BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Last year, the basketball season ended earlier than players and coaches anticipated with the COVID pandemic just beginning.
Now the Wolves are ready for this year’s playoffs which start this week with the district playoffs.
“Last year we were playing good basketball,” said Clarkston Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach Tim Wasilk. “We definitely had a chance to make a run in the tournament. It was definitely disappointing for everybody not being able to finish that last year.”
Though winter athletes dealt with delays of this winter season, Wasilk said being able to play and practice has been great for the kids.
“I know the returners, it’s definitely in the back of their mind, not being able to complete their season,” he added. “It was tough on them. It will be really cool to get an opportunity to play this year. Hopefully we have a lot of luck with no COVID issues with us or the other teams we are playing or other teams in the playoffs. It’s just crazy times. You never know one day or one week to the next what changes.”
The Wolves finished the regular season against Stoney Creek, March 13, with a 12-3 overall record, 5-3 in OAA Red.
The final game against North Farmington last Friday was cancelled.

Wasilk added it was nice to have a week to practice going into playoffs.
“Typically we have a game and have another game the next day or play a game, have a practice, and play another game so not a lot of time to improve in practice like we normally do in a regular season,” he said. “It’s been good this past week and a half to work on some other things in practice we haven’t been able to do all year. Hopefully that will help us out in the playoffs.”
Clarkston has a bye the first round of the MHSAA Division 1 Boys Basketball District 5. They will play on Thursday against the winner of the first round game between Lake Orion and Kettering.
“There are some quality teams in our district,” Wasilk said. “Lake Orion and Rochester Adams have over ten wins in our shortened season so they have very good records. The other teams are very competitive as well.
“Our biggest thing we have stressed with our team all year, let’s just take care of us and make sure we are ready to play – mentally, physically and emotionally,” he added. “With the very weird, different season we have had our focus has been on us and taking care of us. It’s worked for us. It’s been successful for us. Hopefully we will just keep getting better over the next few practices.”
The district semifinal game is at 5 p.m. on Thursday. The district championship game is Saturday at 7 p.m. Both games are at Oxford High School.
“We are just happy to play and compete,” Wasilk said. “It’s been great for our kids.”

  Basketball, Boys Basketball, Clarkston Boys Basketball