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4 HOOPS | SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

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2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 9 vs. Dexter, 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Novi, 7 p.m. Dec. 16 vs. Northville, 7 p.m. Dec. 19 vs. South Lyon East, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at Canton, 7 p.m. Jan. 13 vs. Plymouth, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at Howell, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 vs. Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 vs. Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 vs. Waterford Mott, 7 p.m.

COACH: DENNIS BUTCHER FIFTH SEASON

Feb. 20 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 26 vs. Milford, 7 p.m. March 3 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

2007-08 RECORD: 7-15, 4-6

March 5 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

ASSISTANT COACHES: JEFF MOHR, HARRY GLANZ TEAM TRAINER: MICHELLE MacPHERSON

Walled Lake Central Coach Dennis Butcher expects his Vikings to contend with Huron Valley Lakeland for the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division title. A man-to-man pressure defense should spark an up-tempo transition offense for the Vikings. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Central will lean on juniors Young, talented Vikings lacking in varsity experience t’s a new season in a new league for Head Coach Dennis Butcher and his Walled Lake Central Vikings. With a disappointing 2007 season now behind them, the allure of a fresh start in a new league with less travel is quite appealing. “It’s a mega conference comprised of four different divisions — North, South, Central and West,” Butcher says of the new Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA). “There are three divisions of six teams and one division with five. Our division (North) is comprised of (Huron Valley) Lakeland, the three Walled Lake schools — Northern, Central and

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Western — Waterford Mott and Kettering. We haven’t played Waterford Mott or Kettering in quite some time. They weren’t in our league, so it will be interesting.” Butcher said he believes Lakeland will be the team to beat in the North Division this year, as they return a host of players from a successful 2007-08 squad. “They have four if not all five starters back from last year,” he said. “They do a nice job and have a nice team. I’d like to believe it’s going to come down to being between us and Lakeland for the championship. That’s our goal.” In the same school district with Northern and Central, Butcher said he knows plenty about the Vikings’ close rivals. “We know them all pretty well, having to compete against them twice

each year,” he said. “It’s always a good challenge, always a good game — a rivalry game with them. We’ll play each game one at a time and see what happens.” The 2008-09 season brings some new players to the Central varsity team. “We’ve got some very good young talent but they don’t have varsity experience,” Butcher said. “We’ll be relying on our junior players.” Joe Zubrickas, a 6-4 forward/center, will handle the “paint work” for the Vikings. “He’s a pretty good athlete who jumps really well,” Butcher said. “He’s key for us taking care of inside duties and rebounding and playing a lot of roles.” Running the Vikings offense will be 5-11 point guard Joe Diamond. “He’s going to have to lead the

team,” Butcher said. “He’s quick and he can get to the basket pretty well.” The lone senior on Butcher’s squad is 6-foot Jordan Anderson at guard. “He’ll be called on to do a lot of scoring,” Butcher said. “He’s a tireless worker. He’s like the Energizer Bunny out there.” The Vikings will also lean on sophomore Justin Kucera, a 6-foot guard/forward, and junior Jake Paulson, a 6-3 shooting guard to contribute. Butcher said he plans on running a straight up, man-to-man defense with plenty of pressure and ball denial, which should lead the way to an uptempo offense. The Vikings will open their season on Dec. 9 against Dexter. ❏ — Mark H. Stowers

2008-09 | HOOPS 5

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6 HOOPS | SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

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2008-09 | HOOPS 7

2008-09 hoops preview

Knights up for new challenges Goal-oriented Northern aiming for city, division titles he Walled Lake Northern Knights would prefer to use more than one hand to count their wins this year. And to do so they are setting lofty team goals for the 200809 season. “One of our goals is to be the first Walled Lake Northern boys team to beat a Walled Lake Central boys team,” said Head Coach Pete Rabaut. “And we want to win the city title. That’s never been done here. And we want to compete in the division.” Playing in the new Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) will bring plenty of challenges to the young Northern team, but Rabaut and his Knights are up for the challenge. “We were very young last year,” he said. “We had an ugly first half but a great second half from a competitive standpoint. And we’re going to be much improved this year.” The player who may shoulder much of the burden will be junior shooting guard Leroy Jackson. “Leroy was our leading scorer last year and should be our leading scorer this year,” Rabaut said. Marshall Harris, a 6-5 junior, will help fill the lane. “He plays inside and out for me depending on what we’re doing offensively,” Rabaut said. “He plays the post but also has outside range. He can shoot the three, and he’s a nice combination player for me.” The only senior for the Knights will be 5-9 point guard Blake Soulet. “Blake really worked on his game in the off-season,” Rabaut said. “He’s a great leader and he really committed himself to basketball.” According to Rabaut, he’ll rely on 6-4 junior Brian Johnston to handle the hard work under the basket. “He led us in rebounding as a sophomore,” he said. “He really works the glass for us. He’s very physical and has a mid-range jumper.” The new league brings challenges that the Knights are more than willing to meet. “It’s exciting for us to be in the KLAA,” Rabaut said. “We’re in the North Division along with (Walled Lake) Western and Central and Waterford Mott and Kettering, as well as (Huron Valley) Lakeland just down the road from us.” Like other coaches in the division, Rabaut said he sees Lakeland as the

T

8 HOOPS | SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

COACH: PETE RABAUT SECOND SEASON 2007-08 RECORD: 3-18, 2-10 ASSISTANT COACH: JOHN STEPEK

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 9 at Holly, 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Northville, 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at Novi, 7 p.m. Dec. 19 vs. South Lyon, 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at Pinckney, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at Hartland, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 vs. Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 13 vs. Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Milford, 7 p.m. Feb. 26 vs. Howell, 7 p.m. March 3 at KLAA crossover, 7 p.m. March 5 at KLAA crossover, 7 p.m.

Look for the Walled Lake Northern Knights to push the ball on the offense, which could lead to some highscoring games. Coach Pete Rabaut says this year's team will use more man-to-man defense than last year. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard) measuring stick for the conference. “A lot of that credit goes to their coaching and to their two guards,” he said. “They have a good backcourt with all-league players from last year.”

Rabaut said the Knights will play a lot more man-to-man defense than last year and will push the ball on offense, which should lead to some high-scoring games this season.

Northern opens the season at Holly on Dec. 9. A difficult opening stint puts the Knights on the road for six of their first seven games. ❏ – Michael Shelton

2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 9 vs. Novi, 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at South Lyon, 7 p.m. Dec. 19 vs. Pinckney, 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at Livonia Churchill, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 vs. Northville, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at Brighton, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 vs. Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Howell, 7 p.m. Feb. 26 vs. Hartland, 7 p.m. March 3 at KLAA Crossover, TBA. March 5 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

COACH: DARRIN JENNINGS FOURTH SEASON 2007-08 RECORD: 12-10, 5-5 ASSISTANT COACH: AL INGMAN

The Walled Lake Western Warriors have embraced Coach Darrin Jennings’ new motion offense. The Warriors, who have two starters returning, plan to press opponents with a man-to-man defensive scheme. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Western emphasizes hard work Jennings says Warriors can be as good as they want ith only two returning starters, a young corps, a new offensive system and a move to a new league, Walled Lake Western is looking to surprise its naysayers. “I told the kids we will determine our destiny in terms of our work ethic every day in practice and we can be as good as we want to be or a rebuilding team,” said Western Coach Darrin Jennings. “I asked them which path are we going to choose.” Jennings is giving the Warriors the tools to work with, including a new motion offense, a departure from the set plays they previously ran. “The kids already love it,” Jennings

