Boys State Quarterfinal Recap.

Written Tuesday Match 21st at 9:20 PM

Well the OAA is guaranteed a spot in the Class A. State Final this Saturday for a second straight season but who will it be??? North Farmington got to the State Final last season, losing to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit. There will be a new champion as the defending State Champion Cubs lost 66-63 to Romulus at Calahan Hall in the early game of the State Quarterfinal. In one State semifinal, it will be Grand Rapids Christian taking on Romulus, in the other it will be Clarkston taking on West Bloomfield.

The Wolves and Lakers met twice this season as both teams were in the Red. Clarkston won both meetings 59-48 on January 31^st at Clarkston and 68-61 on February 28^th at West Bloomfield.

West Bloomfield Outscores Troy 46-19 in Second Half to Get to First State Semifinal since 2003.

The Lakers used the three-point shot along with strong 20-2 third quarter to destroy the Colts 80-43 in the State Quarterfinals on Tuesday night at Calahan Hall on the campus of Detroit-Mercy. Kevin McAdoo was sensational for West Bloomfield scoring 23 points, Tyler Davis added 17 points, and Daniel Wrack scored 16 points for the Lakers. West Bloomfield also beat Troy 64-61 on February 9^th on the road.

Leon Ayers had nine points and Robert Banis had eight points for the Colts whom made the State Quarterfinal for the first time since 1989.

The Lakers will play Clarkston on Friday afternoon at the Breslin Center at 1 PM.

I did not see this score coming, I thought the game would be a lot closer than the score indicated but the third quarter was the difference with West Bloomfield outscoring Troy 20-2 in the third quarter and 26-17 in the fourth quarter (46-19 second half) to make this game a blowout.

I think the Colts will be back next season, Jason Dietz and Ayers will be seniors and there is plenty of talent and motivation to get back where they were at this season. Troy will be back.

Clarkston Rolls Past Saginaw to get to First State Semifinal since 2009.

The Wolves had little trouble with Saginaw as their defense especially in the middle quarters were the difference in the game as they hammered the Trojans 70-50 in the State Quarterfinals on Tuesday night at Davison. Foster Loyer had 27 points, CJ Robinson had 13 points, and Dylan Alderson had 21 points in his return to Davison. Alderson played for the Cardinals for two seasons before transferring to Clarkston after his sophomore year. The Big Three of Robinson, Alderson, and Loyer combined for 61 of the Wolves 70 points on the night.

The Wolves will play West Bloomfield on Friday afternoon at the Breslin Center at 1 PM.

I saw this score coming and it was to no surprise. This is not a vintage Saginaw team from the past. This maybe Clarkston’s best team they have ever had when you look at the talent and depth the Wolves have. The Trojans did not have an answer for the Big Three in Alderson, Robinson, and Loyer. Loyer and Robinson will be seniors, Taylor Currie will be a junior, and Matt Nicholson is expected to be on Varsity next season as well. The Wolves will be good for years to come.

Boys State Quarterfinal Preview and Picks.

Written Tuesday March 21st at 12:10 PM

Well three OAA Teams remain, could two of them get to the State Semifinals on Friday at Breslin, I hope so. Anyway here are my picks and preview for the two quarterfinal games, I will have a recap both games later tonight.

WEST BLOOMFIELD vs TROY at Detroit Mercy-7 PM

This is a rematch of a game at Troy that took place on February 9^th. The Lakers beat the Colts 64-61 in a great one. This matchup at Detroit Mercy could be an instant classic in the making.

West Bloomfield is in their first quarterfinal since 2003 features Kevin McAdoo. McAdoo whom is averaging 31 points per game, had 34 including the controversial winning score in double overtime against Novi to send them to this game. The Lakers in this tournament have wins over Farmington, Orchard Lake St. Marys, Howell, and Novi.

Troy is in their first quarterfinal since 1989 got some good news as Isiah Smith got cleared to play in this game. The Colts have been riding Leon Ayers and Jason Dietz. Ayers and Dietz have been playing very well throughout the season, sharing the White with Hazel Park. Troy has wins over Birmingham Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Seaholm, St Clair Shores Lake Shore, and Warren De LaSalle in this tournament.

