While one of the two Waterford schools will go back into the Oakland Activities Association wearing the boys basketball crown of their former conference, the other is still searching for its way.
At least the latter, Waterford Kettering, has picked the man the Captains hope can steer the ship out of the storm, announcing on Monday the hiring of former college and NBA player and coach Rex Walters as their new head coach.
In a social media post entitled ‘We Got Our Guy,’ the Captains listed off the resume of the 55-year-old Walters, and it is extensive:
– Played at Northwestern and Kansas.
– Drafted with the 16th pick in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft (held at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and headlined by local star Chris Webber).
– Played professionally for 10 seasons, with NBA stops with the New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat.
– Assistant coaching stops at Valparaiso and Florida Atlantic, before acting as the head coach of FAU and San Francisco, where he earned WCC coach of the year honors in 2014.
– Head coach of the Pistons G-League team in Grand Rapids, the Drive, a season on the Pistons bench as an assistant, single seasons at Nevada and Wake Forest, a season with the New Orleans Pelicans and two with the Hornets.
“Big Thank You to AD Shane Hynes, Principal Ben Harwood, Waterford AD Allison Sartorius and the Search Committee for the opportunity to work with the Young Men at Waterford Kettering,” Walters posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Excited to get to work and get back on the Basketball Court!”
He’ll have to continue the rebuilding job that longtime Oakland County coach Steve Emert began over the last three seasons.
While cross town rival Waterford Mott has had a share of the last four Lakes Valley Conference titles, the Captains have been on the opposite end of the standings each of those seasons. The last time they were relatively level was the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, when they finished tied with each other for sixth place (both 3-5).
From that 7-10 season, though, the Captains went 2-19 in the single season (2021-22) under Stefon Wilson, then went 10-59 overall in Emert’s three seasons (3-45 in LVC play).
“Congratulations Coach Walters. You will enjoy working with the student/athletes and the parents in the Kettering community,” Emert replied to a a Facebook post of this story.
There will at least be a modicum of familiarity with the OAA for Walters, who got a look at the league when his younger son, Gunner, played for Rochester Adams before graduating in 2022.
San Francisco head coach Rex Walters talks to his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. Walters has been named the head boys basketball coach at Waterford Kettering. (YOUNG KWAK — AP Photo, file)
Sometimes, you just gotta get the band back together for one more show.
A direct descendant of the old Western Lakes Activities Association, the Lakes Valley Conference suddenly found itself left with just seven members after the decision to depart by the Waterford schools earlier this school year, but more than filled those spots by grabbing up five former WLAA mates.
The fall 2026 addition of the two Farmington high schools, along with all three in Livonia will give the LVC a dozen members, as well as a suddenly-sprawling two-county footprint.
The additions were officially announced Friday.
“We are thrilled to announce that Farmington Public Schools and Livonia Public Schools are joining the LVC,” Lakeland athletic director Todd Miller, the LVC athletic directors president, said in a news release. “Their rich histories in sportsmanship and academic excellence make them a perfect fit for our conference. We look forward to the positive impact this expansion will have on our student-athletes and our communities.”
Farmington and North Farmington will be leaving the Oakland Activities Association to join the LVC, and will be replaced by former LVC schools Waterford Mott and Waterford Kettering, which are departing after the fall 2025 season.
Livonia Stevenson, Livonia Franklin and Livonia Churchill are currently members of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association, but were all members of the old WLAA, as well.
Eight of the 12 schools in the LVC going forward had roots in the WLAA. The exceptions are the South Lyon schools and Huron Valley Schools members (Milford and Lakeland), which all went from the Kensington Valley Conference to the original iteration of the KLAA in 2008.
At the time a trio, with Farmington Hills Harrison, the Farmington schools joined the Oakland Activities Association in 2002, as the WLAA was starting to break up. They came in at the same time as the newly-opened Stoney Creek joined, and Ortonville Brandon exited for the Flint Metro League.
