Basketball Stocks Right Now.

Written Sunday December 16th at 2:00 AM

Here are my stocks up, middle, and down heading into the week from December 17th to December 23rd.

Boys

STOCK HIGH

Lake Orion (5-0): The Dragons whom are injury riddled right now picked up a 56-37 victory over Romeo last Tuesday night at home. This week Lake Orion will be tested as they have road games against Clarkston and Troy respectively to open up league play.

Oxford (4-0): The Wildcats picked up a big win over Waterford Kettering 52-47 last Tuesday night. Now they will hit the road for a showdown with Royal Oak in league play looming.

Pontiac (6-0): The Phoenix rolled to three straight wins including a 61-53 victory over Mount Clemens. Pontiac added two more wins in the week also beating Pontiac Academy of Excellence 71-16 and Detroit Hope of Academy 80-43. The Phoenix will be tested on Tuesday against Ferndale before closing out December with Harrison. Pontiac is in a good spot.

West Bloomfield (2-2): The Lakers bounced back in a big way by beating Warren De LaSalle 80-66 at home on Friday night. West Bloomfield has two big tests waiting them with Clarkston and Troy looming this week. It will be interesting to say the least surrounding the Lakers.

Farmington (2-0): The Falcons had a week off and this week they should be fully rested when they go to Adams and play host to Southfield Arts and Tech. Farmington should be good to go to make a deep run in the White.

Oak Park (3-0): The Knights have been trending water lately but have managed to win the close ones including a 69-62 victory over Detroit University Prep on Friday night. Oak Park will host Birmingham Detroit Country Day on Wednesday and then North Farmington on Friday. The Knights should be fine going forward.

Clarkston (3-2): The Wolves picked up two emotional wins last week by blowing out Lakeland 64-40 and then on a night where they honored coach Dan Fife by naming the Gym after him they beat Wayne Memorial 60-46 on Friday. Clarkston should be tested this week when they have Lake Orion and West Bloomfield this week. For now buy in on the Wolves.

STOCK MEDIUM

Southfield Arts and Tech (2-1): What happened to the Warriors last week losing 64-40 to River Rouge. I don’t know what it is with River Rouge not only beating Southfield Arts and Tech in Boys Basketball but also in football as well. The Warriors have to play Rochester and Farmington this week so they need to get it turned around and soon.

Adams (0-2): The Highlanders are getting some key players back and the wins have started to come. Adams picked up a 61-48 win at Utica last Tuesday night and then won on a buzzer beater 49-47 over Livonia Stevenson. The Highlanders are really close but they aren’t there quite yet. Adams has Farmington and Rochester this week so right now things are looking up for now.

Stoney Creek (2-2): The Cougars had a big 73-56 road win over Hackett Catholic Central on Saturday afternoon. Stoney Creek will play Troy Athens and Avondale this week but right now there are some questions that linger for the Cougars heading into league play.

Troy (5-0): The Colts are still undefeated and they just came off two wins over Utica Ford 56-30 last Tuesday night and 65-49 over arch rival Troy Athens on Friday night. The non conference schedule is the reason I’m not buying this team right now but if they get two wins over West Bloomfield and Lake Orion then it’s time to take Troy seriously.

Groves (3-2): The Falcons had a split this week losing 68-53 to Ferndale last Tuesday night but earned a hard fought 62-53 win over arch rival Seaholm. Groves will have Avondale, Troy Athens, and Warren Lincoln this week. This is a big week for the Falcons to make some noise.

Berkley (2-1): The Bears had a week off and should be fresh and ready to go when they play Hazel Park and Oxford this week. Berkley we will know a lot about especially on Friday is a mystery team to figure out thus far.

North Farmington (4-0): The Raiders picked up two big wins including a 65-29 blowout last Tuesday night over Detroit Cornerstone but they picked up a 52-44 victory on Friday night over Warren Michigan Collegiate. The non conference schedule bothers me when it comes to North Farmington especially playing Oak Park on Friday could be where they have a dose of reality.

Ferndale (1-1): The Eagles earned a 68-53 home win over Groves last Tuesday night. This week Ferndale has Pontiac and Seaholm. The Eagles have been dealing with transfer issues as they should have their full lineup by the second half of the semester, be patient with Ferndale right now.

