West leads Berkley past Troy in district semi

By JAKE THIELEN
@MIPrepZone_Trib

ROYAL OAK – Thanks in part to a pair of goals from sophomore Meghan West, Berkley is one step closer to its goal of a district title.

West tallied a goal in each half, and the Bears withstood a rally in the second half from Troy to earn a 2-1 win in a Division 1 girls soccer district semifinal Thursday at Royal Oak High School.

Berkley will advance to the district final Friday at 6:30 p.m., and the Bears will meet Troy Athens in that game.

West opened the scoring against Troy with 25:57 to play in the first half by corralling a long throw-in from junior Emma Green and lofting a shot into the far corner of the net.

Berkley extended its lead to 2-0 less than two minutes into the second half with West scoring her second of the game, and the assist was credited to senior Alexia Tyler.

However, Troy answered back with a goal of its own. Junior Caroline Schlimgen capitalized on a loose ball in front of the Berkley net and fired a shot off the post and in with 33:43 to play, which cut the Bears’ lead to 2-1.

The Colts were able to put pressure on the Berkley defense over the final 30 minutes, but Troy could not get another shot past the Bears’ freshman keeper, Monica Hodges, who made five saves in the game.

Berkley coach Lindsey Lubanski said a focus on defense after building a two-goal lead helped the Bears preserve the win, as did a couple of timely saves by Hodges.

“Monica is a freshman for us this year, and she has done a fantastic job,” Lubanski said. “She’s very aggressive, she comes out (of the net) and she is very vocal with the defenders and with all of our team. She does her job, she knows when she can go and she knows when she can’t.”

Lubanski said West plays like an upperclassman in terms of leadership, though she is only a sophomore.

“She always comes out, and she is there to get the job done,” Lubanski said. “She works hard. She’snever going to have be told to work hard. She does what she has to do, and she wants to win.”

Troy coach Dan Troccoli said his team faced adversity at times during the season, but he was proud the Colts were “incredibly resilient” all year.

“They played that way all year long, and they don’t let things get them down,” Troccoli said. “They’re a very good soccer team, and sometimes the soccer gods just don’t smile upon you. Unfortunately, that’s the case that happened this year, but again I’m incredibly proud of them and they have nothing to hang their heads about.”

Last Updated: 6/2/2016 11:12:09 PM EST

 http://www.miprepzone.com/oakland/results.asp?ID=19205

Balanced scoring effort helps lift Berkley past Clawson

CLAWSON – Senior Celia Somers finished with 10 points, leading all scorers, as Berkley defeated Clawson, 47-16, in a non-league girls basketball game Friday night at Clawson High School.

Berkley’s defense shut out Clawson in the second quarter, and the Bears outscored the Trojans by a 24-4 margin in the first half to take control of the game.

Somers scored eight of her 10 points in the first half, and Berkley coach Jordan Gruppen said he expects Somers to be a leader on the floor for the Bears this season.

“She can attack, she can finish from the outside and also drive and make a good pass to help her teammates,” Gruppen said. “Our offense is going to run through her, but we also have other people who can definitely score too, so it’s a great thing.”

Berkley countered any attempt at a run by Clawson in the second half thanks in part to a balanced offensive attack. Ten different players scored at least a point for the Bears in the game.

Juniors Makoya Denham and Cali Weed and freshman Olivia Dicarlo all finished with six points for Berkley. Junior Nina Palazzolo added five points, while Denham and junior Cara Hall each had seven rebounds.

Defensively the Bears were able to force several Clawson turnovers, and the defensive pressure was something that Gruppen liked to see from his team.

“I thought we played some great defense today,” Gruppen said. “There were times we kind of fell apart on our help side a little bit, but it’s definitely something we’ve been working on, and I saw improvement from our first game to our second game for sure.”

Clawson coach Jenny Stanton said she saw some growth from her young team as the game progressed.

The Trojans have no seniors on the roster and had three sophomores in the starting lineup Friday.

“(We had) a great defensive presence, especially in the second half,” Stanton said. “The girls started driving to the hoop in the second half too on offense.”

The Trojans were led offensively by sophomores Jackie Hauser (five points) and Shaniya Evans (four points.) Sophomore Raquel Lewis had three points and six rebounds, while junior Carly Butterfield had six rebounds and five blocks.

