Week Two Thoughts on Each Team.

Written Sunday February 21st at 11:20 AM

Boys

Red

North Farmington has played really well lately. Deon Hayes has really stepped his game up which has produced results for Coach Todd Negoshian. The Raiders have a huge one looming on Friday but right now they are clicking on all cylinders.

Ferndale has played good basketball especially Jason Drake and Traveon Lewis. Lewis put up 50 points against Detroit Fredrick Douglass on Saturday. It’s dangerous to rely on Drake and Lewis without a true post presence. Ferndale is rolling right now but dangers always loom.

Clarkston hasn’t looked their normal selves since losing to Ferndale last week. They needed to survive Groves on Saturday which is dangerous. The Wolves to their defense has gotten contributions from Mike DePillo, Luke Scherler, Keegan Waslik, and Nate Steinman. They are going to need that going forward.

West Bloomfield is the toughest 0-5 team in the State. I feel real bad for Coach Jeremy Denha and his team. They have played a brutal schedule which should get them better for the postseason. The Lakers still have a brutal stretch awaiting them though which is a concern.

Oak Park has been a mystery team. They beat West Bloomfield but lose to Detroit Loyola. The Knights rely on Ashton Henderson to carry them which is not a good sign going forward for Coach Durrand Sheppard. Oak Park needs someone besides Henderson to step up if they want to make a move in this division.

Farmington plays well outside of the Red but in the Red its been blowout city. The Falcons have not been able to play well in the Red which has resulted in losses. Coach Terrance Porter relies on Prince Jackson and Robert Davis to carry them but they need someone like Jack Donahue to step up if Farmington wants to hang on in this division.

 

White

Troy is in COVID protocol for a few days. The Colts have been playing great basketball until this pause. Brody Parker, Jake Emerzian, Ethan Emerzian, D’Anthony Hamilton, and Imad Hage has led the charge. Troy should be fine moving forward.

Stoney Creek has played good basketball even though they have needed Trevor Smith to score a ton every night. The Cougars have gotten contributions elsewhere but if they can take the workload off of Smith then they will be fine going forward.

Groves has been an odd team to figure out. They lost twice this week, one in overtime to Bloomfield Hills and the other to Clarkston. The Falcons played well against the Wolves but didn’t have enough. Groves looks to be that middle of the pack team no one wants to see in the postseason.

Bloomfield Hills has had a ton of heroics lately in their two wins over Groves and Adams. They have hit timely shots in critical situations. That’s a good sign going forward for the Blackhawks but can they keep it up??? that’s the question.

Adams has been very interesting to figure out. The Highlanders had two tough losses to Bloomfield Hills and Southfield Arts and Tech and needed double overtime to beat Rochester. Justice Mims has been hot and cold lately. He needs to step up along with several others right now if Coach Jaret Thomas’s team wants to get out of this funk.

Southfield Arts and Tech split this week with a tough loss to Detroit Cass Tech but they beat Adams which is huge. The Warriors are a mystery team to figure out but what helps them is their athleticism and they have Jaylen Mack and Caleb Banks. They are going to be needed to be their best night in and night out going forward.

 

Blue

Troy Athens looks like they are in the drivers seat in the division with home wins over Lake Orion and Berkley. The Red Hawks have relied on three guys to carry them in Michael Justice, Jacob Thornton, and Jordan Sebaugh. They should be tested this week when they have their two toughest challengers in the division on the road.

Berkley has been playing good basketball despite their record but they can also improve as well. The Bears have relied on Arshad Walker, Logan Thomas, Eli Steinbach, and Joey McNamara. Coach Joe Sermo has them on a high level which is a good sign going forward.

Oxford is in an interesting spot. Mason Mulholland has led the Wildcats night in and night out but Coach Steve Laidlaw needs someone else to step up. Oxford could still be in the mix but the last two games haven’t proven the results for them.

Lake Orion has a great defense but a poor offense. The Dragons really need someone besides Alden Ritt to step up. Defense wins games and it travels well but if you’re not putting any points up then you’re not going to win. If Lake Orion can get any sort of offense to go along with their great defense then they will be fine going forward.

