BOYS LACROSSE: Unchartered waters: Clarkston cruises into first Final Four
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
TROY — Brian Kaminskas wasn’t in shape for a Gatorade shower Friday evening. Some heavy rain blanketed eastern Oakland County off and on during the early evening hours, leaving all in attendance at Troy Athens a little damp.
It was worth it.
Kaminskas, Clarkston’s veteran boys lacrosse coach, watched his program score early and often in leaving Holt all soaking wet, taming the Rams, 18-3, in a Division 1 regional final at Athens.
The victory lifted the Wolves, ranked second in the state in Division 1, to their first-ever regional title in three straight trips to the Elite Eight stage.
More importantly, Clarkston advances to its first Final Four in the program’s brief 10-year history, and will face defending state champion, Birmingham Brother Rice, next Wednesday in the state semifinals at a site and time to be determined.
“We joked about not getting a (Gatorade) shower,” laughed Kaminskas. “But this is worth it. We finally won a regional championship.”
A.J. Schlaff, a senior defenseman and fourth-year varsity veteran, has been there for the ride, as the Wolves have slowly emerged as a state powerhouse. Clarkston finished with a sub-five hundred when Schlaff was a freshman (8-9-0), but have combined for a 50-7-0 record the past three seasons.
“It’s been great for us to come from the bottom (of the OAA Red Division) to playing in the regional finals three straight years and finally winning the regional,” said Schlaff, who was refusing to let go of the regional championship trophy. “This is what we have worked for. There are nine of us (seniors) and our goal was to come back this year and accomplish this.”
Clarkston (16-2-0) made quick work of Holt (12-9-0), scoring five times in the first period. The rams scored early in the second quarter, only to see the Wolves scorch the net seven more times for a 12-1 lead at the half.
Clarkston, which peppered the Holt net all night with its swift transition game, added to its rout with a 3-1 edge in the third frame for a 15-2 advantage, which set off the running clock. The Wolves closed with a 3-1 run in the fourth quarter.
Several different players got involved in the scoring act Friday, led by five goals and four assists from Kyle O’Grady. Conner Dziewit and Connor Ward both added three goals and three assists and Reid Kaminski also chipped in with three goals.
Additionally, Austin Egler, Robert Hall, Jim McKillop and Keaton Mitchel all followed with single tallies for Clarkston.
Paul Schalau scored twice and Erick Sundstorm added a single goal for Holt, which reached the regional finals for the first time.
The past two years, Brother Rice ended Clarkston’s run in the regional finals, including 18-5 in 2011 and 19-4 in 2012.
“We get back to work tomorrow and prepare for them,” said Kaminskas. “Brother Rice is a great program. We’re glad we’ve reached this level. We talked in the offseason of trying to make it back to the regional finals, even before the (MHSAA) announced the regions, of getting to this game and winning it. The team got to another benchmark today.”
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