Sophomore Jaren Jones caught the long pass and shot the ball towards the hoop as the game went into the last 90 seconds.
The ball hit the backboard, sending it through the rim for two points and teammates congratulated Jones with high fives and handshakes.
Another basket from Clarkston’s Brent Cousino concluded last Thursday’s game against Oak Park, 62-17.
‘We played a pretty good defense and stopped penetration,? said Jones. ‘We locked down on their lane instead of fouling and we got the ball.?
Long-time Wolves Head Coach Dan Fife didn’t know what to expect, after the boys had a break from school and practice the previous day because of the snow.
‘I was nervous as I could be,? he said. ‘It was an outstanding effort defensively. Oak Park is a pretty good ball club. They beat Southfield-Lathrup. Our league is goofy ? you never know who is going to be good on any given night. I am happy, we protected our home.?
Nick Tatu set the pace, putting the boys on the scoreboard early in the first quarter. The Wolves had a six-point lead going into the next quarter and Oak Park thought they had a chance to catch up.
The boys in blue and gold were in top form and their defense shined through as they held the Knights to two points while scoring 19 before going to the locker room for half time break.
Matt Kamieniecki opened the final half with a basket. The next move came from Knight Jamarr Durhal as he broke through the Wolves? block to score.
Clarkston countereacted with five points, Kamieniecki had four and Jordan Clark scored one on a free throw.
The momentum never stopped as they continued into the fourth quarter and kept Oak Park to five points.
Kamieniecki led with 14 points, Clark added 12 and Marcus Hardy had eight.
‘Marcus was a lot more active then he has been,? said Fife. ‘When he is active, he can rebound for us.?
The two losses against Southfield-Lathrup and Pontiac the prior week was a boost in the boys? drive during practice and during games, Jones said.
‘Coach Fife said it was a blessing in disguise because our coaches don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves,? he added. ‘We want to go to the playoffs and we want to make a deep run in March. We have been a lot more intense and hustling a lot more.?
The boys played West Bloomfield on Tuesday and continue on the road as they take on the Southfield Bluejays on Friday.
‘From here on out they are tough games. We are in position to decide our own fate and how we play,? said Fife.
The boys are 10-4 and 6-3 in the OAA Red, sharing first place with Southfield, North Farmington and Southfield-Lathrup. Two teams will be knocked down a few spaces after this week. The team is home again next Tuesday when they host Rochester Adams in a OAA crossover game.
JV begins at 5:30 p.m., varsity follows.