Junior Delaney Kenny was ready to get back on the basketball court after sitting out a few games with a concussion.
Within the first few minutes in the 58-42 win over North Farmington last Thursday she scored four points. Another basket from teammate Megan Hastings caused the Lady Raiders to call a time out.
Coming out of it, the Lady Wolves continued and finished a 12-0 run before North Farmington was able to get on the scoreboard.
“Anytime you can get a 12-0 start it’s great,” said Clarkston Girls Varsity Basketball Head Coach Tim Wasilk. “We will take it any day of the week. We talk about starting at the tip and making it – we were. Plus, anytime you can get a team to call two time outs within the first quarter is definitely a plus on our end.”
The Lady Wolves continued the momentum they started the game and finished the first half with a 32-18 lead.
“We have been working on a new press called jump,” said Hastings. “The past few games we have just been trying it out. We came out really strong this game with it and we got an early lead.”
The lead continued through the third quarter and as they neared the last few minutes, talent from more of the underclassmen into the game.
Sophomore Haley Daugherty boosted the team with three points, with two points from a basket and one point from the free throw line, to put the girls 50-22 to end the quarter.
The Lady Raiders caught up during the final eight minutes of the game and made 12-13 of their free throw shots.
“Credit to them,” said Wasilk. “They were knocking down some free throws to the basket. We were also playing some different lineups we usually don’t play. We had four underclassmen on the floor. North Farmington did a good job taking advantage of that. The kids battled well in the fourth quarter.”
The Lady Wolves did post eight points from Carly Giroux, Christina Jokisch, Erika Davenport and Breanca Cantrell as North Farmington score 20 points.
Hastings led with 16 points, scoring two 3-point shots. Kenny added nine points and Erika and Anna Manilla scored eight points each.
“It was big to have Delaney back,” said Wasilk. “She definitely made a big difference. When she is in the game the speed of the game is faster, how she gets the ball and distributes it to the rest of the girls. We have other kids doing that but it always helps when you have someone else in there that has three years of varsity experience doing it.”
He added Manilla did a great job on defense especially against North Farmington’s best player Jasmine Harris.
“Megan shot the ball extremely well from the outside,” Wasilk said. “The kids ran their offense well, distributed the ball and got to the right spots – that’s why we were successful tonight.”
The Lady Wolves remain undefeated 12-0 and 7-0 in the OAA Red and will see some opponents for the second time starting this week with Pontiac.
“I told our girls we have won four games under four points out of the seven we have won,” said Wasilk. “We haven’t done anything yet. We have just won some ball games. We have to stay grounded. If we If we can win some ball games in the next 4-5 weeks with what we are doing then it would be great. We aren’t going to take anything for granted because we know how tough it is.”
Hastings added the win over North Farmington gives the team more confidence with the press they are doing.
The Lady Wolves host Pontiac on Friday and Rochester next Tuesday at Clarkston High School.
They beat Pontiac, 41-32 on Dec. 13.
“It was a pretty competitive game,” said Wasilk. “They have only lost three games all year.”