Last Updated: 12/4/2015 11:02:30 PM EST

http://www.miprepzone.com/oakland/results.asp?ID=17639

Lathrup grabs district title with convincing victory over Berkley

By JAKE THIELEN
@MIPrepZone_Trib

ROYAL OAK – Southfield-Lathrup controlled the game from start to finish as the Chargers never trailed en route to a 62-39 victory against Berkley in a Class A girls basketball district final Friday night at Royal Oak High School.

With the win, Southfield-Lathrup will advance to the regional semifinals, where it will face its most difficult challenge to date. The No. 3-ranked Chargers, undefeated against teams from Michigan this season, will meet No. 1 ranked Birmingham Marian in their next game on Tuesday at Southfield High School.

Southfield-Lathrup earned a trip to the regional round thanks to a quick start on Friday – the Chargers opened the game on a 15-2 run to take control early. By halftime the lead had grown to 32-17, and Southfield-Lathrup pulled away in the second half to seal its 62-39 victory.

Senior Courtney Lucas, starting for the injured Kendall Terrell, scored 15 points in the first half to lead the way for Southfield-Lathrup. She finished with 17 points and six rebounds, and Southfield-Lathrup coach Michele Marshall said Lucas filled in well as a starter.

“With Kendall being injured we were totally confident that Courtney, who’s a senior and who plays a game very similar to Kendall but is a little bit taller, would come in and really play very well and play with confidence,” Marshall said. “Not only did (Lucas) shoot the ball well in the first half, but she also rebounded the ball very well. It changes our look a little bit with her in the lineup.”

Sophomore Deja Church recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds for Southfield-Lathrup, while junior Antoinette Miller scored 11 points. Juniors Taiye Bello and Kehinde Bello added seven points each for the Chargers.

Berkley coach Jordan Gruppen said his team battled well for the whole game despite knowing it would be the underdog against a tough opponent.

“I thought we played some great half-court defense, and they beat us up on the boards today,” Gruppen said. “That was a big difference in this one, but (Southfield-Lathrup) is a very talented team. They played well, and I thought we played well too, so I’m happy with our effort today.”

Junior Josephine Pittman scored 11 points off the bench to lead Berkley (16-7,) while sophomore Makoya Denham scored six points and added a team-high eight rebounds. Junior Celia Somers scored five points, and senior Grace Hammerle added three points and six rebounds for the Bears.

http://www.miprepzone.com/oakland/results.asp?ID=15737

Troy 67, Berkley 60: Colts start slow but rally for an early-season road win

By Jake Thielen | MLive.com
on December 16, 2014 10:56 PM, updated December 16, 2014 11:30 PM

Troy overcame an early 9-0 deficit, outscoring Berkley in each of the final three quarters to complete a comeback and earn a 67-60 win in a non-league boys basketball game Tuesday night at Berkley High School.

Led by senior Jonathan Radner, who scored 18 points in the first half, Berkley surged to a 9-0 lead to start the game, but the Bears could not sustain their early momentum. By the end of the quarter the Berkley lead had been cut to five, and at halftime the Colts trailed by only three, 31-28.

Troy (2-0) opened the second half with nine consecutive points, eight of which were scored by senior Joe McConachie, to take the lead for just the second time in the game. However Berkley (2-1) battled back to take the lead, 44-43, on a three-pointer from junior Jordan Zimmerman before eventually settling for a 45-45 tie after the third quarter.

The fourth quarter began similarly to the third quarter for Troy, which opened the final frame with eight consecutive points to take a 53-45 lead. This time the Colts were able to prevent a Berkley comeback.

The Bears cut the lead to 65-60 in the final minute, and got the ball back on a steal, but missed a pair of chances to cut into the lead further. Troy made a pair of free throws in the final seconds to seal the 67-60 win.

Troy coach Gary Fralick said his team didn’t come out with enough energy on defense, but that switching to a zone defense helped his team. He said that despite starting 2-0 this season the Colts still have room to improve.

“It’s early in the season – we have a lot of things to work on, but it’s nice to come back,” Fralick said. “We were more patient on offense in the second half and made more stops. We need to settle down, and we need to come out of the gates a lot faster than we did tonight.”

