Girls Basketball District Matchups Announced.

Written Sunday February 16th at 11:10 AM
Updated Saturday February 29th at 5:00 PM

Hello everyone, the MHSAA just released the Girls Basketball matchups. I wrote a district column in June when the teams were assigned to their respective districts. I also wrote my insight and which team is likely to win the district and those primed to be upset.

My insight and thoughts will also be on the ONTV blog to see as well as this one.

If anyone wants to comment there is comments section down below.

Anyway without further a dew here are the matchups.

Underlined: Seeded
*: Pending if they don't get Upset 

District 5 @ Waterford Kettering

Romeo vs CLARKSTON

Romeo/CLARKSTON vs LAKE ORION

OXFORD vs ADAMS

OXFORD/ADAMS vs Waterford Kettering

PROJECTED District Final: Adams vs Clarkston
BEST GAME IN THE DISTRICT: Adams * vs Waterford Kettering

MOST LIKELY TO BE UPSET: Adams
PLAYER TO WATCH: Maddie Skourpski-Clarkston.

CHAMPION: Clarkston

Thoughts: When I look at this district, it's basically the same as last season. The early favorite has to be Clarkston. The Wolves have had a really solid year under Coach John Weyer and they bring a ton of experience with them in Taylor Heaten, Sam Aris, and Maddie Skourpski, among others. Romeo has had their fair share of struggles this season in the competitive Macomb Area Conference White division. The Bulldogs, if the Wolves are not careful could upset them if they don't come ready to play. Romeo has Ava Muschong and Natalie Nowak who has had good seasons despite the record for Coach Katy Bosheers. Lake Orion awaits the winner of this matchup in the district semifinals. The Dragons are still a young basketball team under Coach Bob Brydges. They have some promising players in Maddie Ebbert, Kylie Heck, Kacy Lauer, Kendall Robertson, Melissa Normand, and Meghan Marshall on the roster and they are all underclassmen. Lake Orion is playing with nothing to lose in this district. On the other side, I thought Adams got a  really great draw. The Highlanders have a ton of experience in Maddie Doelinga, Amelia Drahnak, Nicole Clarehout, Elizabeth Blane, and Abby Drahnak for Coach Shay Lewis and fresh off a district championship appearance last season they could make some noise. Adams has to be careful against Oxford as the Wildcats could be very dangerous come postseason time because they are playing with nothing to lose. Oxford has relied a ton on Emma Morris despite the season ending injury to Mackenzie Methner for coach Rachel Bryer. The winner of the Wildcats and Highlanders gets Waterford Kettering on their home floor in the district semifinal. The Captains have had a really unusual season under Coach Darrin McAllister but they still have Markayla Holland and Irene Schoff. It doesn’t matter come postseason time and Waterford Kettering has home court along with experience winning the district last season. It will be an interesting district to keep an eye on for sure.

District 6 @ Bloomfield Hills

BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs WEST BLOOMFIELD

BLOOMFIELD HILLS/WEST BLOOMFIELD vs Waterford Mott

PONTIAC vs AVONDALE

PROJECTED District Final: Avondale vs West Bloomfield
BEST GAME OF THE DISTRICT: West Bloomfield * vs Waterford Mott

MOST LIKELY TO BE UPSET: West Bloomfield
PLAYER TO WATCH: Mya Bobo-West Bloomfield

CHAMPION: West Bloomfield

Thoughts: When I look at this district it appears to be that this will be a West Bloomfield vs Avondale district final but the team that could spoil that possible matchup is Waterford Mott. The Corsairs have played a tough schedule in the competitive Lakes Valley Conference and was in the hunt for the league title as well. Waterford Mott is well coached under Michelle Sklar and has a really good squad that has Abby Upleger, Makayla Fuerst, Alleah Austin, and Makayla Proctor. The Lakers are the defending district champions from last season after winning the White the previous year. West Bloomfield has the top seed in the district and they shared of the Red title this season with Southfield Arts and Tech. The Lakers have a pre-district matchup with the hosts Bloomfield Hills first on Monday. The Blackhawks are an interesting team but Coach Bert Mosley's squad has beaten them twice including once at Bloomfield Hills. Avondale got a great draw as the two seed in the district playing Pontiac in the district semifinals. The Yellow Jackets won the White this season and have made a coaching change to Roy Christmon which has paid off big time. The Phoenix come into this district really struggling. Avondale wants West Bloomfield in the worst way after losing to them three times to them last season. This district looks very interesting.

