Vote for our Prep Athlete of the Week nominee! Serenity Cooper, North Farmington: Helped with five points in a loss to Troy Athens.

North Struggles From the Floor, Loses to Athens on the Road Friday Night For the first 16 minutes of the game, the ball seemed to go anywhere but in for the Raiders, as they managed only five first half points. The team remained positive and competitive, determined to improve in the second half. And improve they did! In the second half, the Raiders were outscored 19-17 as their shots started falling, and they played harder on defense. After an improved effort in the final 16 minutes, the team was able to walk away with their heads held high. Leading the way in scoring for North was Hailey Webley with 10 total points, including two threes and eight points in the third quarter. Serenity Cooper was second on the team, scoring all five of her points in the fourth quarter. Julia Nothstine and Whalen Kennedy each scored two points, with Shylah Tarin, Lucy Nemeth and Jade Spears each scoring one. Please brave the weather and come out to support the girls on Thursday (TONIGHT!) when they visit the Avondale Yellowjackets. JV will start at 5:00PM, followed by Varsity at 7:00PM. GO RAIDERS!

North Farmington Girls Basketball Headed in Right Direction The Raiders went on the road and dropped a hard fought game to Rochester Adams on Wednesday Night, 56-30. Adams scored easily early in the game, while breaking the Raiders press. North trailed 18-6 after one quarter. Adjusting their defense, and their offense, North Farmington performed much better in the second quarter, losing the frame by one point, 12-11. This stretch of well-executed and aggressive basketball is included in the many “glimpses” of the bright future being built here at North. While the Raiders were able to play a strong fourth quarter, breaking even (9-9) with the Highlanders in that frame, they were simply outmatched (17-4) in the third. It’s encouraging to see the team improve to the point where they can compete with more experienced opponents for extended stretches. The girls fought hard from start to finish, and that’s the sign of a group that will find wins in the future. Hailey Webley was quite unstoppable in the first half, scoring 13 of her 14 points against a trapping Highlander defense. She scored from everywhere on the floor: At the rim, midrange, at the free throw line, and behind the arc. And more importantly, she plays even harder on the defensive end of the floor than she does the offensive side. Following her lead for the second straight game was Shylah Tarin, scoring six points and playing some critical defense on the top offensive threat for Adams. As her defense continues to improve, the team continues to benefit! Shylah seems to be finding her best game at the right time. Similarly, sophomores Julia Nothstine and Lucy Nemeth played tremendous defensive games for the Raiders. Nothstine’s defensive IQ has been on the rise, and she’s finding her voice as the back line of North’s defense. Nemeth, on the other hand, found her voice very early in the season and continues to lead by example. She was 2/2 from the free throw line, she continues to handle the ball better and better under pressure, and she is the anchor of our defense. For the second straight game after returning from injury, Vanessa Kantor played quality minutes and scored three points for North. She seems to be settling back in. Rounding out the scoring was Serenity Cooper with three points and Julia Nothstine with two. Please come out to support the Raiders on Friday (TONIGHT!) when the girls travel to Troy Athens for two games 5:30/7:00PM. GO RAIDERS!!