McConachie led Troy with 17 points, while senior Nate Bladecki (11) and juniors Austin Sonnenberg (11) and Steven Brennceke (10) all reached double figures in scoring. Fralick said he expects to see similar results and balanced scoring from his team this year.

“I don’t think we have any superstars, but we have some guys who can play a little bit,” Fralick said. “I think we’re going to be distributing points around all year long.”

Troy also had an advantage on the glass, as the Colts outrebounded Berkley by a 40-24 margin. Seniors Devin Alexander and Chase Fayne led the Colts with 13 and 11 rebounds, respectively, and Fralick said their play helped Troy earn the win.

“Devin and Chase can hammer boards – that’s one of their strengths, there’s no doubt about it,” Fralick said. “They can rebound, and we’re really fortunate to have both of those guys working the glass for us.”

Berkley lost for the first time this season, but the Bears’ coach, David McGlown, said his team’s play was solid for most of the game.

“I thought we played well enough to win; we just didn’t do the little things,” McGlown said. “We didn’t box out good enough, we didn’t make our free throws and we didn’t make the right pass at different times.”

Radner led Berkley with 28 points, while senior Noah Witus added 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Freshman Terrell Tucker scored seven points, and Zimmerman and senior Arric Wilkerson each finished with five points.

Troy will continue its season Friday at home against Auburn Hills Avondale. Berkley will finish out its week with games against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep on Friday and West Bloomfield on Saturday.

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/6318274547349400778/troy-67-berkley-60-colts-start-slow-but-rally-for-an-early-season-road-win/

Birmingham Groves 3, Berkley 2: Falcons hold off Bears in Class A volleyball district final

By Jake Thielen | MLive.com
on November 06, 2014 10:27 p.m.

Birmingham Groves captured its second consecutive Class A volleyball district championship Thursday night, rallying from five points down in the fifth and final set to defeat Berkley, 25-21, 16-25, 25-9, 24-26, 15-13, at Groves High School.

Groves (18-13-1) spilt the first two sets with Berkley before winning the third set in convincing fashion, 25-9. The Falcons trailed for most of the fourth set, but scored five consecutive points late in the set to take a 22-19 lead.

A kill from senior Ciera Stokes gave Groves a 24-21 lead and a chance to win the match, but Berkley battled back to tie the score at 24-24. Junior Celia Somers recorded an ace for the Bears’ 25^th point, her second ace in a row, before Groves was called for a net violation to give Berkley a 26-24 win.

Berkley carried the momentum from the fourth set into the fifth, as the Bears opened the deciding set with five consecutive points. However, Groves proved it had the capability to make a comeback of its own, as it battled back to tie the score at 8-8.

Groves fell behind again, 13-9, before Berkley hit the ball out of bounds to return the serve to Groves. Now trailing 13-10, Groves turned to senior libero Cameron Fox who recorded an ace on her first serve.

Another Falcon point and consecutive kills from senior Aalaya Carter and Stokes set up another match point for Groves. This time Groves converted on its opportunity, earning the final point and the win after a short rally.

Groves coach Jenny Brown said her team was relieved to escape with a victory after battling a tough opponent.

“Obviously when you go into game 5, you hope that you run through those points, and that obviously wasn’t the outcome,” Brown said. “Berkley fought every point, and it was truly a battle to the end. Yes, that last (point) was a huge relief.”

The win was the second time Groves had needed five sets to defeat an opponent in the 2014 tournament. The Falcons defeated Royal Oak in five sets in the first round, and Brown said that experience helped the team recover from its fourth set loss and early deficit in the fifth set.

“Every point has to be earned; we’ve been in this situation before,” Brown said. “I think we brought up the number of how many fifth games we’ve been in. They really just needed to take a breath, relax and play.

“When we play we do things well, we work together, but when we play scared and timid there’s unforced errors that we shouldn’t give up.”

Carter had Groves with 11 kills and 12 digs to lead the team in both categories. Stokes and senior Maggie Hammond added eight and seven kills, respectively.

Junior Anya Lev recorded a team-high 15 assists and 10 digs for the Falcons, while senior Demery Gijsbers added 12 assists and four aces. Fox tied for the team lead with four aces and added nine digs.

