GIRLS BASKETBALL: Clarkston rallies past Stoney Creek to maintain OAA-Red lead
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BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — Clarkston did not look like the OAA Red Division league-leaders Tuesday night in the first half.
The Wolves proved otherwise during the final 16 minutes.
Behind the play of 6-foot post terror Erika Davenport, Class A 10th-ranked Clarkston held onto its one-game lead over both Southfield Lathrup and Farmington Harrison in the OAA-Red with a 46-41 comeback win over host Rochester Stoney Creek.
Used to playing in nip-and-tuck games the past two seasons, Clarkston did not push the panic button being down 11 points at the half and quickly chipped into the deficit in the third quarter before escaping with the five-point road win in the end.
“I told our kids at the half not to sweat it,” offered Clarkston coach Tim Wasilk. “I wanted us to stick with our defensive game plan, and I thought if we worked inside-out, we’d open some things up offensively. I thought we really started to execute our offense better in the second half. We did a nice job of getting the ball to where we wanted to.”
The ball consistently went to the talented Davenport. After scoring all 14 of her team’s first-half points, Davenport scored 17 more in the second half and finished with a game-high 31 points, again putting her team on her shoulders and willing the Wolves to another close win.
“I always try to get into a zone,” smiled Davenport. “I just try to go and pick my team up.”
Stoney Creek (10-4, 6-4) built a 14-3 lead after the first quarter and 25-14 advantage at the half after some sharp-shooting and efficient offense. The Cougars went ice old in the second half and finished just 34.1 percent shooting from the floor for the game.
Jacking up its defense, Clarkston erupted for a 21-9 run in the third quarter, good for a 35-34 lead entering the fourth quarter. The Wolves held off Stoney Creek with an 11-7 fourth-quarter spurt and allowed just eight points over the final 10 minutes.
The loss likely dropped Stoney Creek out of the league race and into fourth place in the division.
“We were playing good defense and taking care of the ball (in the first half),” sighed Stoney Creek coach Brad Crighton. “They had some runs during the third quarter and second half, and we had chances to put a stop to those, but we missed some easy buckets that ended up costing us. Tonight was really a tale of two halves.
“We took care of the basketball in the first half but in the second half we couldn’t prevent the leak-outs and they came out and scored four points right away off turnovers,” continued Crighton. “We just couldn’t make shots and we gave up a lot of transition points in the second half.”
Davenport added 12 rebounds, Kacy Robinson chipped in with nine points and seven rebounds and Kayla Russell followed with four points and seven boards for the Wolves (12-2, 7-1).
Marie Zandi scored eight with six rebounds and six assists t for Stoney Creek. Lauren Voss had 14 points and 12 rebounds, Karlee Campbell followed with seven points and nine rebounds and Courtney Solek contributed four points and eight rebounds for the Cougars.
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