By Wendi Reardon Price
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Marley Mazur stood at the free throw line with 3.5 seconds remaining in the Wolves’ home game against Stoney Creek last Thursday with the score at 31-29.
Mazur threw her two attempts – each making it, putting Clarkston Girls Varsity Basketball up 33-29, where the score stayed with Wolves in possession as the game finished.
“Marley stepped up and got those two free throws at the end,” said Aaron Goodnough, head coach. “I am just happy for her for that. She is a kid who keeps earning time. We keep trying to give her more and more minutes.”
Stoney Creek opened the game with a 10-point run. Elli Robak put the Wolves on the scoreboard with her basket just under three minutes left in the first quarter. Ellery Hernandez added another basket less than a minute later before the quarter finished with two more points from Stoney Creek, 12-4.
“It was a waiting game,” Goodnough said. “I knew it was going to happen. “We were without Keira (Tolmie). She’s sick and it just came on today. It’s exam week, too. Their heads are here, but not here. We are still trying to figure out our offense. They play a very good brand of defense. It just took so long to get going, but once we did the things we need to. It’s great because I talked to Coach (Scott) Woodhull before the game and said the future is now. We are missing three seniors and we only have four. All things considered, I am pretty happy with it.”

Clarkston kept the Cougars to six points in the second quarter Emily Valencia and Elia Morgner added two points each. Robak scored on a 3-point shot and two throws on the free throw line.
The Wolves outscored Stoney Creek again in the third quarter. Valencia tied the game at 20 points with 36 seconds left in the quarter. The Cougars responded with a 3-pointer.
Robak opened the final quarter with her own 3-pointer to tie the score. Less than 30 seconds later, Valencia scored on a basket to help the Wolves take the lead, 25-23.
Stoney Creek responded with a basket to tie the game. They attempted a 3-point shot to take the lead at the 5-minute mark but it missed.
Mazur attempted her own 3-point shot, putting the Wolves up 28-25 with just four minutes remaining in the game.
“We have been working on our offense to go higher and higher for when we get in those situations and it was truly that situation,” Goodnough said. “They had six fouls, we had a three point lead. Take care of the ball and they have to come to us. We have been working on that as either an offense or as an end game situation we really put that into use tonight. If we got in that situation I was pretty comfortable with it because they were going to have to come to us. I was never necessarily worried about the score, per say. Water finds it level. We will get there. I knew they are gawking at it. I was looking at fouls and knew we were in a good situation.”
Robak led with 12 points. Valencia scored six points. Mazur and Hernandez had five points each.
The Wolves lost to Detroit Country Day on Friday, 58-47. Morgner led with 19 points. Mazur, Robak and Tolmie each scored six points.
“It’s not going to get easier,” said Goodnough. “That is one thing for our team,
The Wolves opened the week against Troy. They host Lake Orion on Friday. JV plays at 5:30 p.m., varsity follows. They head to Rochester on Monday, Jan. 30.
Clarkston Boys Varsity Basketball closed last week with a 54-45 win over Rochester on Friday at home. Desman Stephens led with 21 points. Brayden Wiley scored 15 points and Brody Kosin scored 13 points.
They opened OAA Red play with a 48-32 loss to Ferndale last Thursday.
They head to North Farmington on Thursday and host Rochester Adams on Tuesday, Jan. 31. JV plays at 5:30 p.m., varsity follows.

  Clarkston Basketball, Girls Basketball