Seaholm has been struggling lately finding an identity. The Maples played better on Saturday against Walled Lake Western despite losing by three points. Johnny Cross is expected to be back this week for Seaholm which should help them move forward.

 

Gold

Pontiac stands on top of the division. The Phoenix have managed to improve each week which resulted in wins. I would like to see Pontiac test themselves against very good non league competition. It would prove to be a measuring stick for the Phoenix.

Rochester has played much better in the last two games despite not getting the result against Adams they have found an indent in Matt Stone and Mark Williams. The Falcons are Pontiac’s toughest challenger in the division. I think Coach Vance Kirkwood’s team is heading in the right direction.

Avondale has picked up two league wins since losing to Lake Orion on Monday. The play of Jeremy Neal and Jy Smith has been huge for the Yellow Jackets. If Coach Pat Clancy can get more scoring from players besides Smith and Neal then look out.

Royal Oak has been competitive but they haven’t been able to put together wins. The Ravens are a team that I’m very concerned with going forward. Royal Oak could be a 2-1 team and not 0-3 but they have lost their last two league games by a combined 10 points. Also they didn’t look good against Livonia Clarenceville. There are too much concerns for Coach Aaron Smith’s team right now.

Ferndale University was very competitive against Avondale on Saturday but being in the OAA has had some struggles for the Driving Eagles. Ferndale University can still get this fixed and quickly but they have three interesting games looming this week.

 

Girls

Red

West Bloomfield has really proven that they are a state contender and deserve to be in the state title conversation. The play of Indya Davis, Summer Davis, Logan Lewis, Lola Chambers, and Sydney Hendrix has been paramount. They have been dominant and they along with their teammates have improved  in each game this season. There are really no clear weaknesses with the Lakers right now. Coach Bert Mosley has West Bloomfield clicking on all cylinders right now.

Clarkston despite that hiccup against West Bloomfield has played very good basketball. They put up 80 points in Flint against a good Flint Powers Catholic squad. The Wolves have been getting contributions elsewhere from Izzy Hadley and Kaitlyn Kaul to go along with the play of Olivia Toderan and Madison Skorupski whom both have played well. Coach John Weyer has this team in a real good spot right now.

Will the real Royal Oak team please stand up??? The Ravens put 76 points on Southfield Arts and Tech but only 28 against West Bloomfield. Now those are two different teams though however on a bright side for the Ravens is that they might have found a Robin in Kira Vance to go along with Sarah Soroghan whom plays the role of Batman. Coach Brian Sopota’s team looks to be the classic Batman and Robin type team.

Groves has really played better. They picked up wins over Lakeland and Ann Arbor Skyline this week. The Falcons have a ton of young players that are getting comfortable in their roles in Kaitlyn Saunders, Neveah Otis, Jordan Peterson, and Cira Racco. That’s not counting Kaitlyn Quinn either. They have a very difficult path this week which should test them. Groves is growing up which a good sign for Coach Antwan Simpkins going forward.

It’s hard to describe Southfield Arts and Tech. They scored 56 points against Royal Oak on Friday even though the lost by 20 points. The Warriors have scorers but it’s the other side of the basketball is where they really have issues (73 to West Bloomfield, 76 to Royal Oak, 50 to Stoney Creek.) Southfield Arts and Tech still has offensive juggernauts in Clarkston, West Bloomfield, Royal Oak, Groves, Farmington Hills Mercy, and Adams still on the schedule. Coach Shaquita Coltrane really needs to address their defensive struggles. Now to their defense they are playing good teams but giving up over 50 points is a really bad sign going forward.

 

White

Troy has started to gel and get comfortable under new coach Julius Porter. Kendal Zeiter has been a machine lately including a 37 point performance against Avondale on Monday night. The Colts have also gotten contributions from Alyssa Matuza, Charlotte Sobotka, and Lauren Gumma. They hung tough for three quarters against West Bloomfield. Troy is heading in the right direction despite their record.

