BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
With less than 15 seconds to go in the Wolves’ home opener against Lake Orion junior Cavanaugh Diton hit his three-point attempt, causing the Jungle to give him an enthusiastic cheer .
It was the last basket of the night for the Wolves as the Clarkston Boys Varsity Basketball team finished the night with 65-44 win over the Dragons.
“I loved our defensive intensity,” said Tim Wasilk, head coach. “I thought that was the difference in the game especially right off the tip in the first half. We were in the passing lanes, great pressure, great communication, good switches. We’ve got respect for Lake Orion. We knew we had to come out and play extremely tough tonight.”
Lake Orion opened the night with the first basket. The Wolves came back with a pair of baskets from sophomore Desman Stephens to take the lead.
The Dragons tied the score 4-4 and Clarkston responded again with eight points with 3-pointers from senior Nathan Steinman and senior Zach Austin.
The Wolves closed the first quarter with a 23-10 lead. They outscored Lake Orion in the second quarter 17-5 to finish the half leading 40-15.

Steinman led for the night with 26 points with four field goals, five assists, five steals and four rebounds. Austin had 15 points with three field goals, five assists and four steals.
“Zach Austin did a heck of a job defending their best player, Alden Ritt,” Wasilk said.
Senior Keegan Wasilk had eight points, nine assists and four rebounds. Sophomore Zack Scherler had five rebounds and four blocks.
“Keegan did a great job leading our team and moving the ball up,” Wasilk said. “He had a ton of assists. Steinman shot the ball extremely well. I was pleased with Caleb Woodbury coming off the bench and our bigs, Brody Kosin and Scherler did a nice job inside helping each other out and complimenting each other. Desman as well. Desman got hurt a little bit tonight and he was affected the second half so we couldn’t play him a whole lot. Orion is a good team, they are well coached. I like how we played tonight.”
The Wolves opened the season with 74-31 win over Utica Eisenhower, Dec. 8.
“We shot the ball well,” said Wasilk. “We defended extremely well. It was a great first game on the road with our new team compared to losing some guys last year. It was a great defensive effort, pushed the ball in transition and had a lot of steals and deflections in that game. It was a good strong first week.”
Keegan Wasilk led with 17 points and ten rebounds. He had 11 assists, tying the school record for most assists in the game with Foster Loyer. Loyer had 11 assists against Bloomfield Hills in 2017 and Southfield in 2018.
“Keegan is definitely a coach on the floor,” said Wasilk. “He gets people involved. He passed the ball really well. When someone has been out there for four years it gives you a sense of comfort. Zach Austin is a four year player and Steinman is a three year player so they have been with each other for a while so it definitely helps out.”
Austin had 16 points and three steals. Stephens had 13 points with three field goals. Steinman had 12 points, five rebounds and three steals.
Wasilk added, “we have always talked about playing defense. I don’t think it’s different with this team. We are just scrapping and going after it. We are going to have some off nights offensively but fortunately we have been shooting the ball very well in this first week of the season. That’s been good. Some of our guys have been getting in the weight room and doing extra shooting. It has really helped out.”
The Wolves host Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep on Thursday.
“It should be a fun game,” said Wasilk. “They are always good, always talented. They have really good guards. They are big. It’s been a good rivalry for us. We are excited to play them. It will be a good test for us to see where we are.”
JV plays at 5:30 p.m., with varsity following after that game.

  Boys Basketball