Oakland County

Oakland County teams use toughness of regular season as perfect playoff prep

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

Oakland County girls basketball squads battle in some of the toughest leagues the state has to offer, whether it’s the Oakland Activities Association or the Catholic League.

Their season-long league battles may be tough, but they serve a purpose — they push the boundaries of competitiveness and prepare teams for the playoffs.

As the 2012 postseason in girls basketball rapidly approaches, set to tip off Feb. 27, coaches throughout county were steadfastly united in the belief that what’s transpired the past three months will serve as the greatest assists for the next three weeks.

“It’s a grind, that’s all you can say. It’s a grind and a grind and a grind,” said Rochester Adams coach Fran Scislowicz, whose Highlanders were 11-5 overall and leading the OAA White with a 10-1 record at press time.

“But the balance of the league is a beautiful thing. You’ve seen, or learned, what it takes to close out a game. You know how to react in a pressure situation.”

“The league is just so competitive, year in and year out. We spend the entire second half of the season battling teams in our division, and it can’t help but get you ready,” said Lathrup Village Southfield-Lathrup coach Michele Marshall. Her Chargers were 8-7 overall, and 7-2 in the OAA Red and in second place. “When you look at your division, there’s an understanding of what it takes to win a difficult game, and come tourney time, every game is difficult.”

While Adams and Lathrup are at, or near, the top of their respective divisions, the same theory holds true from coaches and teams looking up at the standings.

Steve Larkin and his West Bloomfield High squad were 0-9 in Red play at press time, but he said there was no coincidence that his girls were 6-0 in games played outside the division.

“You play teams and games like this enough, and you realize your shortcomings. You see what needs to be better, and you have the chance to improve it,” Larkins said. “If you do what you need to, those lessons translate to success against other teams.”

“When you play 16 league games within a league that is so strong, you build up that mindset of how important every single night is,” said Bloomfield Hills Andover coach Jeff Rubin, whose Barons were 14-2 overall and in a three-way battle for the OAA Blue crown with a 12-1 division record. “That mindset is essential come playoff time.”

The OAA is considered one of the best leagues in the state by many within and outside of it, but the regular-season challenges are hardly limited to said group of teams.

A year ago, Gary Morris took his Farmington Hills Mercy team to the a Class A regional final.

When asked if playing in the Catholic League factored into what his girls did come playoff time, he said simply, “without a doubt.”

“Our biggest point difference in any league game was just seven,” he added. “The league is so competitive from top to bottom, your constantly preparing for the challenge the playoffs offer.”

Mercy was 13-4 at press time.

Madison Heights Bishop Foley coach Dave Joseph echoed Morris’ comments, pointing to his team’s records as evidence enough.

“We’re 13-4 overall, but three of those four losses have come in league play,” he said. “The competition and the experience of playing a close game every night, like we do in the league, gets you ready for anything you could possibly need in the state tournament.”

With comments and records like these, it’s easy to assume that the Breslin Center will be packed with Oakland County teams come March 15.

While some are considered shoo-ins to get there, like Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day, others are stopped in their playoff journey by teams they spend most of the regular season battling.

District pairings often pit teams from the same league against one another, in some cases forcing a third meeting of the season, which, as Troy High coach Dennis Koch said, puts even more emphasis on the regular season and how it’s prepared his team.

“We can go into that district opener (against Auburn Hills Avondale) and treat it as another day of work,” he said.

Just how many regular-season lessons are applied to postseason basketball will be on display beginning in the final moments of February, leading up to the middle of March.

There’s nothing scientific about the road to a title, other than good health, a few lucky breaks and teams being as prepared as possible.

For most in Oakland County, a third of that equation is already complete.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038.