North Farmington Shows Improvement, Drops Home Game to Berkley on Monday Night The young Raider team continues to show flashes of the mental toughness and defensive intensity required to compete in the OAA, night after night. When their opportunity arises, most of the girls are learning how to give maximum effort, and play hard, for a full 32 minutes. No matter the circumstances of the game. Simulating and overcoming the opposing ball pressure and creating ball pressure of our own, has been a consistent priority in practice. The girls seem to be responding well to the increased workload in preparation for game days. Berkley jumped out to an early lead, and the Raiders were reeling a bit. After a couple of early timeouts, the team was able to settle in and compete. Instead of hanging their heads and giving up, the girls remained positive and showed the desire required to win games. The desire to play hard for their teammates and improve for the future of the program. Leading the way yet again was star freshman point guard, Hailey Webley. She scored a team high 11 points, including a perfect 4/4 from the free throw line and a fourth-quarter three. Her ball handling and decision making continue to break presses and create scoring chances for her teammates. Second on the team in scoring was freshman forward, Serenity Cooper. She scored eight points, including five in the first quarter. She won the blue collar stat award for her offensive rebounding, steals, deflections, box-outs, floor-dives, etc. AND, she did all that in only three quarters because she played 16 minutes in the JV game!! The team seems to feed off of her strength and determination, her future is extremely bright! One of the rocks of the team continues to be sophomore shooting guard, Lucy Nemeth. Day in and day out, Lucy gives you her all and leads the team in what coaches often call “the intangibles.” On Monday, she scored five points, anchored the team’s defense, handled the ball under pressure, and played with relentless energy on both ends of the floor. Lucy is a difference maker. Junior forward, Shylah Tarin, had a great second half, scoring her four points and giving an improved effort on defense. When she plays within the system of the team, and plays with a defense-first mentality, she’s hard to stop! Senior guard, Vanessa Kantor, played in only her third game of the season, hitting an open three in the fourth quarter. Her leadership, energy, effort, and defensive prowess have been sorely missed by this young group. WELCOME BACK VANESSA!! Whalen Kennedy scored three points for North, Julia Nothstine added two. Seniors Jade Spears and Hannah Richardson also played hard for the Raiders while on the court Monday! Please travel up to Rochester Adams with the team on Wednesday (TONIGHT!) to support the girls! JV starts at 5:30, followed by varsity at 7:00. GO RAIDERS!!

@folsombrandonj Thanks for the great photos, @folsombrandonj

RT @folsombrandonj: PHOTOS: North Farmington girls basketball vs. Berkley

Vote for our Prep Athlete of the Week nominee! Ary Fletcher, North Farmington: Pitched in five points in a loss to Harper Woods in girls basketball.

Raiders Earn Second Straight MLK DAY Showcase Win in Swartz Creek For the second year in a row, North Farmington took the one hour bus ride up to Swartz Creek high school and competed in their annual MLK DAY Showcase. And for the second year in a row, the bus ride home was a celebration of a well deserved WIN! This year’s opponent was the Corunna Cavaliers, who only needed a ten minute bus ride to play in the event. The Cavaliers entered the game with a 7-3 record before the Raiders handed them their fourth loss of the season. North started the game slowly on offense, only scoring two first quarter points before Junior forward, Shylah Tarin, hit a buzzer-beater three to cut the lead to 9-5 at the end of eight minutes. The Raiders won the second quarter 12-8, powered by freshman Ary Fletcher’s TWO three pointers. Fletcher finished with six points, third most on the team, and those two made shots were HUGE for North. The score was tied 17-17 at halftime, and the Raiders locker room was gaining confidence. In the third quarter, however, Corunna jumped out to a 28-21 lead before the Raider staff called a timeout. The team switched their defense yet again, constantly mixing it up on the Cavaliers. The result was an 18-3 run to close the game, and a 39-31 VICTORY for North Farmington!! Shylah Tarin easily played her best game of the season, and she only had three points at halftime. She was getting great shots in the first half, and they just weren’t falling. Instead of getting deterred, she kept hustling and playing top-notch defense. She was rewarded with an eight point second half, scoring 11 total in the game, and more importantly, she and her teammates were rewarded with a W!!! Freshman point guard, Hailey Webley, scored a game-high twelve points, including eight in the Raider’s fourth quarter comeback. She made four CLUTCH free throws in the final minutes, sealing the victory for North Farmington. Her ball handling, her inspiring defense, her calm and collectiveness, are beyond her years. Sophomore Center, Julia Nothstine, seems to be breaking out of her shell!! Like Tarin, Nothstine definitely played her best game of the season. She scored four points, but more importantly, she DOMINATED THE BOARDS! The Raiders don’t win tonight without her defense and rebounding, and that’s NOT an overstatement. The game also seems to be slowing down for her, as she is consistently improving in her passing ability when helping to break the press. Lucy Nemeth never left the court! She played 32 minutes of GRITTY, AGGRESSIVE defense for the Raiders. She handled the ball, and handled the pressure. She SWISHED a HUGE three from the corner toward the end of the third quarter, sparking the Raider’s 18-3 run to win the game! Serenity Cooper may have only scored one point, but her contributions to the win were undeniable. Her strength and athleticism are hard for opponents to match, or even comprehend. When she stops thinking, and just plays, she’s dominant. Unstoppable. Steals, blocks, rebounds, and-1’s. She can do it all. Not surprisingly, she won the Raiders Blue-Collar Stats Award. And she helped ensure that North would win the game. Rounding out the scoring was Whalen Kennedy with two points. She’s a Junior, who’s only been playing basketball for two months. Her natural aggression, strength, and athleticism have been a godsend to the young Raider group. Her vocalism and willingness to hold teammates accountable for their actions has been refreshing. Please join us on the road at Southfield A&T on Thursday night as the Raiders look for a second win this week. JV starts at 5:30, followed by varsity at 7:00. We appreciate your support! GO RAIDERS!!!

