Southfield overcame a 10-point halftime deficit on Tuesday night to top host Lake Orion, 66-56, in a key OAA II contest.
Drew Maynard scored a game-high 26 points, but 18 of those came in the first half for the Dragons (8-7, 7-2). Chris Lum added nine points and 10 rebounds.
Marcus Hopkins scored 16 of his team-high 20 after halftime for Southfield. The Bluejays got 18 points from Bowling Green-bound Austin Calhoun.
Southfield erased their halftime deficit with a 16-2 spurt in less than four minutes, and held off a few Lake Orion rallies in the closing minutes to improve to 8-1 in league action (10-6 overall).
Both teams have three league tilts remaining, and Southfield can end Lake Orion’s consecutive league title streak by winning out.
“They turned up the heat defensively,” Coach Jim Manzo said of Southfield’s second half approach. “They were waiting to double the ball when we came over half court. We definitely looked uncomfortable with the ball, and that’s a little surprising.”
“The turnovers that lead to lay-ups are killers, and that’s what happened today,” he added.
Hopkins and backcourt mate Deandre Sutton outscored Lake Orion in the second half by themselves, helping erase Lake Orion’s 35-25 halftime lead.
“When you’re on pace to hold them to 50, you’re going to win,” Manzo said. “But they scored 40-some points in that second half.”
The first half featured Mayanrd and Calhoun, regarded as the top two seniors in the entire OAA, combining for 30 points, including seven three pointers. Maynard missed on all six of his second half three-point attempts, however, and the team struggled to get the ball in his hands.
The Dragons are now 2-3 at home and haven’t won at home in eight weeks, but are holding out hope that they can earn a share of the league title.
“We’ve got to win out, obviously,” Manzo said. “They could slip-up, perhaps, but we’ve got to start winning on our home floor.”
Lake Orion hosts Pontiac Central in a crossover game on Friday night. Maynard is expected to officially sign with Oakland University that night as well.