Lake Orion Coach Jim Manzo said he remembers quite well the last time the Dragons beat Clarkston on the varsity basketball hardwood.
That’s because Manzo played on that team, back in 1988.
Last Friday, Lake Orion ended that long drought, topping the visiting Wolves 51-43 in a rematch of last season’s district final (which Clarkston won 56-50).
‘Granted, it’s just one win, but you don’t have a rivalry until each team has a win,? Manzo said.
Drew Maynard led the Dragons with 20 points, 16 of which came after the break, but he was more impressed with his team? defensive effort.
‘They had a 75 point average coming into tonight and we held them to 43,? Maynard said. ‘We knew we could beat them, but it’s proof right there.?
Maynard missed most of the second quarter with foul trouble, similar to the district final game. But this time, the Lake Orion bench was ready.
‘I think our depth showed tonight,? Manzo said.
All ten Dragons that dressed played significant minutes and nine different players scored for LO.
‘I thought one through 10, every kid on the floor made a conscience effort to rebound,? Manzo added.
The Dragons were outrebounded 28-26 on the night, but held a decisive advantage in the first half, where they built a double-digit lead.
Manzo credited Devin Hamilton’s first half effort for their 24-12 lead at the break..
The senior transfer from Pontiac Northern scored 10 first half points, leading all scorers in the half. He also helped Lake Orion go on an 18-5 run from the midpoint of the first quarter to the break.
But, as they often do, Clarkston clawed back in a strong third quarter, cutting the deficit to four on multiple occasions.
‘If you look at the box scores, Clarkston is known for their third quarters,? Manzo said, complimenting the adjustments made by Wolves? coach Dan Fife.
However, the Wolve’s run came at a price as both Bren Bergquist and Oliver Kupe picked up their fourth fouls and spent significant time on the bench.
After a rough shooting first half, where he scored just one point, Dan Owens had 12 after the break. However, his effort wasn’t enough, as the Wolves never got closer than seven in the final stanza.
‘We were beaten in every facet of the game,? Fife said. ‘It was a good old-fashioned butt kicking.?
Lake Orion’s biggest advantage came at the free throw line, where they made 16 of 25 attempts, compared to Clarkston’s 13-of-17.
‘They felt they had something to prove and they did it,? Fife said.
The Clarkston coach was also impressed with the Dragons? defense.
‘Our shots didn’t fall in the first half, but I think that was due to Orion.?
GAME NOTES:
*The Dragons trailed just once in the game, at 7-6 in the first quarter, but held Clarkston to only one field goal the rest of the half.
*Clarkston opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run, but ouf of an LO timeout, Bergquist and Kupe both picked up their third fouls and Maynard made two free throws, all on the same possession.
*Maynard and Chad Nieswand, scored all 14 Dragon points in the third quarter, led by Maynard’s nine. Manzo credited Nieswand, a reserve forward, for attacking Bergquist when the Clarkston big man got into foul trouble.
*Maynard had two ‘old-fashioned? three-point plays in the final five minutes. The first fouled-out Bergquist with just over four minutes left and the second, following his own miss, put LO up 50-40 with 1:34 on the clock.
*After Lake Orion won both regular season contests in 1988, Clarkston took the district rematch. The two teams are again paired in the same district, at Lake Orion in March.