Districts Released and thoughts on them

Written Tuesday June 18th, at 5:30 PM

The Michigan High School Athletic Association released its district parings for Volleyball, Girls, and Boys Basketball. The districts are basically the same in the girls and a little different in the guys. Here are the districts and my thoughts on each one of them. Here are the OAA teams that are in their respective districts and sights where they are at.

District 30:

Girls Volleyball and Basketball are at Clarkston.

Boys Basketball is at Orion.

Orion

Clarkston

Rochester

Oxford

Adams

Stoney Creek

Very interesting district here, you got two state powers in Volleyball in Clarkston and Orion but Stoney Creek will present a dangerous challenge to both teams if they get them. Also Rochester Adams has a new coach in Irick Gardner who came over from Birmingham Marian. In Girls Basketball, I can see five teams that can win the district here that will have star power at full display. In Boys Basketball, people will say Clarkston will be favored but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Orion and Adams in the thick of it. It should be a fun district to see.

I think they got it right here with this district assignment.

District 29:

Girls Volleyball and Basketball are at Troy Athens.

Boys Basketball is at Pontiac

Avondale

Pontiac

Troy

Troy Athens

Waterford Kettering

Waterford Mott

In Volleyball, I can see Troy winning this district even though it’s John R rival might have a say in who wins here. In Girls Basketball, who ever wins the battle of Waterford should win this district here, Avondale won the district last year but all that senior talent is gone. In Boys Basketball, Troy Athens is the defending champ and will be one of the favorites but Avondale and Troy could be serious contenders and watch out for Pontiac, the district is at Sy Green Gym.

This district has not changed in years.

District 27:

Girls Volleyball and Basketball are at Birmingham Marian

Boys Basketball is at North Farmington

Birmingham Seaholm

Birmingham Marian (Girls)

Birmingham Brother Rice (Boys)

Bloomfield Hills

Farmington Hills Harrison

North Farmington

In Volleyball, Birmingham Marian is the favorite but losing Coach Irick Gardner (Gardner took over the coaching job at Rochester Adams) could have an impact on how they will adjust to the new coaching staff. Birmingham Seaholm could have a say despite losing a lot of talent. Bloomfield Hills merged Lahser and Andover talent and North Farmington will be a factor as well. In Girls Basketball I can see a clash between Harrison and Birmingham Marian. North Farmington and Bloomfield Hills will have a say but a clash between Harrison and Birmingham Marian is inevitable. In Boys Basketball, Bloomfield Hills will be very good but North Farmington and Birmingham Seaholm will have strong says in who wins this district.

Good Girls Basketball district here, especially with four quality teams here.

District 25:

Girls Volleyball and Boys Basketball are at West Bloomfield

Girls Basketball is at White Lake Lakeland

West Bloomfield

Orchard Lake Saint Marys (Boys)

Walled Lake Northern

Walled Lake Central

Walled Lake Western

White Lake Lakeland

In Volleyball, I can see Lakeland winning this district handily. In Girls Basketball, Walled Lake Western was the surprise last season and in a wide open district is a slight favorite. In Boys Basketball, I can see Orchard Lake St. Marys winning this district even though Walled Lake Central, Walled Lake Western, and West Bloomfield will have a say on that in this district.

Weird putting Walled Lake and West Bloomfield together, I don't think Walled Lake and West Bloomfield make geographic scene.

District 24:

Girls Volleyball, Basketball, and Boys Basketball are at Lathrup

Southfield-Lathrup

Beverly Hills Wylie E. Groves

Berkley

Oak Park

Royal Oak

In Volleyball, if Groves doesn’t win this district then something is seriously wrong here but Berkley could have a say here. In Girls Basketball, Lathrup lost a lot of transfers but the hosts will be fine here. Berkley and Oak Park with their new coach Diane Jones, coming out of retirement, previously coached at Detroit Renaissance could give them a challenge but the favorite will be Coach Michelle Jackson-Marshall’s Hoop Squad team in Lathrup Village. In Boys Basketball, Oak Park is favored here with the transfers coming over from Detroit Cody and new coach Bryan Tipton and could move to the regional final unopposed.

Groves moving south gives them a favorable chance to do some damage, even though they are much closer to Birmingham than Southfield or Royal Oak.

District 21:

Girls Volleyball and Basketball is at Southfield

Boys Basketball is at Farmington

Southfield

Farmington

Detroit Renaissance

Detroit Mumford

University of Detroit-Jesuit (Boys)
Farmington Hills Mercy (Girls)

Detroit International Academy (Girls)

In Volleyball, in a pretty bad district, I can see Farmington Hills Mercy winning this district handily but Farmington has an outside shot to pull a miracle upset. In Girls Basketball, Detroit Renaissance could meet Farmington Hills Mercy and the winner would be district champs. In Boys Basketball, I can see either U-D Jesuit or Southfield winning this district.

Bringing Southfield, Farmington, and Mercy into this district with the Detroit schools just doesn't make sense.

CLASS B

District 42:

Girls Volleyball and Basketball is at Warren Fitzgerald

Boys Basketball is at Detroit Central

Detroit Central

Detroit Douglass

Detroit Old Redford

Ferndale University

Ferndale

Hazel Park

Warren Fitzgerald

In Volleyball, I can see Warren Fitzgerald winning this district but Hazel Park gave them some issues and could do so once again. In Girls Basketball, there will be nobody  that will beat Ferndale. In Boys Basketball, I can see Ferndale University and Ferndale meeting to decide who will move onto the regional final.

One Macomb County team, Three Oakland County teams, and Three Wayne County teams in one district shouldn't even happen but it is right now.