Clarkston avenges Athens in battle of unbeatens
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
CLARKSTON — A year ago, Clarkston had a unfavorable and uncharacteristic start on the basketball, court heading into the holiday break with a disastrous 1-4 record.
One of those losses was a 41-40 setback to Troy Athens, which defeated the Wolves for the first time in school history last December.
SHOOT HIGH: Clarkston senior point guard Mitch Baenziger fires up this short-range jumper during Thursday's 81-40 win over Troy Athens. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
One year later and Clarkston is playing at a different level. The Wolves avenged that loss to the Red Hawks Thursday, using a 19-2 second quarter run to turn a tight game into a rout. Clarkston doubled up the Red Hawks at the end, posting a lopsided 81-40 non-league boys basketball victory in a battle of unbeatens.
Clarkston is 4-0 heading into the break and is playing with a style the school was accustomed to throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s, playing at times with a five-guard lineup.
The Wolves landed four players in double figures and shot an impressive 33-for-67 from the floor (49 percent) and registered only five turnovers in the contest.
“With the guys we have, there is little bump but they are all around the same (size),” said Clarkston coach Dan Fife, who started five players who all stand between 6-foot-1 and 6-3. “We play like the teams (of yesterday) do.
“I was really proud of our kids effort on defense tonight,” continued Fife. “I think our conditioning and our presence in making it tough for them to score was probably the difference.”
Clarkston was fluid on offense and deadly on defense. The Wolves collected assists on 22 of their 33 field goals, outrebounded the taller Red Hawks, 36-30, and had 12 swipes as a team defensively.
Junior Jordan Dasuqi scored 20 points to lead a balanced effort for Clarkston, which had 11 of 14 active players reach the scoring column. Senior Nick Tutu fought through a cold shooting (5-for-18) night to add 16 points, including four three pointers, senior Matt Dellinger scored 15 with six rebounds and senior Mitch Baenziger supplied 11 points, six assists and three steals.
WITHIN REACH: Troy Athens senior guard Caleb McIntosh attempts to block the shot of Clarkston's Zach Collins during Thursday's battle of unbeatens. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
Senior Zach Collins was also a major factor, contributing six points with nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and a blocked shot to help spearhead the dominating effort. Junior Dylan Hancock came off the bench to chip in four points with seven rebounds and three assists for Clarkston, which reached the Sweet 16 the past two seasons.
Clarkston forced 20 turnovers and limited the Red Hawks’ leading scorer on the season, Marcarious Coakley, to only four points and four rebounds. Senior Caleb McIntosh finished with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists and senior Matt Fox supplied seven points and three assists for Athens.
Junior Jeff Koch, Athens’ 6-foot-8 senior, was ineffective, finishing with only two points, five rebounds and three blocked shots.
“They’re relentless. They keep coming at you and they didn’t miss a whole lot of shots tonight,” offered Athens coach Dave Scott of Clarkston. “Our intensity just wasn’t where it needed to be. If we (want) to compete where we think we can compete at, these are the types of games where we need to bring our intensity and pressure them a little bit. I don’t think we did that.”
Going McIntosh and Coakley early, Athens (4-1) built a 9-5 lead in the first four minutes. Clarkston responded with a 16-8 run to close the quarter for a 21-17 advantage.
Both teams traded off baskets to start the second quarter, with Tatu draining a three for Clarkston and McIntosh knocking down a leaner to pull the Red Hawks to within 24-19 with 6:34 to play.
Clarkston outscored Athens 23-5 overall in the second quarter, knocking down 9-of-15 field goals in the frame to a 44-22 lead at the half.
The Wolves outscored the Red Hawks 15-10 in the third quarter for a 59-32 lead before outscoring Athens 22-8 over the final eight minutes to hand Athens a humbling 41-point defeat.
Fife reminded his team that there’s plenty to accomplish in the months ahead.
“I think it’s way too early,” said Fife. “There’s 20 games and it’s a long season. We can’t get too happy or overconfident.”
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Category: Clarkston, Featured Articles, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Troy Athens, Uncategorized
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