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L’Anse Creuse North knocks down Lake Orion to reach Final Four

Dan Stickradt | March 22, 2012 | Comments (8)

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

DETROIT — With neither team being ranked in the top 20 entering the postseason, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North boys basketball coach was asked Tuesday night if his Crusaders or Lake Orion were Cinderella stories.

Don’t tell that to L’Anse Creuse North.

The Crusaders have now extended their season farther than any team before in school history with their sixth postseason victory of the season. L’Anse Creuse North went on a 20-11 fourth-quarter run to down Lake Orion 46-40 in the Class A state quarterfinals at University of Detroit-Mercy’s Calihan Hall.

The Crusaders (22-4) will face top-ranked Saginaw in the Class A Final Four at 2:50 p.m. Friday at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.

Lake Orion, which had not won a district since 1984 and a regional since 1925, made a surprising run only to see the fuel burn out in the quarterfinals — the farthest destination for the Dragons in school history.

L’Anse Cruse North trailed 18-17 at the half and 29-26 entering the fourth quarter but jacked up the defensive pressure. The Crusaders forced six fourth-quarter turnovers to fuel the run to become the first Macomb Area Conference school to reach the Final Four since St. Clair Shores Lake Shore won the Class B state title in 1994.

“We talked about winning a league and district, and we also talked about winning a regional,” said LCN coach Jay Seletsky. “We thought it could be possible and the boys have stepped it up.”

Down 31-28 with 7:22 to go, LCN went on a 9-0 run to build a 37-31 lead with 4:23 to play. Kyle Deschaepmeester’s putback giving the Crusaders the lead at 32-31 — a lead they would not relinquish.

LOOKING FOR OPEN SPACE: Lake Orion junior Demonte Kruse tries to bring the ball up the court against Macomb L'Anse Creuse North's Josh Allen during Tuesday's Class A state quarterfinals. Photo | Dan Stickradt

Robert Hopkins scored nine of his game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter to ignite the 20-point fourth quarter explosion.

“I thought Robert gave us a nice lift there in the fourth quarter,” said Seletsky. “I thought we all played god in the fourth quarter.”

“I thought with their size we had to have (a lot of guys) in the rotation and I thought we did that,” said Selesky. “I thought we had some great athleticism from the wing positions and the post play. We didn’t let their bigs take over the game.”

Junior Taylor Conklin finished with nine points, 10 rebounds, five steals, three blocks and three assists, while 6-7 sophomore Frank DeVos added six points, four rebounds and three blocked shots for the Crusaders, who finished the night 21-for-56 from the floor.

“I know basketball in Macomb County takes a little bit of a knock, but we are proving that teams (from the east side) can do this,” noted Seletsky.

UP FOR TWO: Lake Orion's Brad Watterworth attempts this putback against Macomb L'Anse Creuse North. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Lake Orion (16-10), which led 14-10 after the first quarter and maintained the advantage entering the fourth period, could not sustain the lead over the final minutes.

The Dragons cut the Crusaders’ lead down to 43-38 with 2:14 to go, but could not overcome LCN’s comeback. L’Anse Creuse North forced the Dragons into a dismal 17-for-53 shooting night, including 3-of-11 from beyond the arc, four free throw attempts and forced 15 turnovers.

“I think we had a lot of turnovers in the fourth quarter and I think they took us away from our game a little bit in the fourth quarter,” said first-year Lake Orion coach Tom Risi.

“We still had an amazing run,” added Risi. “I think when we beat Rochester (in the district finals), I think they started to believe in themselves and then we got a on a roll. We caught lightning in a bottle.”

John McCarty, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, scored 16 with six rebounds on the night, although much of the Dragons’ front court struggled. Junior Chaz Miler added 10 points and nine rebounds, while 6-8 Brad Watterworth (two points, seven rebounds, two blocks) and Roman Kuster (two points, two rebounds) were contained in the post.

Senior Justin Walukonis added eight points for the Dragons, who were just 11-9 entering the postseason.

DRIVING HIS POINT: Lake Orion sophomore John McCarty slips past Macomb L'Anse Creuse North's Aston Johnson during state quarterfinals play at U-D Mercy. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

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Tags: Basketball, boys basketball, featured, high school boys basketball, Lake Orion Boys Basketball, MAcomb L'Anse Creuse North Boys Basketball, prep boys basketball