The Lake Orion boys? basketball team faced two opponents last week with a combined record of 16-1.
So, it was no surprise that the Dragons dropped the pair to Rochester Adams (6-0) and Detroit Country Day (10-1).
Since both games were against non-conference foes, the losses won’t hurt the Dragons? quest for an OAA Blue title.
Lake Orion begins its title drive this week with divisional home games against Seaholm followed by a matchup on Friday against Berkley. Lake Orion is one of the favorites in the OAA Blue Division which includes Farmington, Lahser, Harrison as well as Seaholm and Berkley.
The Dragons are 5-4 but have played some very tough competition as evidenced by the 60-46 loss to Adams and the 71-43 setback to Country Day. Both games were on the road.
The Rochester Adams game was hard-fought with the Highlanders up-tempo and pressing defense wearing down the Dragons.
Lake Orion trailed by seven points after the first quarter but roared back to cut Adams? lead to only three points at halftime with a strong effort to end the half.
Adams opened the third quarter with a 9-3 spurt and never looked back, outscoring Lake Orion, 25-15 in the quarter.
John McCarty led the Dragons with 16 points.
On Saturday, Lake Orion played perennial powerhouse Country Day in Beverly Hills.
Chaz Miller led all scorers with 19 points for the Dragons.
Maurice Ways had 14 points and 15 rebounds for Country Day.
It may be a season of growth and rebuilding for the Lake Orion’s girls basketball team but that hasn’t stopped the group from working hard and hustling.
Unfortunately, that was little solace as the girls suffered a 69-33 loss to Oxford in the OAA White Division last week.
The Wildcat’s up-tempo and pressing defense forced Lake Orion into numerous turnovers and led to some easy Oxford points.
The loss was the first time that the Oxford girls have beaten the lady Dragons in the past eight years.
Oxford had a 20-6 lead after one quarter and a 38-18 lead at the half.
In the fourth quarter both teams were playing substitutes but the Wildcats continued the onslaught.
The Wildcats are a much more experienced team and Lake Orion Coach Steve Roberts remembered how Oxford was going through the same struggles with underclassmen a couple of years ago as Lake Orion is now.
Two seasons ago Oxford has just two wins. Roberts hopes his young team learns and improves this season so in subsequent years they will be knocking off opponents.
The keys are to continue to learn and work hard and improvement will come.