27 years in the making … Oxford cagers beat Lake Orion for the first time since 1983

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES: Oxford's boys basketball team was all smiles Friday after defeating neighboring rival Lake Orion for the first time in 27 years. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

LEADER OF THIS PACK: Oxford junior guard Mark Hazelwood drives past Lake Orion's Connor McCormick during the Wildcats' 43-41 victory over the Dragons. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

LAKE ORION — Paul Marfia didn’t hesitate to remind people how long it has been since Oxford has defeated Lake Orion in boys basketball.

“1983”, smiled Marfia, Oxford’s second-year head coach.

It was December of ’83 since the Wildcats’ last win over the Dragons — a 27-year streak that came to a crashing halt Friday night.

The Wildcats took the lead after the first quarter and held off Lake Orion’s late rally for a 43-41 OAA crossover triumph.

“To be honest with you, Lake Orion is a great program with a good history and it’s nice to beat your rival. I’ve never lost to them,” said Marfia, whose team did not face Lake Orion last season. “As a program, a lot of these kids have never lost to them. We’re starting fresh. (We’re not in the same division) so it doesn’t carry any points. It feels good for the people that had to lose to them. That’s what this is for tonight.”

Junior guard Mark Hazelwood finished with 19 points, including 14 in the second quarter, where the Wildcats turned a 5-4 deficit into a 22-17 halftime led. Oxford never trailed in the second half.

“I just try to have as much confidence in myself,” said Hazelwood. “In the past they have had a lot of turnovers. I think we’ve kind of had a change in attitude. That’s good. We have been playing a lot better without all of the turnovers.”

Lake Orion did not go down without a fight, but the Dragons are far from a seasoned team. A total of eight players graduated, the projected starting point guard was injured and lost for the season and two more players won’t be available until the mid-point of the season. Plus, there are three sophomores and one freshman in the rotation.

“It’s difficult,” said second-year Lake Orion coach Mike Shafkalis. “The (Steve) Dolinski injury was big. He was going to be our starting point guard and our leader and losing Sean (Charette to injury) didn’t help either. Those are some of our tougher players, leaders on the basketball team. I think we have to forget at a certain point that we’re young. We’re just going to have to learn to play basketball and learn how to play at the varsity level. That’s my job and that’s my job to get them ready to play.

“Oxford came in here and beat us. That’s all you can say,” added Shafkalis. “They did what they needed to do to win the game. That’s what we’re going to have to learn, how to win these (close) games.”

The Dragons (0-3) trailed 32-26 entering the fourth quarter and clawed to within 38-37 with 2:21 left on a jumper form Connor McCormick.

Oxford (1-1) answered with a 5-0 run, the last point a free throw by Jacques Toussaint with 46 ticks remaining.

Lake Orion’s Evan Drean nailed a 3-pointer from the corner with 34 seconds left to cut the deficit down to 43-41, but neither team could convert down the stretch.

Oxford’s Chris Calvin caromed a rebound off a Chaz Miller miss to put the final touch on the Wildcats’ long overdue win over Lake Orion.

“We were confident. We knew we just had to handle the ball and make our free throws,” said Hazelwood.

Miller scored 13 to pace Lake Orion. Freshman John McCarty added five points and 12 rebounds McCormick scored seven with three assists for the Dragons.

Jacques Touissant added 10 points and four assists, Tyler Rose scored seven and Calvin added 10 rebounds for Oxford.

“I’m happy where we are at in December, but I want to see us a lot better,” said Marfia. “I’m happy and I hoped (everybody) enjoyed it and the steps we took as a program.”

Tags: boys basketball, featured, rivalry

Category: Lake Orion, Oxford, Prep Wraps