Brown said the win was a result of a group effort, and that her senior leaders came through for the team when it mattered.

“Obviously these kind of games always mean a lot to the team; (for) the seniors it’s always that fear in the back of your mind that this really could be the last game, so they always step it up,” Brown said. “My captains (Carter, Gijsbers, Stokes and senior Samantha Weed) have been awesome. It definitely was a defensive and offensive team effort to get here.”

Groves will advance to the regional semifinals, where it will play the winner of Friday’s matchup between Bloomfield Hills Marian and Birmingham Seaholm. The Falcons lost to Marian in the regional semifinals, 3-0, last season.

For Berkley the loss ended a season that saw the Bears finish in second place in the Oakland Activities Association Blue Division and earn a win over Southfield-Lathrup in the postseason.

Despite the loss, Berkley coach Eric Gardner said he liked the way his team battled back from match point in the fourth set to extend the match.

“They had the mantra and we use it over and over – we fight, we fight, we fight,” Gardner said. “That’s one thing Berkley sports (has) no matter what. We’re not going out without a battle, and the girls answered the call.”

Gardner said a few of his players stood out, particularly senior Grace Hammerle and Somers. Hammerle, an outside hitter, came up with crucial kills when the Bears needed them.

“We talk about big time players make big time plays, especially in clutch situations,” Gardner said. “(Hammerle’s) leadership, not only on the floor but as a leader on the team has been awesome all year. She’s been great for us.”

Somers had 11 aces against Groves to lead both teams, and Gardner said she was a consistent force serving the ball for the Bears all season.

“The one thing I’m proud of her for (is) she had the courage in a time where we were down one, 24-23, and she made a super-aggressive serve,” Gardner said. “That’s what we talked (about) day in and day out is having that confidence to make that swing down the stretch, and she absolutely anchored us.”

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-6009791423835085843/birmingham-groves-3-berkley-2-falcons-hold-off-bears-in-class-a-volleyball-district-final/

Birmingham Groves avenges its regular season loss to Berkley with a 35-13 win in a Division 2 football playoff opener

By Jake Thielen | MLive.com
on November 01, 2014 7:15 p.m.

For Birmingham Groves, Saturday afternoon’s 35-13 Division 2 football playoff victory over Berkley snapped a pair of streaks that the team wasn’t proud of.

The win gave Groves its first playoff win since the two wins by the 2004 Falcons’ team, and it snapped a three-game losing streak for a team that entered week 7 at 6-0 and in first place in the Oakland Activities Association’s Blue Division.

Groves and Berkley met in week 7 during the regular season – a game the Bears won, 32-29, thanks to a late field goal. The Falcons then dropped their final two regular season games to Farmington and Waterford Mott to enter the playoffs on a sour note.

However, Groves still qualified for the playoffs at 6-3, and when the playoff pairings were announced, Groves was given a chance to earn a playoff victory against a familiar foe in Berkley. For the Groves players and coaches, it was a perfect opportunity to earn a playoff victory that was long overdue.

“It’s been a while since we won a playoff game around here, so yeah it’s a tremendous feeling,” Groves coach Brendan Flaherty said. “I can’t really describe it – it’s just an awesome feeling for us, our guys and our school. We lost to (Berkley) earlier in the year, they beat us so it’s good to kind of avenge that loss.”

Flaherty said his team wasn’t prepared for how much Berkley would utilize the option in the first game between the two teams, and he said the coaching staff and players aimed to do a better job against it in the rematch.

“(Berkley quarterback) Jake Cummings is a tough, tough kid and a hell of a football player, and I think we underestimated how much option they would do,” Flaherty said. “We really tried to center our focus back on stopping the run game and the option this time around.”

The Falcons’ strategy worked as they limited Berkley to just 13 points and Cummings to 15 yards rushing. Though senior Michael Harvey was effective for Berkley, rushing for 135 yards on 18 carries, Groves held the rest of the Bears to 62 yards rushing and 66 yards passing.

Groves countered Harvey’s success with a powerful rushing attack of its own. JuniorCedric Boswell shouldered most of the carries, rushing 21 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Zach Van Faussien made plays in the passing game for Groves as well when the team needed it. Despite strong winds, Van Faussien completed 10 of his 12 pass attempts for 127 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown to senior Davion Curry in the second quarter.