“Farmington Public Schools is thrilled to join the Lakes Valley Conference in 2026-27. We appreciate the values and standards upheld by the LVC and are excited to contribute to its mission of promoting high-quality athletic competition and student development,” said Allyson Robinson, director of school safety and athletics for Farmington Public Schools. “Being in a league with similar-sized districts in close proximity will provide healthy and balanced competition with an added benefit of being convenient for our families. We look forward to working with the LVC to create opportunities for our students both on and off the playing field.”
The Livonia schools were charter members of the KLAA, coming over in 2008 when the WLAA finally disbanded for good.
South Lyon East celebrates with the Lakes Valley Conference trophy after it completed a perfect run through the LVC on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 thanks to a 16-25, 27-25, 25-21, 25-19 win over rival South Lyon at South Lyon East High School. (DREW ELLIS — For MediaNews Group)
“We are excited to join a conference in which a shared vision of school culture, academics, activities, and educational athletics exist,” said Kevin Etue, director of secondary programs & district services for Livonia Public Schools. “Our Board of Education, Superintendent (Andrea) Oquist, district leadership and school stakeholders have expressed enthusiasm and support for this opportunity, recognizing the positive impact it will have on our athletic programs, activity endeavors, and overall educational development.”
The moves also accomplish some right-sizing.
Mott (1,171) and Kettering (981) were two of the three smallest LVC schools.
North Farmington (1,270 students this year) was the second-smallest school in the OAA Blue for football (Oak Park, 941), while Farmington (1,446) was the third-largest.
Now Farmington will be the third-largest LVC school, behind Stevenson (1,569) and Walled Lake Northern (1,560), while North Farmington is tied for seventh.
Stevenson was one the fourth-largest school in the KLAA’s East Division, behind Dearborn Fordson (2,384), Dearborn (1,910) and Belleville (1,667).
Franklin (1,284) and Churchill (1,273) were the two smallest KLAA East schools, but will rank sixth and tied for seventh in population in the LVC, ahead of South Lyon (1,231), South Lyon East (1,204), Walled Lake Central (1,199) and Walled Lake Western (1,072).
All of the future LVC schools but two — Walled Lake Northern (D1) and Walled Lake Western (D3) — would have fallen into the Division 2 bracket for football.
Cc “Having both of these highly respected districts join the LVC represents a tremendous opportunity for all of our students,” said Kyle Meteyer, Walled Lake Central principal and president of the LVC Board of Directors. “We are excited to engage in a multi-district educational environment that will inspire our students to excel and provide them with invaluable life lessons through educational athletics and leadership.”
The new-look LVC
(2024-25 student population in parentheses)
1 Livonia Stevenson — (1,569) — KLAA West
2 Walled Lake Northern — (1,560) — LVC
3 Farmington — 1,446 — OAA Blue (for football)
4 Lakeland — 1,357 — LVC
5 Milford — LVC — 1,291
6 Livonia Franklin — 1,284 — KLAA West
7 (tie) Livonia Churchill — 1,273 — KLAA West
7 (tie) North Farmington — 1273 — OAA Blue (for football)
9 South Lyon — LVC — 1,231
10 South Lyon East — LVC — 1,204
11 Walled Lake Central — LVC — 1,199
12 Walled Lake Western — LVC — 1,072
No. 7-ranked Walled Lake Western celebrates with the Lakes Valley Conference tournament trophy. The Warriors scored once in each half of the LVC tournament championship game at home on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, beating rival Walled Lake Central to add the tournament trophy to its collection of hardware on the season. (MATTHEW B. MOWERY — MediaNews Group)
The top 10 teams in the final Michigan Sports Writers high school girls basketball poll for the 2024-25 season, with records in parentheses. Totals are based on 15 points for a first-place vote, 14 for second, etc.:
DIVISION 1
Rank — School — Total Points — Previous
1. Rockford (5) (21-1) — 89 — 1
2. Belleville (1) (21-1) — 85 — 2
3. Grand Haven (18-3) — 67 — 6
4. Saginaw Heritage (19-3) — 61 — 7
5. Detroit Renaissance (19-2) — 58 — T4
6. Utica Eisenhower (20-2) — 57 — 8
7. Midland (18-3) — 46 — 3
8 (tie). Utica Ford (20-2) — 44 — T4
8 (tie). DeWitt (21-1) — 44 — 9
10. Temperance Bedford (20-2) — 38 — 10
Others receiving votes: 11, Farmington Hills Mercy 12. 12, South Lyon 10. 13, Wayne Memorial 10. 14, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 9.