STOCK DOWN

Rochester (1-4): The Falcons had a split by beating Bloomfield Hills 45-43 on Friday night and losing 56-33 to Seaholm on Tuesday night. Rochester hadn’t scored over 40 points until the Bloomfield Hills game which they won by two. The Falcons have a tough road awaiting them this week at Southfield Arts and Tech and Adams looming.

Avondale (0-4): The Yellow Jackets lost 56-52 to Waterford Mott last Tuesday night. Avondale has to play Groves and Stoney Creek this week. This is a team that needs a win in the worst way but right now it’s about getting some confidence for the Yellow Jackets right now.

Bloomfield Hills (2-3): The Blackhawks had a rough week losing two close games including a buzzer beating 42-41 defeat to Novi last Tuesday night and then falling 45-43 to Rochester on Friday night. Bloomfield Hills has North Farmington and Traverse City West this week both on the road. They will need to regroup this week in a bad way.

Troy Athens (1-3): The Red Hawks had a tough loss losing 65-49 to arch rival Troy on Friday night. Troy Athens will have two games this week against Stoney Creek and Groves. The Red Hawks hope league play will turn their fortunes around this week.

Seaholm (1-4): The Maples had a split week beating Rochester 56-33 last Tuesday night but lost 62-53 to arch rival Groves on Friday night. Seaholm has Harrison and Ferndale looming this week. The Maples will need to put this loss behind them and focus on with what the task is in hand.

Harrison (2-2): The Hawks had an off week but they should be well rested heading into their two games against Seaholm and Pontiac. Harrison needs to get off to a strong start this week if not then they are in trouble.

Royal Oak (2-2): The Ravens got a split winning 50-44 over Clawson last Tuesday but lost 56-33 to Royal Oak Shrine on Friday night. The loss to Shrine was a head scratcher for me believing the direction where the program was heading but right now I can’t buy this team right now. Royal Oak has to play Oxford and Hazel Park this week to turn their season around.

Hazel Park (0-2): The Vikings lost 56-45 to Ferndale University on Friday night. Hazel Park though played better than they did against Warren Fitzgerald a few weeks ago. The Vikings have Berkley and Royal Oak this week which will be interesting games.

Girls

STOCK HIGH

Southfield Arts and Tech (3-1): The Warriors had two big wins this week beating River Rouge 67-51 last Tuesday night and then getting a big 66-55 victory over Flint Carman Ainsworth on Saturday at Detroit Edison. Southfield Arts and Tech has a home game with Waterford Kettering on Tuesday which could very well set them up for a special season.

Royal Oak (4-0): The Ravens had two big wins including surviving 48-40 against Royal Oak Shrine on Friday night and picking up a 40-16 blowout last Tuesday night over Novi. Royal Oak has Clarkston this week so it could be a statement matchup for the Ravens and company.

Avondale (4-0): The Yellow Jackets are blowing people out although the schedule hasn’t been the greatest. Avondale though survived Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 49-34 but blew out Cranbrook 59-16 on Friday night. The Yellow Jackets have Hazel Park this week before they head into the Holiday Break. Things are looking up for Avondale moving forward.

Stoney Creek (3-1): “Team Finebaum” is back into full effect. The Cougars beat a very good Waterford Kettering team 62-57 on Friday night and may have one of the best guards in the game in Lily DiPani. Stoney Creek also got a 70-53 win over St. Clair Shores Lakeview last Tuesday night. “Team Finebaum” has Groves this week before going on Christmas Break. The Cougars stock is rising by the second.

Oxford (1-1): The Wildcats didn’t have a game this week but they should be tested this week against Romeo and Lake Orion. Oxford has played well lately which is why people should still buy into the Wildcats but this week we will know a lot about Oxford and see where they are at moving forward.

West Bloomfield (2-1): The Lakers had a split last week losing last Tuesday night to a solid Walled Lake Western team 76-49 but they blew out Walled Lake Northern behind a strong performance from Mya Bobo on Saturday afternoon 62-39. With Destiny Monroe out for the season, Bobo has to carry the load for West Bloomfield. The Lakers will be as good a Bobo takes them and right now it’s time to buy in. West Bloomfield has Adams looming this week.

Troy (3-1): The Colts have an underrated starting five which is good for the long term. Troy got a big game from lefty Kendall Zeiter against Seaholm in route to a 55-31 blowout on Thursday night. The Colts also beat Utica Ford 55-46 last Tuesday night as well. Troy has Farmington this week before heading into the Holiday break, it’s time to go all in on the Colts.