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said. “Defensively, we’re a man-toman team. We’ll full-court and halfcourt press you.” Jennings said he’s looking forward to his team competing in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division. “We normally play (Kensington Valley Conference) teams as our nonleague games and now we’re together in the league,” he said. “I think it will be challenging. It should be one strong, powerhouse league.” Western’s two lone returning starters are seniors and three-year varsity players Edison Vushaj (center) and Ryan Sitto (shooting guard). “Edison’s fundamental skills have improved quite a bit and I think he’s going to bring some leadership to us, as well,” Jennings said. “He’s going to be really tough to deal with inside

because of his strength.” Jennings described Sitto as a very intelligent player with great court sense, and a good ball-handler who has improved his shooting. Players looking to fill Western’s voids include Evan Woods, a senior transfer student who stands 5-8 but has the agility of former NBA player Spud Webb. “He’s got one of the highest verticals I’ve ever seen, near 40 inches. He dunks everything he can,” Jennings said. Another player to watch is junior point guard Calvin Carey. “He has great ball-handling with both the right and left hands, has good court awareness, is an excellent passer and a great up-and-coming defender,” Jennings said. Marcus Sanders, a 6-2 junior,

knows what to do with the ball when he gets it, according to Jennings. Key players off the bench include junior shooting guard Andrew Wood. “He’s a very good three-point shooter. It doesn’t take him very long to get a shot off and he’s just a natural out there,” Jennings said. Point guard Nick Lewin is a very good shooter with a nice range, according to Jennings, and will be a great compliment to Carey. Western will open the season on Dec. 9 at home against Novi before traveling to South Lyon on Dec. 16. The Warriors KLAA opener at Walled Lake Central is Jan. 20. Also scheduled are rematches against last year’s district playoff foes Hartland (Feb. 26 at home) and at Brighton (Jan. 16). ❏ — Michael Shelton

2008-09 | HOOPS 9

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2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 9 vs. Livonia Franklin, 7 p.m. Dec. 16 vs. Rochester, 7 p.m. Dec. 18 vs. Novi, 7 p.m. Dec. 30 at Westland John Glenn Classic, 1 p.m. Jan. 9 vs. Hartland, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at Pinckney, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 vs. Waterford Mott at Oakland University, 8 p.m. Jan. 27 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 vs. Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m.

COACH: BRIAN TASS FOURTH SEASON

Feb. 3 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m.

2007-08 RECORD: 8-13, 7-5

Feb. 13 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m.

ASSISTANT COACH: JAYSON COMBS

Feb. 6 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Waterford Mott, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Hartland, 7 p.m. Feb. 26 vs. Brighton, 7 p.m. March 3 at KLAA Crossover, TBA. March 5 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

The Waterford Kettering Captains will begin the 2008-09 season with four straight home games. Coach Brian Tass will use an up-tempo, penetration offense and an aggressive half-court defense this season. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Captains like chances in KLAA Tass says Kettering will be able to win in new league fter finishing below .500 in the tough Oakland Activities Association (OAA) Division III last season, Waterford Kettering is looking to make noise in the new Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA). “I think we can win against every team in the conference — there’s a lot of equalness,” said Kettering Coach Brian Tass. “We’ll make a run this year.” The key to the Captains’ success

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this season will be the play of center Kevin Truitt and point guard Scott Rodgers, both seniors. “They are both scorers, handle the ball well and are very good defenders,” Tass said. “I thought last year they improved as the season went on. This year they should be more consistent because they had a great summer. They were both on travel AAU teams and were in the gym as long as it was open.” Also expected to step up is senior forward Kiril Valtchev, a two-year varsity starter. “He’s an excellent athlete who can score inside and outside,” Tass said. “I like the fact that he got better defensively and if he improves his shot,

he’ll be a threat all over the place. “These seniors were the freshmen four years ago and have developed nicely,” he said. “They are basketball lovers who love to win and hate to lose. It will be fun to coach these guys.” Junior Kendall Smith will see time at both the guard and forward positions. “He played as a sophomore last year and scored about seven points a night,” Tass said. “We’re expecting a more diversified game from him, and for him to dribble drive. He’s also a pretty good shooter.” The Captains are expecting big things from senior guard Tim Viravouth, a two-year varsity player.

“He’s developing and should have his best year this year,” Tass said. Also on the radar is junior point guard Zac Lizotte, whom Tass said may see time at a wing position. “We’re looking to play an up-tempo offense and try to penetrate quite a bit,” Tass said. “We’ll also play some aggressive half-court defense.” The Captains will open the season with a four-game homestand beginning Dec. 9 against Livonia Franklin. Kettering’s first KLAA matchup will be on Jan. 20 at Huron Valley Lakeland. The Captains’ first meeting against arch-rival Waterford Mott will be played on Jan. 23 at Oakland University. ❏ — Michael Shelton

2008-09 | HOOPS 11

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2008-09 hoops preview

Mott ‘not real big,’ but athletic Corsairs will push ball up court due to relatively small size fter falling in last year’s district final to Clarkston, the Waterford Mott Corsairs look to go one step further this season. With a 5-5 league record last season in the Oakland Activities Association (OAA) Division 3, Mott will now play in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA), where the Corsairs will be in the North Division with rival Waterford Kettering and other area schools. “We’re looking to make a statement in our first year in the new league and we’re excited to establish some closeto-home rivalries,” said Mott Coach Derek Wiley. Leading the charge for Mott this season will be 6-5 senior center Troy Taylor. “He played the post last year, and he improved his outside game and can play the perimeter more,” Wiley said. Junior John Schaeffer will man the point guard position after starting as a sophomore last season. “As the year went on, he got better and better and hopefully he’ll score more,” Wiley said. The third starter will be junior forward Jake Wardach, whom Wiley considers a role player. “He does all the little things and needs to continue rebounding and play defense,” he said. Also expected to step up is senior Marc Pressley, who is coming off a stellar season at running back for the Mott varsity football team. “Marc is quite the athlete. He started a little bit for us last year,” Wiley said of Pressley, who will play mostly center as a sixth man. “We’re looking for big things from him and he needs to give his best effort all the time. He has taken on a leadership role during the football season.” Also returning is junior guard Emmanuel Simpson, who made the varsity squad as a sophomore last season and will be looked to as another sixth man off the bench. “We’re trying more of an up-tempo game because we’re not real big, but we’re athletic,” Wiley said. “We’ll play a full-court press defense and we’re looking to push the ball on offense.” Mott will open the season at home on Dec. 9 against Milford and will then face Grand Blanc on Dec. 12. The Corsairs’ KLAA North Division opener will be on Jan. 20 against Walled Lake Northern. The Corsairs will tangle twice with

2008-09

Hoops Schedule

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Dec. 9 vs. Milford, 7 p.m. Dec. 12 vs. Grand Blanc, 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at Ferndale, 7 p.m. Dec. 29 at Westland John Glenn Classic, TBA. Jan. 9 at Thurston, 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at Rochester, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 vs. Waterford Kettering at Oakland University, 8 p.m. Jan. 27 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 vs. Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Brighton, 7 p.m. Feb. 26 vs. Pinckney, 7 p.m. March 3 at KLAA Crossover, TBA. March 5 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

COACH: DEREK WILEY FOURTH SEASON 2007-08 RECORD: 14-8, 5-5 ASSISTANT COACHES: JEFF JAYSON CHARLIE SHIRES

The Corsairs of Waterford Mott want to make a statement in their first year playing in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association, according to Coach Derek Wiley. A game against rival Waterford Kettering at Oakland University will be a season highlight. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard) their Kettering rivals, including Jan. 23 at Oakland University (OU). “It’s being called ‘The Backyard

Battle,’” Wiley said of the game at OU. “It has been in the works since last year and we’re going to try to promote

it as much as we can. We’re hoping for a big turnout.” ❏ — Michael Shelton

2008-09 | HOOPS 13

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2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 10 vs. Michigan School for the Deaf, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 vs. Oakland Christian, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at Loyola, TBA. Dec. 19 at Roeper, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at Conner Creek East, 7 p.m. Jan. 13 vs. TBA. Jan. 16 at Mt. Carmel, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Riverview Gabriel Richard, TBA. Jan. 23 vs. Cardinal Mooney, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 vs. Cabrini, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 vs. Urban Lutheran, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Franklin Road Christian, 7:30 p.m.

COACH: JODY PARADIS FOURTH SEASON

Feb. 5 at West Bloomfield Jewish Academy, TBA. Feb. 10 vs. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 7:30 p.m.