Van Faussien added a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that effectively sealed the win for Groves. Flaherty said Van Faussien was limited all week in practice by an illness, though he didn’t show it during the game.

“I thought Zach did such a good job of managing the game, and then when there’s a big play to be made he initiates that big play as the quarterback,” Flaherty said.

Also aiding the Falcon win was the team’s victory in the turnover department – Berkley fumbled five times, losing three, while Groves fumbled twice, losing one. Flaherty said not turning the ball over was a priority for the team.

“We put it on our board – ball security for us,” Flaherty said. “We just kind of transverse that; we said (on) offense you have to take care of the ball, and we’re due for a couple of turnovers coming our way.”

With the win, Groves will advance to the district final against No. 1-ranked Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, the three-time defending state champions in Division 2. Flaherty said he knows Brother Rice will be heavily favored in that game, but he said the Falcons will take their best shot at dethroning the Warriors.

“We are extremely excited to play Brother Rice,” Flaherty said. “No one’s going to give us a shot and all that – they’re good, they’re awesome. We’re up for the challenge.”

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-2566866555504431205/groves-avenges-its-regular-season-loss-to-berkley-with-a-35-13-win-in-a-division-2-football-playoff-opener/

Birmingham Groves 35, Berkley 13: Groves pulls away in second half to earn first playoff win since 2004

By Jake Thielen | MLive.com
on November 01, 2014 5:02 p.m.

Cold temperatures and strong winds couldn’t slow down Birmingham Groves Saturday afternoon, as the Falcons ran away with the game late to earn a 35-13 win over Berkley in a Division 2 football playoff opener at Groves High School.

After building a 19-6 lead by halftime, Groves (7-3) saw its advantage cut to one score thanks to a 21-yard run from Berkley senior Michael Harvey less than a minute into the third quarter. The Bears got the ball back with a chance to take the lead, but fumbled on their own 38-yard line to give the ball back to Groves.

The Falcons responded a few plays later with a 23-yard touchdown run by junior Cedric Boswell and a two-point conversion pass from senior Zach Van Faussien to senior Conor Haenni to extend the lead to 27-13.

Groves’ defense protected the lead, forcing a fumble and a punt on Berkley’s next two drives. The Falcons would extend their lead to 35-13 with 10:05 to play thanks to a 1-yard run from Van Faussien and a two-point conversion pass from Van Faussien to senior Nick Berry.

Berkley (6-4) was unable to find the end zone again, and the final Bear drive ended after Groves sophomore Nathan Wagner sacked Berkley’s Jake Cummings and forced a fumble that was recovered by Groves senior Cory Boyd. The Falcons ran out the clock to seal the victory and earn their first playoff win since the 2004 season.

Groves will advance to the district final where it will meet undefeated and No. 1 ranked Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice. The Warriors are the three-time defending state champions in Division 2, and they defeated Groves, 42-0, in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Key moment:

Facing 3^rd-and-1 from its own 38-yard line, Berkley called for a run up the middle to try for the first down, but the Bears were stopped short and a fumble on the play turned the ball over to Groves. A few plays later, Boswell scored from 23 yards out to give the Falcons a 27-13 lead with 6:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Groves highlights:

Boswell carried the ball 21 times for 123 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Falcons’ rushing attack, while Haenni added 31 yards on five carries.

Despite the strong winds, Van Faussien completed 10 of his 12 passes for 127 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He also scored on a 1-yard rush in the fourth quarter.

Senior Davion Curry caught four passes for 66 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown that came in the second quarter. He also recovered a Falcon fumble in the end zone for Groves’ first touchdown of the game with 7:34 to play in the first quarter.

Berkley highlights:

Harvey led the Bears with 135 yards on 18 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 20 and 21 yards.

Senior Max Sobolev added 29 yards rushing on six carries and recorded a sack on defense, while junior Nolan Givan caught a team-high five passes for 51 yards.

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-2566870555522431195/birmingham-groves-35-berkley-13-groves-pulls-away-in-second-half-to-earn-first-playoff-win-since-2004/

North Farmington powers by Berkley, 24-6, in OAA Blue opener

By Jake Thielen | MLive.com
on September 07, 2013 5:25 p.m.

Senior running back Chauncey Bridges ran for 217 yards and two touchdowns as North Farmington defeated Berkley, 24-6, in an Oakland Activities Association Blue Division game Saturday afternoon at North Farmington High School.

The win for North Farmington (2-0, 1-0 OAA Blue) came in the school’s first conference game since returning to the OAA Blue. The Raiders played last season in the OAA’s White Division.

North Farmington relied heavily on its running game, led by Bridges who carried 27 times. Bridges credited the offensive line for blocking well in front of him.

“They helped me out every single play” Bridges said. “My fullback, Nathan Penny, blocked hard every single play. One of my touchdowns, I literally just put my hand on his back and followed him the whole way through.”

Bridges scored on a 96-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, taking a pitch around the left tackle and using his speed to get down the sideline. On the play Bridges set the record for longest run from scrimmage in school history, breaking the previous record of 94 yards, which occurred in 1986 and was tied in 1995.

“My freshman year I had a run like that, and I didn’t think I was ever going to get another one,” Bridges said. “Thanks to my offensive line, my receiver out there blocking and my fullback it was possible, and I wasn’t going to let a chance like that slip away.”

North Farmington coach Todd Schultz said having an experienced and talented player like Bridges, a third-year varsity player, gives the Raiders a big advantage offensively.

“He knows the game speed, and he’s a valuable weapon for us,” Schultz said. “He worked hard in the offseason knowing he was going to carry the ball a lot, and he did today. We’re fortunate to have him, and the line did a great job of giving him some holes.”

North Farmington built a 10-0 lead going into halftime thanks to a 28-yard field goal from Sam Zapata and a 10-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Kyle Penny to junior tight end Marvin Yaldo. Bridges’ second touchdown run of the day, this one from three yards out, boosted the Raider lead to 24-0 with 11:07 left to play.

Berkley (0-2, 0-1 OAA Blue) got on the board just 28 seconds later when Sam Silverstein found Jake Cummings for a 24-yard touchdown, one play after the pair connected on a 55-yard pass play. However, Cummings was stopped short of the goal line on the ensuing two point conversion.

The Bears had one more chance to cut into the deficit, but Silverstein was intercepted by North Farmington’s Alonte Mayweather and the Raiders ran out the clock to preserve the victory.

Berkley coach Chris Sikora said the team played well overall, but the difference was the Bears made little mistakes at inopportune times.

“We moved the ball pretty consistently, but like we did at beginning of the third quarter we would drive all over them and then fumble,” Sikora said. “It’s the small things – we had the ball fourth-and-inches and jumped offside from the receiver spot. It’s the little things that made the difference.”

Silverstein finished with 146 yards on 5-of-14 passing with a touchdown and two interceptions, while running back Alec Sanom led the Bears with 74 yards rushing on 14 carries.

North Farmington will face a tough test in its next game Thursday night at 7 p.m. as it will travel to early OAA Blue frontrunner Birmingham Seaholm. Berkley will look to bounce back against Hazel Park the same night.

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-7235403322481510524/north-farmington-powers-by-berkley-24-6-in-oaa-blue-opener/#incart_flyout_hssports

Week 7 games to watch

 

1. Birmingham Seaholm (5-1, 5-0 OAA Blue) at Bloomfield Lahser (5-1, 5-0 OAA Blue) – This is the last scheduled regular season home game for Lahser, which is merging with Andover. Lahser got back in the column last week against Berkley, 35-27. The Maples are coming off a huge win over previously undefeated Avondale. Expect the Seaholm defense, led by Karl Marback and Dylan Kanaan, to spoil the Knights’ party.

Pick – Seaholm.

2. Farmington Hills Harrison (4-2, 3-2 OAA White) at Oak Park (6-0, 5-0 OAA White) – I have to admit I did not see this coming from Oak Park this year, but Greg Carter’s team has looked unstoppable so far. That continues at home against Harrison.

Pick – Oak Park

3. Berkley (2-4, 2-3 OAA Blue) at Hazel Park (4-2, 4-1 OAA Blue) – Berkley has played Lahser and Avondale tough in the last two weeks but couldn’t close the deal either time. Hazel Park suffered a setback last week in a non-league game with Country Day, but the Vikings continue to impress offensively. I don’t don’t think Berkley can score enough to keep pace in this one.