Lake Orion (3-0): The Dragons picked up two big wins last week beating Midland 46-43 last Tuesday night and beating Groves 48-22 on Friday night. Lake Orion is still far from a finished product as they still have some work to do. The Dragons play Oxford at home this week so it will be interesting to see where they are at going forward but things are moving up.

STOCK MEDIUM

Berkley (3-1): The Bears had a split this week losing 41-36 to Waterford Mott last Tuesday night but needed to survive to beat Madison Heights Bishop Foley 28-20 on Friday night. Berkley has Ferndale this week before going on Holiday break. It will be interesting to see what the Bears have heading into 2019.

Clarkston (0-2): The Wolves did not look good on Saturday night against Walled Lake Western losing 50-35. Clarkston is very young but there are some promising players that could make an impact in the future but right now they are taking their lumps and playing a tough non conference schedule doesn’t help things either. The Wolves have Royal Oak this week so it will be another tough challenge looming for Clarkston but be patient with this group they will be fine long term.

Bloomfield Hills (1-1): The Blackhawks had a split this week losing a tough one on Friday night in overtime 50-45 to Walled Lake Central but won 46-39 over Adams last Tuesday night. Bloomfield Hills has Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes and North Farmington looming. It’s not time to panic for the Blackhawks they are fine.

Pontiac (3-1): The Phoenix had a split this week beating Chandler Park 53-26 last Tuesday night but lost to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 55-37 on Friday night. Pontiac has some questions that they need to answer going forward. The Phoenix have two games this week as they have Warren Michigan Collegiate and Rochester. It will be interesting to see where Pontiac is at after this week.

Adams (1-2): The Highlanders had a split this week losing 46-39 to Bloomfield Hills last Tuesday night but they did pick up a huge 55-52 victory over Waterford Mott on Saturday night. Adams is a young team that has players with superstar potential in the works. The Highlanders have an interesting week on tap with Utica and West Bloomfield before they go on Christmas break. The win over Waterford Mott has given Adams some confidence right now.

Oak Park (2-0): The Knights picked up two wins over Detroit Communication of Media Arts and Harper Woods. Oak Park will continue and try to keep their undefeated season alive with Detroit University Prep and Hazel Park this week. Things look to be moving up for the Knights.

Ferndale (2-1): The Eagles beat Melvindale last Thursday night giving themselves a chance for a strong finish to 2018. Ferndale plays Ferndale University and Berkley this week. The Eagles right now are on the right track and looks like there are two winnable games on the horizon.

STOCK DOWN

North Farmington (1-3): The Raiders had a split week losing on Friday night 61-49 to South Lyon East but beat Detroit Cornerstone 61-17 last Tuesday night. North Farmington plays Bloomfield Hills this week which would be very interesting moving forward.

Farmington (0-3): The Falcons had an eight point lead only to blow it against South Lyon losing 45-44 on Saturday afternoon. Farmington has Milford and Troy this week and both those games could be troublesome games looming this week. Danger is looming for the Falcons.

Troy Athens (1-2): The Red Hawks got a split this week by beating Milford 45-35 on Friday night but lost 52-40 to Groves last Tuesday night. Troy Athens has Adams and Rochester looming this week in hoping to right the ship.

Seaholm (2-2): The Maples got a split in beating Clawson 53-22 last Tuesday night but they were blown out by Troy 55-31 on Thursday night. Seaholm is now off until 2019 but they have a ton of questions to answer that need to be addressed.

Groves (1-2): The Falcons got a split in beating Troy Athens 52-40 last Tuesday night but was blown out 48-22 by Lake Orion on Friday night. Groves has a very tough schedule looming with Walled Lake Western and Stoney Creek looming. Dark times are ahead for the Falcons.

Rochester (0-3): The Falcons did not have a good experience on Friday night against Birmingham Marian getting blown out 61-26 by the Mustangs. Rochester has Utica Ford and Pontiac this week. I do worry about this team moving forward considering this week that both opponents are tough matchups for the Falcons but if they win these two games then it will create some optimism heading into the Holiday break.

Hazel Park (0-2): The Vikings have a young team and has a solid guard along with two solid bigs but I was discouraged by the body language that of some of their players especially on Saturday morning when they lost 55-27 to Lakeland and they lost 36-27 to Eastpointe. Hazel Park has some talent but body language concerns me moving forward with this team. The Vikings have Avondale and Oak Park this week. It could be an interesting week to say the least.