2007-08 RECORD: 7-13, 1-7

Feb. 13 at Cardinal Mooney, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at Cabrini, TBA. Mar. 3 at Holly, 7:30 p.m.

ASSISTANT COACH: GREG ALVIS TEAM TRAINER: DAN SELAHOWSKI

Our Lady of the Lakes Coach Jody Paradis will spread the floor with a five-guard, attack-the-basket offense. The Lakers will employ a full-court pressing defense to disrupt opponents. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Young, small and hopeful Our Lady will rely on underclassmen and a sole senior ith youth comes hope. And after a season where losses nearly doubled wins, the Lakers of Our Lady of the Lakes are quite hopeful. Coming off of a tough 2007-08 season, the Lakers will put a young team on the court for 2008-09. “I had a very senior-oriented team last year with seven or eight seniors,” said Head Coach Jody Paradis. “So I’ve got a very young team this year. I had to bring up some kids off of the junior varsity last year due to injuries.” This year’s varsity roster is made up of three sophomores, seven juniors and a lone senior. John Kroll, a 6-1 jun-

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ior point guard, will be relied upon heavily. “He has a ton of experience,” Paradis said. “He started probably 10 games as a sophomore and I actually think he’ll be one of the top players in the league this year. He’s solid and very quick and will be a tough matchup for anyone.” Derrick Sant will spend time at the two guard spot. “He has a real good basketball IQ and has great fundamentals,” Paradis said. The team’s lone senior, Connor Spence, is a 5-10 point guard. “We have a very small line-up so he’ll see a lot of time at the three guard,” Paradis said. The Lakers will rely on 6-3, 250pound Shawn Mersino to hold down the post. “I think he’s going to contribute

considerably as a junior,” Paradis said. “He’s very mobile and has a very positive attitude. He’s one of those ‘run-through-a-brick-wall’ kids.” One sophomore who’ll come off the bench will be Austin Karbowski. According to Paradis, the 5-11 shooter has worked hard to help the team. “He can shoot the threes and he has a very high basketball IQ,” he said. “He did a lot for us in our team camp this summer against varsity athletes as a freshman. Once he catches up physically and gains some strength, he’s really going to blossom in to a varsity player. He’s a pure shooter.” Due to their small size, the Lakers will put a five-guard offense on the floor this year. “We are going to spread the floor and have an attack-the-basket type of

offense,” Paradis said. “We’ll run a lot of back cuts and back screens.” Defensively, the Lakers hope to create havoc with a full-court pressing defense. The Lakers are competing in the tough Catholic League East Division against Cabrini, Riverview Gabriel Richard and Marine City Cardinal Moody. “I give the edge to Cardinal Moody,” Paradis said. “They’ve got a couple of post players returning. One was All-Catholic League last year. They have a lot of experience returning. From there it’s probably a toss up between us and Cabrini.” Our Lady opens the season on Dec. 10 with a visit from Flint but is looking at the Dec. 12 home game against Oakland Christian as a “true season opener.” ❏ — Mark H. Stowers

2008-09 | HOOPS 15

2008-09 hoops preview COACH: BOB BRUGGER TENTH SEASON 2007-08 RECORD: 18-4, 12-2 ASSISTANT COACHES: TODD KALMBACH PHIL FUGATE CURTIS ETHERTON

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 9 vs. Lake Orion, 7 p.m. Dec. 16 vs. Birmingham Groves, 7 p.m. Dec. 19 vs. Howell, 7 p.m. Dec. 26 at Motor City Roundball Classic, 7 p.m. Dec. 29 at Motor City Roundball Classic, 5:15 p.m. Jan. 6 at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Milford, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 vs. Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 vs. Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 13 vs. Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Pinckney, 7 p.m. Mar. 3 at KLAA Crossover, TBA. Mar. 5 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

Lakeland’s guard-oriented offense won’t be boring to watch this season, according to Coach Bob Brugger. He said his team will spread the court and use its quickness during possessions. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Eagles tapping hunger, anger Lakeland has four starters returning for this season ith four returning starters and the memory of last year’s exit in the district playoffs still fresh in their minds, the Huron Valley Lakeland Eagles are on a mission for championship banners this season. “Hopefully that will make us hungrier and angrier, because we have a bad taste in our mouths,” said Lakeland Coach Bob Brugger. “If we play smart, hard and together, we’ll be a very tough team to beat. I think if things don’t go well, it will be because we were our own worst enemies.” The Eagles finished 18-4 last season, but finished second in the Kensington Valley Conference (KVC) behind Novi and was knocked out in

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16 HOOPS | SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

the district semi-finals by Walled Lake Central. Now Lakeland looks to take charge in the new Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division. “I’m in favor of change,” Brugger said. “Sometimes it gets stale when you’re playing the same teams year in and year out, and I like the change in terms of playing some Waterford schools and Walled Lake schools.” The focus for Lakeland will be senior guards Michael Fugate and Blake Heiman. Fugate was the 2008 KVC Player of Year who averaged 19 points and eight rebounds a game, and has a fullride scholarship to play at Saginaw Valley State University. Heiman was named to the 2008 All-KVC First Team by averaging 16 points and seven rebounds a game. “This is their team and it’s their time not only to lead the stat sheets,

but also huddles, time outs and practice,” Brugger said. “Senior leadership is very important. Mike and Blake’s main job is to not allow us to be complacent.” Senior forward Brett Burmeister was named to the All-KVC Second Team last season, while senior guard Matt Acitelli is the Eagles’ threepoint specialist. “If you leave one of those guys open, they can nail the three,” Brugger said. “They are guys that will open up lanes for Mike and Blake. So you have to guard them. It’s a nice mesh.” Junior Eric Palanca stands 6-4 and is expected by Brugger to rebound, play tough defense, and then have the ability to score off penetration from the guards. “He has a lot of potential, good hand-eye coordination, a good basketball body and can get some garbage buckets for us,” Brugger said.

Also expected to step up is sophomore guard Josh Fugate, Michael’s brother, whom Brugger regards as having a high basketball IQ and as one of the team’s best shooters. Senior Justin Rall, at 6-2, is expected to be an important role player off the bench and play aggressive defense. Brugger said Lakeland’s offense is very guard-oriented and will spread the court. “You will not see our offense standing still, and it won’t be boring,” he said. “There are not many teams in the county quicker than us and we’re going to use that to our advantage.” The Eagles will run a full-court defense. Brugger said ball pressure is the No. 1 goal on the defensive end. “We’re going to make it miserable for the opposing team’s ballhandlers, get in the passing lanes, and get some steals,” he said. ❏ — Michael Shelton

2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

COACH: CHIP LUTZ SECOND SEASON

Hoops Schedule

2007-08 RECORD: 7-14, 4-10

Dec. 9 at Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Livonia Franklin, 7 p.m. Dec. 29 vs. South Lyon East at The Palace, 3 p.m.

ASSISTANT COACH: MIKE STEVENSON

Jan. 9 at Hazel Park, 7 p.m. Jan. 12 vs. Farmington Hills Harrison, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Hartland, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 vs. Brighton, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Howell, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 vs. Burton Bentley, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Pinckney, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 vs. Hartland, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Brighton, 7 p.m. Feb. 13 vs. Howell, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at Brandon, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Pinckney, 7 p.m. Feb. 23 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Mar. 3 at KLAA Crossover, TBA Mar. 5 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

Milford Coach Chip Lutz wants his Mavericks to engage opponents by pressuring the ball on defense, and to run the floor with an up-tempo, transition offense or a motion half-court set. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Mavericks happy to start anew Playing in the KLAA gives Milford a shot at fresh challenges he new Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) conference has realigned many local schools and created new rivalries. But for some area teams, it’s also a fresh start. The Huron Valley Milford Mavericks would rather forget their 2007-08 7-14 record and focus on the challenge of starting anew. “We graduated our top four guards, so we’re thin on experience,” said Head Coach Chip Lutz. But the Mavericks do return their top scorer from last season — Nate Kesto, a 6-1 senior guard.

