BOYS BASKETBALL: Experienced Athens uses offensive explosion to keep Lake Orion winless
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSposrtsFans
TROY — The difference sometimes between an experience team and an inexperienced squad can often be found simply in the scorebook.
That was true Friday night.
Troy Athens, which plays several third- and fourth-year varsity players, showcased some offensive muscle and outplayed youthful Lake Orion in every facet of the game to the tune of a 83-59 OAA White Division triumph.
“We are coming along in some ways, but we still have a ways to go,” admitted Athens coach David Scott, who noted that his team has put together a much tougher schedule this season and is “running the gauntlet this year.”
Lake Orion used a 10-4 run to open the third quarter to close too within 47-43 with 4:40 left in the third frame. Athens (6-5, 2-0) called timeout to stop the momentum train.
The break rejuvinated Athens and kickstarted a swift 11-2 spurt over just three minutes of clock and Lake Orion never seriously threatened again.
The Red Hawks outscored Lake Orion (0-10, 0-2) 36-16 over the final 12:40 of the contest to remain in a first-place tie in the OAA White with Pontiac.
“We like to think we have a chance in our league. We do have a lot of experience,” said Scott. “We are tied with Pontiac right now and we have games coming up with Oak Park, Pontiac and Troy the next couple weeks. It’s going to be a brutal stretch. But we do have a lot of experience on this team and we showed that in this game.
“When I called the timeout, we weren’t playing with a lot energy. We were throwing the ball around and not playing good defense,” continued Scott. “I think they got the message during that timeout.”
Devin Terry, who has shouldered some of the point guard duties along with senior running mate Tim Shayoka, was one of four players in double figures for Athens with 13 points, six assists and five steals. John Van Hoef, a four-year veteran, had 18 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks, the second time in three nights he recorded a double-double. Shayoka finished with 17 points and freshman Taylor McCaskill has blended in smoothly this season and contributed scored 18 points in the contest.
“i think John is the big difference,” said Scott. “When he is playing good on both ends of the floor we feed off that. This is the second straight game where he led us in scoring and rebounding. He put up similar numbers Wednesday against Rochester.”
Lake Orion, which is off to its slowest start in decades, has seen some strides in recent games but is still searching for its first victory.
“Offensively, we are getting better. For a team that averages 43 points we scored close to 60 in this game,” noted Lake Orion coach Tom Risi. “We keep working hard and we are getting better. We only had one player that averaged around 10 minutes a game last year. We graduated 10 players. So this is the youngest team I’ve had. We have some work to do on defense. But credit Athens. They are a very experienced team and you saw that tonight. After we cut it to four (in the third quarter), they came out and just blitzed us.”
Lake Orion landed three players in double figures, led by 15 points from junior David Gomez. Junior Christopher Dudek added 12 points, while sophomore Caden Priescorn found the net for 10 points for the Dragons.
“We do desperately need that first W. That will help with confidence,” said Risi. “That will come. It hasn’t been for a lack of effort. We’ve played a lot of teams with experience and we didn’t have much at all when the season started. At one point I had four juniors and a freshman on the floor against a team that is loaded with varsity experience. I think that was the difference in the second half tonight.”
Athens led 20-15 after the first quarter and held a 22-18 edge in the second frame for a
42-33 lead at the half. The Red Hawks used a 18-16 third quarter and a 23-10 spurt in the fourth quarter to make it a 24-point victory.
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