A year after a surprising tournament run, the Dragon girls? basketball team fell victim to a surprise of their own, falling 47-44 last Wednesday against host Waterford Kettering in a district semifinal.
Kettering got out to an early lead that was magnified by Lake Orion’s 1-for-16 shooting in the second quarter.
‘That really hasn’t happened to us this season,? said Coach Steve Roberts of his team’s prolonged drought.
The Dragons cut into a double-digit halftime deficit and eventually tied the game at 40, before Angela Ruelle’s three pointer broke it and helped Kettering pull away late.
‘Kettering shot the ball really well and we picked the wrong night to have an off-night against a good team,? Roberts said. ‘That’s how tournament ball is.?
‘We had high expectations,? he added. ‘Sometimes the unexpected happens. Maybe we didn’t meet all of our goals, but it does not mean we did not achieve a high level of success. One game doesn’t define a season.?
The Dragons finish with an 18-3 record, including their first ever OAA league title.
Roberts said he looks at the last two seasons collectively, as no players left due to graduation, and is pleased by the team’s first-ever district title (fall of 2006) and first league title in 25 years (two weeks ago).
He said the next goal is to accomplish both of those things in the same calendar year.
‘We have a good core group with eight juniors potentially returning and an undefeated JV team,? he said. ‘But we’re sure going to miss the four seniors.?