A hot scorer on the basketball court will turn heads, but as Clarkston found out on Nov. 29 in their last second, 44-42 state quarterfinal loss to Saginaw Arthur Hill, a playmaker wins ball games.
Having already scored a game high 23 points, Arthur Hill’s Jamilah Humes? biggest play of the night came with precious few seconds remaining in a tie game as she lofted a pass to teammate Tanika Jackson whose shot shyly flirted with the rim before committing to the bottom of the net as time expired.
?(Humes) is a great player. She made a great pass, give her credit,? Clarkston Coach Tim Wasilk said.
In a game featuring 14 lead changes the two teams felt each other out for much of the first half. Clarkston held a tenuous 16-15 lead towards the end of the second quarter, but three turnovers in the final minute of the half led to a 19-16 advantage for Arthur Hill at the break.
Arthur Hill’s advantage did not last long as the action commenced. Coming out of halftime the Wolves? went on a 17-3 run, giving them a 33-22 lead with 2:52 remaining in the third quarter, a scoring binge culminated by senior Tamra Green’s third three pointer of the contest.
During the third, the red hot Green poured in 10 of her 15 points. Junior Chelsea Kouri found her stroke as well in the third, posting 8 of her 15 points.
‘When you get to this point of the playoffs you know it will be a tough battle. I just didn’t know it would be this tough of a battle,? Arthur Hill Coach John Wilson said.
And Arthur Hill definitely fought their way back into the game near the end of the third. Three forced Clarkston turnovers converted into three straight field goals let the Lumberjacks stopped the Wolves? hot streak and brought Arthur hill within sniffing distance.
Thanks to a 3-point play at the end of the third, in which Kouri made the first of two free throws, missed the second, but rebounded the errant try for a field goal in the lane, the Wolves held onto a 36-31 lead.
In anticipation of Arthur Hill’s suffocating, tenacious full court press, Wasilk used seven defensive players against five on offense in practices leading up to the quarterfinal match up.
Though the Wolves committed 17 turnovers in the game, the Lumberjacks vaunted press only caused five of them. While Clarkston forced 11 Lumberjack turnovers in the game, the Wolves could not keep up on the offensive glass. Arthur Hill held a 26-21 advantage in total rebounds but as a team grabbed 15 offensive rebounds to Clarkston’s four.
To offset the numerous extra possessions of their opponent, Clarkston raised their play on offense to higher plane of efficiency.
For the game, the Wolves shot 52 percent from the field, making 18 field goals on 34 shots and converting five of 12 3-pointers. In the second half alone Clarkston shot a blistering 64 percent from the field, making 11 of 17 field goals.
‘It seemed like every shot they were taking they were making,? Wilson said. ‘I give a lot of credit to Clarkston. They are so well disciplined and well coached. They ran some great sets on offense.?
Though the Lumberjacks ran wild on the offensive glass, Clarkston did well to erase easy looks on second chance opportunities. For the game the Lumberjacks shot 42 percent from the field, making 19 field goals on 45 shots.
The lead changed hands four times down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Senior Melissa Martinez scored and was fouled on a layup to give Clarkston a 40-39 lead, then after three straight Arthur Hill points, Green coaxed the ball into the hoop over two defenders in the lane to tie the score 42-42 with 1:02 remaining in the game.
Clarkston would not have another opportunity to score though, as Arthur Hill whittled the clock down to :06 before Humes, drawing a double team as she penetrated into the key, found Jackson for the game clinching bucket.
‘We far exceeded our expectations and others expectations this year,? Wasilk said. ‘Our standard has been raised for the program.?
Clarkston entered postseason play with an 11-9 record after playing in the ruthless OAA Division I. Six of Clarkston’s losses came at the hands of co-league member teams Southfield Lathrup, Auburn Hills Avondale and West Bloomfield. Lathrup and Avondale split time this season as the No.1 ranked team in the state. West Bloomfield was ranked in the top ten for most of the year as well.
Lathrup beat Avondale 49-42 on Nov. 29 to advance to the state semifinals on Dec. 2 where they will take on Grandville.