District 25 @ Farmington

FARMINGTON vs Farmington Hills Mercy

FARMINGTON/Farmington Hills Mercy vs Novi

NORTH FARMINGTON vs Livonia Stevenson

PROJECTED District Final: Farmington Hills Mercy vs Livonia Stevenson
BEST GAME IN THE DISTRICT: North Farmington vs Livonia Stevenson

MOST LIKELY TO BE UPSET: North Farmington
PLAYER TO WATCH: Julia Bishop-Farmington Hills Mercy

CHAMPION: Farmington Hills Mercy

Thoughts: This is an interesting district on paper but the favorite has to be Farmington Hills Mercy. The Marlins have had a strong season for coach Gary Morris which includes winning the Catholic League crown. Farmington Hills Mercy played a really tough schedule which included the likes of Detroit Edison and Detroit Renaissance along with being in the Catholic League which is not an easy league. The Marlins open up with Farmington which they should will likely see a solid Novi squad in the district semifinals. The Wildcats are very young but they have played some very good teams in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East and they have a victory against Avondale on the road this season. Farmington Hills Mercy should get to the district final if things go right. I think if there is a team that is vulnerable it’s North Farmington. The Raiders have been up and down after losing two straight games to close out the season. North Farmington has a very tough matchup with Livonia Stevenson in the district semifinals. The Spartans have been very competitive this season in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East.  However in this district as a whole it's Farmington Hills Mercy's to lose.

District 26 @ Birmingham Marian

GROVES vs SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

GROVES/SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs ROYAL OAK

SEAHOLM vs Birmingham Marian

SEAHOLM/Birmingham Marian vs BERKLEY

PROJECTED District Final: Southfield Arts and Tech vs Birmingham Marian
BEST GAME IN THE DISTRICT: Southfield Arts and Tech * vs Birmingham Marian *

MOST LIKELY TO BE UPSET: Birmingham Marian
PLAYER TO WATCH: Jalyn Austin-Southfield Arts and Tech

CHAMPION: Birmingham Marian

Thoughts: This is shaping up to be an interesting district on Lahser Road this year but when looking at a possible Southfield Arts and Tech vs Birmingham Marian district final which would likely gather a ton of media attention. There are a ton of road blocks before this possible matchup could occur. The Warriors shared the Red with West Bloomfield this season have relied on two players to carry them in Cheyenne McEvans and Jasmine Worthy. If Southfield Arts and Tech get to the district final pending if they can get by Royal Oak and Groves (both teams the Warriors have beaten in the regular season.) The Mustangs do not have an easy road either. They have Seaholm on that Monday which is not an easy matchup but the team that Coach Mary Cicerone really needs to pay attention too is a possible clash with Berkley in the district semifinals. The Bears are a wildcard in this district as they come in riding a ton of confidence after sharing the Blue with Rochester and they have wins over Troy, Troy Athens, and North Farmington this season. Berkley comes into this district with really nothing to lose. Birmingham Marian has a ton of talent and well known names plus the district on their home floor. I can see this district going two ways but there could also be an upset or two in between.