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“He averaged 11 points a game last year and led us in rebounds,” Lutz said. “He had the best free throw percentage. He definitely has the potential to score and we’re going be looking to him a lot.” Other Mavericks to keep an eye on this year include seniors Art Dreimanis, a 5-11 guard, and Ed Joynt, a 6-4 center. “Art came off the bench for us last year,” Lutz said. “He shoots the three-point shot very well and he’s tough off the dribble. He’s probably our best defender, as well. And Joynt is a very ‘long player.’ He’s got long arms that make him a good rebounder and shot blocker. He’s a good defender and for a big guy he gets up and down the floor really well.” One newcomer, sophomore guard

Joey Miller, will be looked upon to use his 5-10 frame on the defensive end of the floor. “He’s pretty physical,” Lutz said. “He’s a strong kid, he’s a good defender, handles the ball well and is tough off the dribble. He’s a dribbledrive threat and he’ll surprise some folks this year.” According to Lutz, Hartland is the cream of the crop in the KLAA West Division. “Hartland has to be the favorite,” he said. “They are returning everybody. They’ve got a Division I prospect. Brighton will have a solid team with a three-year starter at point guard. We, Pinckney and Howell will be competitive.” Defensively, the Mavericks will

apply man-to-man pressure. “We like to pressure the ball and deny passing lanes,” Lutz said. “We’re not a pressing team but in the halfcourt we like to engage people and bring the pressure to them.” And with most pressure defenses, Lutz will be looking to tune his offense to run. “We’ll be an up-tempo team,” he said. “We like to run the floor and score in transition or a secondary break. In our halfcourt set we’ll run a motion offense.” The Mavericks open the season on the road Dec. 9 at Waterford Mott. One season highlight for the Mavs will be a Dec. 29 game at The Palace of Auburn Hills against South Lyon. ❏ — Mark H. Stowers

2008-09 | HOOPS 17

2008-09 hoops preview

Eaglets have set the bar high St. Mary’s looking to surpass last year’s accomplishments fter a memorable 2008 season that included a Catholic League title, a city championship and a regional crown, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s will have to go the extra mile this season to accomplish those same feats and more. “I think to accomplish a lot we have to shoot well and play good defense, and rebounding is going to be key because we’re not as big,” said St. Mary’s Coach George Porritt. “Our guards have to rebound and we have to get loose balls. We have good kids and they’ll play hard, I’ll tell you that. It all depends on how fast we grow.” The center of attention for the Eaglets this season will be senior forward/center Dion Sims, who is coming off his first season since transferring from the University of Detroit-Jesuit. “He’s a big, strong forward that we need to get the ball to, and he’s tough around the glass,” Porritt said. “I think he’s improved his game and he’s bigger and stronger than he was last year. The focus will be on him but I think he’s ready for it.” Sims is being recruited by numerous colleges for football and basketball and is weighing his options until at least the end of the basketball season. Another U of D transfer, senior Jeff Jones, will make his debut this season for the Eaglets. “He’s a slasher and I think he’ll help us out,” Porritt said. The breakout player for the Eaglets is expected to be sophomore Juwan Moody, whom Porritt said can shoot the ball well and should be a big scorer for St. Mary’s. Also returning will be senior Suave Lavallis at small forward and junior Gary Hunter at point guard. “Gary has been the catalyst and is the one who gets things going,” Porritt said. “He’s very quick and puts a lot of pressure on the other team’s ball handlers.” After seeing some action last season, juniors Mike Furlong (forward) and Evan Webster (guard) will be expected to step up their game in 2009. “Furlong can knock down shots and we need him to rebound and play good defense, and Webster is a smart ball player,” Porritt said. Sophomore CJ Mwila is also expected to contribute at shooting guard. According to Porritt, St. Mary’s main offense is a 41-set, which is four out, one

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18 HOOPS | SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

COACH: GEORGE PORRITT NINETEENTH SEASON 2007-08 RECORD: 19-6, 6-4 ASSISTANT COACHES: KRIS DAILEK LEN KARSCHNIA TODD COVERT

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 9 vs. Berkley, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 vs. Saginaw at Saginaw Valley State University, TBA Jan. 6 at Flint Powers Catholic, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at Davison, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 vs. Birmingham Brother Rice, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Warren De La Salle, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at Dearborn Divine Child, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at Detroit Jesuit, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 vs. Detroit Catholic Central, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Birmingham Brother Rice, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Detroit Country Day, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 vs. Warren De La Salle, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Dearborn Divine Child, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 vs. Detroit Jesuit, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at CHSL Quarterfinals, TBA. Feb. 24 at CHSL Semifinals, TBA. Mar. 1 at CHSL Championship, TBA. Mar. 8 at Operation Friendship, TBA.

A demanding schedule will provide a real challenge to the St. Mary’s Eaglets, as they try to accomplish more than last year’s successful team. Coach George Porritt said effective rebounding by his guards will be important this season. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard) in. He said the Eaglets will run a pressure-man defense. “We have to be a little more uptempo this year, we have to push the ball a lot more, because we’re going to be playing against bigger people,” he said. “We still have to do the little things like take care of the ball, and

half-court defense at times, so we can get the ball to Dion and make his inside presence felt.” St. Mary’s will once again be tested by a demanding schedule that not only includes Catholic League foes such as Birmingham Brother Rice and Warren De La Salle, but also a matchup

against Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard and a trip to play Saginaw, the two-time defending Class A state champion. “I look at the schedule and it has me worried because there are a lot of good teams,” Porritt said. “But, it will be fun and interesting.” ❏ — Michael Shelton

2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 9 at Birmingham Groves, 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Walt Keener Classic, 6 p.m. Dec. 18 vs. Avondale, 7 p.m. Dec. 26 vs. Detroit Southeastern at Macomb Community College, 7:15 p.m. Dec. 29 at Motor City Classic, 7:15 p.m. Jan. 6 vs. Oak Park, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at Southfield, 7 p.m. Jan. 15 vs. Lathrup, 7 p.m.

COACH: ANDRE WHITE SECOND SEASON

Jan. 18 at Martin Luther King Classic, TBA.

2007-08 RECORD: 15-6, 7-3

Jan. 30 at Clarkston, 7 p.m.

Jan. 20 vs. Pontiac Central, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 vs. Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at North Farmington, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Oak Park, 7 p.m. Feb. 13 vs. Southfield, 7 p.m.

ASSISTANT COACHES: GARY BLAKE STEPHON WAITES LAVELL RIVERS

Feb. 17 at Lathrup, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Pontiac Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Northern, 7 p.m. Mar. 3 vs. Clarkston, 7 p.m. Mar. 5 vs. North Farmington, 7 p.m.

West Bloomfield Coach Andre White expects his Lakers to play better on both ends of the court this season. The Lakers will use a full-court, man-toman defense and hope to convert easy baskets on transition. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Schedule to challenge Lakers West Bloomfield must play well to contend in OAA fter finishing with an impressive 15-6 record under firstyear coach Andre White, the West Bloomfield Lakers look to take it to a higher level this season. “Last year was a process of them getting to know me and this year I think they understand my philosophy and know what I want,” White said. “I expect them to play better defensively and offensively.” The Lakers will again have their hands full in the tough Oakland Activities Association (OAA) Division I against foes like Pontiac Northern, Clarkston, and the team that eliminated them from the district playoffs last

