Visiting Lake Orion almost overcame a pair of 12-point Clarkston runs last Friday night, but an Oliver Kupe basket with just over a minute left gave the hosts the lead for good, and they held on for a 48-46 victory in an OAA crossover game.
‘It’s a tough game to lose, but I think that in the long run that game is going to help us,? Orion Coach Jim Manzo said.
Drew Maynard scored 25 points to lead all scorers in the game, including 16 before the break.
The Dragons led by as many as 10 in the first half, before a 12-0 Clarkston run tightened things up.
‘We went on a big run in the second quarter and they turned the ball over right and left,? Manzo said. ‘But then they got Kupe going and he was like a machine. We couldn’t stop him.?
Lake Orion got consecutive three pointers from Jeff Heath, Anthony Fields and Maynard midway through the third quarter to grab a 37-31 lead. A similar 14-2 Clarkston run, capped by a Kupe lay-up, gave the Wolves a 45-39 lead with under four minutes to go.
The Dragons scored the next seven points, including another Heath three after a minute-long possession that gave them a 46-45 lead with 1:30 to go in the game.
Kupe’s game-winning bucket came on the next possession.
LO had two more chances to reclaim the lead, including a desperation three-point try by Vinnie Booker in the final few seconds.The Dragons tried a few times in the closing moments to get Maynard the ball, but Clarkston sent multiple defenders in his direction each time.
‘We were trying to get him coming under, but it never got that far,? Manzo said. ‘Late in the game, what you draw up and what actually happens doesn’t always pan out.?
Kupe led the Wolves with 16 points, Brandon Pokley added 13 and Julius Porter had 11. Heath scored eight points for LO.
Kupe also had the task of guarding Maynard all night long.
‘He’s twice the size of me, so it’s really hard,? Kupe said. ‘But I got good help side (defense) from the guys in the middle. He scored 25 points still, so he’s pretty hard to guard.?
The Dragons fell to 4-3 with the loss, while Clarkston improved to 5-0. The two squads are paired in the same district, to be held at Clarkston in March.
‘I think it will leave a bitter taste in our mouths, but it was a pretty good basketball game,? Manzo said.
The coach added that Lake Orion won the regular season meeting last year, but that didn’t help come playoff time, when Clarkston got revenge. He’s hoping for a similar split this time around.
It was Clarkston’s first game in two weeks, a fact that Coach Dan Fife attributed to some of their 10 first half turnovers.
‘We missed not playing games,? he said. ‘But give credit to Lake Orion, they played last night and came in here and gave us that type of effort and that kind of game.?
The visiting Dragons beat Birmingham Groves 52-38 last Thursday night to improve to 4-0 in OAA II action.
Maynard led all scorers in that game with a season-high 31 points.