North Farmington Suffers Bad Shooting Night, Loses at Harper Woods Sometimes, the ball just doesn’t seem to want to go in the basket. Such was the case for the Raiders on Friday night, as they drop another league game on the road at Harper Woods. North showed improved execution of their offense, getting many good looks at the basket. The girls played hard, and showed a willingness to commit to defense. These are positive steps in the right direction, and steps that have been emphasized as CRITICAL by the coaching staff. There is a famous basketball saying though: “It’s a make or miss game.” The Raiders will play in an MLK DAY SHOWCASE on Monday (today) as they look to combine their improved defensive intensity and effort with a better shooting performance in search of their first win in 2025. The staff remains positive, patient, and confident that better days are on the horizon for the young Raider team. Against Harper Woods, Hailey Webley led the team again, with seven points. Fellow freshman, Ary Fletcher, was second on the team with five points and played her best varsity minutes to date. She will be leaned on more heavily as the season continues to progress. Shylah Tarin, Serenity Cooper, Elianna Kassab, Whalen Kennedy and Melanie Thomas rounded out the scoring with two points apiece. Please come out and support the girls when they travel to Swartz Creek to take on Corunna High in the MLK DAY SHOWCASE on Monday (TODAY!). This is a VARSITY ONLY contest, and the game begins at 5:30PM. See you there! GO RAIDERS!

Vote for our Prep Athlete of the week nominee! Lucy Nemeth, North Farmington: Made two 3-pointers and finished with six points in a loss to Troy in girls basketball. Also had another six points in a loss to Berkley.

Raiders Show Increased Level of Competitiveness in Road Loss on Tuesday Night Sometimes, breakthrough moments can occur for a young basketball team, even in defeat. While North Farmington suffered a third straight loss on Tuesday night, this one felt different. In a good way. The team was much more competitive and confident in their actions throughout the game. Playing with urgency on both ends of the court, North displayed some much needed grit and determination while competing for thirty two minutes. Sprinting back on defense, diving for loose balls, protecting the rim from easy layups, and the willingness to fight for a win are all steps in the right direction for this group. For most girls on the team, this was their 11th career varsity basketball game. And, as the 11th game of the season, the Raiders have hit the halfway point of the regular season. While the team and staff would like to have a couple more wins, the overall spirit of the program is very high. The team is beginning to buy into the fact that focusing on team defensive intensity and not worrying about individual offensive miscues is the only formula to establish a winning mentality and a successful program. This individual realization and team growth is critical for the bright future here at North. Once again, leading the way for the team was standout freshman point guard, Hailey Webley. She scored a team high 12 points, including ten in the first half while the game was still within reach. She successfully defended the opposing point guard, doubling her up in points scored. Webley’s ball handling and decision making are already well beyond her years of experience. The SKY might not even be the limit for this kid. Not surprisingly, her backcourt running mate, sophomore Lucy Nemeth, was second on the team with six points while also winning the “Blue Collar Stat” award for the night. Floor dives, box outs, deflections, tremendous defense, loose ball recoveries are a big part of Nemeth’s game. Lucy’s scoring and play making capabilities are showing up more and more as she develops her confidence on the court. Her relentless effort and constant positivity make her one of the best leaders on the team. Rounding out the scoring for North were Jade Spears with three points, along with Shylah Tarin and Elianna Kassab with two points each. More importantly, these three played with incredible defensive effort and intensity. This may have been team captain Shylah Tarin’s best game of the season, simply because she found ways to affect the game other than her scoring. Her willingness to attack the game this way, focusing on the defensive end of the floor more than the offensive end, will dictate the team’s success going forward. North travels to Harper Woods on Friday night in search of a league win on the road. JV starts at 5:30, followed by varsity at 7:00. Please come out and support the team at this venue!! GO RAIDERS!!

