district as they are a sleeper in this district and could give either Oak Park or Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit some issues. I see a Bears/Cubs district final based on how the bracket played out but at the end of the day I think experience and talent favors Detroit-University-Detroit Jesuit.

District 29 @ Rochester

Utica vs STONEY CREEK

Utica/STONEY CREEK vs ROCHESTER

Utica Eisenhower vs TROY

PROJECTED District Final: Troy vs Stoney Creek

BEST GAME IN THE DISTRICT: Stoney Creek vs Utica

MOST LIKELY TO GET UPSET: Stoney Creek

PLAYER TO WATCH: D'Anthony Hamilton-Troy

CHAMPION: Troy

Thoughts: This is a very interesting district. I thought Troy got a great draw by getting the top seed and getting Utica Eisenhower who has been struggling this season in the district semifinals. The Colts did not have a good week as they saw their White title hopes dashed. They were upset by Adams and was outscored 23-6 in the fourth quarter in a loss to Southfield Arts and Tech which swept them this season. Stoney Creek got an interesting draw as they are the number two seed despite having to play three games however the Cougars have been red hot lately which includes wins over Southfield Arts and Tech, Oxford, Berkley, and Adams. Coach Steve Norgrove's team should be motivated after losing 49-48 to Utica last season in heartbreaking fashion as turnovers doomed them in the district semifinals at Utica. The Chieftains and Cougars look eventually matched on paper based on their records. The winner will see Rochester in the district semifinals. I’m seeing Stoney Creek getting their revenge on Utica and for them to get past Rochester to get to Troy in the district final. I think Troy is going to be too much for the Cougars in this district.

District 30 @ Utica Ford

Sterling Heights vs TROY ATHENS

Sterling Heights/TROY ATHENS vs Chippewa Valley

Sterling Heights Stevenson vs Utica Ford

PROJECTED District Final: Troy Athens vs Utica Ford

BEST GAME IN THE DISTRICT: Troy Athens* vs Chippewa Valley

MOST LIKELY TO GET UPSET: Utica Ford

PLAYER TO WATCH: Matt Skiba-Utica Ford

CHAMPION: Troy Athens

Thoughts: I thought Troy Athens has it very choppy by getting the number two seed in this district but they did win the Blue this season. The Red Hawks got a tough matchup with a Sterling Heights squad that is a match up nightmare for anyone. Despite the record, the Stallions are going to give Troy Athens problems especially with their 2-3 matchup zone. It is also an interesting coaching matchup between Coach Dave Scott and Coach Mike Griffin. Griffin knows the OAA very well coaching Girls Basketball at Lake Orion for a year before going back to Sterling Heights to rebuild the Stallions Boys basketball program. The winner of that game will see Chippewa Valley in the district semifinals. The Big Reds have an upset win over Macomb Dakota in the regular season. On the other side of the district, I thought Utica Ford got a great draw. The Falcons are having a great season earning the top seed in the district and they have experience along with home court. Utica Ford also plays a struggling Sterling Heights Stevenson squad that had it's fair share of ups and downs. I think the Red Hawks have just enough to get to the district final and should see the Falcons in the district final. Strength of schedule is very important as well. It's one of the reasons why Troy Athens got the number two seed in this district. I see the Red Hawks moving on but the road is very murky.

District 58 @ Ferndale

Detroit Old Redford vs Detroit Communication Media Arts

Detroit Old Redford/Detroit Communication Media Arts vs Detroit Cody

Ferndale University vs FERNDALE

PROJECTED District Final: Ferndale vs Detroit Communication Media Arts

BEST GAME IN THE DISTRICT: Ferndale vs Detroit Communication Media Arts

MOST LIKELY TO GET UPSET: Ferndale

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jaylen Daugherty-Ferndale

CHAMPION: Ferndale

Thoughts: I thought Ferndale got a great draw heading into the district along with having home court. They have played a really tough schedule especially in the non conference and out state along with being in the Red as well. The Eagles will see Ferndale University in the district semifinals. Ferndale has the top seed in ths district. If they can get by Ferndale University they could play the second seed in Detroit Communication Media Arts in the district final. The Pharaohs are no strangers to playing OAA teams this season (beat Farmington, lost to North Farmington.) They have played a very tough non league schedule along with playing in the Detroit Public School League. Detroit Communication of Media Arts are no strangers to playing at Ferndale earlier this season in the Motor City Roundball Classic in December. The Pharaohs will have to play an extra game in the district going up against Detroit Old Redford in the pre-district and if they get by that game then they will have Detroit Cody in the district semifinal. It will be a tough path for the Pharaohs if they want to see the Eagles in the district final. The lack of depth of Coach Juan Rickman’s team has me really concern moving forward.

My Podcast
https://soundcloud.com/user-539915961/oaa-now-02-24-20