PICK: This will be an Awesome game, Two Great teams, Two Great coaches in Jeremy Denha at West Bloomfield and Gary Fralick at Troy. It wouldn’t surprise me if this game goes double or maybe triple overtime. Sadly, one team does advance while the other goes home. I think and hope the winner will see Clarkston in the State Semifinals, West Bloomfield matches them well despite losing twice to them, I'm not sure about Troy if they do match up with Clarkston, I know for sure if Saginaw shocks Clarkston that both these teams matches up well with the Trojans. PICK: THIS IS TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

CLARKSTON vs Saginaw at Davison-7:30 PM

The Wolves seek their first trip to the Breslin Center since 2009 when they beat Flint Northwestern in the regional final but they lost to Kalamazoo Central in the State Semifinals. This will be the first meeting with the Trojans since 2008 when Clarkston lost 86-77 in double overtime at Davison in the regional final to Saginaw. The Wolves ride an eight-game winning streak since being upset by Southfield Arts and Tech 64-60 at home on February 17^th. Clarkston has been dominating in the postseason, the Wolves have outscored their opponents (Waterford Mott, Orion, Waterford Kettering, Macomb Dakota, and Stoney Creek) 338-144. Clarkston has two Division One recruits in Foster Loyer (Michigan State) and Dylan Alderson (Milwaukee.) They may have two more future recruits as well in CJ Robinson and Taylor Currie.

Saginaw won the Saginaw Valley North title and has been a foe to the Wolves in the mid 1990’s and early 2000’s. The Trojans have big wins over Flushing and Traverse City West where they had to play in two different schools for their regional. Saginaw has two very good players in Henry Speight and Eddie Thigpen. Thigpen had 30 points and 15 rebounds against Traverse City West in the regional final.

PICK: Depth favors Clarkston, More Options to Score favors Clarkston, Rebounding favors Clarkston. Saginaw does not match well with the Wolves either on those three options, only advantage they might have is athleticism but nothing else. PICK: CLARKSTON.

Girls Basketball Top Ten Storylines for 2017-2018 School Year.

Written Sunday March 19th at 12:30 PM
Updated Tuesday March 21 at 8:50 AM

Well the OAA season is over for Girls Basketball and we had a team make the State Semifinals in Southfield Arts and Tech. Here are my Top Ten Story-lines to watch for next season.

1. Southfield Arts and Tech Could be Back at Breslin Again.

Southfield Arts and Tech had a great first season as one school but they will have to reload a bit next season. The Warriors lose Deja Church as she will continue on her basketball career at Michigan however Southfield Arts and Tech has Alexis Johnson and Cheyenne McEvans back. Looking at the league for next season, another playoff run is possibly in the cards for coach Michelle Marshall-Jackson's team that could make some noise.

2.Could Groves have a Special Season???

The Falcons won the Gold this season in impressive fashion and played a tough non league schedule against teams like Orion and Clarkston but they were upset in the pre-district by arch rival Seaholm. Groves returns a ton of experience coming back in Kayla Nelson and Shea Carter. Carter and Nelson will get some offers to play College ball in the future. The Falcons will rely on their high scoring duo to win games next season. The question for coach Amos Thompson's team will be is where will the league put them and where they will be in once playoff time comes next season, they could be a big threat to Birmingham Marian if they see them in districts once they are released in June. Groves could be in line for a special season.

3. Clarkston will be loaded again.

Clarkston had a successful season despite not having a ton of experience from the back-court from a team that won 15 games this season. Power forward, Kayla Luchenbach committed to Oakland last month giving the Wolves their first Division One recruit since Erika Davenport when she committed to Marquette. (Luchenbach played with Davenport her freshman season at Clarkston.) Luchenbach will have a team that will be loaded next season for the Wolves. Taylor Heaton had a breakout season as a freshman and is expected to assume the starting point guard duties for coach Christine Rogers team along with Maddie Beck, Luchenbach, and Molly Nicholson. Clarkston must address their bench next season and if they do, they will be deep. The Wolves must address their Waterford Kettering problem as it was the Captains that have taken Clarkston out of the playoffs the last two seasons.