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season, North Farmington. “Our division is probably the toughest in the state,” White said. “We’ll have to play our best every night, but I think we’ll have a chance.” West Bloomfield lost All-OAA First-Team selections Rodrick Hurst and Josh Eichelberger to graduation, but will be led by 6-7 senior Mike Martin, who has committed to play at Alcorn State in Mississippi next year. “He’s an outstanding defensive player who can rebound and he runs the floor extremely well,” White said. “He needs to use his footwork all the time on the offensive end.” Also returning to the Lakers for their senior year are the Credit brothers, Antonio and Antwaan. At 6-6, Antonio averaged 6.6 rebounds per game last season and will split time between the center and

forward positions. “He’s a very good player and his game has blossomed,” White said. “He’s improved his ball handling and his shooting.” White said Antwaan has improved his shooting, but needs to work on his ball handling and decision-making. Also expected to come back improved is senior guard Tyler Sarter. “Last year he was thrown into the fire and was trying to learn,” White said. “This year I think he has a better understanding when it comes to leading the team.” Chris Hurst, a 6-3 senior, is also expected to see more action after starting for half of last season. “He’s grown about a couple inches. He’s very explosive, has great athletic ability and is more consistent in

his game,” White said. The Lakers have a possible breakout player in senior guard Eric Ellis. “He’s really going to help us,” White said. “He’s an outstanding athlete who is really quick and can defend and score.” Joining the Lakers is 6-3 junior David Toole, a transfer from Warren Woods-Tower. “He’s an outstanding athlete, he just needs to be more fundamentally sound,” White said. West Bloomfield looks to play a fullcourt, man-to-man defense and hopes it will create a lot of easy baskets and a lot of breaks on transition. The Lakers open the season on Dec. 9 at Birmingham Groves. Their home opener is Dec. 18 against Auburn Hills Avondale. ❏ — Michael Shelton

2008-09 | HOOPS 19

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2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 2 vs. Westland John Glenn, 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at South Lyon East, 7 p.m. Dec. 9 vs. Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Dec. 12 vs. Wayne Memorial, 7 p.m. Dec. 29 vs. South Lyon East at The Palace, 1 p.m. Jan. 6 at Farmington Hills Harrison, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Jan. 13 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Hartland, 5:30 p.m.

COACH: DON PALMER THIRTY-SECOND SEASON

Jan. 23 at Brighton, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 vs. Howell, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

2007-08 RECORD: 11-10, 8-6

Feb. 3 at Pinckney, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 vs. Hartland, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Brighton, 7 p.m.

ASSISTANT COACH: ROB STEVENSON

Feb. 13 at Howell, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 vs. Pinckney, 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at KLAA Crossover, 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at KLAA Crossover, 7 p.m.

Milford’s Lady Mavericks intend to maintain the momentum established at the end of the 2007-08 season. Coach Don Palmer said his young but experienced team will get even better as the season progresses. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Milford young but seasoned Lady Mavs’ previous supporting cast taking center stage ast season, Huron Valley Milford achieved a goal that hadn’t been accomplished since 2002 — a winning season ending with an overall record of 11-10. The Lady Mavericks won their last five league games before losing to Brighton, a regional finalist, by only five points. “Our team played very, very well,” said Coach Don Palmer. “The game went down to the last 90 seconds. We lost, but it was a good effort by our kids.” Palmer said he hopes is players will be able to continue the momentum established last year and have another winning season. Although Milford has lost four seniors who accounted for over 60 percent of the offense, Palmer will have eight players with varsity experience this year.

L

“We are a young team, but we have some experience,” he said. “We are looking for some of the younger players to make a contribution quickly. Last year these girls were mainly a supporting cast. Now we need them to become major players.” Palmer is also looking for his two returning seniors to elevate their play and provide leadership for the younger girls. This will be the third year on the varsity team for both Mellissa Bageris and Taylor Prokes. Bageris led the team in threepoint shooting last season, making 14 threes. Out of necessity, Bageris has played point guard, but Palmer said he hopes to move her to the shooting guard position this season. Prokes is a strong rebounder at the post. She averaged about five rebounds a game last year. Prokes can also move out to the wing as she is a very good mid-range shooter. Both girls averaged about five points a game last year; however, Palmer said he’s hoping they will

score more this year. The Lady Mavs have four sophomores, and all, with the exception of one, have some varsity experience. Patience Santini was moved up to the varsity at the end of her freshman year. “I think her time on the varsity last season benefited her,” Palmer said. “Patience is a very explosive athlete in terms of strength and quickness, and we look for her to be a strong inside player.” Another sophomore who played a couple games with the varsity last year is Lindsey Bandyk. Palmer said he expects Bandyk will have a big impact on the team as its point guard. “She has very good instincts for the game,” he said. “She has all those intangibles that you can’t get from coaching. It just comes naturally to her.” Palmer said he hopes to win early in the season in order to establish some confidence. “We have five games in the first

two weeks of the season,” he said. “We need to win so that the girls feel good about themselves.” Those early games include a meeting with South Lyon on Dec. 4. Other teams Milford will be competing against are the other four teams in their division of the new Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA): Hartland, Howell, Pinckney, and Brighton, the league favorite and winner of the Kensington Valley Conference (KVC) for the last eight years. Although his team is young, Palmer said it will have a good chance at a winning season this year. “We may not be as good as we were last year, but we will be a team that gets better as we go,” he said. “A young team is always exciting because the one thing that is consistent is their inconsistency. And to be able to help them grow and succeed as individuals and a team is very rewarding.” ❏ — Angela Niemi

2008-09 | HOOPS 21

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2008-09 | HOOPS 23

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2008-09 hoops preview

Lady Eagles have experience Lakeland hopes to improve defense, finish in transition uron Valley Lakeland finished third in the Kensington Valley Conference (KVC) last year, behind co-champs Brighton and Novi. This year the Lady Eagles will be participating in the North Division of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA), making for an exciting and new league schedule for 2008-09. “All our division games will be tough and important because it’s the first time we are playing these schools with a title on the line,” said Coach Mike Head. “We’re excited to play our neighbors twice a year for the division title as opposed to the past when these were only non-league games.” In addition to division play, Lakeland will still compete against rival Milford. The Lady Eagles have a challenging schedule for the first four games of the season. They opened their season at home against North Farmington, a Class A state semi-finalist last year, on Dec. 2; and have games against Lake Orion, Southfield, and Howell to follow. According to Head, the challenging early schedule will give his team an idea of how good it is and what it needs to improve in order to do well in the new league. Two things Head said he hopes to improve from last year are better execution of the defensive strategy, and finishing better in transition. The Lady Eagles have five returning seniors this season, as well as a returning junior. Senior guard Maghan Kunze is the most experienced player and has started 65 games in a row. Jessica Duleba is also a senior guard. According to Head, she’s the team’s most improved player. “Jessica has really committed herself to becoming a contributor,” he said. “She had a great summer, and while she can score from the outside, she has been really aggressive inside the key.” Head describes junior Amy Carlton as a “sneaky, quick guard who can handle the ball in all situations.” As the Lady Eagles’ best defender, Carlton will be a key component in Lakeland’s defense. Another aggressive defensive player is senior Kyleigh Leist, an outside scorer who can be dangerous when she gets into a rhythm. Bringing toughness and passion to the court is senior forward Katie O’Leary. This will be O’Leary’s fourth year on the varsity team, and she will

H

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 2 vs. North Farmington, 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Lake Orion, 7 p.m. Dec. 8 vs. Southfield, 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at Howell, 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at Birmingham Groves, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 vs. Pinckney, 7 p.m. Jan. 12 vs. Notre Dame Prep, 7 p.m. Jan. 15 vs. Milford, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 vs. Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Jan. 29 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 vs. Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

COACH: MIKE HEAD FOURTH SEASON 2007-08 RECORD: 11-10, 9-5 ASSISTANT COACHES: DAVE BROWNE MIKE LEITHEIM, MIKE HAND TRAINER JEN KASEMEYER

Feb. 26 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

A tough schedule early on will help the Lady Eagles of Lakeland determine where they need to improve in order to make a splash in the new Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division. Coach Mike Head has five seniors and a junior returning for the 2008-09 season. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard) lead the Lady Eagles on the boards with her aggressive rebounding. The primary point guard for the team will be senior guard Kelly Miller. “Kelly had a strong summer, and she really leads our transition offense by pushing the ball up the court,” Head said. Lakeland also has a couple of tal-

ented newcomers. Sophomore Stephanie Lock will be a differencemaker in the paint. Junior guard Lauren Maxwell plays aggressively and is a competitive athlete. “She fits well with our mix of athletic guards, and she can really light it up from the outside,” Head said. “But she is fearless when attacking the basket.”

