In late September, the Clarkston Wolves girls basketball team kept their undefeated season alive with a victory over then no. 1 Auburn Hills Avondale.
Both teams started their seasons on the same path, marching into the fifth week of the season undefeated. Times have changed over the past month, as the Yellow Jackets recovered their pace after the defeat en route to a 13-1 record and the Wolves have gone to 9-5. Avondale also had Sade Johnson in its lineup after she missed the previous meeting because of a concussion.
Both teams remained in the top 10 in the Associated Press Class A state rankings going into the match. No. 2 Avondale sent No. 7 Clarkston home with a 50-44 loss on Oct. 19, improving the Yellow Jackets? OAA record to 6-1, while the Wolves went to 3-4.
‘When you drop the first game in the league, it’s got to motivate you because the only way you’re going to get back in the league race is beat everybody. It makes us work that much harder’we’re thankful we were able to take care of business on our own floor and get that one back,? Avondale Coach Todd Henderson said.
The Yellow Jackets led every quarter of the ballgame after jumping out to a 14-8 first quarter lead. The trio of Johnson (13 points), Keisha Hines (16 points) and Talicia Washington (12 points) was too much for the Wolves, scoring 41 of Avondale’s points.
Chelsea Kouri scored 20 points to lead the way for the Wolves, shooting 44 percent from the floor, including four three-point baskets. The Wolves shot 38 percent as a team on the night.
Jessica Palace added eight points and Jennifer Johnston scored seven points for Clarkston.
Avondale carried a 24-18 lead into half time and in the third quarter, the lead went back and forth after a Clarkston scoring barrage.
Kouri hit a three-pointer to pull the Wolves within two points, 27-25 and Johnston gave them the lead with a three ball of her own. Another Kouri three-point shot put Clarkston ahead for the last time 31-27.
Johnson helped the Yellow Jackets come back with a three-pointer, two layups and a pair of free throws. Hines put them up with a put back off an offensive rebound, 42-33.
Clarkston again pulled the game close, 42-39 with four minutes remaining in the game, with a three-pointer. She added her final three-pointer with 44 seconds remaining on a bank shot taken not far from the baseline, to make the game 48-44.
Avondale added a pair of Washington free throws after a Samantha Carter foul down low, to make the game 50-44.
‘In the second half we responded and played much better on both ends of the floor. Down with four minutes to go, it’s anyone’s game and Avondale stepped up and made some plays tonight,? Clarkston Coach Tim Wasilk said.
Henderson said Johnson’s return was the difference maker this time for the Yellow Jackets.
‘We just weren’t the same team without her on the floor, kids didn’t step up they way we needed them to and Clarkston played very well,? Henderson said.
Hines, who scored 19 to lead Avondale in the early-season defeat, came up big for them also.
‘She got some huge baskets for us and played very strong inside. When a team is triple teaming you, you have to be strong to score against it.?
‘She finds her teammates very well when you try to over play her,? Henderson added.
Wasilk said the Yellow Jackets played very well in the post and the Wolves had difficulty with their presence.
‘It’s probably one of the best we’ll see all year. You do what you can with the height that we have, we tried to play tough and be scrappy and make them have a tough time down there.?
This game was the first in a string of rematches for the Wolves. Their next game versus Pontiac Northern finished too late for this edition of The Clarkston News. The Huskies handed the Wolves their first loss of the season after the Avondale upset. Clarkston travels to West Bloomfield on Oct. 26.