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Adams picks up the tempo to pull away from Lake Orion

Dan Stickradt | December 7, 2011 | Comments (1)

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

LAKE ORION — Rochester Adams proved that it can play at multiple speeds Tuesday night. The Highlanders found another gear in the second half that Lake Orion simply could not match.

The result was a 59-42 non-conference boys basketball win for visiting Adams, which jacked up the tempo in the second half to pull away from the Dragons after holding just a one-point lead at the half.

“I think the game, at least the first half, was way too slow for us,” admitted Adams coach John Hall.”I think once we started to increase the tempo a little bit in the second half, we started to play our game a little bit more. That is more our style, being able to spread the floor and push the tempo.”

Lake Orion held a distinctive size advantage with 6-foot-8 Brad Watterworth, 6-6 Chaz Miller, 6-4 John McCarty and 6-4 Roman Kuster all rotating in the frontcourt. McCarty was the only player to reach double figures for the Dragons, scoring 15 points.

HERE'S THE SCOOP:Rochester Adams sophomore Akhemji Williams lays in two of his six points during the Highlanders' 59-42 win Tuesday over Lake Orion. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

Miller added eight points, while both Watterworth and Damonte Kruse scored five for Lake Orion (0-1).

“I think later in the season Lake Orion will be a very good team,” offered Hall. “They have great size, not too many teams around here have that much size. They have a new coach and some young guards, so I think once they put it together later in the year they will be a dangerous team.”

Adams (1-0) led just 6-5 after the first quarter and 17-16 at the half. The Highlanders increased their tempo in the third quarter, outscoring the Dragons 15-9 in the third frame and 27-17 in the fourth quarter go make a tight game into a 17-point route.

James Berger scored 14 to lead Adams. Matt Neidhert added 10 points, Zack Littleson and Ben Lamb chipped in with nine points apiece and Akhemji Williams scored six with six assists for the Highlanders, who finished 8-for-9 from the foul line and also drained 5-of-7 three-pointers in the contest.

Adams reached the Class A Sweet 16 last season for the first time in school history and have high expectations with two-thirds of its roster back.

CLOSING THE GAP: Lake Orion's Demonte Kruse (left) tries to tighten the reigns on Rochester Adams' Press Kampe. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

“We do have a lot of guys back, but we are still very young. There were still a few guys out there that played their first varsity game tonight,” reminded Hall. “I don’t think we feel any additional pressure to succeed. I think we have the capability to contend in our league and also contend in our district. But we have a lot of juniors and sophomores on this team and only three seniors. We are not one of those senior-heavy teams that everyone expects to win. We have some very talented players, but still very young players. We have a long ways to go.”

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Tags: Basketball, boys basketball, featured, high school boys basketball, Lake Orion Boys Basketball, prep boys basketball, Rochester Adams Boys Basketball