OAA Boys Basketball Update

Written Friday January 25th, 2013 at 11:05 PM

As the first half of league play winds down, a lot of races are going on. A lot yet to be decided, still a lot of basketball to be played. As these teams prepare to continue their respective journeys, let us look at back at the current states of the OAA.

OAA Blue: It looks like that the Blue was a four team race that has been now cut down to two at the moment. Lake Orion and Farmington Hills Harrison remain undefeated in league play with both teams set to play each other on Tuesday.

Lake Orion is getting it done with its depth and strong leadership from Chaz Miller and John McCarty. The Dragons have been getting it done shooting and going inside led by Nate Marcum and David Henry, also great guard play from both Damonte Kruse and Zach Greene. With the combination of the starters and their deep bench, can’t see anyone competing with them.

Harrison on the other hand is a guard oriented team lead by Dorian Fields, sharpshooter DJ Freeman, and center John Rexroth. Harrison shot 13 three pointers (eight from Freeman) to upset Lahser 72-68 at Lahser on Tuesday night and held serve at home against Seaholm on Friday night winning 55-51. The Hawks also played North Farmington tough on the road and lost a tough 61-58 battle to the Raiders on Tuesday night. Harrison already has 10 wins this season.

Bloomfield Hills Lahser and Birmingham Seaholm both have had losses to both Lake Orion and Harrison and seem to be playing for third and fourth place respectively. Both have a chance to knock the other out of the league race on Friday at Seaholm. It will be exciting to see Lahser’s big man Yante Maten goes up against Seaholm’s big man Paris Bass. Both men are looking for strong games for their respective clubs. It will come down to whose supporting cast is better.

Pick: Despite the fact that Lake Orion has to go on the road and face the rest of the league, I believe Lake Orion will win the league. There is just so much depth for any team to compete with them. It will take a strong effort from any team who plays them.

OAA Red: It looks like it is a three team race between Clarkston, Southfield, and North Farmington with Clarkston leading the way for the moment. The Wolves are built for the long run led by Jordan Dasuqi, Press Kampe, and sharpshooter Nick Owens. Clarkston also has one of the best coaches in the business in Dan Fife. The Wolves are not the greatest in the paint and on most nights and relies on the three point shot. They have shooters but what happens when there shots don’t fall? Ask Adams and Troy that same question.

Pick: Expect both Southfield and North Farmington to challenge Clarkston. The problem is both those games when they do play the Wolves will be in front of the Jungle also Clarkston is getting healthier and this could be one of their deeper teams they have had in a while.

OAA White: This has essentially become a two team race between Rochester and Rochester Adams.

It is not surprising that Rochester is one of the contenders this season. The Falcons are led by Kentucky bound James Young is putting up monstrous numbers including a near quadruple double in a win against Avondale. Young continues to have a dominating year for Big Blue since coming over from Troy. Also seniors Ahman Camaj and Manny Mendoza have also had big impacts for the Falcons inside as well.

The surprise team has been Rochester Adams. Adams is currently undefeated and is led by junior guard Akhemji Williams and senior forward Zack Littleson and timely three point shooting has helped the Highlanders have an undefeated season and post impressive wins over Clarkston, Lake Orion, and Rochester.

Pick: Rochester and Adams do meet again at Adams to close out the season but both the Highlanders and Falcons also have to go to Oak Park as well. The Knights are not a bad team and has an outside shot of winning the league depending on them beating both Rochester and Adams and getting some help in the process. Oak Park could also decide if they are not in the league race who wins between Rochester and Adams. The league is not the greatest with Athens being young, Ferndale relying on shooting, and Avondale is very young. I do like Adams to come out of the league because they have the guard play that can do damage and the bigs with Ben Limb and Littleson controling the boards..

OAA Gold: Outside of Hazel Park, this is anyone’s ballgame when it comes to the Gold. Stoney Creek, Oxford, Groves, Royal Oak, and Andover are serious threats in the league. The Cougars were expected to win the division but is having a tough time handling teams like Andover and Oxford and had to comeback to beat Royal Oak.

Andover who posted an impressive victory at Lake Orion has been inconsistent at best, losing to Royal Oak did not help the Barons cause but beating Stoney Creek at home does.

Oxford has not been that impressive despite being very young. Losses to Groves and Stoney Creek don’t help things.

Groves is decent at best but did get a huge road win at Oxford. It could make a very interesting race in the Gold.

Pick: It is anyone’s ballgame but observing the Gold, I think when the Barons travel to Stoney Creek will decide the winner of the Gold. Andover has great guard play and can control tempo when it has to. I'm going with the Barons by one game over the Cougars.