The Lakeland Eagles defeated the South Lyon Lions 35-32 in the Lakes Valley Conference game played on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 at Lakeland. (KEN SWART – For MediaNews Group)
DIVISION 2
Rank — School — Total Points — Previous
1. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (5) (21-1) — 75 — 1
2. Tecumseh (20-1) — 70 — 2
3. Negaunee (21-0) — 63 — 3
4. Frankenmuth (18-4) — 56 — 6
5. Parma Western (20-2) — 46 — 4
6. Freeland (19-3) — 45 — 8
7. Grand Rapids South Christian (20-2) — 39 — 10
8. Haslett (19-3) — 25 — 7
9. Grand Rapids West Catholic (18-3) — 24 — 5
10. Vicksburg (20-2) — 17 — NR
Others receiving votes: 11, Chelsea 14. 12, Detroit Edison 12. 13, Flint Hamady 10. 14, Fremont 10. 15, Wixom St. Catherine of Siena Academy 7. 16, Goodrich 6. 17, Detroit Country Day 6.
The Ford Falcons defeated Eisenhower 60-45 on Friday, Feb. 21 to win a share of the MAC Red championship. (BRADY McATAMNEY – MediaNews Group)
DIVISION 3
Rank — School — Total Points — Previous
1. Niles Brandywine (4) (22-0) — 73 — 1
2. Pewamo-Westphalia (22-0) — 69 — 2
3. Grass Lake (1) (18-3) — 63 — 5
4. Harbor Springs (20-2) — 56 — 7
5. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (21-1) — 47 — 3
6. Hart (21-1) — 43 — 8
7. Evart (20-2) — 32 — 10
8. Saugatuck (21-1) — 28 — 9
9. Blissfield (19-2) — 20 — 4
10. Cass City (20-2) — 19 — NR
Others receiving votes: 11, Sandusky 17. 12, New Lothrop 9. 13, Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central 8. 14, McBain 8. 15, Hemlock 8. 16, Calumet 7. 17, Ishpeming 6. 18, Jackson Lumen Christi 6. 19, Sanford-Meridian 6.
Clarkston Everest Collegiate defeated GPW University Liggett 51-30 in the CHSL game played on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 at CEC. (KEN SWART – For MediaNews Group)
Both Jayla Jackson and Cece Arico put up over 20 points and Detroit Country Day sizzled offensively in a 66-33 win over Bloomfield Hills Marian on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025 in Beverly Hills. (BRYAN EVERSON - MediaNews Group)
The second round of anticipated storms this week have forced an alteration in the Catholic High School League boys basketball tournament schedule, with the two title games — in the Cardinal and St. Anne divisions — getting pushed back a day until Sunday.
The two games will still take place at the University of Detroit Mercy’s Calihan Hall, which was key to the decision.
“Having the games on Sunday is not our ideal choice, providing the student-athletes the opportunity to play at Calihan Hall was the driving force for this switch,” said Michael Evoy, the CHSL’s athletics and student services coordinator, in an email.
Doors will open for spectators at noon, with the St. Anne title game — which features Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett vs. Division 4 No. 7-ranked Clarkston Everest Collegiate — slated to tip off at 1 p.m.
The Cardinal Division title game, between Division 3’s No. 5-ranked Jackson Lumen Christi and No. 2 Riverview Gabriel Richard, will start at 3 p.m. The Pioneers won the regular-season meeting between the two teams, back on Jan. 22, by an 88-65 score.
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