North Farmington Drops Another Home Game The Troy Colts came to town on Thursday night and handed the Raiders another blowout defeat. The North Farmington team is searching for, and trying to develop a competitive fire on the court. From start to finish, North struggled to match the level of effort displayed by the Colts. The level of effort that is required to be competitive when playing varsity basketball. There were bright spots, and things to build on. The team remains positive, and focused on improving day by day. Defensive intensity, increased physicality, and handling the opponents pressure are of the utmost priority. The latter of those three, handling pressure, will come as the game slows down a little bit for the young Raider backcourt. Varsity starters for the first time, Freshman Hailey Webley and Sophomore Lucy Nemeth handle the majority of the backcourt duties for North Farmington. While neither played their best game on Thursday night, both showed signs of what makes them so special. Nemeth paced the team with six points on two 3-pointers. Both makes came in the first half, helping to keep the team within striking distance after 16 minutes. Webley came on strong after halftime, scoring all five of her points in the third quarter, the only Raider to score in the period. Serenity Cooper scored six points for North, followed by Julia Nothstine and Jade Spears with four points each. All three front-court players played significant minutes and rebounded the ball well for the Raiders. North will travel to Berkley on Tuesday night in search of their first league win this season. JV starts at 6:00PM, followed by Varsity at 7:30.

Vote for our Prep Athlete of the week nominee! Shylah Tarin, North Farmington: Contributed five points in loss to Auburn Hills Avondale in girls basketball.

Raiders Suffer Lopsided Defeat at the Hands of the Yellowjackets on Monday Night Some lumps were certainly expected to be taken during a rebuilding season at North Farmington, and Avondale wasted no time in handing them one at home on Monday night. The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first four minutes or so, and led 16-2 after the first quarter. Avondale’s upperclassmen (four seniors start) were more aggressive, more physical, more competitive and more determined than the young Raider team. Unfortunately for North, the game was never competitive. Before they can learn how to win consistently, the Raiders need to continue to learn how to COMPETE from start to finish of every game. When this group enters the game with confidence and conviction, they succeed every time! Win or lose, competing, improving, growing as a team, are successful endeavors. Competition was a BIG part of the focus at practice this week. This group is FULL of talent and potential, and they are a JOY to coach!! Scoring contributions for North Farmington included: Shylah Tarin and Serenity Cooper with five points apiece; Jade Spears and Hailey Webley each scored three; Myiah Wydendorf, Lucy Nemeth and Julia Nothstine added two points each; and Darcie Upshaw-Arnold chipped in with one. One of the best things about this group is the way that they respond to adversity and bounce back with a positive attitude. Other teams may enter the gym for practice the day after a significant loss and start pointing fingers. This team entered the gym, and got back to work! Hard work does not guarantee success, however, hard work does guarantee an opportunity for success. Fortunately for the Raiders, their next opportunity comes tonight at home! North Farmington hosts Troy High from the OAA White on Thursday night (1/9/25). JV starts at 5:30, followed by Varsity at 7:00. Please come out and support the girls!!! GO RAIDERS!!!

Vote for our Prep Athlete of the Week nominee! Julia Nothstine, North Farmington: Scored a career-best six points in a win over Walled Lake Central in girls basketball