Head said it’s important that his players “are ready to battle hard each night, to play as a team, and to represent our student body in a positive way.” If the Lady Eagles can do those things, Head said he thinks the team will be a significant presence in the KLAA. ❏ — Angela Niemi

2008-09 | HOOPS 25

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26 HOOPS | SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

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2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 2 vs. Avondale, 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Pontiac Central, 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at Detroit Community, 7 p.m. Dec. 16 vs. North Farmington, 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at Southfield, 7 p.m. Dec. 26 at Motor City Classic, 12 p.m. Jan. 8 vs. Lathrup, 7 p.m. Jan. 13 vs. Rochester, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 vs. Northern, 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at Martin Luther King Classic, TBA. Jan. 22 at Clarkston, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 vs. Lake Orion, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at North Farmington, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at Detroit Country Day, 7 p.m. Feb. 5 vs. Southfield, 7 p.m.

COACH: STEVE LARKIN FIRST SEASON

Feb. 10 at Lathrup, 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Rochester, 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at Northern, 7 p.m.

2007-08 RECORD: 9-10

Feb. 24 vs. Clarkston, 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at Lake Orion, 7 p.m.

New West Bloomfield Coach Steve Larkin’s Lady Lakers will be ready to make a playoff run after being battle-tested by a tough regular season schedule. In the meantime, the first-year coach said his team is focusing on fundamentals. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Lady Lakers look to surprise foes West Bloomfield’s new coach likes team’s potential irst-year Coach Steve Larkin said he hopes his Lady Lakers will be the dark horse of the Oakland Activities Association (OAA) Division I this year. “As a brand new coach implementing a new system and trying to build the program, we want to be the team flying under the radar, the team that surprises the others,” he said, adding he has players on his team that have been overlooked in the past but will make a big impact this season. “Some of our girls are underrated, and they will probably surprise a lot of teams with how talented they are.” Some of the players that will be key contributors that other teams won’t be necessarily focusing on are seniors

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Emelle McConney and Abby Maroko. “We are hoping to involve both Emelle and Abby more in the offense this season,” Larkin said. “While Maroko was not a starter last year, she did have significant playing time as a skilled shooting guard.” That kind of experience will be important to the Lady Lakers, as they lost three of their starting guards to graduation. “Our guards have confidence … just not a lot of experience,” Larkin said. One of those confident guards is sophomore point guard Kylia Peerman. A very quick player, Peerman excels as an open court, fast break player. Diamond Murray and Taylor Gunn are two others expected to significantly contribute to the team. While Larkin hopes other teams won’t focus on those girls, he said he knows every team the Lady Lakers face will focus on senior forward

Chenise Miller. This will be Miller’s fourth year as a varsity player. A strong post player, she brings a wealth of experience and is considering several college offers, including one from Eastern Michigan University. According to Larkin, Miller will be a very integral part of the offense. “We are going to get the ball to Chenise a lot,” he said. “At the same time we are also going to spread the ball around and get more girls, like Abby and Emelle, involved in the offense. “We are going to work on fundamentals,” he said. “There won’t be any intricate plays … we master the small things and everything else will take care of itself.” As for defense, the Lady Lakers will predominantly run a 2-3, matchup zone and maybe utilize a trapping zone. West Bloomfield has a difficult schedule. The Lady Lakers face 2008

Class B state runner-up Detroit Community in their third game of the season and will play Class B state champion Country Day. “These games will be good for us,” Larkin said. “They will prepare us for the state playoffs. Our conference is also really talented, and every night we will have to come prepared to play.” The OAA competition includes state quarter-finalist Rochester, state semi-finalist North Farmington, as well as Southfield Lathrup, which has a lot of young talent. “Every week we will be playing someone very talented, and we have to be prepared,” Larkin said. “I would rather have a tough schedule, as we will be battle-tested when it comes time for the state tournament. We will have seen some of the best in the state, and if we play to our ability we should be able to compete.” ❏ — Angela Niemi

2008-09 | HOOPS 27

2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 2 at Burton Bendle, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 vs. Cranbrook, 7 p.m. Dec. 9 vs. Oakland Christian, 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Connor Creek, 5 p.m. Jan. 5 vs. Shrine, 7 p.m. TBA at Cardinal Mooney. Jan. 12 at Almont, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15 vs. Cabrini, 7 p.m.

COACH: STEVE ROBAK SECOND SEASON

Jan. 19 vs. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at Bishop Foley, TBA. Jan. 26 vs. Notre Dame Prep, 7 p.m.

2007-08 RECORD: 17-6, 6-2 ASSISTANT COACH: PAUL ROBAK

Jan. 29 at Father Gabriel Richard, TBA. Feb. 2 at Shrine, TBA. Feb. 5 vs. Cardinal Mooney, 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at Cabrini, TBA. Feb. 23 at Franklin Road Christian, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 vs. Webberville, 7 p.m.

Our Lady Coach Steve Robak has eight players, including five seniors, returning from last year’s team that made it to the regional finals. He said he plans to let his Lady Lakers run motion sets this year so they can play to their strengths. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Our Lady’s expectations high Lady Lakers have experience to make playoff run he Lady Lakers of Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes finished with a winning season of 17-6 last year. With only six losses, the Lady Lakers didn’t lose to many teams, especially when considering that four of those six losses were to the same team. Marine City Cardinal Mooney handed the Lady Lakers their only two losses during league play, beat them for the league championship, and ended their season in the regional finals. The Lady Lakers are determined to avenge their losses this year, and with all eight girls on last year’s team returning, Our Lady should make a strong run in the state playoffs.

T

28 HOOPS | SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

“We have very high expectations for this season,” said Coach Steve Robak. “We want to win the league championship and play the best basketball that we can in the state playoffs. We have put in a lot of time and work, and we think we have a team that has a good chance at making a strong run during the post season.” Leading Our Lady this year will be senior Allison Robb and sophomore Lauren Robak. Robb is a player with lots of experience, as this will be her fourth year on the varsity squad. A very good spot-up shooter, Robb was one of the Lady Lakers’ leading scorers last season. However, she also is a presence on the other end of the court. “Allison is our team’s best defender,” Coach Robak said. The other leading scorer for Our Lady last season was Lauren Robak. The Lady Lakers’ best all-around

player, Robak can either shoot from the perimeter or drive to the basket. “She’s not a one-dimensional player. She can shoot, drive to the basket, or get the other girls involved with her passing ability,” Coach Robak said. Other key contributors will be junior Alexis Doetsch and senior Taryn Stevens. Doetsch, at 5-11, will be an important presence inside the paint. Not only will she contribute with her scoring ability, but Doetsch is also a strong defensive player and can control the boards with her rebounding. Stevens, a guard, is a great outside shooter, and Coach Robak is hoping that she will be an integral part of the team. “We’re hoping that she will have an excellent season this year,” he said. “She has worked really hard in the off season, and we are expecting a lot of good things from her.” The Lady Lakers, with five sen-

iors, have a lot of experience, something that Coach Robak hopes will translate onto the floor. “We let the girls play,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of set plays. Instead we run motion sets and allow the girls to play to their strengths. Our added experience will be key in taking care of the ball.” That experience will be one of the things that will help Our Lady with an intentionally difficult schedule this season. Coach Robak said he hopes the tough schedule will get his team ready for the state playoffs. In addition to doing well in the post season, Our Lady would also like to win a league championship after facing difficult competition in the form of Allen Park Cabrini and — of course — Cardinal Mooney. The Lady Lakers began their season at Burton-Bendle on on Dec. 2. ❏ — Angela Niemi

2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 2 vs. Clarkston, 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Auburn Hills Avondale, 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at Milford, 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at Grand Blanc, 7 p.m. Jan. 6 vs. Franklin, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 vs. Brighton, 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at Pinckney, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m.

