The final score wasn’t close, but that doesn’t mean the game was easy.
‘I don’t think ever in my 26 years have we had an easy win over Pontiac Northern,? said Coach Dan Fife.
Clarkston basketball beat Pontiac Northern, 64-39, in their second game of the season Dec. 13, the earliest they have ever faced their Division One foe.
‘I like to play our division games after, where everyone has worked out the kinks,? Fife said. ‘That’s really what the OAA is in Division One, it’s good basketball, it’s tough. One mistake costs you the game. It’s usually a strong physical game. That’s why I think we should play them later.?
Pontiac Northern got the first point from a penalty shot.
But Julius Porter soon brought the Wolves ahead by making the first basket.
Oliver Kupe added two more points, bringing the score 4-1.
With two minutes left in the first quarter, and Northern ahead by one point again, the Wolves were quick to come into the lead with four points by Tom Staton and Porter.
Kupe made a shot to the basket with five seconds left, going into the second quarter, 14-9.
The Wolves continued their strong defense, blocking Pontiac Northern shots and driving the ball down the wooden floor to make more baskets against their opponents.
They ended the first half with a 20-point lead over Pontiac Northern, 34-14.
The second half was tougher as Pontiac Northern strove for more points, but the Wolves remained in control, earning a total of 30 points in the second half, while Pontiac Northern earned 25.
‘I thought they played pretty good, much better in the second half,? said Fife.
‘I’m happy with the progress, I’m more happy with them defensively. We gave up a lot of layups last game. I thought, in particular, Brandon Hughes and Brandon Verlinden both did great jobs coming in off of the bench. They were really keys in that second period. They made some easy baskets and outstanding defensive plays, getting the ball for us.?
The win brings Clarkston to 2-0.
‘Even when we have an easy win, you know there’s next time,? he said. ‘Bob (Robert Rogers, Pontiac Northern coach) does a great job with those kids. He’ll have them ready next time. It’s a good win for tonight.?
Pontiac Northern will improve, Rogers said.
‘Well, it’s a new day and it’s something we haven’t experienced in my last 12 years,? he said. ‘But it’s something we can work on. I don’t know what it was, combination of youth, combination of inexperience, and just combination of playing against a much better, stronger, disciplined team tonight. All of them are going to get better. Every ball player will get better.?
Clarkston deserves congratulations, he said.
‘They came with a game plan. They came with their ball players. They played a great game of basketball,? he said.
‘I was very thankful to the coach at the end of the game for realizing what we had and played different ball players than he normally would have played later on in the game because usually the games are very tough until the end. We would like to thank him for observing that, being smart and not trying to, I guess you could say, one up the score and embarrass us even farther. So I would like to thank them. They have great talent and team.?
High scorers for the night were Staton, 14, Kupe, 12, and Porter, 10.
Clarkston will play Pontiac Northern again, Feb. 19, their second to last game of the season.
For now, the team is getting ready for their last game before holiday vacation. They will play North Farmington High School, 32900 West 13 Mile Road in Farmington Hills.
The Junior Varsity game will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Varsity team at 7 p.m.