District 27 @ Detroit Mumford

OAK PARK vs Detroit Renaissance

OAK PARK/Detroit Renaissance vs Warren Mott

Warren Fitzgerald vs Detroit Mumford

PROJECTED DISTRICT FINAL: Detroit Renaissance vs Detroit Mumford
BEST GAME OF THE DISTRICT: Detroit Mumford vs Detroit Renaissance

MOST LIKELY TO BE UPSET: Detroit Mumford
PLAYER TO WATCH: Kaliee Davis-Detroit Renaissance

CHAMPION: Detroit Renaissance

Thoughts: The magical ride of Oak Park could likely end in the pre-district when they have to play the newly crowned Detroit Public School League Champions Detroit Renaissance. I really like what Coach Peggy Carr has done for the Knights this season but the Phoenix are really experienced and talented under former Oakland University Men’s Basketball Player Shane Lawal. Detroit Mumford has talent and experience but they had a disappointing Detroit Public School League tournament. The Mustangs would like to get some payback in this district which is on their home floor. I really think this could be Detroit Renaissance’s year go really deep in the postseason.

District 29 @ Stoney Creek

STONEY CREEK vs TROY ATHENS

STONEY CREEK/TROY ATHENS vs Utica Eisenhower

Utica vs TROY

Utica/TROY vs ROCHESTER

PROJECTED District Final: Troy vs Utica Eisenhower
BEST GAME OF THE DISTRICT: Troy vs Utica

MOST LIKELY TO BE UPSET: Troy
PLAYER TO WATCH: Lena Rea-Utica

CHAMPION: Troy

Thoughts: This is a very interesting district at Stoney Creek. Any team can win this district although the pundits think it will be Troy that gets out of this district but don’t count out Utica. The Chieftains return three key players in Lena Rea, Rachel Whitehead, and Madison Barch. The Colts should be motivated to get back at Utica after falling 55-48 in overtime in the district final last season. There are some intriguing storylines in this game on Monday. The matchup to watch is Barch against Kendal Zeiter as both players have similar games along another one I'm watching between Charlotte Sobotka and Whitehead. The coaching matchup is also intriguing as well between coaches Simon Bato and Tom McDonald. I think the interior game favors Troy because of Zeiter, Sobotka, and Athena Sampson but the guard matchup favors the Chieftains because of Rea and Whitehead however if Alyssa Matuza, Lauren Gumma, Kayla Rutledge, Riya Charvensky, and Calen Knight make shots and defend then it could get interesting. The winner will get a Rochester team that has improved dramatically under first year coach Bill Thurston. The Falcons shared the Blue this season with Berkley and have seen two teams in Troy Athens and Stoney Creek that are in this district. Rochester has a talented team as well led by Megan Lorenzo. On the other side of the bracket it’s very interesting with the Red Hawks playing the Cougars on Monday night. Troy Athens and Stoney Creek did not play each other this season. Both squads are well coached (Kellen James vs Stacie Klumpp) and have very talented guards (Isabelle Crum vs Lily DiPanni) which makes this a very interesting game. I think the key matchup in that game will be Devin Vowels vs Grace Bright. Whoever counteracts the main matchup between Crum and DiPanni will have a good chance to advance to the next round. The winner will have another tough matchup looming as they will play Utica Eisenhower. The Eagles have had a good season and has some very talented players in their own right in Olivia Stack, Alexis Bruno, and Lauren Griffith. This district should be very competitive.

District 58 @ Detroit Cody

Detroit Cornerstone vs Detroit Cody

Detroit Cornerstone/Detroit Cody vs FERNDALE

Detroit Old Redford vs Detroit Communication Media Arts

PROJECTED District Final: Detroit Cody vs Detroit Communication Media Arts
BEST GAME IN DISTRICT: Ferndale vs Detroit Cody *

MOST LIKELY TO BE UPSET: Detroit Cody
PLAYER TO WATCH: Kiara McGowan-Detroit Cody

CHAMPION: Detroit Cody

Thoughts: This is not a strong district on paper but Detroit Cody has had a special season thus far and the district is in their home gym. If there is one team that could spoil someone’s season it’s Ferndale. The Eagles have played a ton of Division One schools and has been battle tested in the Blue. On the other side of the bracket there is Detroit Communication of Media Arts. The Pharaohs have been 500 all season but they did just enough to get the number two seed in the district thus getting Detroit Old Redford who has been struggling all season long.  I just see this district final happening but don’t count Ferndale out as they could give Detroit Cody some issues.

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