Stoney Creek has been playing great basketball. A ton of that credit goes to the smooth transition of Mia Carson at the point guard spot. Sydney LaPrarie, her sister Sarah, along with Milana Skoric have also been playing very well for Coach Kellen James. The Cougars have been getting contributions everywhere which is a good sign and it’s showing up record wise. Stoney Creek is in a good spot right now thanks to their play.

Adams has been a hit or miss team despite two blowout victories but there are some concerns with this team even though they have Elizabeth Blaine, Abbey Draghnak, and Maddie Doellinga that have been there and done that. They needed to survive at home against Madison Heights Bishop Foley on Tuesday which is a big concern for me. Adams has a big game looming on Tuesday. I have more questions about Coach Shay Lewis’s team than I have answers going forward.

North Farmington has had a real bad habit of not closing out games. It showed against Farmington and Stoney Creek this week. Heaven Rogers and Sela Lefler have played well for the Raiders. The problem is correctable for Coach Jeff Simpson and his team. North Farmington will learn to close out games as the season goes along.

Bloomfield Hills has had a very rough start but they might have found a star in the making in Emilia Johnson. Johnson had 19 points in their loss to Rochester on Saturday. Coach Kristen Massey has had a rough start as mentioned but things will get better for the Blackhawks. She needs time to build the foundation back up again.

 

Blue

Avondale has been a disaster which has resulted in multiple blowout losses. The Yellow Jackets have a rough schedule this week. It has been a very difficult ride for Coach Roy Christmon and it could get that much tougher this week. Avondale is in a world of hurt right now.

Troy Athens has relied a ton on Gillian Ciak to carry them along with Nitya Baltsu and Clara Shoales. The Red Hawks picked up a huge upset over Rochester on Tuesday. The problem for Coach Stacie Klumpp is that she relies a lot on Ciak and if she struggles they struggle. Troy Athens needs to find another guard to step up especially if teams focus on Ciak.

Rochester needed two wins against Avondale and Bloomfield Hills to get back on track. COVID has hurt Coach Bill Thurston’s team with two starters on protocol. Megan Lorenzo and Anaya Rangaraian have really played well. Lorenzo, Rangarian, and Jackie Hurst are going to be key players down the stretch for the Falcons.

Berkley has been an odd team to figure out. The Bears have lost two straight including blowing an 11 point lead at Oxford on Thursday. Ashley Loon is doing everything she can for Coach Kurt Carolan’s team. The lack of depth has hurt Berkley. This is an area they need to address and quick.

Oxford has relied on Mackenzie Methner and Emma Morris thus far but Miranda Wymeniko has really stepped up her game for the Wildcats. She was huge against Lake Orion keeping them in the game and was also against Berkley. Oxford has been a pure Jekyll and Hyde team. Coach Rachel Bryer has done a very good coaching job with the talent they have.

Lake Orion has played much better despite their record and statistical lines not showing it. They have played a very brutal non league schedule to their defense. The problem for the Dragons has been scoring. They have scored over 40 twice but defensively they have played much better even though the numbers don’t show it. Lake Orion’s young nucleus which has showed brightness. Coach Bob Brydges has this program heading in the right direction.

 

Gold

Farmington has been playing lights out basketball along with playing a very difficult non league schedule. The Falcons have played very well especially the play of Autumn Bartlett, Kayla Gharfai, and Sophia Holdwick. Coach Laura Gutzman has this team playing at a high level which helps going forward. Farmington is in command of the Gold as we speak.

Seaholm has had the peaks of their valleys but also the downs as well. They haven’t looked good lately which is a concern for Coach Chris Manchester. Kate Sullivan and Shay Manchester have been the Maples top two players. They will need more if they want to catch Farmington in the Gold.

I can’t really judge Oak Park or Ferndale University as neither team played this week. The Knights stand at 1-0 while the Driving Eagles stand at 1-1. It will be interesting to see what happens with these two teams this week.