RAIDERS WIN at Waterford Holiday Classic Showcase on Saturday Afternoon The North Farmington girls basketball team started their holiday break with a team breakfast at their morning shoot-around, a secret Santa gift exchange, an energized bus ride to Waterford, and a WIN over Walled Lake Central in the inaugural Holiday Classic Showcase. In their first afternoon game together as a group, the first half was a bit of a slow start for North. After fouling a three point shooter at the buzzer to end the first quarter, the Raiders trailed the Vikings 10-7. North was better in the second quarter, receiving scoring contributions from five different players, winning the frame 11-7. With a one point lead at halftime (18-17), the Raiders felt like they could play a lot better. They wouldn’t have to wait long to prove it, as they came out with some much needed defensive intensity in the third, holding Central to only three points in the eight minutes. In the halftime locker room, North Farmington had decided to initiate their full court press, and make one very important defensive change: Lucy Nemeth was assigned to guard the leading scorer for the Vikings. After scoring ten first half points, and standing about a foot taller than her new defender, Lillie Miracle was held to ZERO points in the second half by Nemeth. These combined factors, among others, led to a 13-3 quarter for North Farmington. In the end, North would hang on for a 37-31 victory, their third of the season. This win came with some hardware, a “Waterford Holiday Classic” plaque to each winning team. While this will be a nice addition to the team’s brand new showcase, more importantly, the girls got the WIN, a rewarding feeling for all of their hard work. Speaking of hardware, Hailey Webley took home the MVP of the game trophy for North Farmington. She scored seven of her eight points in the first half, when the team was really struggling offensively. In the second half, it seemed that she got steal after steal, and made play after play for her teammates, especially during the third quarter run for the Raiders. After a slow start, Shylah Tarin may have played the best game of her young varsity career. She led the team in scoring, with ten points, and was the only player from either team to score in all four quarters. But, the reason why it was her best game, was because she won the “Blue Collar Stat” award for the first time. The staff challenged her to make more of an impact on the game, regardless of scoring, and that she did! Floor dives, deflections, offensive rebounds; All the little things that are required to win! Julia Nothstine scored her career high, six points, corralled and secured offensive and defensive rebounds, and played PHYSICAL help defense throughout the thirty two minutes. Specifically, after a lot of hard work in practice, her put-back game is starting to come alive. She literally seems to be improving every single day. Darcie Upshaw-Arnold started for North, played significant minutes, and scored four points. Elianna Kassab, Whalen Kennedy, Jade Spears and Hannah Richardson saw time in the game and contributed to the win in varying ways. While Webley was certainly deserving of her MVP award, Lucy Nemeth may have been the biggest reason why the Raiders enter the long break with a satisfying victory to savor. She was second on the team with a new career high of nine points, including five in the critical third quarter run. More importantly, the fore-mentioned defensive shutdown of the Vikings’ best player in the second half truly proved to be the difference in the game. The North Farmington Girls Basketball Program would like to thank all of its supporters, especially the great parents that help make these seasons happen! The team and staff will enjoy a well-deserved holiday break, and resume competing on Monday, January 6th, at Avondale High School. JV plays at 5:30, followed by varsity at 7:00. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

RT @TheMRR7: Game 2: North Farmington used a 10-pt run spanning halftime to turn a 1-pt deficit into a 26-17 lead & took their largest lead…

Vote for our Prep Athlete of the Week nominee! Hailey Webley, North Farmington: Scored seven points in a 56-27 loss to Fenton in girls basketball.

