When you’re on top, there are always teams looking to take a shot at you. Entering this season, Clarkston basketball coach Dan Fife said the team had a bulls-eye because of their presence on other’s radar across the region.
Visiting Southfield Lathrup on Friday, the Wolves (14-3, 6-2 OAA) became the prey of the host Chargers (8-10, 2-5 OAA) who are looking to be spoilers heading into the opening round of the state playoffs.
The Chargers used their size and agility to out-rebound and outscore the Wolves, mostly in the paint in their 56-49 win.
‘They had 23 baskets and 21 of them were made at point blank range,? Fife said.
‘They’re bigger than us and they’re long and athletic’even long and athletic can be blocked out, that’s basic basketball.?
‘They (Lathrup) didn’t come with that type of fire the first time we played them. That was the difference tonight, their fire.?
In an unusual turn of events, Clarkston’s leading scorer Dan Owens scored only two points shooting 1/13 from the floor after a four-game streak of nearly 30 points per game.
Justin Johnson led the Chargers through the second half, finishing with 22 points after scoring only four points in the first half.
‘I’m supposed to be the leader of the team scoringwise and I hadn’t really taken on that role,? Johnson said.
The 6-foot-5-inch forward said he just started feeling his shooting touch in the third quarter when he and Clarkston center Bren Bergquist began to lead their teams.
Bergquist scored Clarkston’s first 11 points in a 14-point third quarter and finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Julius Porter scored 15 points for the Wolves shooting 6/10 for Clarkston. Oliver Kupe had seven points and Kevin Badgley had six points and four rebounds.
Brandon Slater had 14 points and Anthony Collier had eight for Lathrup.
Chargers coach Michael Avery said Collier kept Owens? offensive threat under control.
‘The first time we played them, we didn’t have (him), so we put a bigger and longer kid on him and we told him just to put a hand up on him,? Avery said.
‘Before the game we talked about not allowing him (Owens) open jump shots.?
Daryl Foster’s shot from his knees at the free throw line just seconds before the buzzer at the end of the third quarter, tied the game at 38. Lathrup opened the fourth quarter with a 6-2 run and out-scored Clarkston 18-11. The Wolves began trapping the Chargers defensively with less than two minutes remaining, but the Chargers were 8/8 from the free-throw line to seal the game.
The Wolves face a tough three-game stretch to close the season.
Clarkston’s next game is Wednesday at home versus Macomb Dakota. Friday at West Bloomfield, the Wolves have a rematch with the Lakers at 7 p.m. Look for the results of Tuesday’s game against Pontiac Northern at www.clarkstonnews.com.
‘If we beat Northern, we still have a chance to at least tie for the league and that’s our goal every season, to win (it),? Fife said.
‘I know that’s not going to be easy. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
‘You don’t want to go into the tournament with everything having been easy for you.?