COACH: JESSICA COX FIRST SEASON 2007-08 RECORD: 10-7 ASSISTANT COACH: DAVID WILSON

Jan. 23 vs. Waterford Kettering at Oakland University, 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Jan. 31 vs. Andover, 1 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Waterford Kettering, 6 p.m. Feb. 13 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m.

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Four returning seniors, a returning junior, and promising newcomers will be led this year by first-year Waterford Mott Coach Jessica Cox. She said she wants her Lady Corsairs to keep opposing offenses on their toes by playing a variety of defenses. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

New coach takes over at Mott Lady Corsairs have size, can shoot, take it to basket or the past three years, Jessica Cox was the assistant coach at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. Before that she played four years of basketball at the University of Dubuque in Iowa. Now she’s in Michigan to continue her basketball career as the new coach of the Waterford Mott Lady Corsairs. Cox has a wealth of knowledge about basketball and said she wants to share it with her team, which has many experienced players. Mott has four returning seniors this year, along with returning junior point guard Desyree Thomas, who has speed, quickness, and a great sense of court awareness. “Des has a passion for this game

F

that is unmatchable,” Cox said. “I expect her to continue to grow and expand her skills during her last two years here.” Guard Porchea High is one of the returning seniors, and Cox said she plans to use her as a “defensive weapon. Porchea’s defensive skills are second to none.” Center Katie Mundinger, at 6-1, provides some height. “Katie knows how to defend her ground,” Cox said. “She is very mobile in the paint and uses her size to her advantage.” According to Cox, seniors Asia Rawls and Brianna McNeary will bring leadership to the team. Rawls dominates at the guard/forward position with her athleticism and quickness. McNeary is also very quick across the court, whether she is playing offense or defense, and Cox said she expects a lot from her this season

— not only within her own game but also in her ability to lead others. Mott also has several promising newcomers in Tiffany Coleman, Holly Cooperrider, and Rachel Northey. Coleman, a 5-10 junior, will add additional height to the post position. “Tif is a worker when she’s on the court, and she doesn’t ever stop,” Cox said. “I expect her to use her length, size, and quickness to her advantage.” Cooperrider, a junior guard, has good court awareness that allows her to see the floor and understand what is going on in the game. She also has a good shot. Cox said Northey, a sophomore, has one of the best set shots she has ever seen. “I expect over the course of the year that Rach will become a distinguished shooting threat,” she said. Since the Lady Corsairs have size,

can shoot and take it to the basket, Cox said she plans to run offenses that will play to those strengths. She added that she likes to keep the opposing offense on its toes, which will result in Mott using a variety of defenses. As for goals this season, one of the things that Cox hopes to instill in her girls is a love of the game. “I want the girls to take as much from it as possible,” she said. “Basketball is a great sport, and it can teach you so much about life. Being part of a team is an amazing thing. I want to get every last ounce of passion out of the girls, and I want to teach them how to give more and that they can push harder than they ever thought possible. I want them to truly understand that if you want to go where you’ve never been, you have to do things you’ve never done.” ❏ — Angela Niemi

2008-09 | HOOPS 29

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2008-09 hoops preview

Defense a key for Kettering New league will create fresh rivalries for Lady Captains aterford Kettering’s Lady Captains managed to accomplish what they set out to do last year — they won a district championship. However, it wasn’t handed to them. They first had to defeat Lake Orion, a team that was ranked third in the state. Then they had to beat cross-town rival Waterford Mott, who had claimed the district championship from Kettering the year before on a last-second layup. Kettering’s strong run in the state playoffs finally came to a close when they lost to state quarter-finalist Rochester in the regionals. This year the Lady Captains would like to win another district championship and be the inaugural winner of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) title. “We should have another really good run this year,” said Coach Jim Batcha. “We have some new pieces to the puzzle this season, and we look to improve defensively. If we have a great defense, we should have a great season.” Some of these “new pieces of the puzzle” include Caitlin Cooperrider, Sarah Stinson, and Julie Porter. “We think that Sarah and Julie will play big roles on our team this year, and we expect Caitlin to be a big part of our defense,” Batcha said. “She’s the best defender on the team.” Cooperrider is a junior that will split time at point guard with returning senior Kailey Gueglic, a disciplined guard who is very good at controlling play. Gueglic will play a pivotal leadership role along with the other seniors on the team, especially post player Chandler Levitt. “Chandler has a lot of experience and will provide a lot of stability in game situations with her leadership,” Batcha said. Alexa Henleser also will be a key contributor to the team, as this will be her third year on the varsity squad; and Krissy Lavake is a diverse player who can play any position on the floor and will contribute a lot with her strong rebounding ability. According to Batcha, it’s hard to tell which teams will become new rivals in the KLAA. However, he said he knows the teams in Kettering’s division can play, as he was able to see some of them over the summer. Nevertheless, the only team that Kettering is really familiar with is crosstown rival Waterford Mott, which is in

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2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 2 vs. Grand Blanc, 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at Mercy, 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Rochester, 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at Novi, 7 p.m. Jan. 6 vs. Clarkston, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 vs. Hartland, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at Brighton, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 vs. Pinckney, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 vs. Waterford Mott at Oakland University, 6 p.m. Jan. 27 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Waterford Mott, 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 vs. Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at KLAA Crossover, TBA. Feb. 27 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

COACH: JIM BATCHA THIRD SEASON 2007-08 RECORD: 9-14 ASSISTANT COACHES: AMANDA BATCHA ALLISON SARTIRIOUS

Waterford Kettering’s 2008-09 team features some new players that should play big roles this season, according to Coach Jim Batcha. Their contributions, along with those by the veteran, returning players could result in another strong post-season run for the Lady Captains. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard) the same division of the KLAA and is always a big game for the Lady Captains. This year both the Kettering girls and boys teams will play Mott’s teams at Oakland University. Although Batcha said he’s not real-

ly familiar with his team’s new competition, he said he’s looking forward to being in the KLAA. “We are excited to be in the KLAA because it will give us some stability,” he said. “In the OAA Division I, we

would realign every two years and play different teams. Now we get a chance to play the same teams year in and year out and establish those longstanding rivalries.” ❏ — Angela Niemi

2008-09 | HOOPS 31

2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 2 at Plymouth, 7 p.m. Dec. 5 vs. Northville, 7 p.m. Dec. 16 vs. Novi, 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at South Lyon, 7 p.m. Jan. 6 vs. Pinckney, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 vs. Milford, 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at Howell, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 vs. Hartland, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 vs. Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 vs. Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Lakeland, 7 p.m.

COACH: JOHN SHARPE SEVENTH SEASON

Feb. 3 at Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m.

2007-08 RECORD: 13-8, 7-3

Feb. 13 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 vs. Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m.

ASSISTANT COACH: JACQUELINE PILKIEWICZ

Feb. 24 at KLAA Crossover, TBA. Feb. 26 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

Walled Lake Northern Coach John Sharpe and his Lady Knights aim to improve upon last year's 13-8 record. Sharpe said the team's chief goal is to win the KLAA North Division crown, which will open up conference and association title opportunities. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Lady Knights still unsatisfied Last year’s winning season not enough for hungry Northern ith four minutes to go in their first-round district playoff game against North Farmington, Walled Lake Northern was leading by six points. While the Lady Knights ultimately lost to the eventual state semifinalists, Northern Coach John Sharpe said he was very pleased with his team’s performance. “We made a good run,” he said. “We just ran out of steam against a very talented, tall, and athletic team.” Sharpe had another reason to be proud. Northern finished with a 13-8 season overall, which was a vast difference from when the Lady Knights went 3-18 the previous year. That doesn’t mean Sharpe and his team are content with just a winning season. “We want to improve on our 13-8

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32 HOOPS | SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

record this year,” he said. “We also want to win our division. It’s our most important goal because if we win the division, we get an opportunity to win our conference. We win that, and we get to play for the association (title). But it all starts with our division first.” The Lady Knights are in the competitive North Division of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA). This is the KLAA’s inaugural year, and Sharpe said he’s looking forward to participating in it. “It’s going to be nice because most of the teams we play will be close to us,” he said. Northern will compete against division foes Walled Lake Central, Walled Lake Western, Waterford Kettering, Waterford Mott, and Huron Valley Lakeland. While the teams are all very similar in talent and size, Sharpe said “Walled Lake Central is the long-odds favorite to win the divi-

sion because they have a good combination of experienced players with some new, young talent.” However, the Lady Knights aren’t without their share of experienced players. Senior captain Whitney Tower-Woods will play in her fourth year on the varsity team and start as the shooting guard. “Whitney is an all-around good player,” Sharpe said. “She is very smart basketball-wise and is also a really good leader.” Also returning this year is 6-1 forward Carissa McKenna, a junior who has started every game since she was freshman. Brittany Gibson, Katie Hockstead, and Kari Knight will round out the starting lineup. Gibson, a junior, will lead at the point guard position and is a really good athlete, according to Sharpe. Hockstead, also a junior, didn’t start last season but still led the team in scoring.

