Category: Prep Wraps
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Notre Dame Prep still alive with regional semis victory over Lutheran North, earns date with North Branch
NORTH BRANCH — Pontiac Notre Dame Prep is very much still alive in the Division 2 state tournament. The state-ranked Fighting Irish downed Macomb Lutheran North 3-0 Tuesday (25-23, 25-21, 25-13) at North Branch to advance to the regional finals. Notre Dame Prep (35-9-0) will face host North Branch in the regional finals — the […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Lutheran Northwest moves onto regional finals for third straight season
ROCHESTER HILLS — Behind a dominating performance, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest advanced to the regional finals for the third straight season Tuesday with a 3-0 victory over Detroit Cristo Rey. The Crusaders had little resistance with the 25-8, 25-7, 25-10 triumph over the Wolves. Sophie Plewa led Northwest with seven aces. Sabrina Gottschalk and Jena […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Clarkston cruises Troy to advance to regional finals
Wolves earn date with No. 5 Utica Eisenhower BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans ROCHESTER HILLS — After defeating arch-rival Lake Orion in the state tournament last week for the first time since 2017, Clarkston made sure there was no letdown in its first regional semifinal in three seasons. The state-ranked Wolves swept […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Oakland Christian wins district in most unusual way
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans WATERFORD — Winning a district championship is always one of the realistic goals for talented volleyball teams. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian has captured its fair share of them over the last four-plus decades. Yet, this year’s district trophy was earned in an unusual matter. First, there were […]
FOOTBALL: Burford, Stoney Creek hold off Chippewa Valley for first playoff win
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans ROCHESTER HILLS — Please forgive Camron Burford if he is a little sore come Saturday morning. Perhaps the Rochester Stoney Creek senior deserves an ice bucket, a reward … a medal? Behind one of the state’s top offensive lines, the running back produced a workman-like performance Friday […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Clarkston takes down Holly in district battle of league champions
Wolves to face rival Lake Orion in district finals BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans HOLLY — After winning the OAA Red Division crown last fall, Clarkston had plans of advancing deep into the Division 1 postseason. Those plans were wrecked by rival Lake Orion. The Dragons ousted the Wolves in the first […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Lake Orion avenges Oxford with district sweep
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans HOLLY — Being a Final Four team each of the past two years, Lake Orion didn’t always play like a superior volleyball team this season. The Dragons had their fair share of ebbs and flows and ups and downs. Yet when it counted most, Lake Orion jacked […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: From the cellar to the penthouse, FML champion Holly has resurfaced with high-flying squad
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans HOLLY — When Deena Maher took over Holly’s struggling girls volleyball program before the start of the 2016 season, she quickly noticed a few things that were missing. There was little history, no school records, no detailed annuals, and very little championships success. In fact, the only […]
BOYS SOCCER: Troy Athens set for another classic battle with Traverse City West
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans TROY — Once again the road to another state championship for Troy Athens will have to go through Traverse City West. Defending Division 1 state champion Athens will face Traverse City West at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the state semifinals at Holt. The Red Hawks defeated West, […]
BOYS SOCCER: Everest Collegiate won’t be ‘nervous’ in Final Four tussle with Lenawee Christian
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans CLARKSTON — If you would have asked John Haezebrouck before the 2019 season if Clarkston Everest Collegiate would be making back-to-back Final Four runs in the near future, he might not have believed it. “I wouldn’t have believed it because we had never been that far before,” […]
BOYS SOCCER PICKS: The Final Four has some intriguing matchups
The boys soccer team has boiled down to the final week with the MHSAA state semifinals up next. And there are some ultimate matchups on the docket for this Wednesday night, where all eight of the Final Four clashes will take place. Many of the Mr. Soccer and Dream Team candidates are still playing, having […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Avondale opens up D-1 tournament with sweep of Waterford Mott
WATERFORD — Auburn Hills Avondale opened up Division 1 state tournament play with a 3-0 sweep of Waterford Mott. The Yellowjackets posted a 25-18, 25-15, 25-16 triumph to advance to the district semifinals. Avondale will face Troy at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Mott. Emily Beckas lad Avondale with six aces. Mackenzie Down had 27 assists […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Lake Orion opens tourney with swift sweep of Waterford Kettering
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans HOLLY — Coming off back to back trips to the Class A/Division 1 Final Four, including the 2018 state championship, Lake Orion took the first step in that same direction Monday night as the state tournament kicked off across the state. The Dragons, honorable mention in the […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Palazzolo-led Eisenhower outlasts Stoney Creek in five-set thriller
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans SHELBY TWP. — When in doubt, Utica Eisenhower has a simple philosophy. Go to Sydney Palazzolo. The 6-foot-2 middle hitter slammed 40 kills Monday night, and was at her best in Game 1, Game 2 and the deciding Game 5 in leading the fifth-ranked Eagles to a […]
BOYS SOCCER: Midland Calvary defends MACS state title with clean sheet over Rochester Hills Christian
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans DAVISON — Midland Calvary Baptist to another took it to another level Saturday. Second-seeded Midland Calvary Baptist, led by nine senior starters playing in their final high school boys high school soccer game, took control with two second-half goals and some lockdown defense in defeating top-seeded Rochester […]
FOOTBALL: Holly, Pontiac find quick exit from postseason
AUBURN — Bay City Western dominated form start to finish in this Division2 pre-district contest at Western’s Cornfield Stadium. Joe Wiedyk led the ground assault with 230 yards on 19 carries and scored three rushing touchdowns to lead Bay City Western. RJ Horning picked up a pair of interceptions and recovered a fumble and returned […]
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS ROUNDUP: Top-seeded Clarkston takes down Oxford; Grand Blanc topples Lake Orion; Troy continues grand turnaround
CLARKSTON — It didn’t come easy, but Clarkston’s first playoff game since losing in the 2018 Division 1 state finals finally arrived Friday night and the Wolves prevailed with a 21-7 victory over visiting Oxford. Clarkston defeated Oxford 35-14 during Week 2 of the regular season. The unbeaten Wolves (7-0) tied the game on Davis […]
BOYS SOCCER: Rochester Hills Christian shooting for eighth MACS state title
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com @LocalSportsFans ROCHESTER HILLS — Simply put, Rochester Hills Christian does not have a star player who plays for a high-level club and would be considered a college recruit out on the soccer pitch this season. That has not been in the cards in recent years. What the Eagles do […]