4. Orion is the Great Mystery.

The Dragons had to deal with a lot of adversity this season but if there is a silver lining, going 5-5 since the sudden departure of Maddie Novak has coach Kevin Kopec looking to the future and is bright with this team and the program. Orion loses one senior in Delaney Bryce but returns Sophie Wyborski, Sophie Canine, Lauryn Van Loon, Shannon Falter, Sydney Strenger, Tessa Nuss, Paytin Shadaia, Shay Bonds, and Cameron Coltrin. The Dragons have to address depth, consistency, rebounding, and size. If they address these four areas then Orion could be in the thick of it next season.

5. Stoney Creek will be solid again.

The Cougars had some inconsistencies and injuries to key players this season. Stoney Creek loses eight seniors but they have a solid Junior Varsity team coming up in Meghan Solek, Lauren Benitez, Maria St. Louis, and Lillian DiPanni to go along with Emily Eckhout, Isabella Ubaydi, Serafana Kamp, and Margaret Angel. Knowing coach Kellen James, his Cougars will be solid even if they have a tough schedule but they have to address some things like depth and scoring, if they do look out.

6. Can Avondale Stay Healthy???

Yellow Jackets coach Phil Dawson had a great first season winning 14 games but they lost some key players throughout the season due to injuries. Olivia Russell re-injured her ACL for the second time in 18 months, Grace Schwerin also got hurt as well but if they get those players back healthy along with Keiori Lee at point guard, a healthy Russell, Arionia Plans, and Mileshia Rodriguez at power forward then Avondale could be a sleeper next season.

7. Harrison Outlook.

The Hawks lose Teddi Pickens and Nila Warren to graduation but Olivia Perkins, Merina Itawa, and Nevada Hargraves will return next season. There are some concerns though with the program, the team did not field a freshman or junior varsity program this season that caused a lot of teams to find other games at quick notice. What helps is that even though Harrison will close in two years, the IB program the school has brings in students. There has been discussions with the MHSAA if the Hawks can't field a team next season. Division realignment is also very important to see where the Harrison will be at. This will a story to keep an eye on.

8. Hazel Park an Encore???

The future is bright at Hazel Park especially with what they did this season. The Vikings won 15 games and they went to the district final before losing to Detroit Mumford. Hazel Park returns the balk of their team next season in Trinity Benton, Liz Sternor, Arlyssia Patterson, Jaysa Larkins, among others for coach Chris Stroud. The Vikings are heading in the right direction but with the move to Class A on the horizon, it could get tough for Hazel Park.

9. Are the Crumm Sisters Ready to Break Out.

The Troy Athens girls basketball team has had some down seasons but they have a sister combination ready to break out in the Crumm sisters in Maddie and Isabelle Crumm. Maddie will be a senior and has been the Red Hawks top player for the last three seasons under coach Stacie Klumpp. The other sister is Isabelle, Isabelle will be a sophomore and played on Varsity this season. Expect Troy Athens to ride heavily on the Crumm sisters to carry them despite needing more scoring from other players, particularity inside next season.

10. Is Grace Van Pelt ready to lead Adams???

The Highlanders won their first district crown since 2003 despite having a losing record (7-15) and playing in a tough division (Red.) Adams loses Maggie Rogers, MaKayla Smith, Ryian Owusu, and Hannah Simard. Coach Jackie Steinacker's team will be very young this season. The Highlanders had one sophomore on the team in Grace Van Pelt. Van Pelt is a solid player but is she ready to lead an Adams team that could lean heavily on her talent next season, it's possible.

Irish back at Livonia Clarenceville.

Written Sunday March 19th at 11:00 AM

Ryan Irish is back coaching Varsity Football again.

The Livonia Clarenceville football program brought back Irish to be their head Varsity Football Coach.

Irish takes over for Pat Fry, whom took over the team from Irish in 2001, he stepped down after six seasons. Fry led the Trojans to their best ever season going 9-0 and making a deep playoff run. Livonia Clarenceville would get to State Semifinals in 2013 where they lost 35-0 to Grand Rapids West Catholic, they finished 12-1 that season.

Irish coached the Trojans from 2005-2009 but resigned in 2010 to coach at Waterford Mott but had a falling out. He then was an assistant at Royal Oak for one season before taking over the program in 2011. Irish coached the Ravens until 2013 when he became the defensive line and special team's coach at Adams.

Irish re-takes over a Livonia Clarenceville program that finished 6-21 in the last three seasons since that playoff run to the State Semifinals including a 3-6 record last season. The Trojans have the lowest enrollment in the Western Wayne Athletic Conference in the 12 team league (569 students.)

Before Irish coached at Livonia Clarenceville he coached the Orion Junior Varsity program from 2000-2004. Irish coached the Trojans to a 24-23 record including a 9-2 season back in 2008 when Livonia Clarenceville went to the second round losing 28-21 to Almont.

Irish teaches at Livonia Clarenceville. He also does the school's weight room program. According to Hometown Life's Brad Emons, Trojans Athletic Director Kevin Murphy said that Irish was the right choice for the job "He has the most experience back, eight years being a head coach, it was pretty obvious to bring him back, he's in the building and does our school weight room program already and he's great for kids. He's good for football and he works hard at it and he's very passionate. It was a pretty easy choice when you get all those things."

Thoughts.

Irish has been around a long time but finding a home wasn't easy for him but now he finally has a place to coach and it was back where he got his first coaching job. I was surprised why Irish would leave Livonia Clarenceville when he had a ton of support and still does to this day.

Irish is in the building which makes a lot of sense and brings a ton of experience. Irish is a proven winner, the record in 2008 says a lot about that but he will have a lot of challenges at Livonia Clarenceville. Irish must get the players to buy into his system, in which he will. Irish will have a quarterback this season in Junior Terrence Ealy.

Livonia Clarenceville went down from the Western Wayne's Red Division to the Blue Division this season but they still have a tough schedule as teams like Romulus and Dearborn Heights Annapolis. They have tough non league games with Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood and Dearborn Heights Crestwood on the schedule.

We'll see what happens.

You can read Brad Emond's story on Irish's return right here.

http://www.hometownlife.com/story/sports/high-school/livonia/2017/03/16/irish-eyes-smiling-again-clarenceville/99246326/

Southfield Arts and Tech falls in State semifinals.

Written Friday March 17th at 7:00 PM

The Warriors lost a tough match-up at the Breslin Center to East Kentwood on Friday afternoon by a 55-51 score in the State semifinals.

Southfield Arts and Tech was down 20 points at one point but managed to comeback to cut the deficit to two points 42-40 but the Falcons managed to keep the lead late and hold off the Warriors.

East Kentwood will meet Flushing whom took out Warren Cousino 52-36 in the first State semifinal.

Southfield Arts and Tech struggled from the field shooting 20 percent in the process but their offensive rebounding kept them in the game.

Deja Church and Alexis Johnson both recorded double-doubles. Church led the Warriors with 26 points, and 11 rebounds while Johnson added 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Southfield Arts and Tech finished the season at 22-5 with their first season as a combined school between Southfield and Lathrup.

Thoughts.

It was a good season for the Warriors in their first time being a merged school. Southfield Arts and Tech does lose Church whom will be heading to Ann Arbor to play at Michigan but they return Johnson and Cheyenne McEvans next season.

It wouldn't surprise me that the Warriors will be back at Breslin next season with the team they have coming back. They will certainly be favored in the Red but they have a run in them.

We'll see what happens.

Novi to Challenge the Buzzer Beater against West Bloomfield.

Written Thursday March 16th at 4:15 PM

The Novi Wildcats Boys Basketball team will file an official protest to the MHSAA after losing 67-66 in double overtime to West Bloomfield on Wednesday night in the regional final at Walled Lake Northern according to MIPrepZone's Scott Bernstein.

The play the Wildcats will be challenging is the winning layup by Kevin McAdoo but there is video and photograph evidence that McAdoo still had the ball in his hands when the clock stroke zero.

The play was set up after McAdoo hit a three to cut the Novi lead to one point (66-65) but there was a steal by Garrett Winn that set up the winning controversial layup for McAdoo.

