GIRLS BASKETBALL: Patient Wolves emerging as one of state’s best

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

CLARKSTON — It was two years ago when Clarkston girls basketball seemingly fell off the map.

The Wolves struggled to a 6-15 record, which included dead last in the OAA Red Division and a first-round loss to Rochester Stoney Creek in a Class A district basketball pre-district contest.

The Wolves were young, couldn’t shoot and were overmatched in a region dominated by quality basketball teams in each direction.

Instead of giving up, Clarkston coach Tim Wasilk and his staff kept plugging away, and with the dedication of hard work of several players, those rough times seem like a million years ago.

“It does seem like a long time ago, but I know the girls did not like that experience,” said Wasilk. “Since then, we’ve seen a lot of hard work going on in the offseason.The girls are dedicated and that’s the key part to it all. They have put in the time to become better players, and a better team.

Wasilk enjoyed plenty of success in his first season back in the fall of 2005. Clarkston as second in the OAA-Red that year and consistently ranked in the top 15 in the state, one of several league teams to have strong years.

Clarkston won district and regional championships that season and eventually lost at the buzzer in the Class A state quarterfinals to Saginaw Arthur Hill, 44-42. The Wolves continued to be a tough out for a few more years, until the major rebuilding year in 2009-2010.

Several of the players on that squad are still on the roster today.

“We have several of three-year and four-year players that have been through it all and now we are reaping the benefits of having an experienced team,” said Wasilk. “We lost Lindsey Reppuhn to graduation and she’s playing at Kalamazoo College. Other than that, we have virtually the whole team back.”

Clarkston is having one of its best seasons in school history. Ranked eighth in the state in the Associated Press’ Class A polls, the Wolves are a fine 20-2 and will play for a district championship at 7p.m.Friday against Grand Blanc at Holly.

“I do think we can make a run, but I also been around basketball long enough that if you don’t come to play, then we could get knocked out in districts,” said Wasilk. “I haven’t really given much thought about who we’ could play in regionals because we have a couple of tough teams in our district. When you start looking too far ahead, that’s when you’ll get knocked out.”

ALL OUT: Clarkston senior Tori Trimmer has been a key performer in the Wolves' front court this season and has aided Clarkston going 38-4 in their past 42 games spanning parts of two seasons. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

Clarkston was 18-2 in the regular season, including 12-2 in the ever-touch OAA Red Division, which has five schools playing for district championships Friday night. The Wolves lost to Auburn Hills Avondale by double digits in early February and to Southfield Lathrup by a point last month.

Lathrup won the league last season and Avondale was a regional finalist last year, the same level that Clarkston reached last winter. The Wolves lost in bizarre fashion last March in the Sweet 16, falling to Midland, 40-24, after trailing 17-0 at the half.

“That’s the strange thing about the state tournament—you never know what is going to happen,” offered Wasilk. “It was unfortunate for us, because we played so well down the stretch last year. It was just one of those nights where we couldn’t hit anything. I think the girls have learned from that night.”

Clarkston is a remarkable 38-4 over its last 42 games after beginning the 2010-2011 season with a 1-4 mark. The Wolves were 18-2 down the stretch last season and have won 20 of 22 games this season.

Senior Megan Hastings is a four-year starter for Clarkston and one of the unquestionable leaders. She leads the Wolves in scoring at around 13 points a game, but Clarkston has several players averaging between six and 13 points and outing.

Junior Delaney Kenny is another floor leader who is averaging around 10 a contest and is among the team leaders in steals and assists.

Senior Anna Manilla, an all-state high jumper and a third-year starter, is the team’s defensive stopper and a capable rebounder up front. Senior Tori Trimmer and 6-foot-1 senior Christina Jokish have also been consistent on the boards

Junior guards Erin Davenport and Breanca Cantrell and sophomore Haley Daugherty have all added depth to the backcourt and 6-foot freshman Erika Davenport has also been steady contributor off the bench.

The younger Davenport has provided Clarkston with another strong post player this season and backs up Manilla and Jokisch in an area where the Wolves lacked depth last season.

“We are deeper in the post with Erika,” said Wasilk. “I think Anna Manilla has been kind of our unsung hero. She rebounds well and we often have her guard the other’s team’s top post player. Christina Jokisch has been really steady and Erika gives us great minutes off the bench. She’s had some big games for us this season.”

Clarkston has never reached the Final Four in girls basketball, a fact that Wasilk understands is an extremely difficult task.

“Everything has to go right in the tournament,” he said. “We’ve had some teams from our league come up short on a couple of occasions and Southfield Lathrup won the state title (in 2005). There are so many factors.

“The one thing I like about our team is we’re not a bunch of (all-staters),” continued Wasilk. “We have everyone playing their roles.”

Up until last year, we had lost in the districts I think five years in a row,” lamented Wasilk.”I think we have come a long ways in a couple of years, but we haven’t won anything yet.”

Losing in the early rounds, that was Clarkston from 2006-2010. The program has come a long ways since then — and perhaps has some magical moments still to record.

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