Pick – Hazel Park

4. Birmingham Groves (1-5, 1-5 OAA Blue) at Royal Oak (1-5, 1-4 OAA Blue) – This might not be the best matchup record wise this week, but it could be one of the most competitive. Royal Oak won last week against Ferndale and looks to continue its momentum in what will be the Ravens’ homecoming game. I just can’t see Groves not winning a game that wasn’t forfeited a year after going to the playoffs. This is the Falcons’ week.

Pick – Groves

5. Troy Athens (1-5, 1-4 OAA Red) at Rochester (4-2, 3-2 OAA Red) – This is a crucial game for Rochester, which has played very well against teams not ranked No. 1 or 2 in the state. The Falcons were blown out last week at Lake Orion and will be tested by an Athens team that’s better than its record indicates. Still, I like Rochester to rebound in the one. Look for a huge game for James Ward on the ground.

Pick – Rochester

Week 6 games to watch

1. Auburn Hills Avondale (5-0, 4-0 OAA Blue) at Birmingham Seaholm (4-1, 4-0 OAA Blue) – A matchup between two of the three teams with undefeated conference records in the OAA Blue (Lahser being the other.) Seaholm has had two weeks to prepare for this game as the Maples won by forfeit last week. The Seaholm defense has only allowed more than nine points once this season, but it will be tested by an Avondale team that can move the ball offensively and score a ton of points in a hurry. Avondale QB Spencer Smith and the Yellow Jackets’ RB tandem of Michael Johnson and Joshuwa Holloman have been almost unstoppable but this will be their biggest challenge so far. Expect a close game with the home team doing just enough to come out on top.

Pick – Seaholm

2. Berkley (2-3, 2-2 OAA Blue) at Bloomfield Hills Lahser (4-1, 4-0 OAA Blue) – Coming off a blowout non-conference loss at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Lahser must win this game to keep pace in the OAA Blue. Berkley is no pushover, losing by just two points to Avondale last week. However, I expected Lahser to play like a team with something to prove. Expect Lahser QB Spencer McCourt to bounce back and for the Knights to win this one at home.

Pick – Lahser

3. Detroit Country Day (4-1) at Hazel Park (4-1, 4-1 OAA Blue) – After being blown out by Avondale in Week 1, Hazel Park has rattled off four straight impressive wins. Last week against Royal Oak the Vikings rushed for 700 yards as a team in a 58-47 shootout win. Raeshaun Campbell, Gary Tyner and Deonte Bynum each had more than 200 yards on the ground for Hazel Park in that game and that trio will need to come up big again for the Vikings to have a chance to beat Country Day. In the end though the Country Day offense, which looked very impressive two weeks ago in a 35-21 win over Seaholm,  may prove to be too difficult for the Hazel Park defense to slow down.

Pick – Detroit Country Day

4. Rochester (4-1, 3-1 OAA Red) at Lake Orion (5-0, 4-0 OAA Red) – After last week’s dominant 38-0 win over Troy (and Detroit Cass Tech’s loss to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s) Lake Orion is now ranked No. 2 in the state for Division 1 behind Clarkston. The Dragons’ RB trio of Jacob Miller, Cory Ester and Zak Arnold once again proved to be unstoppable as all three had long touchdown runs in the win. Perhaps equally as impressive is the Lake Orion defense, which shut out a Troy team with a lot of weapons on offense. Rochester at 4-1 is having a nice season and looks like a good bet to make the playoffs, but the Falcons may simply be over matched in this one.

Pick – Lake Orion

5. Oxford (3-2, 3-1 OAA White) at Southfield (3-2, 2-2 OAA White) – Things looked bleak for Southfield at halftime of last week’s game at Farmington Hills Harrison. Down 17-0 going into the third quarter, the Bluejays needed to rally to stay alive in the OAA White race, and that’s exactly what they did. Southfield outscored Harrison 27-3 in the second half for a huge 27-20 comeback victory. Can the Bluejays keep that momentum going at home this week against a tough Oxford team that also beat Harrison and nearly knocked off Lake Orion? Yes they can.

Pick – Southfield