BOYS BASKETBALL: Clarkston shuts off Lake Orion
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BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
CLARKSTON — Having to play three games in a matter of five days, including on back-to-back nights, apparently didn’t have too much negative effect on Clarkston. In fact, it was the opposite for the Wolves.
Clarkston held its third straight opponent to under 40 points, including its second straight to under 30 points, rolling to an impressive 64-27 OAA crossover triumph Tuesday over visiting rival Lake Orion.
The Wolves forced 23 turnovers and held the Dragons to only 30.3 percent shooting (10-for-33) from the floor in the rout. Clarkston held North Farmington to only 36 points on Friday and Pontiac to just 26 points on Monday night.
“The other night against North Farmington, it was just a slow game. Tonight and against Pontiac, we came out and started making shots right from the opening tip,” said Clarkston coach Dan Fife. “We scored right away tonight then picked up a steal and had another layup in the first minute of the game. And with Nick Owens shooting the way he did, we were able to build a big lead in a hurry.”
THIEF IN THE NIGHT: Clarkston’s Nick Owens picks the pocket of Lake Orion’s John McCarty during Tuesday’s OAA crossover clash. Photo | Dan Stickradt
Owens, a senior guard, provided plenty of terror for Lake Orion, as he sank 8-of-10 three-point attempts and drilled 10-of-14 shots overall from the floor to finish with a game- and season-high 30 points.
“With the other team kind of (confused), it made it easier for us,” said Owens, who broke the 30-point barrier for the third time in two seasons. “Defensively, we really got after it and we started to make our shots. We never let them into the game.”
Junior guard Andrew Myers added eight points, five assists and two steals, 6-foot-8 senior center Mike Nicholson provided six points, seven rebounds and three blocks and sophomore guard Josh Bonzheim swiped six steals for the Wolves, who collected 17 steals overall and out-rebounded the Dragons 31-27.
It was a nightmarish night for Lake Orion, which committed seven turnovers in the first 5:20 of the contest and had more turnovers (14) in the first half than total shot attempts (13) over the first 16 minutes of play.
Meanwhile, Clarkston (7-1) came out on fire and led 6-0 just 1:15 into the contest and held a 21-3 advantage with 2:28 still left in the first quarter. By the end of the first stanza, the Wolves were in complete control at 23-8.
The onslaught continued in the second quarter, thanks to an 18-9 surge that put Clarkston up at the half, 41-17.
The Wolves continued to pour it on the Dragons in the third frame with a 22-2 run coming out of the break, setting off the running clock with 1:45 left in the third quarter. Clarkston led by as many as 43 points (62-19) in the third frame.
“We came out flat and struggled to get into any type of rhythm offensively,” noted Lake Orion coach Tom Risi. “We had a hard time taking care of the basketball with a lot of turnovers. And with Owens in the zone like that, we didn’t have chance. It seemed like he couldn’t miss.”
Senior forward David Henry had six points and junior guard Joseph Turnbull added three points and seven rebounds for Lake Orion.
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FOR MORE BASKETBALL COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Basketball&x=13&y=12
Have photos or video of this event that you wish to share? E-mail pertinent information to www.northoaklandsports.com Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com.
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