McAdoo had 34 points in the game for the Lakers.

This is not the first time that controversy has affected this tournament. In the pre-district at Orion, Pontiac used an ineligible player to beat Oxford 56-39, which led to the Phoenix forfeiting the rest of the tournament. The Wildcats were credited with the forfeit win but because of MHSAA rules they couldn't advance and take Pontiac's place.

West Bloomfield will meet Troy on Tuesday in the State quarterfinals at Callahan Hall in Detroit.

Thoughts.

It came as no surprise that Novi would challenge the buzzer beater to the MHSAA but I doubt it would go anywhere. You can't change the outcome of the game, the game has already been played and it's final.

I believe that instant replay might be needed in the MHSAA thanks to this game, though it might take longer to review the play. You have to get things right and with today's technology and games being broadcasted either on Community Access like Orion Neighborhood Television, Oxford Community Television, Independence Television, Southfield Public Access, West Bloomfield Public Access, The Biff in Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Channel Ten, CMN TV, etc, it might be time for the MHSAA to consider the use of instant replay.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this story.

You can read Bernstein's article right here.
http://www.miprepzone.com/oakland/results.asp?ID=20918

Boys Regional Thoughts.

Written Wednesday March 15th at 9:30 PM
Updated Thursday March 16th at 8:00 AM

Who would had ever thought that the OAA would have three teams in the quarterfinals, well here they are, one had to play another OAA team, another had to outlast a Catholic League school, while the other had to overcome so much and survive in double overtime to get to the quarterfinal. We know one OAA school is guaranteed to go to Breslin but will there be two teams going to Michigan State, well here is the recaps.

Clarkston Moves onto Davison.

The Wolves had no problem with Stoney Creek in the regional final at Grand Blanc as they beat the Cougars 56-36 on Wednesday night. Dylan Alderson led Clarkston with 29 points while Foster Loyer added 14 points. Stoney Creek was led by Nate Davis whom had 16 points while Evan Becker had 12 points. The Cougars will be solid next season with Davis and Mike Melargani coming back along with a solid Junior Varsity team they had this season. The Wolves will meet one of their greatest rivals in Saginaw, whom beat Traverse City West 75-65 in the regional final on Tuesday night in the quarterfinals at Davison. Davison is where Alderson originally came to Clarkston from Davison.

West Bloomfield Survives In Controversial Fashion.

The Lakers almost had the same fate that happened to Walled Lake Western in the regional semifinal when they lost to Novi 72-71 in double overtime. West Bloomfield blew a 16-point lead and trailed by four on a few occasions against that very same Wildcats team. They needed to go two overtimes Novi and it felt like the regional semifinals all over again but this time around, there was a happy ending as it was West Bloomfield that survived 67-66 over the Wildcats sending themselves to a rematch with Troy in the quarterfinals at Callahan Hall on Tuesday night. Kevin McAdoo led the Lakers with 34 points.West Bloomfield trailed by four late but McAdoo hit a three and got a steal  from Garrett Winn, Winn then handed the ball to McAdoo whom scoring on a buzzer beater sending the Lakers to their first regional since 2003. However there was a bit of controversy to the ending as videos pointed out that McAdoo still had the ball in his hands when time expired, the winning shot should had not counted however the official who scored the basket counted it. The Novi coaching staff was very upset with the officiating all night in the game along with the players and fans. West Bloomfield beat the Colts earlier in the season 64-61, so this will be a great game to watch in Detroit.

Troy Wins regional for first time since 1989

The Colts took home their first regional in 28 years on their arch rival’s home floor (Troy Athens) on Wednesday night beating Warren De LaSalle 48-40 in the regional final. Jason Dietz and Leon Ayers were huge for Troy, Dietz had 16 points while Ayers had 14 points. There were times in the game that the Colts went through some scoring droughts especially in the third quarter but the Pilots couldn’t take advantage of Troy’s droughts. The Colts will move onto take on West Bloomfield on Tuesday night at Callahan Hall at Detroit Mercy. The Lakers beat Troy 64-61 earlier on the season and since after that game, the Colts have won 11 straight, so this will be a great to watch as mentioned.