The Lake Orion varsity girls basketball team returns several starters from last year, and hope with a move down from OAA I to OAA II, they will be able to sharpen their competitive edge this season.
Returning starters for the varsity team include captains junior Chelsea Richards, junior Heather Jeshurun and senior Blaire James, the only senior on this year’s squad.
Other returners include: junior Cara Slosson, junior Margaret Verespie, and junior Kristin Larsen. Up from last year’s junior varsity team are junior Rachel LaRocca and junior Samantha Bell.
Transfer junior Maria LaMerato has joined the team, which includes sophomores Rachel Traurig and Susan Holt.
The Dragons opened their 2004 season on Aug. 24, losing to Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 49-45.
‘They played really well,? said Lake Orion varsity coach Steve Roberts of his team. ‘Flint was in the regional finals last year…they only graduated one player. They made key baskets and we had plenty of opportunities.
‘We play to win, but if we came out with a good moral victory, we played a good game,? he said.
Against Flint, Richards, LaRocca and James led the team, each with 11 points. Slosson had five points.
Richards also had six steals, while James had eight rebounds.
‘We must improve our shooting percentage,? said Roberts. ‘And reduce turnovers. At moments we’re able to take care of the ball, and other times we get careless.?
Roberts believes moving down a division should help the team this season.
‘Moving to OAA II should help us be more competitive,? he said. ‘We play a tough non-league schedule, including Lathrup, who were number one in the county.
‘We have a good core group back this year, we lost three seniors,? Roberts said. ‘We have some kids with a lot of minutes from last year playing, and a lot of junior varsity kids that can step up and play.?
The team underwent two weeks of pre-season clinic/team camp, and got in three weeks of practice prior to their first game.
‘I’m pleased with the effort,? Roberts said. ‘We’re more focused and more determined.?