Sophomore Knight, at 6-feet, will add some height in the post position. The Lady Knights also have some talented newcomers in senior Kelly Gollota and freshman Juliette Love. Gollota will come off the bench as the sixth man and contribute with her good shooting ability. Love, who is 6-2, will also see some playing time. “She shoots the ball very well,” Sharpe said. “She’s not very aggressive yet, but she will be.” Northern will predominantly run a man-to-man defense while pressuring the ball. “The girls play good help side and work really well with each other,” Sharpe said. On the offensive side, the Lady Knights will run a wide range of set plays with room to improvise. “We are really excited for the season to start,” Sharpe said. “We believe that we will be just as competitive in the KLAA as any other team.” ❏ — Angela Niemi

2008-09 hoops preview

Central assessing new players Lady Vikes will get leadership from two veteran starters ith only two returning starters this year, the Lady Vikings of Walled Lake Central will be a mixture of young talent and experienced veterans. Central lost five seniors to graduation last year, including three starters. However, four-year varsity player Brooke Gustafson will bring experience and leadership to the team. An all-division player as both a sophomore and junior, Gustafson is expected to lead the team both on and off the court. Another important player for Central will be junior Krista Hakola, a third-year varsity player and a captain who leads the team both statistically and vocally. “Krista will give us both an inside and outside presence,” said Coach Rob Schopf. “We’re expecting her to be a key force as a scorer and rebounder.” With quite a few inexperienced players, Schopf said the main goal for his team is to just try to compete every night. “We have a slew of young, talented players, but as of now we are still trying to decide where they fit best in the program,” he said. “We have several young kids who are just coming out of middle school. It will be a shock for them when they play in their first high school varsity game. At this point we are just trying to see where everybody stands and hopefully we will be able to find some sort of rhythm after Christmas break, in time for division play.” Central will be competing in the North Division of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA). The division includes cross-town rivals Walled Lake Northern and Walled Lake Western, Huron Valley Lakeland, Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott. “We’re looking forward to playing in the North Division,” Schopf said. “Especially since all three of the Walled Lake schools are in the same division now. It’s really exciting that we get to play each other twice in the regular season.” Schopf is also looking forward to forming new rivalries with the Waterford schools or re-establishing them, as the case may be. “I was told that in the past the Walled Lake and Waterford schools were always big rivals and being able to re-establish those rivalries will inject some energy into the season,” he said. As for the relative strength of the rest league, Schopf said he believes Lakeland, Walled Lake Northern, and

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2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 2 vs. Pinckney, 7 p.m. Dec. 5 vs. Dexter, 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at Northville, 7 p.m. Dec. 12 vs. Novi, 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at South Lyon East, 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at East Grand Rapids, 4 p.m. Jan. 13 at Milford, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 vs. Howell, 7 p.m.

COACH: ROB SCHOPF TENTH SEASON

Jan. 20 at Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 vs. Waterford Mott, 7 p.m.

2007-08 RECORD: 11-10, 9-7

Feb. 3 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 vs. Walled Lake Western, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m.

ASSISTANT COACHES: NEAL HOWALD JEN McKITTRICK JACKI BECKER

Feb. 13 vs. Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at KLAA crossover, TBA. Feb. 27 at KLAA crossover, TBA.

Walled Lake Central Coach Rob Schopf said his team is looking forward to playing in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division with Walled Lake Western and Northern. He said the new league will allow Central to re-establish old rivalries with Waterford Kettering and Mott. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard) Brighton will be particularly good, as all three teams have a wealth of returning players. “Coach Sharpe over at Walled Lake Northern definitely has the bullseye on

his back as the one to beat in the league,” he said. The Lady Vikings game scheme includes an up-tempo offense while utilizing a mixture of man-to-man and

zone defenses. The Lady Vikings opened their season on Dec. 2 at home against Pinckney. ❏ — Angela Niemi

2008-09 | HOOPS 33

2008-09 hoops preview

2008-09

Hoops Schedule Dec. 9 at Novi, 7 p.m. Dec. 11 vs. Milford, 7 p.m. Dec. 16 vs. South Lyon, 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at Northville, 7 p.m. Jan. 6 vs. Livonia Churchill, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at Howell, 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at Hartland, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 vs. Brighton, 7 p.m. Jan. 20 vs. Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Jan. 23 vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 vs. Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Walled Lake Central, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Feb. 13 vs. Walled Lake Northern, 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at Waterford Kettering, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 vs. Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at KLAA Crossover, TBA. Feb. 27 at KLAA Crossover, TBA.

COACH: DAVE WALTHER FOURTH SEASON 2007-08 RECORD: 18-4, 9-1

In order to prepare for their difficult division play, Walled Lake Western has scheduled eight very tough non-conference games. Coach Dave Walther said his Lady Warriors are eager to learn and will be very competitive this year. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Lady Warriors are determined Late season losses serve as Western’s motivation this year alled Lake Western had an impressive season last year. The Lady Warriors went 18-4 and won a division title for the first time in 25 years, but lost the conference title when Plymouth Salem made a shot at the buzzer. Western also lost to Brighton in the last few seconds of the district championship game. Those heartbreaking losses have led to this year’s Western motto of “Unfinished Business.” Coach Dave Walther would like to not only repeat as division champs this season but also win the conference and district championships, as well. He is not the only one. With four returning seniors who almost experi-

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34 HOOPS | SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

enced what it was like to win both a conference and district championship, the Lady Warriors are full of determination to meet those goals. Among those returning are Chelsea Hunter, Paige Partenio, Alison Focht, and Amanda Schwandt. Walther describes Hunter as an “aggressive, hard-nosed player.” She is a three-year varsity player and will bring a wealth of experience to the Lady Warriors this year as their captain. Partenio is an athletic and aggressive player who can play both an inside and an outside game. Anchoring the front court are Focht and Schwandt. Both play physically and have the strength to play around the basket. Also returning is junior guard Taylor Deskins. “Taylor is very aggressive defensively,” Walther said. “She is capable

of defending anyone in the league and contributes offensively by hitting threes from the outside.” The remainder of the team is relatively inexperienced; however, Walther said they are “very eager to prove themselves on the court.” On their quest to repeat as division champions, Western will have to compete in an extremely tough Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division that includes Walled Lake Northern, Huron Valley Lakeland, and Waterford Kettering, all of whom are very talented and have high expectations for the season. Another big game for the Lady Warriors will be Walled Lake Central. Both Central and Northern are crosstown rivals, which means they will always be big games. “No matter what type of season either of those teams are having, these games tend to be close, hard-

fought battles,” Walther said. In order to prepare for their difficult division play, Western has scheduled eight very tough non-conference games. “We look forward to the challenge,” Walther said. “We have a group of very hard working players who are eager to learn. I have confidence that we will be very competitive this year.” Western plans to run a very uptempo game both defensively and offensively. In addition to the aggressive full-court pressure defense they are known for, the Lady Warriors will also run a multiple defensive system that confuses and frustrates opponents. As for their offensive scheme, Walther said his team will push the ball up the court and score quickly. The Lady Warriors begin their season against Novi on Dec. 9. ❏ — Angela Niemi

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36 HOOPS | SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY