‘OUR TEAM EMBODIES SELFLESSNESS’
Lakers enjoying wild card status, chasing a share of OAA Red title
West Bloomfield’s boys basketball squad is surging and on the verge of claiming a surprise share of the OAA Red title.
This winter, the Lakers made the move up to the OAA Red from the OAA White, where they took home a piece of a league crown in 2023. A win on Tuesday night at home against Birmingham Groves clinches the Lakers (15-5) a championship in one of the most competitive leagues in the state.
It would be a rare accomplishment. And a clear indication of the direction the West Bloomfield program is headed in under third-year head coach Arnette Jordan. West Bloomfield upset defending league champ North Farmington 60-58 last week to grab a hold of a tie for first place in the race for a banner.
“We’re a wild card and we like playing that role,” Jordan said. “We want to build something here that’s bigger than one team or one player or one coach, we’re establishing a culture and that’s not by accident. The goal is to be a Top 10 team year in and year out, win titles, produce outstanding young men and student athletes. This group is earning everything they get.”
The through-line for this year’s Lake Show hoops club is sacrifice and commitment to a common purpose. Without an ounce of hesitation or dismay, senior captain Donnie Watts (6-foot-1) handed over point-guard and No. 1 scorer duties to sophomore floor general Drew Wilson (6-2), who came into the program in the offseason from Bloomfield Hills. Wilson’s classmate, tenth-grade terror Curtis Britton (6-5 F), gladly gave up his starting role to take on sixth-man responsibilities when the coaching staff wanted a faster, more aggressive look on defense and would benefit greatly if Britton and his natural offensive skills spearheaded the reserve corps.
“Our team embodies selflessness,” said Jordan of his upstart cage crew. “Donnie is the ultimate leader. We wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing if Donnie didn’t embrace his new role and take Drew under his wing.”
Wilson averages 17 points, six assists and four steals per night. Watts is sheeting 12 points, four assists and four boards a game. Britton tallies 10 points and five rebounds an outing off the bench. Senior Keithan Gilmore (6-5 F/C) could be the hardest working and craftiest post player in the league and posts 12 points and eight rebounds, consistently out-hustling bigger opponents for boards and loose balls. Junior guard Corey Pittman provides grit, finishing ability and frenetic energy baseline to baseline.”
“Back in the summer, I thought we had the tools and attributes to do real damage, compete in the Red. … I don’t know if other people saw it, we did though and we went out and proved it,” Jordan said. “We scheduled a difficult slate of non-conference games to get us ready to slug it out in the Red, so that level of competition wouldn’t be a new experience. That was by design and its paying off. This is the new normal for us, we’ve got our foot on the accelerator and we don’t intend on looking back.”
The recently-crowned Catholic League champion Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, No. 1 team in the state, awaits in West Bloomfield’s district draw hosted at Lakeland High School.
“I know we are tough and we live the big moments,” Jordan said. “We’ve grown and learned together all season long and that’s what we will continue to do. It’s never one guy. Or two guys. It’s a dialed-in, cohesive unit ready to take on all comers.”
Beau knows the swamp now
Beau Jackson has left Novi Detroit Catholic Central and will quarterback West Bloomfield for his senior campaign under center this fall in the OAA Red.
Jackson (6-4, 215) has started at Catholic Central the past two seasons. Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green and Toledo have offered him scholarships. He threw for 17 touchdowns in his career as a Shamrocks signal caller and enrolled at West Bloomfield earlier this month.
Tweet of the week
“Catholic League champs with my brothers, can’t beat it.” — OLSM junior guard Isaiah “Zip” Hines following the Eaglets topping of Birmingham Brother Rice 58-55 Saturday night at Calihan Hall.