Written Sunday March 14th at 11:30 AM
Here are my thoughts on the brackets released earlier this morning.
Boys
Boys Basketball Districts article from September.
https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2020/09/boys-basketball-districts-are-out-2020.html
District 26 @ Detroit Renaissance
ROYAL OAK vs BERKLEY
ROYAL OAK/BERKLEY vs Detroit Renaissance
Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit vs OAK PARK
THOUGHTS: I didn’t understand how Oak Park earned the bye but thanks to the Clarkston Basketball Twitter page for helping me understand this issue. It was that they did not play eight games before the bracket came out which was why the Knights got the bye and not the Cubs but all of it became a mute point when Detroit Mumford had to cancel their game with Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit which meant the Cubs would play Oak Park on Thursday night in the district semifinals. Royal Oak and Berkley is going to be very interesting with the winner playing the hosts from Detroit Renaissance which neither team matches up with. Until proven otherwise Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit should win this district over Detroit Renaissance.
District 25 @ Birmingham Brother Rice
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs GROVES
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH/GROVES vs Birmingham Brother Rice
SEAHOLM vs FARMINGTON
THOUGHTS: This should be an interesting district at Birmingham
Brother Rice but the first round games will be played at Southfield and in Birmingham because of Birmingham Brother Rice's gym space. The Warriors are young, talented, well coached, and have home court. Birmingham Brother Rice better be careful of
Groves. The Falcons are a Jekyll and Hyde team pending if they can get by their arch rival Southfield Arts and Tech in the first round. North Farmington had to forfeit their chance at the State tournament after COVID got within the program. With the Raiders out of the picture it means that Birmingham Brother Rice is the favorite to win this district.
District 30 @ Troy Athens
Sterling Heights vs Chippewa Valley
Sterling Heights/Chippewa Valley vs TROY ATHENS
Utica Ford vs Sterling Heights Stevenson
THOUGHTS: Troy Athens is in a very difficult spot despite being the host and top seed in the district and what makes it worse is that their junior varsity will have to play the district semifinal matchup on Thursday night since their varsity will still be on quarantine (they get off on Friday.) If their junior varsity can beat either Chippewa Valley or Sterling Heights then the varsity would be able to come off quarantine and play in the district finals on Saturday. The Red Hawks could be on a collision course with Sterling Heights Stevenson. The Titans will be shorthanded in their game with Utica Ford on Wednesday night in the district semifinals but they should be all right. They have had impressive wins over Macomb Dakota and other Macomb Area Conference Red division foes this season. Troy Athens and Margaret have a very dangerous path in this district.
District 29 @ Stoney Creek
Utica vs ROCHESTER
Utica/ROCHESTER vs STONEY CREEK
Utica Eisenhower vs TROY
THOUGHTS: This is shaping up to be an interesting district at Stoney Creek. The Cougars have pretty much went from almost favorites to the favorite in the district. Troy has really struggled lately which is a serious concern. The Colts will have their junior varsity team to play in the postseason after their varsity went back into quarantine due to a COVID exposure. Rochester and Utica is a very interesting first round matchup and speaking of Troy they have a dangerous matchup with Utica
Eisenhower in the district semifinals on Thursday night. I see this being a Stoney Creek/Utica Eisenhower district final because of what happened with the Colts varsity.
District 6 @ Bloomfield Hills
AVONDALE vs Orchard Lake St Marys
PONTIAC vs Waterford Mott
PONTIAC/Waterford Mott vs BLOOMFIELD HILLS
THOUGHTS: I think this district could be more competitive than people think. Orchard Lake St. Marys is the early favorite. The Eaglets are talented and loaded but they did not play in the Catholic League tournament which raised some eyebrows a bit. Avondale picked up an unexpected bye after West Bloomfield had to forfeit their Tuesday night game due to COVID exposure to both their boys and girls basketball teams. The Yellow Jackets do not match up well with Orchard Lake St. Marys at all in the district semifinals On the other side of the bracket Bloomfield Hills has home court and should get to the district final but Pontiac could be a challenge but I'm not sold on their league only schedule they played this season and them losing to Avondale is not a good sign heading into the first round. I think this is shaping up to be a Blackhawks/Eaglets district finals. Could an upset be in the making??? We’ll see.
District 5 @ Oxford
Waterford Kettering vs LAKE ORION
Waterford Kettering/LAKE ORION vs CLARKSTON
OXFORD vs Romeo
OXFORD/Romeo vs ADAMS
THOUGHTS: This should be a very competitive district. Clarkston is favored on paper but Adams and Lake Orion could give the Wolves problems in this district. Lake Orion if they can get by a very good Waterford Kettering team that has a very talented player in Bennie Krenshaw could be in line to face the Wolves in the district semifinal. The Dragons are a darkhorse although they are lettered A in the bracket, they would had been the third seed if the MHSAA seeded everyone. On the other side of the bracket there is Adams. The Highlanders should be motivated and hungry despite getting the bye and the number two seed. They will get either Romeo or Oxford in the district semifinals on Thursday night. Neither team hasn't had the brightest of seasons but they could make up for it come in the postseason. This should be a fun district at Oxford.
District 58 @ Ferndale
Detroit Henry Ford vs FERNDALE UNIVERSITY
Hazel Park vs FERNDALE
THOUGHTS: This district should be no problem for Ferndale if things go right. The Eagles have home court, best team, and the best matchup going up against Hazel Park in the district semifinals. Detroit Henry Ford could give them fits in the district finals pending if they can get by a dangerous Ferndale University team in the district semifinals on Tuesday night but I don’t see anyone touching Ferndale in this district.
