Clarkston squeaks out win over rival Lake Orion
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
CLARKSTON — A year ago when a game was close, Clarkston would have most likely folded down the stretch.
The Wolves are apparently coming of age.
In a season of close battles, Clarkston captured a key come-from-behind victory Friday. Trailing 28-25 entering the fourth quarter, the Wolves rallied with a 7-0 in the midst of a couple of controversial calls to upended rival Lake Orion 39-38 in OAA Red Division play.
“I think we had the confidence because we’ve been in so many close games this year. Even a couple of our losses were three-point losses,” said Clarkston coach Tim Wasilk. “We’ve been in this situation a few times already this season and having girls with two or three years under their belts. I think that makes a big difference.”
Clarkston (5-4, 3-2) finished 6-15 a year ago but is well on its way to a better fortune this season. The Wolves gained another piece to the puzzle Friday.
Lake Orion’s three-point lead at the end of the third quarter turned into a seasaw battle in the fourth quarter. Clarkston (5-4) went on a 14-10 run in the final frame, which wasn’t decided until the waning seconds.
Clarkston trailed 32-30 when Megan Hastings connected on a three-pointer to put her team up 33-32 with 4:05 left, a lead that the Wolves would not relinquish.
Lake Orion’s next three possessions resulted in three turnovers, including a bucket called back and a charging call on the Dragons’ Laura Turnbull.
Clarkston responded with a 5-0 run, including Megan Hastings’ third triple of the night, to put the Wolves up 38-32 with 2:52 left.
Lake Orion’s Dana Schrauben nailed a pair of free throws and Maddie Hutchinson scored on a layup to bring the Dragons to within 38-36 with 37 seconds left.
Clarkston’s Lindsey Reppuhn split a pair of free throws with 24.6 seconds left to go up 39-36, leaving the door open for Lake Orion to forge a tie.
Alyssa Wesley scored on a layup with nine seconds left to cut the lead down to one, but time ran out on the Dragons. Clarkston’s Hastings missed a free throw with four seconds remaining, but Lake Orion could only get off a half-court heave that was way short.
“I thought we played pretty sound defensively in the fourth quarter, but more importantly we hit some big shots in the second half kind of and got some turnovers with or man-to-man press,” said Wasilk. We switched things up at halftime.”
Lake Orion coach Steve Roberts was perplexed, knowing his team played well enough to win but a some calls inside the final four minutes went against his Dragons.
Win or lose, Lake Orion coach Steve Roberts was puzzled about a charge against his team and an apparent push-off call that resulted in a time out for Clarkston.
“You explain those to me,” he asked. “The first one, if the basket counts, then we have two points and a free throw. Instead, the ball goes back to Clarkston and they go down and score. I think that changed the whole game, really. Then the other call. I don’t know what to say. I think the timing of the calls were what hurt us, coming in the last couple of minutes.
“I’m proud of my girls for battling. They played hard,” added Roberts. “We were down in the first quarter and we came back and made a game of it. Then we had the lead.
Clarkston controlled play in the first quarter and led 11-7 after the first frame. Lake Orion finally got untracked in the second quarter to go on a 12-1 spurt to go up 19-12 at the half.
In the third quarter, Clarkston fought back with a 13-9 third-quarter run to cut the deficit and set up a wild fourth quarter.
Sophomore Deleney Kenny led a balanced attack for Clarkston with 10 points. Hastings added nine points, all on three-pointers, and Christina Jokisch had eight points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots for the Wolves.
Hutchinson scored 13 with seven rebounds, four steals and three assists for Lake Orion Marissa Secontine added eight points and six rebounds for the Dragons, which held a 30-26 advantage on the boards but committed 20 turnovers.
Wasilk felt his team’s defense was a major turnaround for the game
“I thought we struggled the basketball in the first half,. I think we were 3-for-22, but kept our composure and in the second half I thought we were pretty solid. I told kids to simplify things defensively. Get up and play man-to-man press and hopefully give their guards a little bit of trouble.”
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Category: Clarkston, Lake Orion, Uncategorized
