First-year coach keeps hoop hopes high

By John Counts
Review Editor
Coach Lance Davis has a saying about the direction of the Dragons? basketball team: ‘Patience will be the word of the day, hopeful the word for tomorrow, and powerhouse the word for the future.?
The new coach, who headed up the junior varsity squad at Lake Orion for the past four years, has only one returning varsity player.
‘Most of these guys were JV players last year,? he said at a recent practice.
Davis is looking to the returning player, junior Alex Mayo, a point guard, to lead the team.
He’s also looking to 6?8 forward Ian Monk to make plays.
They’re going to be called upon as leaders on the floor,? Davis said.
Like Mayo, Monk is also a junior. Rounding out the projected starting five are sophmore Evan Drean, a forward, Derek Schrauben at guard and 6?6 John Williamson at center.
Davis said while the young team posesses strength, speed and the ability to shoot the ball, they’re still a couple of years away from being truly competitive, thus his saying.
‘I’m excited about what’s going on,? he said.
The football team’s exploits on the gridiron this year have also affected the basketball program, Davis said.
But he was quick to praise ‘all the Lake Orion champions,? and said he hopes the basketball program soon joins the ranks.
‘The Dragon will peek out of the cave,? he said.