Soaking it all up: Lakers repeat as Class D state champs

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

SWEET REPEAT:Severlmembers of Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes girls basketball team hoist the trophy high after the Lakers captured their second straight Class D state championship Saturday at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Courtesy Photo | Our Lady of the Lakes Athletics.

EAST LANSING — Last year Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes’ run to the Class D state championship was somewhat unexpected. This year, there was no secret that the Lakers had the mettle to repeat.

WOLL put the finishing touches on its repeat bid at the Michigan State’s Breslin Center Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 53-35 triumph over unheralded Bark River-Harris.

“I thought we could win it last year. I’m not sure a lot of people thought we would,” said WOLL coach Steve Robak. “I felt since we had a lot of girls back and one key transfer, that we could do it again. It’s never easy, though. A lot has to go right.”

The Lakers, who were 15-5 in the regular season and lost to four non-Class D schools, outscored Bark River-Harris in all four quarters. The only loss to a fellow Class D opponent came against Marine City Cardinal Mooney, a team WOLL avenged in the regional semifinals.

The Lakers also lost to Class B state champions Dearborn Divine Child, Class A schools Livonia Ladywood and Warren Regina, and Class C Allen Park Cabrini.

Against BR-H, Waterford Our Lady shook off some early nerves and led four 3.5 quarters of play. Bark River-Harris, which was only honorable mention heading into the postseason or the equivalent of 18^th in the AP poll, simply could not handle the Lakers’ defensive pressure and switching defensive schemes.

Bark River-Harris led 5-0 early, but WOLL grabbed the lead for good at 10-9 on a 3-pointer by junior Carlee Cottrell with 46 seconds left in the opening quarter.

WOLL, which led 13-9 after the first frame, used a 15-11 spurt in the second quarter to post a 28-20 advantage at the break. The Lakers led by as many as 10 points in the second frame.

Smelling blood, Our Lady of the Lakes pushed the lead to 15 points at the end of the third quarter, using an 18-11 run in the period for a commanding 46-31 lead entering the final eight minutes of play.

WOLL held Bark River-Harris to only four points in the fourth quarter to stake claim to its second straight state title.

The Lakers also won the Division 4 girls soccer title with the same core of athletes, giving the school three state titles in \girls sports in the course of 12 months.

“This was a great run. We’ve been blessed with some good, athletic girls,” offered Robak, who noted that his daughter, Lauren Robak, finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer.”

Cottrell, who transferred over from Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, led the Lakers (21-5) with 16 points. Ava Doetsch added 13 points and five rebounds, Lexie Robak added 11 points and six boards and Lauren Robak, headed for Oakland University, had nine points, eight steals, six rebounds and three assists in her final prep game.

The Lakers recorded 19 steals and out-rebounded BR-H 41-34 to overcome a rough shooting night from the floor (30.2 percent). WOLL was only 7-for-21 from outside the 3-point arc.

Bark River-Harris, nestled in the Upper Peninsula near Escanaba, was forced into 30 turnovers and 34.1 percent shooting.

“I know we’ve played a really tough schedule and we had a lot of close games,” said Robak. “I don’t know if they face a team like ours with our type of defense. You don’t know much about those teams, who’ve they played and what type of defense they play. But you know they are good teams, or else they wouldn’t be down here (in the Final Four).

“I was surprised to win the way we did (forcing) 30 turnovers,” added Robak. “We had a much closer game in the semifinals. But we’ll take it.”

Sarah Madalinski scored 11with six rebounds and Megan Mackowiak added 10 points and nine rebounds for Bark River-Harris.

WATERFORD OUR LADY OF THE LAKES 52, CENTRAL LAKE 41: The Lakers overcame a 23-19 halftime deficit to win this Class D state semifinal game Thursday at the Breslin Center. Laruen Robak scored 18 with 11 rebounds and three steals for the Lakers. Lexie Robak added 13 points and Carlee Cottrell scored 11 for WOLL. Jasmine Hines, the state’s all-time leading scorer and the 2011 Miss Basketball recipient, finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots for top-ranked Central Lake (26-1), which lost in the semifinals for the second straight season. Heidi Hicks added five points, seven rebounds and four assists.

To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.  To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com

Tags: Class D state finals, girls basketball

Category: Featured Articles, High School, Prep Wraps, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes