As top-heavy as the landscape is, Oakland County has at least a couple of girls hoops teams with the talent to make a deep run this postseason.
Make no mistake, getting to the Breslin this year in Division 1 is going to be a chore for anyone. Belleville? On another level. Wayne Memorial has two D1-bound seniors. Rockford has a couple talented seniors (including Wofford commit Sienna Wolfe) and a few super-talented sophomores. Muskegon and Howell look like they both have uber-talented duos.
The good thing is that some of the county’s best teams are better than they were last season, and that’s going to make for some exciting league battles. Furthermore, most of the OC’s familiar suspects didn’t lose much from what they had then, and they have their own young stars that will continue budding into known commodities and show how fast things change. But they might have to arrive sooner than later to compliment a senior group that’s not as heavy on star power as year’s past to take down any of the top contenders.
Here’s a glance at some of the best girls hoops teams within the county confines. (All records as of Dec. 24)
Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (1-1)
The Crusaders are the perfect place to start as an example that it’s impossible to predict who’s going to come from out of nowhere and knock off teams no one would’ve believed they’d beat (two years ago at least, not last year). Coming off back-to-back Breslin trips, LNW graduated Morgan Griswold and two other seniors, but the other four starters (Charlotte Gramzow, Addie Troska, Paige Macavage, Keaira Spiehs) all return. This is a program that hasn’t been afraid to play against D1 teams the past couple years — they opened up the year at Clarkston, falling 63-40 — which will only benefit them down the road. Division 3, yes, but they’ve earned their place.
Clarkston (5-1)
Transitioning to the team the Crusaders kickstarted their campaign against, Clarkston was good last winter, and now has a chance to be at least very good in a follow-up effort. Senior Elli Robak, who recently became a 1,000-point career scorer, is joined by junior guard Brooklyn Covert and sophomore forward Bella Flavin as the most experienced players back for the Wolves, who are coming off a regional finals appearance and out to a . If other young players like sophomore Eva Waslik (who already has 23 and 12-point outings under her belt) grow up, the pieces are there to get back to the same stage and repeat as OAA Red winners.
Leader of the pack: Clarkston senior Elli Robak joins 1,000-point club as surrounding Wolves grow
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (4-0)
It didn’t take long for St. Mary’s to build into one of the area’s premier programs, and if this list was ordered, the Eaglets might be at the top. Outside of Belleville’s Sydney Savoury and Layla Stewart, guard Allie Crighton and forward Reese Holton are in the mix for best junior tandem in the state. Classmate Laney Larsen, who had 20 points in the recent win over Clarkston, can get lost in the mix, but could probably star on a less talented team. Senior forward Brooke Shockey is more proof that about anyone in their lineup can help them spread the floor and shoot.
South Lyon East (5-0)
East finished just 12-11 overall last year, but their only (four) LVC losses were suffered against Lakeland and South Lyon, which meant the Cougars were something of a second-tier team in the league and in it all by themselves all at the same time. Now, they look poised to climb the ladder and challenge for the title. First-team All-LVC guard Nyla Lake, now a senior, is capable of averaging 20 points, and she’s got assistance from junior guards Kaitlyn Therrian and Mack Reid that suggests (as their early record does) the Cougars will be back to their winning ways and then some.
Country Day’s Saniyah Blackwell (12) attacks the basket in a 49-39 road win over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (BRYAN EVERSON – MediaNews Group)
West Bloomfield (2-1)
The Lakers didn’t have the talent or experience of their title-winning teams in 2024-25, but playing a tough overall schedule prepared them for the playoffs, where they got past some of the best teams in Oakland and Macomb County (including St. Mary’s, Clarkston and Utica Ford) before losing by just five to Belleville in the semifinals. The senior combo of Sheridan Beal (North Alabama), who already has several 20-point nights, and double-double threat Londyn Hall are back for one more go, and on top of classmate Tiara Hopkins-Butler, sophomore Lia Taylor looks like WB’s next talented guard.
Stoney Creek (4-1)
Just two years removed from a quarterfinal appearance, head coach Columbus Williams has himself a bunch that’s going to make the OAA Red more than a two-horse race between Clarkston and WB. The Ivezaj trio — seniors Izzy (Northern Michigan) and Abby, along with one of the state’s better juniors, Calista — will give other teams that are absent of their own height and length fits. Versatile Jadelynn Freeman is also part of that quality senior class for the Cougars, who have only been beaten by Goodrich so far.
Milford (3-1)
If boys hoops in the LVC was senior-heavy last season, the girls’ side was notable for having some great underclassmen, and none better than Milford’s Ashlyn Lutz, who was one of two freshman to be named first team All-LVC. The 5-foot-6 guard is liable to go for 30 points on any given night and has a couple of good juniors to pass to, including Madison Cornett. The Mavs’ only loss so far came at the hands of Livonia Stevenson (7-0). Aubrin Miller and Lakeland (who could just as easily be on this list) should make the battle for the top of the conference with Milford and SL East an intriguing one.
Farmington Hills Mercy (3-0)
Mercy’s senior group this year isn’t on the level of last season’s that included Aizlyn Albanese. And that’s OK, mostly because the Class of 2027 players coach Gary Morris has at his disposal will ensure the Marlins remain at the very least competitive the next two years. Coupled with Elle Geerlings, fellow juniors Caroline Paluk and Naimah Kellum are high-IQ players and form a three-headed monster whose parts compliment each other really well. Throw in 6-foot sophomore forward Vanessa Husband and the Marlins may not step too far back from last year’s 19-5 finish that included a district title before they were ousted by Wayne Memorial.
Detroit Country Day (1-2)
This one involves some projecting. Cece Arico and Jayla Jackson would’ve made Country Day no-brainers for this list as arguably the best returning 1-2 punch in the county, but with each of them having transferred, others have to pick up the slack. Along with returners Naiya Krispin and Saniyah Blackwell, freshman Evelyn Hoener is one of the most talked about players from the Class of 2029 in the area. The Yellowjackets lost by just two to both Detroit Edison and Clarkston, which suggests they’re going to beat plenty of lesser teams and should only be on the up.
Birmingham Groves (2-2)
Maybe another team like Royal Oak or Berkley will challenge or even win the OAA White this season, but the advantage goes to the team with the best player, and that’s junior Harlem Simpson. With the system that the Falcons are playing and so many young players around her, there’s going to undoubtedly be peaks and valleys, but Simpson, who could be a Miss Basketball candidate this time next year, gives Groves an ability to briskly extend leads and cut deficits that few teams have.