OAA Girls Basketball Preview.

Written Saturday November 16th, at 12:15 AM

Girls basketball will soon be here and most teams are already setting up their final rosters for the 2013-2014 season. Here are the projections for the upcoming girls basketball season.

Top 10:

10. North Farmington Raiders: Raiders return some key players to be competitive this season.

9. Oxford Wildcats: Wildcats are a solid group but experience is a huge concern this season.

8. Lake Orion Dragons: Dragons are finally healthy this season. Last season this team was 6-15 and injuries and youth played a big part in that.

7. Rochester Adams Highlanders: Three solid returnees will carry the Highlanders this season.

6. Stoney Creek Cougars: Cougars return everyone from a team that went to the district finals last season.

5. Southfield-Lathrup Chargers: Chargers reload with strong freshman class and transfer from Ferndale.

4. Clarkston Wolves: Wolves have a good forward, guard combination. The question is how will this team respond to losing all that senior talent last season.

3. Ferndale Eagles: Eagles return everyone back on a team that went to the regional finals last season.

2. Bloomfield Hills Blackhawks: Merger makes Blackhawks a dangerous team this season.

1. Harrison Hawks: Four of Five starters return. They should be hungry yet again this season.

Red:

The Red will be a tough league in 2013-2014. Farmington Hills Harrison moves up from the White return four of five starters to their starting lineup after last season’s heartbreaking regional final loss to Dexter. Defending Red champion Clarkston will have some questions after losing four key experienced players from a season ago but return their big girl and have guard play is good as well. Stoney Creek has everyone back from a team that lost in the district finals to Utica Ford last season. North Farmington will be very athletic and has some depth. Southfield-Lathrup lost their starting five from a season ago but coach Michelle Jackson finds a way to get her team’s to do well and has two freshman twins that will make an impact along with a transfer from Ferndale. West Bloomfield will have another year of experience in their run and gun system. Avondale lost a ton of experience from last season’s shocking district championship team and will be young. Pontiac will also be young as well and could struggle again.

Projections in projected order:

Harrison Hawks.

Four of Five returning starters give the Hawks a chance to win the Red but depth and a brutal district could be a big problem this season for coach Tim Micklash.

Clarkston Wolves.

The Wolves top rebounder and scorer from last season returns and good guard play will give Clarkston a chance to do well. If the Wolves can get production at the wing position then coach Tim Wasilik and Clarkston could be right back where they were last season.

Southfield-Lathrup Chargers.

Chargers lost a lot of transfer talent from a season ago but coach Michelle Jackson has a couple of talented freshman and a Ferndale transfer to rely on this season.

Stoney Creek Cougars.

Cougars return its entire starting five and could be its best team under coach Brad Crighton and that’s saying something when this was a program that has had Gabby Yurik and Brittney Nelson in the program.

North Farmington Raiders.

The Raiders will be more athletic than in years past for coach Tim Caruthers.

West Bloomfield Lakers.

Lakers run and gun offense will be a load to handle this season.

Avondale Yellow Jackets.

Yellow Jackets will rely on young talent to carry them this season.

Pontiac Phoenix.

Phoenix struggled last season and could very well do it again under coach Lance Davis.

White:

The White is an interesting league. The league could be the most balanced out of the three divisions. Bloomfield Hills merged together this season and features a solid group of former Bloomfield Hills Lahser and Bloomfield Hills Andover players. Second through fifth place is about as even as it could be this season. Rochester Adams will be solid this season with it's two star juniors and one senior back but was upset last season by Romeo in the pre district playoffs. Lake Orion was 6-15 in an injury riddled season last season after falling to Clarkston returns four of five starters. Oxford has some questions inside but will be good especially with their guards and small forward. Troy returns everyone back from a team that struggled in the Red last season. Rochester lost everyone from last season’s district semifinal team and will be rebuilding a bit. Groves returns just one starter back from last season. Farmington will struggle this season as well as it starts life without its best player from a season ago but does return some key players that will take them toward that path.

Bloomfield Hills Blackhawks:

Merger gives Blackhawks a strong chance to do well for coach Jeff Rubin.

Rochester Adams Highlanders:

Highlanders return three starters whom should give them balance this season for Fran Szchowitz.

Lake Orion Dragons:

A clean bill of health should make the Dragons dangerous this season for coach Steve Roberts.

Oxford Wildcats:

Wildcats will have one starter back but the sixth girl on the bench becomes a starter this season for coach Steve Emmert.

Troy Colts:

Colts return everyone and should be better with the move down from the Red to the White for coach Sam Bato.

Rochester Falcons:

Falcons lost a lot of talent last season and could struggle like Lake Orion did last season. It’s something that coach Adam Sheldon doesn’t want to see.

Farmington Falcons:

Loss of best player to graduation could mean more responsibility for the young Falcons led by coach Dave Browne.

Groves Falcons:

One starter back for the Falcons means trouble for coach Amos Thompson.

Blue:

The Blue looks to be colored brown and yellow in the form of Ferndale. The Eagles went to the regional finals last season return three of its top players from a season ago will be an overwhelming favorite for second year coach Eric Lloyd. Berkley returns a lot of experience as well. Troy Athens also has experience as well moves down from the White to the Blue and a new coach but the same coach that took over the team last season. Oak Park has a new coach in Diane Jones whom took a one year hiatus and several transfers from Detroit Renaissance and Inkster. Southfield will have some talent and speed returning as well. Royal Oak lost its top player and their center from a season ago. Seaholm could struggle once again. Hazel Park could also struggle as well.

Ferndale Eagles:

Eagles are the queens of the Blue. They have speed, quickness, and experience on their side for coach Eric Lloyd.

Oak Park Knights:

New coach Diane Jones will give the Knights a boost this season along with several transfers from Detroit Renaissance and Inkster.

Troy Athens Red Hawks:

Red Hawks have experience on guards and forwards for now permanent coach Stacie Krupp after taking over the team from a season ago. Now they need consistency and moving down from the White to the Blue to do that.

Southfield Blue Jays:

Blue Jays will have experience back with their two top players back and also speed this season.

Berkley Bears:

Bears do return a lot of experience and should be solid yet again.

Seaholm Maples:

Maples could be an interesting team to watch this season.

Hazel Park Vikings:

Size could be an issue in Hazel Park and they could struggle again.

We’ll see what happens in the 2013-2014 season.