Girls
Girls Basketball District article from September.
https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2020/09/girls-basketball-districts-are-out-2020.html
District 27 @ Detroit Renaissance
Warren Fitzgerald vs Detroit Renaissance
OAK PARK vs Detroit Mumford
OAK PARK/Detroit Mumford vs Warren Mott
THOUGHTS: Could Oak Park get to the district finals??? It certainly looks possible with how the draw looks. I haven’t been really impressed with either Detroit Mumford or Warren Mott this season. The Marauders have the bye with the two seed which means Coach Peggy Evans-Carr's team will have to play the Mustangs on Monday. I think the Knights have played very well throughout the season. Do I think they will win this district??? likely not especially when the host school is loaded, experienced, talented, well coached, and have home court to boot as well. If Oak Park can get to the district final then that would be a success.
District 26 @ Royal Oak
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs GROVES
ROYAL OAK vs SEAHOLM
ROYAL OAK/SEAHOLM vs BERKLEY
THOUGHTS: This district could be very interesting when looking at the teams that are in this district. The good news for this district was that Birmingham Marian whom was supposed to be in this district went north and is with West Bloomfield in another district. The early favorite has to be Groves with what they have done this season along with playing a very tough non league schedule but Berkley and Royal Oak could have strong says. The Ravens lost twice to Southfield Arts and Tech last season but beat the Warriors in the district semifinals. Royal Oak has home court will have to go through Berkley pending should they get by Seaholm. The Bears should be motivated despite not being very deep and getting a bye to the district semifinals. On the other side of the bracket the Falcons are no strangers with Southfield Arts and Tech. Also assistant coach Jereica Hughes knows the Warriors players since she was an assistant last season and played for Coach Michelle Marshall at Southfield-Lathrup. Groves beat Southfield Arts and Tech twice in the regular season but the last game went double overtime. It is never easy beating a team three times in a season. I think this is likely going to be a Falcons/Ravens district final with the slightest of edges favoring Groves but just barely.
District 25 @ Novi
Novi vs Farmington Hills Mercy
NORTH FARMINGTON vs Livonia Stevenson
NORTH FARMINGTON/Livonia Stevenson vs FARMINGTON
THOUGHTS: This district on paper looks to be Farmington Hills Mercy’s to lose especially winning the Catholic League crown last week but I think the Marlins could run into some problems if they are not careful. I don’t see Novi challenging the Marlins despite having home court for their first round matchup. North Farmington if they can find some scoring could give opponents fits with their pressure trap defense but Livonia Stevenson is a very tough program and could give the Raiders some fits in their first round matchup. Whomever wins that game will play Farmington in the district semifinals. The Falcons have played a difficult non league schedule to get them ready for the postseason and they won the Gold this season. I see this district being a Farmington Hills Mercy/Farmington district final but end of the day I see Farmington Hills Mercy winning this district.
District 29 @ Rochester
Utica Eisenhower vs STONEY CREEK
ROCHESTER vs TROY
THOUGHTS: This is shaping up to be a very interesting district at Rochester. Stoney Creek has been rolling on all cylinders as of late which included winning the White this season. The Cougars should be motivated after falling to Utica Eisenhower in the district semifinals at home last season. Rochester got an unexpected bye after Troy Athens had to forfeit due to COVID exposure. The Falcons will play Troy in the district semifinals on Wednesday night. The Colts have been struggling as of late which is not a good sign. The postseason failures in the last two years has to be in the minds of the Troy ladies. Stoney Creek is the early favorites but don’t give up on Troy especially if the Colts can find their first half of the season magic.
District 4 @ Grand Blanc
OXFORD vs Grand Blanc
Lapeer vs Davison
THOUGHTS: This is shaping up to be a very interesting district in Genesee County that features an Oakland County team, two Genesee County teams, and a Lapeer County team. Oxford is coming off a tough loss to Troy Athens which cost them the Blue. They have a very tough matchup on the horizon going up against the top seed in the district semifinals at their home gym. The Bobcats are loaded with talented players and has lost two straight coming into this matchup (Midland Dow and Hartland.) The Wildcats just do not match up well with Grand Blanc at all. On the other side of the bracket, Davison can to get to the district finals if they can beat Lapeer whom has struggled this season. It’s going to be a challenge to say the least for Oxford. They are going to need to do a lot of things right if they want to win this district.
District 6 @Waterford Mott
Waterford Mott
BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs AVONDALE
BLOOMFIELD HILLS/AVONDALE vs Birmingham Marian
THOUGHTS: This district has changed with West Bloomfield forfeiting due to COVID exposure. Birmingham Marian is the huge favorite and should have no problem getting by Bloomfield Hills or Avondale. They will also beat Waterford Mott as well in the district finals on Friday night. This is a mismatch on paper.
District 5 @ Romeo
Waterford Kettering vs CLARKSTON
ADAMS vs Romeo
ADAMS/Romeo vs LAKE ORION
THOUGHTS: If I’m Adams BEWARE on Monday night in the first round. Romeo has played well at home this year and the Highlanders are coming off COVID quarantine. Adams does have experience which helps in the postseason despite only playing nine games. Lake Orion whom is the number two seed in the district has had injuries to their top two players but their young core has really stepped up which is a good sign and they won the Blue this season. The Dragons will certainly be a team to watch as they earned the two seed and the bye. Clarkston is the heavy favorite in this district because of their experience and tougher schedule despite not winning the Red this season. I don’t know if I see anyone touching the Wolves right now.
District 58 @ Host Sites
Warren Lincoln at Hazel Park
Warren Regina at FERNDALE UNIVERSITY
THOUGHTS: Warren Lincoln has to be the favorite in this district of host sites. Ferndale University if they can get by Warren Regina whom is very experienced might add could get a district finals matchup with Warren Lincoln. Although the Abes are favored in this district watch for the Eagles. They are gaining confidence with their time in the OAA.
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