Girls Basketball Regional Preview.

Written Saturday March 7th at 1:30 AM

This is the only regional that involves the two remaining OAA squads that are in the postseason. Both matchups take place on Tuesday night at Walled Lake Western.

Here is my preview.

Region 2 @ Walled Lake Western

WEST BLOOMFIELD vs Hartland

Thoughts: The Lakers are coming off their second straight district title which included victories over Bloomfield Hills, Waterford Mott, and Avondale but this game could their toughest task as they will have a rematch with Hartland. It was the Eagles that ended their season last year in the regional semifinal in blowout fashion. Hartland is ranked second in the State and is considered to be of the favorites to win the Division One State title. The Eagles have been to the State Quarterfinals three of the last five years and they have a Miss Basketball candidate in Whitney Sollom. Sollom is not alone as Hartland has other talented players to go along with Sollom in Amanda Roach and her younger sister Lauren Sollom, along with fellow seniors Nikki Dompierre and Maddi Moyer. The Eagles had to come back from a 27-17 deficit to beat their arch rivals Howell 64-46 at Holly. Hartland has played a tough schedule in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association along which includes their rivals Brighton and Howell. West Bloomfield really toughened up their non league and moved up to the Red for this exact reason.

Key Match-Up: Myonna Hooper vs Nikki Dompierre: Hmm the guard matchup is the key in this game. I would have put Mya Bobo in this matchup but Hooper has really stepped up and has made a name for herself. She had 26 points against Avondale in the district finals. Dompierre had 19 points in the second half against Howell which included going 14 for 20 from the free throw line in their district finals. Bobo is a wildcard along with Sydney Hendrix as well. If these three can step up and also get production from the interior especially Lola Chambers and Logan Lewis then it would get really interesting.

Projection: The Lakers are giving up a ton of height with the Eagles but the quickness advantage is theirs. Hartland did not look good early against Howell trailing by ten at halftime. West Bloomfield though trailed by seven (25-18) against Avondale. The coaching matchup is very interesting as well between Bert Mosley and Don Palmer. I think there is more pressure on the Eagles to win this game although the Lakers have something to prove. Both teams had to overcome halftime deficits in the district finals as mentioned but someone has been here before while the other has not. I think height is a huge problem in this game for West Bloomfield especially with Sollom who has a strong inside out game. It’s going to be a tough task for the Lakers but please prove me wrong. PICK: HARTLAND.

CLARKSTON vs Walled Lake Western

Thoughts: The Wolves and Warriors are no strangers going against each other in the last two years. Walled Lake Western beat Clarkston bad last season at Walled Lake Northern in the OAA/Lakes Valley Challenge. The Wolves got a measure of revenge, winning at Clarkston 57-47 on December 3rd. The Wolves are a well-oiled machine under second year coach John Weyer as seen in the Red with wins over Southfield Arts and Tech, Bloomfield Hills, Stoney Creek, and Royal Oak along with district wins over Romeo, Lake Orion, and Adams. Walled Lake Western is a very good and well-coached team under former Oxford coach Steve Emert but this hasn't been one of Emert's best squads as he has had in previous years. The Warriors have had their fair shares of ups and downs this season but they managed to win the Lakers Valley Conference this season. Walled Lake Western has district wins over Milford, Lakeland, and recently Walled Lake Central at Lakeland last Friday night.

Key Match-Up: Taylor Heaten vs Jenna Galecki: This is a very interesting matchup at the forward spot between these two ladies. Both of them are four year players and have seen it all. Both ladies can rebound, score, and shoot. They also do the little things right as well.

Projection: The game on December 3rd at Clarkston in which the Wolves won as mentioned but this game is at Walled Lake Western which should give a bit of an advantage to the home squad. The Warriors are 0-2 against the Red this season (lost 67-49 to West Bloomfield on December 14th.) Everything seems to be stacked against the Wolves. The coaching matchup is interesting between Emert and Weyer but something tells me that there is more pressure on the Walled Lake Western than Clarkston they want to see Hartland but do I see it???? Nope. PICK: CLARKSTON.