BIG Improvement for North Farmington as Raiders Fall Just Short of a Win at Home Against Athens The Red Hawks came to Raider Arena on Thursday night and got all that they could handle from the North squad for a full thirty two minutes. The action was fast paced, up and down the court, and extremely competitive all night. The Raiders went toe to toe with Troy Athens in what was easily their best performance of the young season. The first quarter would set the tone for the entire game, for BOTH teams. The girls played with a true competitive fire on both ends of the court, and they were rewarded with some loud and energizing home crowd support! After eight minutes, the score was tied 15-15. The second quarter was more of the same: A flurry of action and competitive basketball for the home fans. After getting seven first half points each from Hailey Webley and Darcie Upshaw-Arnold, both freshman, North trailed 27-23 at the half. As the third quarter was winding down, the Raiders had cut the lead to 35-33 before an Athens player banked a 40-foot buzzer-beating three, extending their lead to five. Instead of allowing the momentum to be stolen from them in that moment, the fourth quarter team huddle was full of confidence, belief, and positivity. North was determined to finish the game strong, and that they did! The fourth quarter, much like the entire game, was back and forth between two teams that REALLY WANTED to win! The Raiders withstood multiple runs by Athens, threw on their full court press and cut the lead to two points with about a minute to go. In the end, after making their free throws, the Red Hawks came out on top, 50-44. Against a quality opponent, the young Raiders team had a chance to win the game in the end, and that is a great step in the right direction. After only five weeks together as a team, in their seventh game, the girls are already starting to show the right makeup for a successful season and proof that they can become the foundational pieces of the program’s future. Once again, Hailey Webley led the team in almost every way. She scored a career high 15 points, created many plays for her teammates, while also winning the games “Blue Collar Stat Award” in the postgame locker room. She is the floor general, and the team goes as she goes. Equally important is the emergence of sophomore shooting guard Lucy Nemeth. She was second on the team with eight points, a career high. But she does so much more than score to help the team win. She does all of the little things, all of the time. You know how much she impacted the game when you hear the opposing coach search her out after the handshake line to say: “Where’s #10? Wow! Great job #10.” Keep it up Lucy! Shylah Tarin And Darcie Upshaw-Arnold were both huge for the Raiders all night long! Both scored seven points, but more importantly, both helped handle the Red Hawks pressure in the press breaker throughout the game! These two are critical to the team’s success, game in and game out. Serenity Cooper, another Raider freshman, started the game for the first time in her career. And while she waited until the fourth quarter to score her five points, her impact on the game was immediate and immense. Serenity plays with a level of strength and aggression that cannot be taught. We can barely see the tip of the iceberg for this future star. Enough cannot be said about the critical roles played by Julia Nothstine and Elianna Kassab in the turnaround of the Raiders’ play. Their growing understanding and improvement on the defensive end of the floor is making a big difference for the team. Nothstine contributed two free throws, and, more importantly, both girls did their job for thirty two minutes. Did you miss the fun? Well, you don’t have to wait long to see the Raiders play again. North Farmington’s varsity team will travel to Waterford Kettering on Saturday (12/21/24) for a 12:15PM date with Walled Lake Central. See you there! GO RAIDERS!

North Farmington’s Slide Continues, Losing First Road Game of the Season at Fenton The Raiders talked about setting the tone early. They wanted to play aggressively on defense and composed on offense. They planned to start strong and compete for thirty two minutes. Unfortunately, some early Raider miscues on both ends of the court led to a quick start for the Tigers instead. Seemingly, as soon as the game started, North was down 13-0. At the end of the first quarter it was 20-7. It was 38-14 at the half and 56-27 at the final buzzer. The good news is that most of the team continued to play hard for thirty two minutes. One of the many things the team is trying to learn this year is how to compete. And ultimately, how to compete at a higher level. Most girls on the team were playing JV or middle school ball last year. Or, not playing basketball at all. After only six games together as a team, there are plenty of positives to build from. You can start to see some players developing more confidence. The majority of the team continues to have positive energy and a TEAM-FIRST mindset. Individual skills are improving and the girls are working extremely hard in practice. Freshman point guard, Hailey Webley, co-led the team with seven points, and looked really good in doing so. Not only did she hit the team’s only three, her aggressive attacks of the basket and impressive finishes at the rim are fun to watch!! Co-scoring-leader and fellow freshman, Serenity Cooper, had by far her best game of the young season so far. After a slow start in the first half, she exploded for seven second half points, once again showing her potential. Her determination and relentlessness were on full display as she won the games “Blue Collar Stat Award” for North. Sophomores Lucy Nemeth and Julia Nothstine may finally be breaking out of their shells. Nemeth scored her four points early in the game, displaying the offensive confidence and aggression that the staff has been begging for. Nothstine scored her four points late in the contest, and more importantly, played STRONG around the rim!! Both players give their best efforts for the ENTIRETY of their playing time, and both players are a huge part of the programs future. Juniors Shylah Tarin and Whalen Kennedy rounded out the scoring with two points and one point respectively. They once again played significant minutes for the team. All fourteen dressed players entered the game and got an opportunity to play on Tuesday night. On Thursday night (12/18/24), North Farmington hosts Troy Athens in their second league game of the season. JV starts at 5:30, followed by Varsity at 7:00. Please come out and support the girls on Thursday!!! GO RAIDERS!!