Lancers pull away from rival Northwest to remain perfect

CRUISING: Auburn Hills Oakland Christain junior guard Drew Perrin and the Lancers are a perfect 9-0 on the season following Tuesday's 70-47 triumpoh over Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest. File Photo

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — Auburn Hills Oakland Christian received a scare Tuesday night from one of its rivals — for just a half.

The state-ranked Lancers used a 22-6 run in the third quarter to break open a tight, one-point game at the half to post a 70-47 victory over host Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest in MIAC Blue Division play.

Lutheran Northwest (5-5, 3-3) actually led 17-12 at the end of the first quarter before the Lancers turned on the light switch. Oakland Christian (9-0, 6-0), off to one of its best starts in school history, reversed that trend with a 17-11 surge in the second quarter for a 29-28 lead at the break.

Junior point guard Drew Perrin’s jumper late in the half gave the Lancers the one-point cushion and a lead they would not relinquish.

“It was a little bit of a struggle in the first half,” admitted Oakland Christian coach Dennis Hopkins.  “I think one we got going a little bit in nthe third quarter we were fine. At one time we were up by close to 35 points. We played a great second half.

Oakland Christian was coming off a two-point win the previous Friday against Allen Park Inter-City Baptist. This time the Lancers were able to pull away in the second half.

“We just played awful in that game against Inter-City,” admitted Hopkins. “It was one of those days where only one of our players could shoot. We were fortunate enough to win.”

Against Northwest, junior transfer Charles Heyden, playing in only his third game with the Lancers, scored 15 points as part of balanced attack. Junior forward Nathan Piasecki scored a game-high 21 points and Perrin twined 18 points for Oakland Christian.

“I really like our balance, and I think that is one of the thing that wore (Northwest) down in the second half,” said Hopkins. “the question for most teams is who do we stop. I thought Josh Peterson came out and played great the first few games, and then teams started to key in on him. But John Van Noord, one of our freshmen, has had a couple of big games. He scored 19 against Inter-City and hit six three-pointers. Nathan Piasecki had come through with a couple of 20-point games and Perrin ha 18 tonight and is capable of doing that. We’ve had nine games and six different players have led us in scoring.”

Leading 51-34 entering the fourth quarter, Oakland Christian used a 12-2 run to start the fourth period and eventually outscored the Crusaders 19-13 in the final frame to post a 23-point win.

Sophomore guard Nathan Drews was Northwest’s only player to reach double figures, scoring 15 points.

Oakland Christian will host Southfield Christian Friday at 7 p.m. as part of the nation-wide Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser.

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Tags: boys basketball, prep boys basketball

Category: Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Prep Wraps, Rochester Hills Lutheran NW